DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure generally relates to a manual pump toilet. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dual stage pump assembly for the manual pump toilet.
BACKGROUND
Sanitation in the developing world is a complex issue with many facets requiring many different approaches depending on local circumstances. In many circumstances, approaches such as the installation of sewer networks, decentralized treatment, septic tanks, or pit latrines are appropriate and practical. In some circumstances, the requisite infrastructure is not available and these approaches are not feasible or practical.
In the sanitary ware industry, it is highly observed when the installation of sewer networks, decentralized treatment, septic tanks, or pit latrines is not appropriate or feasible, then manual pump toilets may be used. The manual pump toilets may be used in such applications as boating. Further, the manual pump toilets are compact, and relatively water efficient, using as little as one liter of water per flush, and are reasonably durable. Moreover, the manual pump toilets may use a manual hand pump mounted to the drain of a toilet bowl that is intended to draw the liquid and solids from the bowl, then discharge that waste to a waste tank through a flexible hose or tube. There are several issues associated with this type of design including but not limited to: 1) the toilet requires a minimum amount of water to flush properly, and 2) odor is present after use.
Water aids this type of pump system to encapsulate the solid waste. This allows the pump to draw in the solid waste as it flows with the water. Should the water volume be inadequate before all the solid waste is drawn into the pump, the solids will stop moving, and the pump will draw only air. Should the solids encounter obstacles to impede movement or bridge across the opening to the pump during the drawing process, the pump will tend to draw only the water until it is evacuated, leaving the solids behind.
Moreover, the inability of a pump system to remove all the waste and water from the toilet bowl may result in odor. Since there is typically some amount of passageway connecting the drain of the toilet bowl to the inlet of the pump, it is not feasible for the pump to draw in all the waste and water for discharge. Since some water and consequently some waste is always left in the passageway, odors will always result.
Accordingly, in light of the aforementioned drawbacks in conventional circumstances, approaches, and other inherent in the existing arts, there is a well felt need to provide a manual pump toilet with a dual stage pump assembly that is feasible and practical.
SUMMARY
One object of the invention relates to a dual stage pump assembly for a manual pump toilet. The dual stage pump assembly includes a piston and a sleeve that are movable between an open position and a closed position. The pump cylinder houses the piston in the open position and the sleeve in the open position. The compound threaded screw rod includes a first threaded portion configured to move the sleeve between the open position and the closed position and a second threaded portion configured to move the piston between the open position and the closed position. The dual stage pump assembly having a crank that is configured to rotate the compound threaded screw rod to move the sleeve from the open position and the closed position at a first time and move the piston from the open position and the closed position at a second time after the first time.
Yet another object of the invention relates to a method of operating a dual stage pump assembly for a manual pump toilet. The method of operating a dual stage pump assembly comprising of receiving a rotational input force at a crank. Thereafter, the rotating a dual thread rod under the rotational force, wherein the dual threaded rod includes a first thread and a second thread, to move a sleeve along the first thread during a first time period and to move a piston along the second thread during a second time period after the first time period. Finally, the piston flushes the manual pump toilet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1. Illustrates a perspective view of a manual pump toilet, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment.
Figure 2. Illustrates a cross-section view of a dual stage pump assembly mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 3. Illustrates a cross-section view of a first stage of the dual stage pump assembly mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 4. Illustrates a cross-section view of a second stage of the dual stage pump assembly mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 5A-5C. Illustrates a cross-section view of a detachment and attachment of a piston of the dual stage pump assembly mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 6. Illustrates a cross-section view of another embodiment of the dual stage pump assembly mechanism including a spring in the attachment and detachment mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
Figure 7. Illustrates an example flowchart for the operation of the second embodiment of the dual stage pump assembly mechanism for the manual pump toilet, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, various specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. Several features described hereafter can each be used independently of one another or with any combination of other features. An individual feature may not address any of the problems discussed above or might address only one of the problems discussed above. Some of the problems discussed above might not be fully addressed by any of the features described herein. Example embodiments of the present invention are described below, as illustrated in various drawings in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings.
Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a manual pump toilet [100]. `The manual pump toilet [100] includes a toilet rim or seat [101], a toilet bowl [102], that is fastened to a flushing assembly [110]. The manual pump toilet [100] is a typical toilet facility provided to allow users to use no water or a predetermined small amount of water. The flushing assembly [110] may include a handle or crank [103], a pump assembly [104], and a waste outlet [105]. The waste outlet [105] may include a valve that opens and closes with mechanical engagement with the pump assembly [104]. The waste outlet [105] may include a trap (e.g., P-trap). A drain [106] may allow any water or other liquids to drain from the pump assembly [104]. Additional, different, or fewer components of the manual pump toilet [100] may be included and will be discussed hereinafter.
The manual pump toilet [100] is primarily used for dry operation and further used to perform a wet operation. For wet operation, the water inlet may be positioned near the rim of a toilet bowl [102] to wash the toilet bowl [102] during flushing and add water to the toilet bowl [102] to form a seal with piston and sleeve in the closed position (its normal ready position) to prevent odor from escaping up through the toilet bowl [102].
The dual stage pump assembly [104] is located directly beneath the toilet bowl [102] and the drain of the toilet bowl [102]. The dual stage pump assembly [104] is not off to the side of the toilet bowl [102]. In other words, a vertical line in the direction of gravity passes through the drain of the toilet bowl [102] and intersects the pump assembly [104]. Such a vertical line in the direction of gravity may also intersect the center of the dual stage pump assembly [104] in an axis perpendicular to the direction of conveyance in the pump assembly [104]. In this way, substantially all the waste and water drops into the dual stage pump assembly [104] by gravitational force. The system does not require suction to draw the waste into the pump assembly [104]. The only force that acts on the waste and water to move from the toilet bowl [102] to the dual stage pump assembly [104] may be a gravitational force.
In addition, the opening through which the waste and water passes out of the toilet bowl [102] is much larger than the current pump toilets. In an example embodiment, the opening to the pump chamber is about 3 inches by 6 inches (7 to 15 centimeters) for an opening area of approximately 18 in2 (116 cm2). The current pump toilets have a round entry to the pump chamber of approximately 3 in2 (19 cm2). With the larger and rectangular opening, waste can more easily be loaded into the pump system without the need for assistance such as suction, and solid waste is less likely to encounter resistance or bridging across the pump system opening. Since all the waste and water can be loaded into to the pump system for ejection from the toilet, the potential for odor is reduced or eliminated since no waste is left in the toilet bowl or passageways leading to the pump system.
Figures 2-5 illustrates the different views of a dual stage pump assembly [104] for the operation of a manual pump toilet [100]. The dual stage pump assembly [104] operates as a dual stage system for the transition between an open position (Fig. 2) and a closed position (Fig. 4). An intermediate position (FIG. 3) may occur during the transition from the open position and the closed position, and vice versa. A compound screw rod includes two stages of movement in transitioning the dual stage pump assembly [104] between the open position and the closed position, which are described in more detail below.
Figure 2 illustrates a cross-section of the dual stage pump assembly [104] for the manual pump toilet [100] as illustrated in Figure 1. The dual stage pump assembly [104] includes a pump cylinder [121], a compounded screw rod [123], a sleeve [125], and a piston [127]. The piston [127] and the sleeve [125] are independently movable between their respective open positions and closed positions. The pump cylinder [121] houses (e.g., supports and encloses) the piston in the open position and the sleeve in the open position. The compounded threaded screw rod [123] includes a first threaded portion configured to move the sleeve [125] between the open position and the closed position and a second threaded portion configured to move the piston [127] between the open position and the closed position. The first threaded portion may be on the outside of the threaded screw rod [123], and the second threaded portion may be on the inside of the threaded screw rod [123]. For example, the first threaded portion may be at a first radius of the threaded screw rod [123] and the second threaded portion may be at a second radius of the threaded screw rod [123] such that the second radius is less than the first radius. The waste cavity [129] is configured to receive waste via gravity from the bowl [102]. The piston [127] may apply force to at least a portion of the waste as the piston [127] moves from the open position to the closed position. Additional, different or fewer components may be included.
Prior to a user making use of the manual pump toilet [100], the dual stage pump assembly [104] is opened to Bottom Dead Center (BDC) position, as illustrated in Figure 2, to allow waste and water to drop directly into the pump system. The term BDC position may refer to a particular position of the sleeve [125] and the piston [127] to the left most positions as shown by Figure 2. The BDC position may be reached, or the manual pump toilet [100] initialized, by turning the crank [103] on the toilet in a retraction direction (e.g., counterclockwise) until the pump sleeve [125] and piston [127] is fully retracted. Figure 2 illustrates the sleeve [125] and the piston [126] are fully retracted (e.g., the BDC position or the open position).
Figure 3 illustrates a first stage of the dual stage pump assembly [104] of the manual pump toilet [100]. Once all the waste and water have been deposited in the toilet bowl [102] and fallen to the waste cavity [129], the process of “flushing” the toilet can commence. The process of flushing is the transition of the dual stage pump assembly [104] from the open position to the flushing position. This is accomplished by rotating the crank [103] in the first predetermined direction (e.g., clockwise direction) to actuate the dual stage sleeve/piston action of the dual stage pump assembly [104]. The dual stage pump assembly [104] is transitioning from the open position to the closed position. In the first stage (e.g., during a first time period), the crank [103] is configured to rotate the compounded threaded screw rod to move the sleeve [125] from the open position and the closed position. Thus, the first stage is the movement when clockwise cranking the crank [103] moves the sleeve [125]. The sleeve [125] moves while the piston [127] stays stationary.
Figure 4 illustrates a second stage of the dual stage pump assembly [104] of the manual pump toilet [100]. The crank [103] is further rotated in the first predetermined direction (e.g., clockwise direction) to actuate the dual stage sleeve/piston action of the dual stage pump assembly [104]. The dual stage pump assembly [104] is transitioning from the open position to the closed position. In the second stage (e.g., during a second time period), the crank [103] is configured to rotate the compounded threaded screw rod to move the piston [127] from the open position and the closed position. The second time period is after the first time period.
The sleeve [125] moves from the BDC position to the middle position illustrated in Figure. 3, encompassing the waste and water, and sealing the opening to the toilet bowl from the dual stage pump assembly [104] with a seal (e.g., O-ring seals) at each end of the sleeve [125]. With continued cranking of the crank [103], the piston [127] starts to move toward a Top Dead Center (TDC) position, pushing the waste and water out of the pump through a check valve at the end of the pump cylinder. A check valve may be used when the toilet is pumping to an overhead or high-level storage tank. The check valve prevents back flow of waste back into the pump cylinder. In examples in which the toilet is pumping into a lower level tank, such as a septic tank, or a sewer, a check valve may not be used. In these cases, the check valve may be replaced with a water trap to prevent odors from migrating up through the toilet from the tank or sewer.
The term TDC position refers to the final resting position of the sleeve [125] and the piston [127]. Once the toilet is “flushed,” it can be left in the TDC position to seal out odor from the toilet bowl [102]. The TDC position or second stage may cause the piston [127] to actuate a valve in the waste outlet [105] to open the waste outlet 105 and allow the waste to exit the manual pump toilet [100].
Figures 5A-C illustrates detachment and attachment of the piston [127] and the sleeve [125] of the dual stage pump assembly [104] by a dual stage transition assembly [130]. Figure 5A illustrates the piston [127] in the detached or delatched condition, Figure 5B illustrates the piston [127] in an intermediate condition, and Figure 5C illustrates the piston in an attached or latched condition. The dual stage movement of the pump is accomplished through a sequence of screw thread engagements, disengagements, and clips. The dual stage transition assembly [130] may include snap fingers [131], which may be referred to as piston clips, a spring [133], or both the snap fingers [131], and the spring [133]. The snap fingers [131] may be configured to attach (e.g., locked/latched position) and detach (e.g., unlocked/delatched position) from a hook [135] with a beveled portion. The hook [135] may be secured to the screw rod [123] or integrally formed with the screw rod [123]. The sleeve [125] may include release tabs [132] that are positioned on the outer circumference of the dual stage transition assembly [130]. The snap fingers [131] or latches may be formed of sheet metal, molded plastic, cast aluminum or another material. Additional, different, or fewer components may be included.
At the BDC position, the screw rod [123] is engaged with the threads of the sleeve [125]. The snap fingers release the piston [127] because the release tabs [132] actuate the outward rotation of the snap fingers [131] disengaging the hook [135] from the beveled retaining collar section on the screw rod [123]. The release tabs [132] are rigid fingers molded on the base of the sleeve [125]. The release tabs [132] actuate the hooks [131] and releasing the piston [127] to engage threads with the screw rod [123] and move towards TDC. In this way, the sleeve [125] alone provides the force to delatch the snap fingers [131]. In this example, a hard stop (not shown) aligns the threads of the screw rod [123] and the threads of the piston [127]. The sequence Figure 5A to Figure 5B to Figure 5C illustrates the process of latching the piston [127] to the screw rod [123].
Some embodiments may include the spring [133]. In these embodiments, as the sleeve [125] moves towards the end of its stroke, thread engagement becomes less, and the sleeve [125] compresses the spring [133] that is in contact with the backside of the piston [127].
This position of the sleeve [125] results in two actions: 1) the snap fingers [131] that hold the piston [127] in place are released allowing the piston [127] to move forward, and 2) the increasing spring force compels the piston [127] forward and it engages threads on the screw rod [123] such that the screw rod threads engage with the threaded piston rod and move the piston [127] forward until the piston [127] and the sleeve [125] are at the TDC position.
The reverse action, moving the dual stage pump assembly [104] from the closed position back to the open position involves similar steps in the reverse order. To reverse the position of the piston [127] and sleeve [125], moving from TDC to BDC, the crank [103] is turned in the opposite direction (e.g., second direction or counterclockwise). It should be noted that the first direction and the second direction are different directions. In one example, the first direction is clockwise, and the second direction is counterclockwise. In another example, the first direction is counterclockwise, and the second direction is clockwise. The sequence of motion for returning to BDC is the opposite of moving the system towards TDC. The first element to move towards BDC is the piston [127]. As the piston [127] approaches BDC, the piston [127] compresses the spring [133]. The spring [133] compels to sleeve [125] to start its motion toward BDC at which time the threads of the sleeve [125] engage with the threaded screw rod [123]. At the same time, the snap fingers [131] engage with the screw rod [123] to lock it in that position. Alternatively, as the piston [127] starts to move back, the friction of the seal (e.g., O-ring) between the piston [127] and the sleeve [125] causes the sleeve [125] to be moved back at the same time. This causes the threads on the sleeve [125] to quickly engage with the threaded screw rod [123]. When this occurs, the threaded screw rod [123] pulls the piston [127] and sleeve [125] back at the same time. In this example, the spring [133] may never engage nor have any significant influence on the movements of the screw rod [123]. The sequence from Figure 5C to Figure 5B to Figure 5A illustrates delatching the piston [127] from the screw rod. As the screw rod [123] continues to turn, the sleeve [125] comes to TDC and prevents further rotation of the screw rod [123].
In an embodiment, Figures 2-4 illustrate a dual stage transition assembly [130] that includes snap fingers [131]. Figure 6 illustrates an embodiment that includes spring [133] (in addition to or as an alternative to the snap fingers 131). The spring [133] is an elastic member configured to apply a force to the piston [127] in response to the sleeve [125] reaching the closed position in which the threads of the rod [123] are engaged with the piston [127] or before the sleeve [125] leaves the closed position in which the threads of the rod [123] are engaged with the sleeve [125]. The spring [133] applies a progressive separating force between the back of the piston [127] and the bottom of the sleeve [125] to cause a smooth engagement of the threads between either the piston threads and threaded rod [123], or the sleeve threads and the threaded rod [123], depending on the rotational direction of the threaded rod [123].
In any of these embodiments, the dual stage transition assembly [130] may include a friction element configured to facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the piston [127] from the threaded screw rod [123]. The friction element may apply a force from the O-ring around the piston [127] to the snap fingers [131] to cause the snap fingers [131] to disengage. The friction element may apply enough force that the spring [133] is omitted.
Figure 7 illustrates an example flow chart for a method of operating a dual stage pump assembly [104] for a manual pump toilet [100]. The dual stage pump assembly [104] for the manual pump toilet [100] method/process initiates at step [S101], the manual pump toilet [100] receives an input force from manual input or handle for operating. At step [S103], a dual thread rod is rotated under the rotational force. The dual threaded rod includes a first thread and a second thread. At step [S105], a sleeve is moved along the first thread during a first time period. At step [S107], the piston is attached to the second thread in response to the movement of the piston along the first thread of the dual thread rod. At step [S109], a piston is moved along the second thread during a second time period after the first time period. Finally, the piston effectively flushes the manual pump toilet [100] through the waste outlet.
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Additionally, the illustrations are merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions within the illustrations may be exaggerated, while other proportions may be minimized. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
While this specification contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable sub-combination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a sub-combination or variation of a sub-combination.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting and that it is understood that the following claims including all equivalents are intended to define the scope of the invention. The claims should not be read as limited to the described order or elements unless stated to that effect. Therefore, all embodiments that come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto are claimed as the invention.
List of Components:
100 - Manual Pump Toilet
101 - Toilet Seat
102 - Toilet Bowl
103 - Handle or Crank
104 - Dual Stage Pump Assembly
105 - Waste Outlet
106 - Drain
110 - Flushing Assembly
123 - Compounded Screw Rod
125 - Sleeve
127 - Piston
129 - Waste Cavity
130 - Dual Stage Transition Assembly
131 - Snap Fingers
132 - Release Tabs
133 - Spring
135 - Hook
,CLAIMS:We claim:

1. A dual stage manual pump toilet [100], comprising:
a piston [127] movable between an open position and a closed position;
a sleeve [125] movable between an open position and a closed position;
a compound threaded screw rod [123] including a first threaded portion configured to move the sleeve [125] between the open position and the closed position and a second threaded portion configured to move the piston [127] between the open position and the closed position; and
a crank [103] configured to rotate the compound threaded screw rod [123] to move the sleeve [125] from the open position and the closed position at a first time and move the piston [127] from the open position and the closed position at a second time after the first time.

2. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first threaded portion is meshed with the sleeve [125] and the second threaded portion is meshed with the piston [127].

3. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a snap fingers [131] configured to release the piston [127] in response to the sleeve [125] reaching the closed position.

4. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 3, wherein the snap finger [131] fastens the piston [127] in a lock position when the piston [127] returns to the open position from the closed position.

5. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
an elastic member configured to release the piston [127] in response to the sleeve [125] reaching the closed position or apply a force to the piston [127] in response to the sleeve [125] reaching the closed position.

6. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 5, wherein the elastic member is compressed to fasten the piston [127] in a lock position when the piston [127] returns to the open position from the closed position.

7. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a waste cavity configured to receive waste under pressure from the piston [127] as the piston [127] moves from the open position to the closed position.

8. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 7, further comprising:
a toilet bowl positioned above the sleeve [125] in the closed position.

9. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the crank [103] rotating in a first rotation direction moves the sleeve [125] and the piston [127] from the open position to the closed position and the crank [103] rotating in a second rotational direction moves the sleeve [125] and the piston [127] from the closed position to the open position.

10. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the first rotational direction is clockwise and the second rotational direction is counterclockwise.

11. The dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a pump cylinder [121] to house the piston [127] in the open position and the sleeve [125] in the open position.

12. A method of operating a dual stage manual pump toilet [100], the method comprising:
receiving a rotational input force at a crank [103];
rotating a dual thread rod under the rotational force, wherein the dual threaded rod includes a first thread and a second thread;
moving a sleeve [125] along the first thread during a first time period;
moving a piston [127] along the second thread during a second time period after the first time period,
wherein the piston [127] flushes the dual stage manual pump toilet [100].

13. The method of operating the dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:
attaching the piston [127] to the second thread in response to the movement of the piston [127] along the first thread of the dual thread rod.

14. The method of operating the dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 13, wherein a spring attaches piston [127] to the second thread.

15. The method of operating the dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 13, wherein a piston clip attaches piston [127] to the second thread.

16. The method of operating the dual stage manual pump toilet [100] as claimed in claim 13, wherein a friction element attaches piston [127] to the second thread.