On-demand waste transport system and apparatus for use with low water or water free waste disposal devices

Abstract

An on-demand waste transport system and method 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) via an evacuation system. 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. The system and method may transport the waste by generating an “on-demand” vacuum pressure within the system.

1 . An on-demand waste transport system comprising:
 a plurality of low or no water disposal devices;   a plurality of drop chambers coupled to said plurality of low or no water disposal devices such that waste moves by gravity from said plurality of low or no water disposal devices into said drop chambers;   an evacuation system operatively coupled to said plurality of drop chambers and configured to evacuate said waste from said plurality of drop chambers and to transport said waste to a distribution location using vacuum pressure;   a disposal vessel at said distribution location, said disposal vessel being connected to said evacuation system and configured to receive said waste transported by said evacuation system; and   a controller configured to communicate with and control said evacuation system such that said evacuation system remains at atmospheric pressure until said controller causes said evacuation system to evacuate said waste.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said evacuation system comprises:
 a suction head coupled to said plurality of low or no water disposal devices by way of conduits coupled between said suction head and said plurality of drop chambers; and 
 a vacuum generating system coupled to said suction head, said vacuum generating system comprising a vacuum generator configured to generate vacuum pressure in said suction head and said conduits in response to an evacuation request. 
 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said vacuum generating system further comprises an air compressor configured to supply compressed air to said vacuum generator. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising a plurality of sensors coupled to said controller and associated with said plurality of drop chambers, each of said plurality of sensors being configured to sense presence of said waste in corresponding each of said plurality of drop chambers, and the controller being configured to cause said evacuation system to evacuate said waste in response to at least one of said sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4  wherein said controller is configured to control said vacuum generating system in response to at least one of said sensors. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein said controller is configured to activate said vacuum generating system and cause said vacuum generator to generate vacuum pressure in said suction head and conduits responsive to at least one of said sensors, said suction head and conduits being configured to draw said waste from said plurality of drop chambers via said vacuum pressure. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said controller is further configured to open flush valves of each of said plurality of drop chambers corresponding to each of said plurality of sensors sensing said waste in said drop chambers. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said controller is configured to deactivate said vacuum generating system in response to said sensors indicating lack of waste in said drop chambers. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6  wherein said controller is configured to deactivate said vacuum generating system after a predetermined period of time. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 2  wherein at least one of said drop chambers is located below said suction head. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said controller is configured to activate said vacuum generating system in response to a user input. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 2  wherein said controller is configured to activate said vacuum generating system periodically. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one collection chamber fluidly coupled to said plurality of drop chambers, wherein said at least one collection chamber is configured to receive said waste from said plurality of drop chambers via said evacuation system before being transported to said distribution location. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of drop chambers are coupled to said plurality of low or no water disposal devices with gravity piping having a downward slope of at least 45°. 
     
     
         15 . A method of transporting waste, said method comprising:
 providing an evacuation system operatively coupled to a plurality of drop chambers coupled to a plurality of low or no water disposal devices;   generating vacuum pressure in said evacuation system in response to an evacuation request to evacuate and transport waste from said plurality of drop chambers to a distribution location; and   depositing evacuated waste in a disposal vessel at said distribution location.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said evacuation system comprises:
 a suction head coupled to said plurality of low or no water disposal devices by way of conduits coupled between said suction head and said plurality of drop chambers; and 
 a vacuum generating system coupled to said suction head, said vacuum generating system comprising a vacuum generator configured to generate vacuum pressure in said suction head and conduits when compressed air is supplied to said vacuum generator. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said evacuation request is provided in response to sensing waste in at least one of said drop chambers. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said evacuation request is provided in response to a user input. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said evacuation request is provided periodically. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein said suction head and conduits are at atmospheric pressure when said vacuum generating system is inactive.