Replacement cartridge for waterless urinal

Abstract

An electronic, dual valve normally closed, mechanical sealed waterless urinal system, free of oil sealing, where the system may be mounted to the wall of a restroom facility. The system includes a bowl portion that features a central recess in communication with a drain or sewer line. A circular housing, sized for sliding receipt within the central recess, mounts a cartridge containing first and second chambers. A first chamber includes a latching solenoid piston rod vertically movable into sealing engagement with the top drain opening in the housing. Further, the first chamber includes a flexible, one-way valve to allow the passage of fluid therethrough, while preventing gases from entering the first chamber. The second chamber includes a solenoid operable to move the piston rod to an opened position, where the latching solenoid is automated by a motion sensor control mechanism, and mechanical means to return the piston rod to a closed position. In a second embodiment, the system includes a latching hybrid solenoid mechanism. Finally, the system may include a series of LED's, preferably emitting a continuous or intermittent green light, and a UV light source to help sanitize the cartridge.

1 . An electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, waterless urinal system for mounting on a wall of a facility, said system comprising:
 a.) a urinal housing body featuring a splash portion and a bowl portion, said bowl portion including a generally circular, central recess in communication with a fluid drain line;   b.) a generally circular housing sized for sliding receipt within said central recess, where said housing includes an annular groove containing an O-ring mounted therein to provide a fluid seal between said recess and said housing;   c.) a cartridge seated within said housing and divided into a pair of chambers and containing dual valves;
 i.) a first said chamber having an inwardly and downwardly directed top wall with a central opening in fluid communication with said bowl portion, a bottom wall mounting a flexible, one-way valve to allow fluid flow from said first chamber to said drain line while preventing gas from entering said first chamber, and a latching solenoid piston rod extending from a said second chamber, where the free end of said piston rod mounts a sealing cap operable as a second valve to provide a fluid seal between said bowl portion and said first chamber; 
 ii.) a sealed said second chamber containing a latching solenoid operable to move said piston rod between opened and closed modes; 
   d.) sensor means in electrical communication with said latching solenoid, where said sensor automatically detects immanent use and non-use of said system; and,   e.) electric power means in electrical communication with said sensor means.   
   
   
       2 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , wherein said cartridge housing includes in proximity to its top an outwardly extending flanged portion, said flanged portion having threads for engaging complementary threads along the inner wall of said recess. 
   
   
       3 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , including mechanical means to effect raising of said piston rod into a sealed and closed position with said central opening. 
   
   
       4 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 3 , wherein said mechanical means comprises a coiled spring for moving said piston rod from an “opened” position to a “closed” position. 
   
   
       5 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 2 . wherein said sealing cap includes a circular top segment and an outwardly tapered bottom segment, said sealing cap mounting an O-ring to facilitate the fluid sealing thereof. 
   
   
       6 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , including a screening member overlying said central opening to trap any solids deposited in said receptacle. 
   
   
       7 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 6 . wherein said screening member comprises an inverted, tamper proof, perforated cap. 
   
   
       8 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , said second chamber is characterized by a tapered configuration to direct fluid entering into said first chamber toward said flexible one-way valve. 
   
   
       9 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , wherein said sensor means comprises a motion sensor mounted on said wall in proximity to said urinal splash portion. 
   
   
       10 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said valves is closed during both operative and inoperative modes. 
   
   
       11 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , including a sealed UV light source mounted within said first chamber to sanitize the environment thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 1 , including a light source emitting a green light visible through the top of said cartridge. 
   
   
       13 . An environmentally sensitive urine receiving cartridge for use in a wall mounted, waterless urinal system, where the urinal system includes a housing body having a splash portion and a bowl portion, and the bowl portion includes a generally circular, central recess in communication with a urine fluid drain line, said cartridge comprising:
 a.) a generally circular housing body sized for sliding receipt within said recess, said housing body including access means for receiving urine fluid, and exit means for releasing said urine fluid to said drain line; and,   b.) a cartridge mounted within said housing body, said cartridge containing an upper peripheral rim mounting a light transmitting cover member, and an inner wall mounting at least one electrically activated LED's for transmitting light therefrom through said cover member; and,   c.) an electric power source to energize said LED's.   
   
   
       14 . The environmentally sensitive urine receiving cartridge according to  claim 13 , wherein said cover member is fabricated from a translucent acrylic plastic, or other luminous material. 
   
   
       15 . The environmentally sensitive urine receiving cartridge according to  claim 13 , including at least one UV sanitizing light to provide germicidal protection to said cartridge. 
   
   
       16 . The environmentally sensitive urine receiving cartridge according to  claim 13 , where said LED's emit a green light, whereby a continuous or intermittent green light is visible through said upper peripheral rim. 
   
   
       17 . An electronic, oil-free sealant, waterless, dual valve, urinal system for mounting on a wall of a facility, said system comprising:
 a.) a urinal housing body featuring a splash portion and a bowl portion, said bowl portion including a generally circular, central recess in communication with a fluid drain line;   b.) a generally circular housing sized for sliding receipt within said central recess, said housing having an annular groove mounting an O-ring therein to provide a fluid seal between said recess and said housing;   c) a cartridge within said housing and divided into a pair of chambers;
 i.) a first said chamber having an inwardly and downwardly directed top peripheral wall with a central opening in fluid communication with said bowl portion, a bottom wall mounting a flexible, one-way valve to allow fluid flow from said first chamber to a second said chamber thence to said drain line, a single split coil, hybrid latching solenoid featuring a fixed center mounted magnet, and a movable magnetizable shuttle shunt mounted within a movable cylindrical dual valve fixture and positioned for reciprocating movement within said split coil center magnets, said moveable shunt fixture mounting a cap member for movement between ‘opened’ and ‘closed’ positions relative to said central opening to provide a fluid seal thereto; 
   d.) sensor means in electrical communication with said hybrid latching solenoid, where said sensor automatically detects immanent use and non-use of said system; and,   e.) electrical power means in electrical communication with said sensor means.   
   
   
       18 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 17 , wherein said top peripheral wall is fabricated from a light transmitting material, said cartridge having an inner wall that mounts at least one LED light source, where said LED light source is visible through said light transmitting material define a urine flow target. 
   
   
       19 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 17 , including a removable cap spaced from and overriding said cap member to prevent tampering with said system. 
   
   
       20 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 17 , including a water resistant, sealed UV light source mounted within said first chamber to sanitize the environment thereof. 
   
   
       21 . The electronic, oil-free sealant, dual valve, urinal system according to  claim 17 , wherein said light transmitting material is a plastic and is translucent, said LED light source emitting a green light, whereby a continuous green light is visible therethrough. 
   
   
       22 . In combination with a waterless, dual valve, urinal system mounted on a wall of a restroom facility, where the system features a urinal having a splash portion and a bowl portion, said bowl portion including a generally circular, central recess in communication with a fluid drain line, and mounting a generally circular housing in sealing relationship to said recess;
 a removable cartridge positioned within said circular housing, where said cartridge is divided into a pair of chambers, a first said chamber having an inwardly and downwardly directed top peripheral wall with a central opening in fluid communication with said bowl portion, a bottom wall mounting a flexible, one-way valve to allow fluid flow from said first chamber to a second said chamber thence to said drain line, a hybrid latching solenoid featuring a fixed permanent magnet, and a movable magnetizable shunt mounted within a movable shuttle fixture and positioned for reciprocating movement within said permanent magnet, said movable shuttle fixture mounting a cap member for movement between ‘opened’ and ‘closed’ positions relative to said central opening to provide a fluid seal thereto; and,   electronic means to sense use of said urinal system and effect movement of said hybrid latching solenoid.   
   
   
       23 . The combination according to  claim 22 , wherein the top peripheral wall of said cartridge is fabricated from a light transmitting plastic, said cartridge having an inner wall that mounts at least one LED light source, where said light source is visible through said plastic to define a urine flow target. 
   
   
       24 . The combination according to  claim 22 , including a removable, tamper proof, threaded cap spaced from and overriding said cap member to prevent tampering with said system. 
   
   
       25 . The combination according to  claim 23 , including a water resistant, sealed UV light source mounted within said first chamber to sanitize the environment thereof. 
   
   
       26 . The combination according to  claim 23 , wherein said plastic is translucent and said LED light source emits a green light, whereby a continuous or intermittent green light is visible therethrough.