Abstract
The invention is a device which uses stored pressure to pump waste and a corresponding method of use. Waste is stored in a first chamber and the chamber is subsequently sealed by a valve and pressurized prior to a second valve opening. The pressurized waste is thereby ejected from the pressure chamber down an outlet pipe.
Claims
1. A pumping device for pumping waste, comprising a waste chamber, for storing waste, having an inlet for receiving waste and an outlet for transmitting waste; a first valve for controlling received waste from the waste chamber inlet; a second valve for controlling transmitted waste through the waste chamber outlet; a pump; and a pressure chamber, connected between the pump and the waste chamber, for storing pressure generated by the pump; wherein the pump is operable to increase pressure within the pressure chamber; wherein the pressure chamber is arranged to selectively release stored pressure into the waste chamber when the first and second valve are closed; and wherein the waste is forced from the waste chamber through the second valve by the pressure within the waste chamber when the second valve is opened.
2. The pumping device according to claim 1, further comprising a macerator in the waste chamber.
3. The pumping device according to claim 2, wherein the pump and the macerator are powered by a single motor.
4. The pumping device according to claim 2, wherein the pump and the macerator intercommunicate.
5. The pumping device according to claim 1, further comprising a bypass conduit to enable a flow of waste around the waste chamber when the first and second valves are closed.
6. The pumping device according to claim 5, wherein the bypass conduit has an entry valve for controlling the flow of waste into the bypass conduit, and an exit valve for controlling the flow of waste out of the bypass conduit.
7. The pumping device according to claim 1, further comprising a waste level sensor in the waste chamber, wherein the waste is forced from the waste chamber when the waste level in the waste chamber exceeds a predetermined value.
8. The pumping device according to claim 1, further comprising a clock, wherein the operation of the waste chamber is dependent upon the time of day as provided by the clock.
9. The pumping device according to claim 1, further comprising a vacuum chamber coupled to the waste chamber output, the vacuum chamber having an inlet and an outlet.
10. The pumping device according to claim 9, wherein the pump is operable to reduce the pressure in the vacuum chamber.
11. The pumping device according to claim 9, further comprising a valve at the vacuum chamber output, wherein the device is operable to open the pressure chamber output and the vacuum chamber output when the pressure in the pressure chamber is greater than the pressure in the vacuum chamber.
12. The pumping device according to claim 11, wherein the pressure chamber output is opened prior to the opening of the vacuum chamber output.
13. A method of pumping waste comprising the steps: (i) opening a first valve to enable waste to flow into a waste chamber and closing a second valve to stop waste flowing out of the waste chamber; (ii) closing the first valve to stop waste flowing into the waste chamber; (iii) selectively releasing pressure from a pressure chamber connected between a pump and the waste chamber to increase the pressure within the waste chamber to be greater than the pressure outside the waste chamber; and (iv) opening the second valve to enable waste to flow out of the waste chamber.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the pump first increases the pressure within a pressure chamber before opening the pressure chamber to the waste chamber.
15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of using a macerator to macerate the waste within the waste chamber.
16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of decreasing the pressure within a vacuum chamber coupled to, but closed from, the waste chamber; and opening the waste chamber to the vacuum chamber.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the pump pumps a fluid from the vacuum chamber into the waste chamber to alter the pressure of the vacuum and waste chambers.
18. The method of claim 13, wherein the first valve is not closed until the amount of waste in the waste chamber as detected by a waste level sensor is above a predetermined threshold.
19. The method of claim 13, wherein the closing the first valve is dependent upon the time of day as provided by a clock.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) The invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the invention;
(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the invention;
(4) FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention;
(5) FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the invention;
(6) FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the invention;
(7) FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a sixth embodiment of the invention;
(8) FIG. 7 is a schematic view of a seventh embodiment of the invention;
(9) FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a eighth embodiment of the invention;
(10) FIG. 9 is a flow chart for the operation of the seventh embodiment of the invention; and
(11) FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a ninth embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
(12) FIG. 1 shows a waste chamber 12 having an inlet 11 and an outlet 13. The inlet 11 is separated from the chamber 12 by a first valve V11. The outlet 13 is separated from the chamber 12 by a second valve V12. A pressure line 14 is coupled to the waste chamber 12 by a third valve V13. The arrows A11, A12 and A13 illustrate how fluid may flow through the device. A first arrow A11 illustrates waste flowing into the waste chamber 12 through the first valve V11. A second arrow A13 illustrates waste flowing out of the waste chamber 12 through the second valve A12. A third valve illustrates fluid flowing from the pressure line 14, through the third valve V13 and into the waste chamber 12.
(13) In use, waste enters the waste chamber inlet 11 under force, such as gravity. The first valve V11 is open to allow the flow A11 into the waste chamber. The waste chamber outlet 13 is closed and waste accumulates in the chamber 12. The first valve V11 is closed and the third valve V13 is opened while the second valve V12 remains closed. Fluid enters the waste chamber 12 from the pressure line 14 under force. The force of the fluid may be mechanically generated by a pump, or result from gravitational potential energy. The fluid may be a gas, such as air. The pressure in the waste chamber is 12 increased. Subsequently, the second valve V12 is opened and the waste contained within the waste chamber 12 is expelled from the outlet 13 of the chamber. The second and third valves are closed and the first valve is opened to allow the cycle to begin again.
(14) FIG. 2 shows a waste chamber 22 having an inlet 21 and an outlet 23. First V21, second V22 and third V23 valves are present (as in FIG. 1), as is a pressure line 24. In this embodiment, the device has a pressure chamber 25 coupled between the waste chamber 22 and the pressure line 24. The pressure chamber 25 is separated from the waste chamber and the pressure line by a third valve V23 and a fourth valve V24, respectively. Fluid may flow through the third V23 and fourth V24 valves as illustrated by the corresponding arrows A23, A24 when the corresponding valves are open. The volume of the pressure chamber 25 provides a pressure storage device.
(15) In use, waste enters the waste chamber 22 as described in relation to FIG. 1 and illustrated by a first arrow A21. During this time, a fourth valve V24 opens permitting the flow A24 of fluid into the pressure chamber 25. A third valve V23 is closed preventing fluid from flowing into the waste chamber 22 from the pressure chamber. The waste chamber outlet 23 is obscured by a closed second valve V22, thus waste accumulates in the waste chamber. When the waste in the waste chamber reaches a predetermined level, or after a predetermined amount of time, a first valve V21 closes and waste is prevented from flowing into the waste chamber via the inlet 21. The fourth valve V24 is closed and the third valve V23 is opened allowing the pressurised fluid within the pressure chamber 25 to flow into the waste chamber 22 increasing the pressure within the waste chamber. The second valve V22 is opened and waste within the waste chamber is forced from the chamber via the outlet 23 by the pressurised fluid.
(16) FIG. 3 shows a waste chamber 32 having an inlet 31 and an outlet 33 enabling the flow of waste through the chamber. If a first valve V31 at the inlet 31 is open and a second valve V32 at the outlet 33 is closed, waste will collect within the waste chamber. Within the chamber is a macerating device B3 comprising a plurality of blades B31. The macerator is for liquefying any solid waste contained in the waste chamber 31, whereby after maceration the waste will be a slurry. A pressure line 34 feeds into the waste chamber via a third valve V33. The pressure line 34 feeds pressurised fluid into the waste chamber 32 allowing the pressurised forced expulsion of waste from the waste chamber outlet 33 via the open second valve V32.
(17) FIG. 4 shows a waste chamber with an inlet 41 separated from the chamber by a first valve V41 and an outlet 43 separated from the chamber by a second valve V42. The waste chamber is coupled to a pressure line 44 by a third valve V43. The waste chamber is operable to store and eject under pressure waste as is described above in relation to previous figures. The flow of waste from the inlet 41 to the outlet 43 is either through the waste chamber or through an overflow chamber 45. The overflow chamber is coupled to the inlet 41 by an overflow inlet valve V45 and to the outlet 43 by an overflow outlet valve V46. If the waste chamber inlet valve V41 is closed and the overflow inlet V45 and outlet V46 valves are open, waste may flow around the waste chamber bypassing the waste chamber, first valve and second valve. In some embodiments, the overflow mechanism is only used to expel liquid waste.
(18) FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate pumping devices. Both figures show waste chambers with inlets and outlets, both separated from waste chambers by valves. Both figures also show a macerator B5, B6 contained within a waste chamber coupled to a motor M5, M6.1 by a first transmission T5.1, T6.1. The figures show a pump P5, P6 coupled to a pressure line leading into the waste chamber. The pumps P5, P6 are both coupled to a motor M5, M6.2 by a second transmission T5.2, T6.2. In FIG. 5 a single motor M5 powers the macerator B5 and the pump P5, while in FIG. 6 the macerator M6 and the pump P6 are powered by two separate motors.
(19) FIG. 7 shows a pumping device having an inlet 71 and an outlet 74. The inlet 71 is coupled to a first valve V71 and the outlet is coupled to a second valve V74. A waste chamber 72 is coupled to the inlet 71 by the first valve V71, whereby the waste chamber can selectively receive waste from the inlet. A vacuum chamber 73 is coupled to the waste chamber by a mid-valve V72, whereby the vacuum chamber can selectively receive waste from the waste chamber. The vacuum chamber 73 is coupled to the outlet 74 by the second valve V74. A macerator is installed within the waste chamber.
(20) The vacuum chamber 73 is also coupled to a vacuum line 75 by a vacuum-valve V75. The vacuum line is coupled to a pump P7 for pumping fluid from the vacuum chamber 73 through the vacuum-valve V75, vacuum line 75 and the pump P7. The pump is coupled to a pressure line 76 and to the waste chamber 72 by a pressure-valve V73. Fluid flowing from the pump may pass through the pressure line and selectively through the pressure-valve into the pressure chamber.
(21) In use, the first valve V71 opens to allow waste to flow into the waste chamber 72, and the mid-valve V72 is closed to prevent waste flowing from the chamber. Waste collects in the waste chamber and is reduced to a slurry, if required, by a macerator contained within the chamber. When the waste is to be evacuated from the device, the pump P7 is used to simultaneously reduce the pressure within the vacuum chamber 73 and increase the pressure within the waste chamber 72 by pumping fluid from the vacuum chamber to the waste chamber. To eject the waste, the mid-valve is opened and the pressure difference between the two chambers provides a force to accelerate matter from the waste chamber towards the outlet 74 which lies beyond the closed second valve V74. The second valve is opened and the waste continues to move towards the outlet through the open second valve. The second valve is closed after waste has passed through said valve.
(22) FIG. 9 shows a flow chart for the device illustrated in FIG. 7. The system is initiated F1 and sets the valves of the device to receive and store waste. The waste accumulates in the device waste chamber until the amount of waste fills the waste chamber to a predetermined level F2. A timer control F3 may be activated whereby the device will accumulate waste for either a predetermined amount of time, or until a predetermined time of day, thus not requiring the waste chamber to fill to the predetermined level. If the fill level F2 is reached or the timer control F3 value is achieved, the states of the valves of the device are changed F4 to stop waste entering the waste chamberthe waste chamber and the vacuum chamber are sealed except for openings leading to a pump. The pump is activated F5 to pump fluid from the sealed vacuum chamber into the sealed pressure chamber, thereby increasing the relative pressure within the waste chamber and decreasing the relative pressure within the vacuum chamber. A pressure sensor present in the waste chamber, the vacuum chamber, and/or a chamber within which the pump is housed is monitored and when a predetermined pressure is reached, the valve statuses change F7, whereby the vacuum and pressure-valves closeisolating the pump and stopping the movement of air between the waste chamber and the vacuum chamber through the pumpand the mid-valve opens. The pump is deactivated F8. Waste in the waste chamber is no longer contained in the chamber as the fluid in the waste chamber expands and pushes the waste into the vacuum chamber where the relative pressure is lower.
(23) During a delay F9, the waste is accelerated towards and into the vacuum chamber and continues towards the second valve. The second valve opens F10 and the waste continues its vector towards and through the second valve. The pumping of the device may be repeated a number of times, which is represented by decision function F11. Should a repeat pumping be required, the system again sets the valves F4 in preparation for pumping, otherwise the system sets the valves so that more waste may be received in the waste chamber F1.
(24) FIG. 8 shows a pumping device similar to that shown in FIG. 7. In FIG. 8 the vacuum chamber 83 is coupled to a vacuum line 85 by a vacuum-valve V85. The vacuum line is further coupled to a pump P8 for pumping fluid from the vacuum chamber 83 through the vacuum-valve V85, vacuum line 85 and pump P8. The pump is coupled through a pressure line 86 and a pressure-valve V83 to the waste chamber 82, whereby fluid flowing from the pump may pass through the pressure line and selectively through the pressure-valve into the pressure chamber. The macerator B8 and pump P8 are concentric, coupled together and have a corresponding rotating motion. The macerator and pump may be formed from a single piece of material, or by joining together multiple pieces of material. As the pump P8 is disposed around the waste compartment 82, the pumping effect is also around the waste compartment as can be seen in FIG. 8 where fluid is being pumped both above and below the cross-section as is illustrated by the two arrows both going from left to right and indicating movement of pumped fluid.
(25) In another embodiment (not shown), the macerator and pump are coupled by a concentric gearing system.
(26) In the embodiment described in relation to FIG. 9, a level sensor, timer, and/or pressure sensor may not be required. A timer may ensure that the waste container is emptied regularly, thus the level sensor may not be required. The waste compartment may be emptied only when it is a certain percentage full, thus the timer may not be required. The pump may be activated for a set period of time, thus the pressure sensor may not be required.
(27) FIG. 10 shows a pumping device having a waste chamber 102 for storing waste, and an ultrasonic macerator 10U for macerating waste stored in the waste container. The ultrasonic macerator emits ultrasonic pressure waves AU into the waste to disintegrate the waste. The ultrasonic macerator may be used instead of a mechanical macerator or in conjunction with a mechanical macerator.
(28) Various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, a macerator may or may not be present in any of the above-described embodiments. A macerator will not be required if the waste that the pumping device acts on does not contain solids. The level sensor described in relation to FIG. 9 may be present in any embodiment. The timer activation described in relation to FIG. 9 may be present in any embodiment. The pressure applied to the waste chamber, or pressure chamber, may be varied. The pressure may be dependent upon the type of waste being disposed, and/or the amount of waste being disposed. The type of waste may dictate whether or not a macerator is needed. Optionally, if the pressure applied to the waste is very high, this can cause a macerating effect when the waste is ejected from the waste chamber and the use of a macerator may be avoided. If the amount of waste in the waste chamber is below a predetermined level, maceration may be avoided by pressurising the waste chamber a predetermined pressure level. Different pressure levels may have different corresponding pressurisations where maceration is not required.
(29) The fluid pumped into the waste chamber to increase the pressure in the chamber will usually be air, however, this invention should not be limited to this particular fluid as any compressible fluid may be used.
(30) A waste chamber waste level sensor is not illustrated in the figures. The waste level sensor may be implemented by an ultrasound emitter and receiver, wherein the level of the waste affects the time taken for emitted ultrasound to reflect off the waste surface and be detected by the receiver. Alternatively, the level sensor may be implemented by a mechanical float within the chamber connecting to a mechanical switch; or a pneumatic sensor whereby the weight of the waste displaces a membrane in the waste chamber and the displacement is measured.
