Vacuum urinal assembly

Abstract

A vacuum urinal assembly includes a shell portion, operational means, and vacuum discharge means. In order to achieve a streamlined arrangement, the shell portion is formed as a substantially unitary body, whereby the operational means comprise a level sensor means and a vacuum-operated discharge valve in fluid communication with a pipe system. The shell portion is arranged to support the operational means within the shell portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A vacuum urinal assembly for use with a pipe system in fluid communication with a vacuum source, the vacuum urinal assembly comprising: 
 a shell portion comprising a substantially unitary body;    operational means including a level sensor and a vacuum-operated discharge valve adapted for fluid communication with the pipe system, and    vacuum discharge means,    wherein the shell portion supports the operational means within the shell portion.    
     
     
         2 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which the shell portion comprises a bowl portion with a discharge opening.  
     
     
         3 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 2 , in which the discharge opening is in fluid communication with a sensor chamber provided with the level sensor, and in which the sensor chamber is in fluid communication with the vacuum operated discharge valve.  
     
     
         4 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which the operational means further comprises a rinse water means supported within the shell portion.  
     
     
         5 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 4 , in which a back plate is fastened to a back side of the shell portion, and in which the operational means are mounted on the back plate.  
     
     
         6 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which the vacuum-operated discharge valve fluidly communicates with the pipe system through a first vacuum supply valve.  
     
     
         7 . The vacuum urinal assembly  claim 6 , in which a suction line extends between the pipe system and the first vacuum supply valve and a valve line extends between the first vacuum supply valve and the vacuum-operated discharge valve to establish fluid communication between the pipe system and the vacuum-operated discharge valve.  
     
     
         8 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which the pipe system fluidly communication with the vacuum source through vacuum sewer piping.  
     
     
         9 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 8 , in which the vacuum sewer piping comprises a retention tank.  
     
     
         10 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 8 , in which the rinse water means is vacuum-operated, and in that the rinse water means is connected to the vacuum source by a second vacuum supply valve and a vacuum line.  
     
     
         11 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which a control unit is operably coupled to the assembly and includes an activator means.  
     
     
         12 . The vacuum urinal assembly of  claim 1 , in which a back plate is fastened to a back side of the shell portion, and in which the operational means are mounted on the back plate.