Pneumatic assisted flushing apparatus for toilets

Claim 3

The combination according to claim 1, in which said means controlling admission of water under pressure includes a valve assembly open while water under pressure is being admitted to said one chamber and closed by displacement of said piston when said one chamber is filled with water.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1, in which said piston is desplaceable in one direction by the admission of water under pressure to said one chamber and displaceable in the opposite direction by compressible means within said other chamber, said piston being displaceable in opposite directions between predetermined limits of movement, said means controlling admission of water under pressure to said one chamber including a valve assembly actuated to close the valve assembly when said one chamber is filled with water and actuated to open said valve assembly when said one chamber is empty of water.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1, in which means are provided including an activating valve assembly selectively operable to initiate flushing action of the apparatus, said means comprising a valve assembly, a water outlet passageway controlled by said valve assembly, and means operatively associated with said valve assembly controlling actuation thereof to release water under pressure from said one chamber.

Claim 6

In combination: A. a water flush toilet bowl having (1) a base portion divided into a waste product collection recess and a waste product evacuation chamber and including an opening providing communication between said waste product collection recess and said waste product evacuation chamber, (2) an evacuation gate normally sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to uncover said opening whereby waste product collected in said collection recess passes through said opening past said gate and into said evacuation chamber, (3) means operatively asssociated with said evacuation gate to normally retain the gate sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to open said evacuation gate to uncover said opening; and B. means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom and including: (1) means including a housing having a movable wall defining chambers for segregating predetermined quantities of air and water from separate sources thereof, (2) means for delivering a portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, (3) means for opening said evacuation gate for a predetermined interval to permit transfer from said collection recess of said portion of water and any waste product into said evacuation chamber, (4) means for closing said evacuation gate following said predetermined interval, (5) means for delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess after closing of said gate, and (6) means for thereafter delivering said predetermined quantity of air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom.

Claim 7

In combination: A. a water flush toilet bowl having (1) a base portion divided into a waste product collection recess and a waste product evacuation chamber and including an opening providing communication between said waste product collection recess and said waste product evacuation chamber, (2) an evacuation gate normally sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to uncover said opening whereby waste product collected in said collection recess passes through said opening past said gate and into said evacuation chamber, (3) means operatively asssociated with said evacuation gate to normally retain the gate sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to open said evacuation gate to uncover said opening; and B. means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom and including: (1) means including a housing having a movable wall defining chambers for segregating predetermined quantities of air and water from separate sources thereof, (2) means for delivering a portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, (3) means for opening said evacuation gate for a predetermined interval to permit transfer from said collection recess of said portion of water and any waste product into said evacuation chamber, (4) means for closing said evacuation gate following said predetermined interval, (5) means for delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess after closing of said gate, and (6) means for thereafter delivering said predetermined quantity of air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 5, in which said evacuation chamber comprises a walled enclosure having said opening in one wall thereof, and a waste product discharge passageway through one of the other walls.

Claim 9

The combination according to claim 5, in which said evacuation chamber comprises a walled enclosure forming an integral part of said toilet bowl.

Claim 10

The combination according to claim 5, in which said collection recess forms an integral part of said toilet bowl.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 5, in which said evacuation gate when open is in position to be flushed clean by water passing through said opening.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 5, in which said means operatively associated with said evacuation gate to normally retain the gate sealingly covering said opening includes a vacuum cylinder having a piston therein and a shaft connected between said piston and said evacuation gate and operable by vacuum pressure to open said evacuation gate, a spring acting to resiliently retain said evacuation gate sealingly closed, and port means in said cylinder to selectively connect the interior thereof to a source of vacuum pressure to actuate said piston to open said evacuation gate.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 5, in which said evacuation gate when closed is in position to be sealed more tightly by air under pressure admitted to said evacuation chamber.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12, in which said toilet bowl is equipped with a housing having a hollow interior divided into a water receiving chamber for receiving and segregating said predetermined quantity of water, and an air compression chamber within which air is pressurized and from which it is delivered to said evacuation chamber.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 13, in which said water receiving chamber is expanded in volume by water pressure and said air compression chamber is simultaneously contracted in volume.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 12, in which said evacuation gate is opened just after commencement of delivery of water to said collection recess.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 12, in which said evacuation gate is closed just prior to completion of delivery of said predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 12, in which delivery of air to said evacuation chamber commences upon termination of delivery of water to said collection recess.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 12, in which delivery of air to said evacuation chamber terminates upon completion of segregation of another predetermined quantity from said source.

Claim 24

The combination according to claim 19, in which said evacuation chamber is provided with a spring-pressed normally closed gate, means including a vacuum cylinder operative upon movement of said piston to increase the volume of said other chamber of the pair to open said normally closed gate, means selectively operable to release water under pressure from said one chamber and deliver such released water to said toilet bowl, means operative in conjunction with said vacuum cylinder to retain the evacuation chamber gate open a predetermined interval sufficient to permit flushing of all waste products from said toilet bowl into the evacuation chamber and subsequently closing said evacuation chamber gate prior to delivery of all the water from said one chamber whereby a portion of said water is delivered to said toilet bowl after all waste matter is flushed therefrom, said means controlling delivery of pressurized air to said evacuation chamber being activated upon completion of delivery of all water from said one chamber to said toilet bowl to thereby form a water seal over said evacuation chamber gate.

Claim 25

The combination according to claim 19, in which said housing is divided into two separate sections by an intervening wall, said piston is reciprocable within one section to divide that section into said pair of chambers variable in volume in response to displacement of said piston, and a second piston reciprocable in said other section and dividing said other section into an additional pair of chambers variable in volume in response to reciprocation of said second piston, means connecting said pistons whereby they move in unison, means including an activating valve assembly selectively operable to initiate flushing action of the apparatus, said means comprising a valve assembly, a water outlet passageway controlled by said valve assembly, and means operatively associated with said valve assembly controlling actuation thereof to release water under pressure from said one chamber, and means provided operatively associated with at least one of said additional chambers and communicating with said activating valve assembly to maintain said outlet passageway open until all water has been discharged therefrom.

Claim 32

In combination: A. a water flush toilet bowl having (1) a base portion divided into a waste product collection recess and a waste product evacuation chamber and including an opening providing communication between said waste product collection recess and said waste product evacuation chamber, (2) an evacuation gate normally sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to uncover said opening whereby waste product collected in said collection recess passes through said opening past said gate and into said evacuation chamber, (3) means operatively associated with said evacuation gate to normally retain the gate sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to open said evacuation gate to uncover said opening; and B. means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom by sequentially: (1) segregating a predetermined quantity of water from a source thereof, (2) delivering a portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, (3) opening said evacuation gate for a predetermined interval to permit transfer from said collection recess of said portion of water and any waste product into said evacuation chamber, (4) closing said evacuation gate following said predetermined interval, (5) delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess after closing of said gate, and (6) thereafter delivering air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom; C. said means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom including: (a) a housing having walls defining a hollow interior; (b) at least one piston reciprocable within said housing and constituting a displaceable wall defining with said housing walls a pair of chambers variable in volume in response to displacement of said piston, one of said chambers of said pair containing air at a predetermined pressure; (c) means controlling segregation of said predetermined quantity of water in one chamber of the pair while effecting displacement of the piston to reduce the volume of the other chamber of the pair to pressurize the air therewithin above said predetermined pressure; and (d) means controlling delivery of said portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess, opening and then closing said evacuation gate, delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, and thereafter delivering air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom while simultaneously segregating another predetermined quantity of water in one chamber of said pair of chambers.

Claim 33

In combination: A. a water flush toilet bowl having (1) a base portion divided into a waste product collection recess and a waste product evacuation chamber and including an opening providing communication between said waste product collection recess and said waste product evacuation chamber, (2) an evacuation gate normally sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to uncover said opening whereby waste product collected in said collection recess passes through said opening past said gate and into said evacuation chamber, (3) means operatively associated with said evacuation gate to normally retain the gate sealingly covering said opening and selectively operable to open said evacuation gate to uncover said opening; and B. means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom by sequentially: (1) segregating a predetermined quantity of water from a source thereof, (2) delivering a portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, (3) opening said evacuation gate for a predetermined interval to permit transfer from said collection recess of said portion of water and any waste product into said evacuation chamber, (4) closing said evacuation gate following said predetermined interval, (5) delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess after closing of said gate, and (6) thereafter delivering air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom; C. said means operatively associated with said toilet bowl to flush waste products therefrom including: (a) a housing having walls defining a hollow interior; (b) at least one piston reciprocable within said housing and constituting a displaceable wall defining with said housing walls a pair of chambers variable in volume in response to displacement of said piston, one of said chambers of said pair containing air at a predetermined pressure; (c) means controlling segregation of said predetermined quantity of water in one chamber of the pair while effecting displacement of the piston to reduce the volume of the other chamber of the pair to pressurize the air therewithin above said predetermined pressure; and (d) means controlling delivery of said portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess, opening and then closing said evacuation gate, delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said waste product collection recess, and thereafter delivering air under pressure to said evacuation chamber to discharge the water and waste products therefrom while simultaneously segregating another predetermined quantity of water in one chamber of said pair of chambers.

Claim 34

The combination according to claim 25, in which said housing is divided into two separate sections by an intervening wall, said piston is reciprocable within one section to divide that section into said pair of chambers variable in volume in response to displacement of said piston, and a second piston reciprocable in said other section and dividing said other section into an additional pair of chambers variable in volume in response to reciprocation of said second piston, and means connecting said pistons whereby they move in unison.

Claim 35

The combination according to claim 25, in which means are provided on said housing controlling segregation of said predetermined quantity of water and including a water inlet passageway connecting said one chamber of the pair to a source of water under pressure, and a valve assembly interposed in said inlet passageway and operable to admit water under pressure to said one chamber and to isolate said one chamber and the predetermined quantity of water segregated therein from said source when said one chamber is full of water.

Claim 36

The combination according to claim 27, in which said valve assembly includes a valve member moveable to open or close said inlet passageway, and means are disposed between said valve member and said piston operative to move said valve member to close said inlet passageway when said piston reaches the limit of its displacement in one direction and effect opening of said valve member to open said inlet passageway when said piston reaches the limit of its displacement in the opposite direction.

Claim 37

The combination according to claim 28, in which said means disposed between said valve member and said piston includes an elongated rod having an enlargement at one end adapted to be engaged by a restriction on the piston to close said valve member and an auxiliary valve structure on its other end associated with said valve member.

Claim 38

The combination according to claim 25, in which said means controlling delivery of said portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess, opening and closing said evacuation gate, delivering the remaining portion of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess and thereafter delivering air under pressure to said evacuation chamber while segregating another predetermined quantity of water in said one chamber, includes: (a) an activating valve assembly selectively operable to open a discharge path for delivery of said segregated predetermined quantity of water to said collection recess; (b) means in said housing to effect displacement of said piston in a direction to discharge water from said one chamber through said discharge path and into said collection recess; (c) means operatively associated with said other chamber of the pair controlling the ingress of air thereto whereby a negative pressure is produced therein for a predetermined interval by movement of the piston to discharge the water from said one chamber; (d) means operatively associated with said evacuation gate acturated by said negative pressure in said other chamber to open said evacuation gate and hold it open so long as said negative pressure is maintained and close said evacuation gate at the end of said predetermined interval; and (e) means operatively associated with said other chamber of the pair controlling egress of air therefrom whereby air therewithin is pressurized and delivered to said evacuation chamber during the interval that said one chamber is segregating another predetermined quantity of water.

Claim 39

The combination according to claim 30, in which said activating valve assembly includes: (a) an outlet passageway in said housing; (b) a valve chamber surrounding said outlet passageway; (c) a diaphragm disposed in said valve chamber and displaceable to open or close said outlet passageway, said diaphragm having a restricted aperture therethrough permitting water to pass to the side of said diaphragm opposite said outlet passageway to thereby displace the diaphragm to close the outlet passageway; (d) a water discharge passageway connecting said valve chamber with the collection recess in said toilet bowl; (e) an auxiliary passageway connecting said water discharge passageway with said valve chamber on the side thereof opposite said outlet passageway; (f) micro-valve means in said auxiliary passageway moveable to open or close said auxiliary passageway; (g) a rod connected to said micro-valve means and movable to actuate said micro-valve means to open said auxiliary passageway to drain water from said valve chamber from the side of said diaphragm opposite said outlet passageway to thereby reduce the pressure of water on the side of the diaphragm opposite the outlet passageway to thereby permit displacement of the diaphragm to open said outlet passageway; and (h) means including an auxiliary air chamber and an auxiliary diaphragm therewithin connected to said micro-valve by said rod to retain the micro-valve open during delivery of water to said collection recess and close the micro-valve during segregation of said predetermined quantity of water.