Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
224 words
A self-contained toilet and sewage treatment unit comprised of: a container adapted for receiving sewage and having a supply of water therein, said container having a first sewage-receiving compartment containing a portion of said water with which the sewage mixes; means operable coupled with a source of pressurized air for introducing and normally continuously circulating a supply of air through the sewage and water mixture in said first compartment whereby the compartment defines an aeration chamber, said air introduction and circulation means including air discharge structure arranged in said compartment to direct and circulate air through the mixture such that the same is agitated with the sewage therein being in substantially complete suspension in the water at all times; a second compartment within said container in flow communication with said first compartment and defining a settling chamber for clarifying the sewage and water mixture therein; filtration means located within said container and in flow communication with said second compartment for receiving and removing from the clarified water substantially all sewage particles remaining therein; a third compartment within said container in flow communication with said filtration means for receiving the filtrate therefrom and defining a holding chamber for the filtered water; and recycling means disposed within said container and adapted for returning the filtered water from said third compartment to said first compartment on demand.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
224 words
A self-contained toilet and sewage treatment unit comprised of: a container adapted for receiving sewage and having a supply of water therein, said container having a first sewage-receiving compartment containing a portion of said water with which the sewage mixes; means operable coupled with a source of pressurized air for introducing and normally continuously circulating a supply of air through the sewage and water mixture in said first compartment whereby the compartment defines an aeration chamber, said air introduction and circulation means including air discharge structure arranged in said compartment to direct and circulate air through the mixture such that the same is agitated with the sewage therein being in substantially complete suspension in the water at all times; a second compartment within said container in flow communication with said first compartment and defining a settling chamber for clarifying the sewage and water mixture therein; filtration means located within said container and in flow communication with said second compartment for receiving and removing from the clarified water substantially all sewage particles remaining therein; a third compartment within said container in flow communication with said filtration means for receiving the filtrate therefrom and defining a holding chamber for the filtered water; and recycling means disposed within said container and adapted for returning the filtered water from said third compartment to said first compartment on demand.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said container includes a toilet bowl having a bottom outlet, and wherein there is a macerator provided in said first compartment, said macerator being disposed to receive said sewage directly from said bowl outlet and to discharge the sewage directly into said first compartment for said mixing with the water therein.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sludge transfer means disposed to empty into said first compartment is provided in said second compartment for conveying precipitated solid matter therein back to said first compartment for further aeration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
47 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein said filtration means is located within said third compartment, said filtration means having an inlet disposed in said second compartment and for receiving the clarified water from said second compartment, and a filtrate outlet disposed in said third compartment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is a scum filter in said second compartment disposed in the flow path of the clarified water as the same moves toward said filtration means inlet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein said recycling means includes a flush pump located in said third compartment.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is an elongated conduit in said first compartment disposed to conduct said sewage and water mixture from said first compartment to said second compartment, said conduit having an inlet end normally disposed beneath the upper level of said mixture and proximal thereto and an outlet end in said second compartment.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said inlet end of said conduit is provided with a strainer screen having perforations of a predetermined size through which said mixture must pass.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
A unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein said filtration means includes an inlet for said clarified water; and wherein there is provided a scum filter across said second compartment and interposed between said conduit outlet and the inlet of said filtration means such that the clarified water must pass through said filter prior to entering the inlet of said filtration means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
48 words
A unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein a sludge transfer means is provided in said second compartment for conveying precipitated solid matter therein back to said first compartment, said transfer means having an outlet in said first compartment located above the normal upper level of said mixture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A unit as claimed in claim 10, wherein there is a baffle in said first compartment interposed between said sludge transfer means outlet and the inlet of said conduit whereby the returned sludge is deflected away from said conduit inlet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
A unit as claimed in claim 11, wherein said container includes a pair of opposed sidewalls and a plurality of internal divider walls dividing the container into said compartments, and wherein said baffle is horizontally disposed proximal a first divider wall defining said first and second compartments and extends transversely of said first compartment between said pair of sidewalls above said conduit, said baffle projection upwardly and inwardly into said first compartment at an angle to a point just above the normal upper level of said mixture.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A unit as claimed in claim 12, wherein there is at least one opening in said baffle adjacent said first divider wall to permit circulation of said mixture between the baffle and the divider wall.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
A unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said air discharge structure includes a plurality of air discharge orifices arranged across substantially the full transverse width of said compartment, said air discharge orifices being located to direct the air along a generally predetermined path of travel to agitate the water to develop a rolling movement of mixture in the compartment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
54 words
A unit as claimed in claim 14, wherein said air discharge structure includes an elongated, horizontally disposed header submerged in said liquid portion in the first compartment, said air discharge orifices being linearly located along said header to direct said air supply in a generally upwardly angled direction through said sewage and water mixture.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
210 words
A self-contained toilet and sewage treatment unit including: a container having a supply of water therein for mixing with sewage deposited therein; an aeration chamber within said container in which sewage is received for mixing with a portion of said water supply and into which a supply of pressurized air is normally continuously introduced for circulation through the water and sewage mixture; means for normally continuously introducing a supply of pressurized air into said aeration chamber in a manner to circulate air through the mixture along a generally predetermined path of travel to develop a rolling movement of the mixture in the chamber; a macerator in said chamber disposed to process said sewage as the same is received in the chamber; a settling chamber in said container and in flow communication with said aeration chamber; means for conveying precipitated sewage sludge from said settling chamber back to said aeration chamber; a liquid reserve holding chamber in said container; flow thru filter means disposed in direct flow communication with said settling chamber to receive clarified water therefrom and having a filtrate outlet disposed to discharge water directly into said holding chamber; and means within said container for selectively recycling said water from said holding chamber to said aeration chamber on demand.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
210 words
A self-contained toilet and sewage treatment unit including: a container having a supply of water therein for mixing with sewage deposited therein; an aeration chamber within said container in which sewage is received for mixing with a portion of said water supply and into which a supply of pressurized air is normally continuously introduced for circulation through the water and sewage mixture; means for normally continuously introducing a supply of pressurized air into said aeration chamber in a manner to circulate air through the mixture along a generally predetermined path of travel to develop a rolling movement of the mixture in the chamber; a macerator in said chamber disposed to process said sewage as the same is received in the chamber; a settling chamber in said container and in flow communication with said aeration chamber; means for conveying precipitated sewage sludge from said settling chamber back to said aeration chamber; a liquid reserve holding chamber in said container; flow thru filter means disposed in direct flow communication with said settling chamber to receive clarified water therefrom and having a filtrate outlet disposed to discharge water directly into said holding chamber; and means within said container for selectively recycling said water from said holding chamber to said aeration chamber on demand.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
31 words
A unit as claimed in claim 16, wherein there is provided a prefilter being disposed across the flow path of the clarified liquid as the same flows to said filter means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
A unit as claimed in claim 17, wherein there is provided a perforated screen interposed in the flow path of the water and sewage mixture between said aeration chamber and said settling chamber for retaining any relatively large sewage particles in said aeration chamber.