Dry closets

Abstract

Abstract There is provided a dry closet of the type with which human waste charged thereto is rendered less obnoxious by biological decomposition processes. The closet has a bed of material capable of biologically decomposing excrements received thereon. Means are provided for stirring the bed to break up the bed so as to ensure sufficient aeration of same and to prevent the accumulation of feces on top of the bed. At least the surface on which the bed rests in the closet is provided with means for permitting passage of biologically decomposed matter from the interior of the closet to a withdrawable box arranged therebeneath. The effectiveness of the sanitary arrangements for summer cottages, holiday cabins and like unmodernized dwelling places has become the subject of serious discussion with the majority of organizations concerned with the care and protection of the environment, especially since the number of temporary so-called recreation cottages and cabins has greatly increased in latter years. Different types of closets have been designed, in an attempt to meet the requirements of effective sanitation where there is no possibility of connecting such dwelling places with existing municipal sewage systems. The present invention relates to the type of closet with which human excrement is decomposed biologically. Closets with which feces and urine are biologically decomposed and the water content of the urine evaporated off are at present commercially available. It should be noted, however, that an adult person produces each day an average 1.5 litres of urine and 0.25 kg of feces, the urine being the most troublesome waste to handle. If the urine is not subjected to the correct treatment, the urine is converted to an alkaline, illsmelling ammonium carbonate solution. Under poor conditions the bacteriological decomposition of feces and soiled toilet paper gives rise to the generation of ill-smelling gases, such as hydrogen sulphide, methane etc. With some known closets, the waste products are received on an absorbent bed of sawdust, wood chips or the like. The disadvantage with such devices, however, is that repeated use of the closet causes the absorbent bed to be compressed, so that the resorption ability of the bed is rapidly impaired, whereby the decomposition takes place more slowly.

Inventors

• 👤 Torsten Modig

Bibliographic Details