Aerobic digestion toilet

Abstract

An aerobic digestion toilet ( 1 ) including a chamber ( 2 ) and a toilet bowl ( 3 ) above the chamber, said chamber having an oulet vent ( 4 ) and means for generating convection flow through the chamber from adjacent the floor thereof through the oulet vent from the chamber, whereby a conveyor ( 16 ) is mounted within the chamber and is located below the toilet bowl and configured to receive material falling from the toilet bowl and move it upwardly at an incline to discharge onto a downwardly inclined tray ( 21 ) for subsequent disposal.

1 . An aerobic digestion toilet ( 1 ) including a chamber ( 2 ), a toilet bowl ( 3 ) above the chamber ( 2 ) having an outlet vent ( 4 ) and means ( 4 ;  8 ) for generating convection flow through the chamber ( 2 ) from adjacent the floor thereof through the outlet vent ( 4 ) from the chamber ( 2 ), characterized in that a conveyor ( 16 ) is located below the toilet bowl ( 3 ) and configured to receive material falling from the toilet bowl ( 3 ) and move it upwardly at an incline to discharge onto a downwardly inclined tray ( 21 ).  
   
   
       2 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the tray ( 21 ) is inclined at different angles along its length being at a steeper angle adjacent the conveyor ( 16 ) than the remainder of the tray ( 21 ) remote from the conveyor ( 16 )  
   
   
       3 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 2  in which the tray ( 21 ) end remote from the conveyor ( 16 ) feeds into a solids receptacle ( 26 ) which is removably located in the chamber ( 2 ).  
   
   
       4 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the conveyor ( 16 ) is a belt ( 17 ) conveyor.  
   
   
       5 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 4  in which the belt ( 17 ) is a sprocket belt and has side and lower end plates ( 16 A) associated therewith.  
   
   
       6 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which the conveyor ( 16 ) is provided with a stepwise mechanical drive ( 25 ).  
   
   
       7 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 6  in which the drive is a lever ( 24 ) operated ratchet mechanism ( 25 ) driving a sprocket engaging a conveyor belt roller ( 18 ), the lever ( 24 ) linked to a tiltable toilet bowl cover ( 22 ).  
   
   
       8 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 7  in which the lever ( 24 ) is also connected to a handle ( 30 ) located near the toilet bowl ( 3 ).  
   
   
       9 . An aerobic digestion toilet as claimed in  claim 1  in which a linkage mechanism ( 32 ) connects the closure plate ( 15 ) to a toilet seat ( 22 ) whereby the closure plate ( 15 ) is moved to an open position when the toilet seat ( 22 ) is depressed.  
   
   
       10 . A kit for retrofitting to existing aerobic toilets ( 1 ) comprising a conveyor ( 16 ) and drive assembly ( 25 ), discharge tray ( 21 ) and a mounting frame ( 34 ) the components as defined in  claim 1 .  
   
   
       11 . An aerobic toilet substantially as described and illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .