Baths – closets – sinks – and spittoons – Flush closet – Tank only
Reexamination Certificate
2000-07-14
2001-08-28
Huson, Gregory L. (Department: 3751)
Baths, closets, sinks, and spittoons
Flush closet
Tank only
C004S361000, C004S415000, C004S422000, C004S434000, C004S435000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279176
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a low water toilet. Specifically, the invention describes a toilet using less than 2.0 liters of water, preferably 1.7 liters, at high pressure to flush waste.
2. Related Art
Prior art toilets in permanent structures have been in three types: gravity-tank, pressure-tank and tankless. Gravity tank toilets, the most common in the U.S., have a tank that holds between 6 and 15 liters of water. The water is released through holes in the rim of a toilet bowl and through a lower waterjet, creating a suction effect in a siphon tube that leads to a sewer line. The siphon tube is typically a “P-trap” shape that retains water in the bottom of the “P” loop to prevent sewer gas from backing up from the sewer line. Gravity tank toilets have the limitations of requiring high volumes of water per flush, followed by typically slow refill rates of the water tank.
Pressure-tank toilets are a modified gravity-tank toilet, wherein pressure of inlet water compresses air in an inner tank. This compressed air assists the flush process. However, like the standard gravity-tank toilet, a relatively high volume of water is required for each flush.
Tankless toilets are typically found in commercial locations. They require higher water pressure than gravity tank toilets, but still require a relatively high volume of water for each flush (typically 6 liters or more).
High pressure/low water volume toilets are also described in the prior art. These toilets rely on constriction nozzles that increase the dynamic pressure of the water passing through. These nozzles then direct their spray against the interior surface of the toilet bowl, spraying off the bowl and the waste contained therein. Such systems require an inlet water supply having higher hydrostatic pressure than found in most municipal systems to drive the water through the nozzles.
It would therefore be useful improvement of the prior art for a toilet to efficiently flush waste using a minimal amount of high-pressure water without relying on a remote source of high pressure.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, the objectives of this invention are to provide, inter alia, a new and improved low water toilet that:
uses less than 2.0 liters of water per flush;
is capable of creating its own high hydraulic pressure;
does not allow sewer gases to back up; and
is cost efficient.
These objectives are addressed by the structure of the inventive toilet. A hydraulic piston pressurizes a water pressure tank. The hydraulic piston is positioned beneath the toilet seat, so that it is depressed when the person sits on the seat. Approximately 300 ml of water are initially in the bowl of the toilet, positioned above a waste tube. A sealing valve retains water and waste in the waste tube. A working lever is pushed to initiate the toilet flushing cycle. When the toilet is flushed, the sealing valve is cycled downward to allow the wastewater to flow out a waste pipe, and simultaneously high-pressure water is released from the water pressure tank though a waterjet in the lower portion of the toilet bowl and from interior rim of the toilet. As the flushing cycle continues, the sealing valve reseals the waste tube, and residual pressure from the water pressure tank fills the tank with the starting level (approximately 300 ml) of water.
To minimize velocity pressures losses that would be caused by a p-trap, the waste is released straight down a pipe. Sewer gases are prevented from traveling back up the pipe by a sealing valve that occludes the cross sectional area of the waste cavity in the bottom of the toilet.
Other objects of the invention will become apparent from time to time throughout the specification hereinafter disclosed.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3995327 (1976-12-01), Hendrick
patent: 4075718 (1978-02-01), Hargraves
patent: 4183108 (1980-01-01), Hamilton
patent: 4329745 (1982-05-01), Aguero
patent: 4561131 (1985-12-01), David
patent: 4955921 (1990-09-01), Basile et al.
patent: 5175894 (1993-01-01), Chen
patent: 5369816 (1994-12-01), Chen
patent: 5774904 (1998-07-01), McWilliams
patent: 5862538 (1999-01-01), Ho
1:7 Water Solutions, Inc.
Huson Gregory L.
Keeling Law Firm
Nguyen Tuan
LandOfFree
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