Waste transport system and apparatus for use with low water or water free waste disposal devices

Abstract

A waste transport system may be used for transporting waste from low or no water disposal devices (e.g., low flow toilet fixtures, foam flush toilets and similar types of reduced water toilet fixtures) to remote areas that may not be functionally accessible by gravity. These areas may include, but are not limited to, composting units, sewers, septic systems, holding tanks or areas where the waste may be combined with additional water.

1 . A waste transport system comprising:
 a plurality of drop chambers configured to receive waste via gravity from a plurality of low or no water disposal devices; and   an evacuation system operatively coupled to the drop chambers and configured to evacuate the waste from the drop chambers and to transport the waste to a distribution location not accessible by gravity, wherein the evacuation system is configured to draw the waste from the drop chambers via vacuum pressure.   
   
   
       2 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  further comprising a disposal vessel at the distribution location, the disposal vessel being connected to the evacuation system and configured to receive the waste transported by the evacuation system. 
   
   
       3 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  further comprising a collection chamber configured to receive the waste from the plurality of drop chambers via the evacuation system before being transported to the distribution location. 
   
   
       4 . The waste transport system of  claim 3  wherein the collection chamber is coupled directly to at least one of the waste disposal devices and also acts as a drop chamber. 
   
   
       5 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  wherein the evacuation system includes at least one pump configured to generate the vacuum pressure in the evacuation system. 
   
   
       6 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  further comprising a collection chamber configured to receive the waste from the plurality of drop chambers via the evacuation system before being transported to the distribution location, wherein the evacuation system includes at least one pump configured to pump waste to the collection chamber and/or to the distribution location. 
   
   
       7 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  wherein the evacuation system includes a suction head configured to maintain a vacuum charge for evacuating the waste from the drop chambers. 
   
   
       8 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  wherein the evacuation system is triggered by time intervals and/or by sensing content in the drop chambers. 
   
   
       9 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the drop chambers is configured to be coupled to a plurality of waste disposal devices. 
   
   
       10 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one disposal vessel at the distribution location, the disposal vessel being configured to receive the waste transported by the evacuation system, and wherein the evacuation system includes at least one suction head coupled to the disposal vessel, the suction head being configured to maintain a vacuum charge for evacuating the waste from at least one of the drop chambers into the disposal vessel. 
   
   
       11 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of low or no water disposal devices, wherein the drop chambers are coupled to the low or no water disposal devices such that waste moves by gravity from the low or no water disposal devices into the drop chambers. 
   
   
       12 . The waste transport system of  claim 1  wherein the evacuation system includes a suction head configured to maintain a vacuum charge for evacuating the waste from the drop chambers and a vacuum pumping system configured to provide the vacuum charge. 
   
   
       13 . The waste transport system of  claim 12  wherein the evacuation system further includes conduits coupled between the suction head, the drop chambers and the vacuum pumping system, and back vacuum prevention valves coupled to the conduits to form segments. 
   
   
       14 . A waste evacuation apparatus comprising:
 a suction head including a body defining a vacuum chamber configured to maintain a vacuum charge, a vacuum port configured to be coupled to a vacuum pumping system, a waste inlet configured to receive waste into the vacuum chamber, and a waste outlet configured to pass the waste out of the vacuum chamber; and   a distribution arm coupled to the waste outlet of the suction head and configured to deliver the waste to a waste disposal vessel.   
   
   
       15 . The waste receiving system of  claim 18  wherein the distribution arm is fixed relative to the suction head. 
   
   
       16 . The waste receiving system of  claim 18  wherein the distribution arm is rotatable relative to the suction head. 
   
   
       17 . The waste receiving system  claim 18 , further comprising a flapper valve operatively coupled to the suction head, the flapper valve configured to close and form a seal when a vacuum occurs in the suction head, the flapper valve further configured to open and release the seal in response to the pressure within the suction head reaching equilibrium with atmospheric pressure. 
   
   
       18 . The waste receiving system claim  21  wherein the flapper valve is coupled to the distribution arm. 
   
   
       19 . The waste receiving system claim  21  wherein the flapper valve is coupled to an outlet of the suction head.