Grey water toilet and flushing method

Abstract

A method of flushing a toilet that includes opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of grey water into a passage to prime a siphon; opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage; closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water; evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.

1 . A method of flushing a toilet, comprising:
 opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of water into a passage to prime a siphon;   opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of the passage;   closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water;   evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and   closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator, the actuator being configured to open the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first supply of water is grey water, and wherein the second supply of water is fresh water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator opens the second valve after a first time delay from when the actuator opened the first valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the second valve closes after a second time delay from when the first valve closes. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each time delay is approximately one to three seconds. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first valve is in fluid communication with a storage device configured to store a volume of grey water therein. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the storage device is located in the tank of the toilet, and wherein the grey water in the storage device is fluidly separated from the fresh water in the tank. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the storage device is located in a base housing the bowl. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the passage includes a first end, a second end, and a weir that is provided between the first and second ends, wherein the passage also includes an inlet opening provided between the weir and the second end, and wherein the inlet opening being is configured to receive the supply of grey water. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the passage that is disposed between the weir and the second end defines a waste side of the passage, and wherein the grey water remains on the waste side of the passage during the flush cycle. 
     
     
         11 . A method of flushing a toilet, comprising:
 opening a first valve to introduce a first supply of water into a bowl from a tank, the bowl having an outlet that is in fluid communication with an inlet of a passage;   opening a second valve to introduce a second supply of water into the passage to prime a siphon;   closing the second valve to shut off the second supply of water;   evacuating the contents of the bowl through an outlet of the passage by way of the siphon generated by the introduction of the first supply of water and the introduction of the second supply of water; and   closing the first valve to shut off the first supply of water.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising an actuator, the actuator being configured to open the first valve and the second valve, wherein the first supply of water is fresh water, and wherein the second supply of water is grey water. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first valve is opened upon a rotation of the actuator, and wherein the second valve is opened after a first time delay from when the actuator opened the first valve, and wherein the first valve closes after a second time delay from when the second valve closes. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first valve is opened upon a first rotation of the actuator, and wherein the second valve is opened upon a second rotation of the actuator following the first rotation of the actuator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the first supply of water is fresh water and the second supply of water is grey water, and wherein the second valve is in fluid communication with a storage device configured to store a volume of grey water therein. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the storage device is located in the tank, and wherein the grey water in the storage device is fluidly separated from the fresh water in the tank. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the tank is supported by a top surface of a pedestal housing the bowl, and wherein the tank comprises:
 a first compartment configured to house the fresh water;   a first inlet fluidly connecting the supply of fresh water and the first compartment;   a first outlet fluidly connecting the first valve and the first compartment;   a second compartment defined by the storage device and configured to house the grey water;   a second inlet fluidly connecting the supply of grey water and the second compartment; and   a second outlet fluidly connecting the second valve and the second compartment;   wherein the first and second compartments are fluidly separated.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the storage device is coupled to and supported by a base that is configured to house the bowl. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the tank holding the supply of fresh water is also coupled to and supported by the base. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a housing that is configured to close off and conceal the base, wherein the storage device and the tank are disposed underneath the housing between the base and the housing.