Chemical closets

Abstract

A flushing unit for a chemical closet comprises a reservoir for flushing fluid and means for circulation of flushing fluid between the reservoir and a lavatory pan or bowl of a chemical closet. Provision is made so that the return conduit from the lavatory pan to the reservoir will not admit at any time solid material deposited in the lavatory pan. Passage of liquid deposited in the lavatory pan therefrom to the reservoir is generally prevented by ensuring that the return conduit is incapable of allowing the free flow therethrough of liquid except during transfer of flushing fluid to the lavatory pan or chamber. The return conduit can take the form either of a narrow bore tube through which liquid can only be passed under suction, or can be of wider bore having a suitable valve therein.

I claim: 
     
       1. A transportable chemical closet comprising a casing for containing a chemical solution in a lower region thereof, a lavatory pan or bowl located within said casing at an upper region thereof and having a discharge aperture at its lower part, closure means for said discharge aperture, said closure means being constrained to keep said discharge aperture closed at least when said pan or bowl is in use, and a flushing unit comprising a casing constituting a chamber for a flushing fluid, means defining an inlet passage to said chamber from a lower region of said pan or bowl, means defining an outlet passage to said pan or bowl from said chamber, means associated with said outlet passage for withdrawing the flushing fluid from said chamber through said outlet passage to said pan or bowl, said inlet passage being adapted so that solid waste material as is normally deposited in a lavatory pan or bowl cannot pass therethrough and so that liquid can only pass therethrough when said fluid withdrawing means is operating, when, with said closure means closed, the flushing fluid is circulated in a closed flow path which includes said pan or bowl and bypasses said lower region of the casing. 
     
     
       2. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 1, wherein said casing of the flushing unit has two apertures at different heights therein, first narrow-bore conduit means from the lower aperture defining said outlet passage and a further narrow-bore conduit means to the upper aperture defining said inlet passage, the bore of said further conduit means, at least in said lower region of the pan or bowl, being insufficient for liquid to enter thereinto other than when suction is applied to said further conduit means, said flushing unit further comprising nozzle means attached to said first conduit means at a location thereon within said pan or bowl. 
     
     
       3. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 2, further comprising sealing means for said discharge aperture, for sealing the latter when said closure means closes said discharge aperture. 
     
     
       4. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining the inlet passage comprises a tube having a bore allowing the passage of liquid therethrough substantially only by suction produced at the other end thereof by withdrawal from said chamber of the flushing fluid through said means defining the outlet passage. 
     
     
       5. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 4, further comprising nozzle means intended for fixing to the inside wall of said pan or bowl, and narrow-bore tube means defining said outlet passage from said chamber to said nozzle means. 
     
     
       6. A transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 2, wherein said further conduit means extends within the interior of said pan or bowl in the region of said closure means, and is provided with a plurality of inlets communicating said further conduit means with said interior, which inlets are so dimensioned as to allow entry of liquid therethrough substantially only when suction is applied to said further conduit means. 
     
     
       7. A transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 4, wherein said tube extends within the interior of said pan or bowl in the region of said closure means, and is provided with a plurality of inlets communicating said tube with said interior, which inlets are so dimensioned as to allow entry of liquid therethrough substantially only when suction is applied to said tube. 
     
     
       8. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 1, wherein said means defining the inlet passage is provided with valve means for normally closing said inlet passage, and which is in operative association with said fluid withdrawing means whereby it can only be opened when said fluid withdrawing means is operating, and which valve means, when open, provides an entrance to said means defining the inlet passage, which is insufficient to allow passage therethrough of the solid waste material, but permits liquid to pass therethrough. 
     
     
       9. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 8, wherein said fluid withdrawing means is provided with means to render it operable only when said valve means is opened. 
     
     
       10. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 8, wherein said valve means comprises a cylindrical housing having an opening therein and constituting at least part of said inlet passage, a piston member reciprocably displaceable in said housing, to open and close said opening in dependence upon the position thereof, a cam member positioned to act on said piston member, further comprising means for rotating said cam member, and resilient biasing means against the action of which said piston member is displaced by said cam member. 
     
     
       11. The transportable chemical closet as defined in claim 8, wherein said fluid withdrawing means is provided with means to render it operable only when said valve means is opened, the latter comprising a cylindrical housing having an opening therein and constituting at least part of said inlet passage, a piston member reciprocably displaceable in said housing, to open and close said opening in dependence upon the position thereof, a cam member positioned to act on said piston member, and cause displacement of the latter, further comprising means for rotating said cam member, and resilient biasing means against the action of which said piston member is displaced by said cam member. .Iadd. 12. A sanitary closet comprising a. a bowl portion having a bottom outlet,   b. a waste receptacle positioned below said bowl for receiving liquid and solid waste admitted to said bowl and passing through said bottom outlet,   c. closure means operable between open and closed positions for selectively permitting solid and liquid waste to pass from said bowl to said waste receptacle,   d. means defining a separate reservoir for flushing fluid, said reservoir being positioned above said bowl outlet and around said bowl portion,   e. sump means positioned below said bowl outlet and about said waste receptacle for collecting flushing fluid when said closure means is closed,   f. means defining a separate flow path for said flushing fluid from said bowl to said sump when said closure means is in a closed position, thereby bypassing said waste receptacle,   g. pump means for forcing said fluid from said reservoir to said bowl to flush said bowl, said means also defining a separate flow path to return said flushing fluid from said sump to said reservoir. .Iaddend.