INCINERATING TOILET WITH A LOCKING DEVICE

Abstract

An incineration toilet includes a base, a toilet unit, a seat, a toilet casing, an access opening, a cover, and a locking system. The toilet unit is secured above the base. The toilet unit includes a toilet bowl, an incineration chamber, and an ash tray. The seat has a lid around and above the toilet bowl. The toilet casing is connected to the base for protecting an outside of the toilet casing against heat from the incineration chamber. The access opening provides access to the ashtray for emptying of the ash tray. The cover is for closing off the access opening. The locking system is operable between an unlocked state in which it allows the cover to be opened and a locked state in which the cover is prevented from being opened. The incineration toilet further includes a control system for automatically operating the locking system from the locked state to the unlocked state based on a heat parameter, such that the locking system is in the unlocked state when the heat parameter is below a predetermined threshold value.

Claims

1. An incineration toilet comprising: a base; a toilet unit secured above the base, wherein the toilet unit comprises a toilet bowl, an incineration chamber, and an ash tray; a seat and a lid around and above the toilet bowl; a toilet casing connected to the base for protecting an outside of the toilet casing against heat from the incineration chamber; an access opening in the toilet casing through which access to the ashtray is provided for emptying of the ash tray; a cover for closing off the access opening; a locking system operable between an unlocked state in which the cover is allowed to be opened and a locked state in which the cover is prevented from being opened; and a control system for automatically operating the locking system from the locked state to the unlocked state based on a heat parameter, such that the locking system is in the unlocked state when the heat parameter is below a predetermined threshold value.

2. The incineration toilet according to claim 1, wherein the locking system comprises at least any one of a: heat sensor for measuring the heat parameter and/or a timer for calculating the heat parameter.

3. The incineration toilet according to claim 2, wherein the control system is receiving information about the state of the locking system from a sensor.

4. The incineration toilet according to claim 2, wherein the heat sensor is measuring the temperature inside the incineration chamber.

5. The incineration toilet according to claim 2, wherein the timer is calculating the temperature at the lower parts of the toilet unit based on time elapsed since last incineration and a cooling time of the incineration chamber.

6. The incineration toilet according to claim 5, wherein the heat sensor and/or the timer is connected to the control system configured to compare the temperature measured by the heat sensor and/or the timer with the predetermined threshold value.

7. The incineration toilet according to claim 4, wherein the locking system comprises an actuator with an actuator element movable between a first position defining the locked state and a second position defining the unlocked state.

8. The incineration toilet according to claim 7, wherein the actuator is controlled by the control system.

9. The incineration toilet according to claim 7, wherein the actuator is secured to inside of the toilet casing or to the toilet unit, wherein the actuator element is engaged to the cover in the locked state and where the actuator element disengaged from the cover in the unlocked state.

10. The incineration toilet according to claim 2, wherein the locking system comprises a bimetal device adapted to change in curvature, or bending, in response to temperature change.

11. The incineration toilet according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a section of the toilet casing.

12. The incineration toilet according to claim 1, wherein the cover is a hatch for closing the access opening.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0084] Embodiments of the invention will be described in detail below with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0085] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art incineration toilet with its hatch in an open position and with the ash tray partially pulled out from its position inside the toilet casing;

[0086] FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional side view of an embodiment of the present incineration toilet;

[0087] FIG. 3a shows an enlarged view of the toilet unit with the toilet casing (except from the hatch) being removed;

[0088] FIG. 3b shows an enlarged view of the actuator of the locking device;

[0089] FIG. 4a-c illustrates different embodiments of the locking device schematically.

[0090] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of a second embodiment with its toilet casing in the closed position;

[0091] FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the second embodiment with its toilet casing in the open position;

[0092] FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective rear view of the second embodiment.

[0093] It is now referred to FIG. 1, showing an incineration toilet 1 with a base 5, a toilet casing 20 and a partially open seat 29a and lid 29b around and above a toilet bowl 14. It is also shown that an access opening 21 is provided in the toilet casing 20. The incineration toilet 1 comprises a hatch 25 for opening/closing of the access opening 21. In FIG. 1, the hatch 25 is removed from the opening 21 and the ash tray 16 is pulled partially out from the access opening 21.

[0094] It is now referred to FIG. 2, where a first embodiment of the invention is shown. The incineration toilet 1 comprises a base 5, a toilet unit 10 secured to the base 5 and a toilet casing 20 connected to the base 5.

[0095] The base 5 may be similar to the prior art base 5 of FIG. 1, and its purpose is to support the toilet on the floor. Preferably, the base 5 comprises feet, to provide ventilation below parts of the base 5.

[0096] The Toilet Unit 10

[0097] The toilet unit 10 is generally shown in FIG. 2 as different parts of the toilet 1 located inside of the toilet casing 20, and the toilet unit 10 is indicated with a dashed line. The main parts of the toilet unit 10 are a toilet bowl 14, an incineration chamber 15 and an ash tray 16. The ash tray 16 may form the lower part of the incineration chamber 15. The toilet unit 10 further comprises a heater element indicated as 17. In FIG. 2, the heater element 17 is an electric heater supplied with electric energy for heating the incineration chamber 15. Alternatively, the heater element 17 may be a gas heater supplied with a combustible gas such as propane. Other energy sources may also be possible.

[0098] In addition, the toilet unit 10 comprises a ventilation system generally indicated as 18, comprising a fan and ventilation ducts for supplying the incineration chamber 15 with air and for removing waste gas from the combustion process.

[0099] It should be noted that the ventilation system has at least two purposes. One purpose is cooling, i.e. to supply cold air and remove the hot waste gas. A second purpose is to provide an odorless environment in the area around the toilet 1, by removing the waste gas. In case the heater element 17 is a gas or electric heater, the purpose of the ventilation system is to bring oxygen to the combustion process.

[0100] The toilet 1 further comprises a control system 34b for controlling the operation of the toilet. The control system 34b may comprise sensors and actuators.

[0101] It should be noted that also the gas heated incineration toilet 1 is connected to an electric power supply PS for supplying electric power to the control system 34b and to the fan of the ventilation system.

[0102] It should be noted that the toilet bowl 14, the incineration chamber 15, the ash tray 16, the heater element 17 and the ventilation system 18 are considered known from prior art incineration toilets and will not be described in detail herein.

[0103] The Toilet Casing 20

[0104] The toilet casing 20 is connected to the base 5, either directly or via the toilet unit 10. As mentioned in the introduction above, the purpose of the toilet casing 20 is to insulate the toilet towards the surroundings, for example to prevent people from touching the hot parts of the toilet unit, to prevent combustible materials to unintentionally come into contact with the hot parts of the toilet unit etc. The toilet casing provides in addition a better esthetic appearance.

[0105] The seat 29a and lid 29b above the toilet bowl 14 may be considered as parts of the toilet casing 20 or may be considered as separate parts connected to the toilet casing 20.

[0106] The user interface UI may be integrated in the toilet casing 20 or provided exterior of the incineration toilet and connected to the incineration toilet by wire or wirelessly. The UI may be provided in communication with the control system for controlling the operation of the toilet.

[0107] The incineration toilet further comprises a closable access opening 21 through which access to the lower parts of the toilet unit 10 is provided. In particular, the access opening 21 is providing access to the ash tray 16, in order to empty the ash tray 16 periodically.

[0108] In FIG. 2, the access opening 21 is an opening provided in the toilet casing 20. The access opening 21 is closed by a hatch 25. The hatch 25 is movable between a closed position 25A (FIG. 2) and an open position 25B (FIG. 1) relative to the toilet casing 20. The hatch 25 may be connected to the toilet casing 20 by means of a push button snap-lock type of connector 26 (FIG. 1), magnets etc.

[0109] When the closable access opening 21 is closed, there is no direct access to the lower parts of the toilet unit 10 and the outside OS of the incineration toilet 1 is protected against heat from the incineration chamber 15. When the closable access opening 21 is open, access is provided to the lower parts of the toilet unit 10. When the closable access opening 21 is open, access is provided to the lower parts of the toilet unit 10, in particular to the ash tray 16.

[0110] The Locking Device 30

[0111] In FIG. 2, it is shown that the incineration toilet 1 further comprises a locking device or locking system 30. The locking device 30 is configured to have two states, an unlocked state in which it allows the access opening 21 to be opened and a locked state in which the access opening 21 is prevented from being opened.

[0112] It is now referred to FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b. Here, it is shown that the locking device 30 comprises an actuator 31 with an actuator element 31a movable between a first position defining the locked state and a second position defining the unlocked state. The actuator element 31 is here a rod moved linearly by a solenoid 31b. The solenoid 31b is secured to the inside of the toilet housing 20 by means of a bracket 35. The actuator element 31 is engaged with a locking aperture 27 of the hatch 25 in the locked state and is moved to a position in which it is not engaged with the locking aperture 27 in the open state.

[0113] The actuator 31 may be an electromagnet acting on the actuator element 31a. The actuator element 31a may be spring loaded, so that the electromagnet may be in an off position when the actuator 31 is in the lower position (released spring position), referred to as the locked state. In the event the cover 20,25 is inserted to cover the access opening 21, the cover 20,25 will push the spring-loaded actuator element 31a such that it engages the locking aperture 27 on the cover 20,25. The locking system is thus in the locked state, and this may be the normal state during use and standby.

[0114] Hence, the locking system 30 is here brought from the unlocked state to the locked state by user interaction.

[0115] The system may comprise a location sensor/switch for reading the locked state and that the cover 20,25 is in the locked position. The sensor/switch 38 may be activated by a spring 36 being compressed by the cover in the event the cover is in position covering the access opening 21.

[0116] In the event access through the access opening 21 is desired, the control system reads (checks) whether the temperature in the incineration chamber and/or the lower parts of the incineration toilet is below the threshold value so that there is no danger of burns by touching the ash tray. If the temperature is below the threshold value, the use may be allowed to open the cover 20,25 by indicating on a button or via a control panel.

[0117] The electromagnet may have a pulse of about one second and attract the actuator element 31a vertically, or substantially vertically, so that it can be released from cooperation with the recess or locking aperture 27. The spring 36 is tensioned towards the cover 20,25 and will push the cover 20,25 outwards in the event the cover 20,25 is released from engagement with the actuator element 27. The cover 20,25 may remain in a semi-open position (i.e., by a spring or magnet) so that the actuator element 31a is prevented to return to engagement with the opening or locking aperture 27 on the cover 20,25.

[0118] In embodiment, the sensor/switch 38 reads the position of the cover 20,25 via the spring 36 and sends the information to the control system indicating the locked or unlocked state of the locking system. Thus, in the event the cover 20,25 is installed in a position covering the access opening, the sensor/switch 38 will be activated by the cover pushing the spring 36 of the sensor/switch 38 backwards or inwards.

[0119] In FIG. 3a, it is shown that the locking device 30 further comprises a temperature sensor 32 for measuring a heat temperature representative of the temperature of the lower part of the toilet unit 10. The temperature sensor 32 is provided in communication with the locking device 30, either directly (as shown in FIG. 4a) or via a dedicated control system 34a (as shown in FIG. 3b) or via the control system 34b for controlling the incineration toilet 1 (as shown in FIG. 3c).

[0120] The locking device 30 is controlled to be in the locked state when a heat parameter at the lower parts of the toilet unit 10 is above a predetermined threshold value. The locking device 30 is further controlled to be in the open state when the heat parameter at the lower parts of the toilet unit 10 is below the predetermined threshold value.

[0121] In FIG. 4a, the temperature sensor 32 may be a thermostat, for controlling a connection between the actuator 30 and the power supply PS on/off based on the temperature.

[0122] In FIG. 4b, temperature sensor 32 may be a semiconductor type of sensor, or other types of sensors provided in communication with the dedicated control system 34a. The dedicated control system 34a may comprise a digital signal processor configured to compare the temperature measured by the sensor 32 with the predetermined threshold value.

[0123] A user interface indicated as UI may be connected to the dedicated control system 34a. It should be noted that this user interface UI typically will be a dedicated user interface for the control of the locking device 30.

[0124] In FIG. 4c, the control system 34b is shown outside of the locking device 30 and the control system 34b is here also used to control the operation of other parts of the toilet 1. The user interface UI of the toilet (shown in FIGS. 1 and 2) is typically connected to this control system 34b.

[0125] It should be noted that the actuator 31, the control system 34a, 34b and possibly also the temperature sensor 32 of FIGS. 4b and 4b will be powered by the power supply PS. However, the connection of power supply PS to the respective parts of the locking device 30 has not been indicated in these drawings.

[0126] Below, the dedicated control system 34a and the control system 34b for controlling the incineration toilet 1 are commonly referred to as control system 34.

[0127] The control system 34 may be configured to check if the access opening 21 is open or closed, before controlling the locking device 30 from the unlocked state to the locked state, as in some embodiments, a locked locking device 30 will prevent closing of the access opening.

[0128] This function may be achieved by requesting the user to confirm that the access opening is closed via the user interface UI. Alternatively, the locking device 30 may comprise a location sensor 38 (shown in FIG. 3b) to detect whether or not the access opening is closed.

[0129] When a confirmation signal has been received from the user interface UI or if the location sensor 38 indicates that the access opening is closed, the control system 34 may control the locking device 30 from the unlocked state to the locked state.

[0130] The control system 34 may also be configured to only allow the incineration process to start if it is determined that the access opening 21 is closed and that the locking device 30 is in the locked state.

[0131] The control system 34 may also be configured to receive a request to bring the locking device 30 to the unlocked state from the user interface UI, and then controlling the locking device 30 to the unlocked state if the parameter representative of the temperature in the lower part of the toilet unit 1 is below the predetermined threshold value. Hence, here the user must use the user interface UI to unlock the locking device 30 in order to open the access opening.

Alternative Embodiments

[0132] In the embodiment above, the access opening 21 is opened and closed by means of a hatch 25.

[0133] It is now referred to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, wherein a second embodiment is shown. Here, the toilet casing 20 is movable between a closed position 20A and an open position 20B relative to the base 5, where the access opening 21 is defined as the opening between the toilet casing 20 and the base 5 when the toilet casing 20 is in the open position 20B.

[0134] In FIG. 5, the closed position 20A is shown. Here, the toilet casing 20 is in contact with the base 5.

[0135] In FIG. 6, the open position is shown. Here, the toilet casing 20 is elevated relative to the base 5. Here, not only the ash tray is accessible, but also other parts of the toilet unit 10. Hence, the access opening can also be used for inspection, service and/or maintenance of other parts of the toilet unit 10.

[0136] It should be noted that this embodiment of the toilet 1 comprises a back cover 7. Inside of the back cover 7 parts of the toilet unit is located, as indicated as 10a in FIG. 7. Here, parts of the ventilation system and also the control system 34 can be provided.

[0137] The back cover 7 may be defined as part of the base 5, where the toilet casing 20 is elevated relative to the base 5. Alternatively, the back cover 7 can be defined as a part of the toilet casing 20. Here, parts of the toilet casing 20 is elevated relative to the base 5 and relative to the back cover 7 of the toilet casing 20.

[0138] In an alternative embodiment, the locking device 30 comprises an actuator in the form of a thermostatic element for moving the actuator element 31a between the first position and the second position. The thermostatic element may comprise a bimetal element. In such an embodiment, the locking device 30 does not require a power supply PS.