JPH0321452B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for the intermittent transport of liquids, for example in a baquium sewage system.

A conventional vacuum sewage system consists of a waste (such as sewage) inlet and a vacuum pump connected by a line that includes a valve to provide a seal.
The pressure difference across the valve is often about 0.5 atmospheres. The opening of the valve causes the inlet exhaust,
Under the influence of the pressure difference, the plug waste is subjected to considerable acceleration. Upon evacuation, this plug acts like a projectile and makes the system very noisy. Another drawback of such systems is that the waste must be passed through a mechanical valve. Furthermore, because the valves are typically operated on a time-delay basis, air is unnecessarily drawn into the system after the plug exhaust has exited the inlet and before the valve closes.

Conventional toilets require the use of significant amounts of water for flushing, cleaning and filling, whether or not they are flushed under reduced pressure. Conventional toilets are usually constructed of porcelain and designed to provide the most advantageous flow of flushing water. They also require an odor trap, usually in the shape of a "U-bend".
These overall design features constitute many internal and external surfaces, and these surfaces are difficult to achieve thorough cleaning.

Also, baquium-flush latrines or baquium sewage systems, e.g.
It may be desired to couple a system of the type described and claimed in WO 81/00102 to a conventional sewage system operating under atmospheric pressure, or vice versa. For example, in an area where the land conditions and topography of undeveloped land are favorable for the adoption of one or more vacuum-flat systems (however, conventional systems are already being used in the area), the number of houses can be increased. It may be desirable to increase it. This may entail contrasting problems in transferring liquids (eg effluents) from a reduced pressure environment to an atmospheric pressure environment and vice versa. Furthermore, waste or other liquids are transported via pipes under atmospheric pressure,
If the pipe has to cross an inconvenient area, it may be desirable to use a vacuum system to transport such liquid from one section of the pipe to another section above said area.

International Patent Publication No. WO 81/00102 discloses a device consisting of a tank having an inlet and an outlet, means for reducing the pressure in the tank, and an air inlet to the tank. In Figure 5 of this publication, the first
A tank (same meaning) is a rise pipe.
An example of a device is shown that is connected to a second tank via a. The second tank is connected to a vacuum pump and has an outlet through which liquid can be drained. When the level of liquid in the first tank reaches the inlet to the riser pipe, the air and liquid mixture in the first tank is drawn up through the riser pipe under the influence of reduced pressure.

A liquid transport device according to the present invention includes a liquid transport line (pipe line) having a liquid inlet, a riser pipe, and an air inlet, a means for reducing the pressure in the line, and a liquid transport line (pipe line) having a liquid inlet, a riser pipe, and an air inlet, and a means for reducing the pressure in the line, and a liquid transport line (pipe line) having a liquid inlet, a riser pipe, and an air inlet. It consists of a means for replenishing the transport liquid so that it can be maintained in the riser pipe of the liquid column when the liquid column is in use.

In the liquid transport method according to the present invention, the liquid is placed in a riser pipe by operating the apparatus of the present invention.
and then closing the air inlet. Transport may also be accomplished by raising the liquid level at the inlet.

The present invention provides apparatus and methods that are generally applicable where vacuum sewage systems are employed. The device and method are particularly advantageous for transporting liquids from toilets. When a column of liquid is placed in the riser pipe, the apparatus of the present invention is considered to exist in a "steady state" during use. The height of the liquid column is
A pressure reducing means (hereinafter referred to as "pump" for simplicity) that operates against leaks by passing air through the line through an air inlet under steady state conditions.
determined by the pressure reduction achieved at Closure of the air inlet results in even more pressure reduction in the line and liquid transport from the inlet to the riser pipe above the steady state level.

It will be appreciated that the riser pipe must be of sufficient height to allow the column of liquid to rest stably within the pipe. For example, the trabeculae may be about 1 meter higher than the inlet liquid level. If transport along the line is desired, the height should not be such that liquid transport is impossible when the air inlet is closed.

If necessary, you can manually close the air inlet, but
If it is desired to transport liquid along the line, it may be preferable to provide a valve that mechanically blocks the air inlet. For example, a suitable valve may include a spring-loaded closure member that opens the air inlet (provided that the air inlet remains open unless the member closes the inlet against the action of the spring). ) is included. Closing of the air inlet may take place in a time delay chain. Automatic chaining seems appropriate for use with urinals. If the air inlet is closed for a relatively short period of time, only a portion of the liquid previously sitting in the riser pipe may be transported.
If liquid replenishment means are relied upon to close the air inlet for relatively long periods of time, the liquid seal between the inlet and the pump may be completely removed. The resulting increase in pressure in the line may be used for replenishment. Similarly, re-opening of the air inlet may be employed to cause replenishment.

Suitable means may be provided to positively or otherwise replace the transport liquid. The supply means may include, for example, a container or a pipe in which the liquid can remain stationary or can flow continuously so that the inlet to the transport line can be located in the liquid. When transporting a sufficient amount of liquid using the device of the invention, the liquid that is left standing may itself require replenishment. Alternatively, replenishment means may be designed to deliver liquid to replace the transport liquid only when required. For example, a replenishment tank or a connecting tank may be provided, designed to deliver a predetermined amount of liquid to the inlet when the air inlet is blocked or for a short period of time thereafter. Such an arrangement is particularly suitable if the toilet is formed by the liquid inlet of the device according to the invention. Home toilet refill tanks can be installed similar to conventional toilet water tanks.

It will often be appropriate to discharge the transport liquid from the risepipe liquid into a tank having an inlet connecting with the risepipe, via whose outlet the liquid may be removed as desired or required;
The outlet is also connected to a pump. It is then convenient to introduce an air inlet into the discharge tank. This air inlet can have the dual effect of aerating the solids in the tank to cause mechanical attrition, and also acting as a cause of transport when blocked. Such a discharge tank is of the type described and claimed in International Patent Publication No. WO 81/00102. The new device may be equipped with the inlet valve proposed in the above publication and designated as valve 3 in the drawings thereof. For maximum abrasion and circulation, the air inlet point in the liquid may be surrounded by a skirt.

The replenishment tank of the liquid transport device according to the invention, which drains directly into the liquid inlet, may be connected, for example via a hydraulic leg, to a liquid supply tank communicating with the pump. In steady state, if the arms of a hydraulic leg are of sufficient length, each column of liquid rests on each arm of said leg. By controlling the relative height and/or cross-section of the arms, closing and reopening the air inlet can allow liquid to enter the arm that connects with the supply tank. This effect can be used to displace the liquid at the transport device inlet simply by passing the liquid level in the replenishment tank to the overflow outlet that connects with the liquid inlet of the transport device.

As an example, a "flushing" tank may be present in the leg and this tank may be connected to a pump. The liquid inlet to the flushing tank may be a relatively large bore connection to the supply tank, and the liquid outlet from the flushing tank may be a relatively small bore connection to the supply tank. It's fine. The former connection may be of a height higher than the liquid column that can be maintained therein in a stable state, and lower than the height of the "liquid column" when the air inlet is closed.

A requirement of the flushing tank/replenishment tank arrangement described above is that the height of the arm above the replenishment tank must be such that it can maintain a stable column of liquid. If the flushing tank, which is normally located at the apex of the above leg, is desired to have a low height above the supply tank, this will allow the air inlet to pass through the flushing tank and then into the discharge tank of the above type. This can be achieved by introducing The pressure difference between the flushing tank and the replenishment tank is determined by a factor determined by the depth of the air inlet line under the discharge tank.
less than the pressure difference between the discharge tank and the inlet (which determines the height of the liquid column in the risepipe).

The height of the flushing tank/supply tank arrangement may be such that the toilet can be flushed satisfactorily by draining water under gravity. Flushing the toilet may be accomplished by controlling the air inlet so that its liquid level is oscillated.

The individual supply tanks can be supplied with water from the so-called mains. The supply to each tank is suitably monitored with a so-called conventional float tank. It may also be desirable to replace the fluid in the hydraulic leg leading to the supply tank with a flushing tank of the type described above, but this can be controlled as desired.

Each of the plurality of liquid inlets may be connected to a single vacuum pump via a combined standpipe. For example, if drain tanks are present, the liquid removed from each risepipe upon closure of the air inlet may be drained into one of such tanks. It will be appreciated that such a single operation removes liquid from all standpipes connecting the pump. This may be satisfactory if, for example, the liquid inlets are multiple urinals, but may be less satisfactory if, for example, each liquid inlet is a personal toilet.

Furthermore, the liquid of the device according to the invention may carry solids, for example if the entry point is a toilet. It may be desirable to crush the solids before transporting them over long distances in such pipes, so that not all of the pipes of the device need have a cross-section sufficient to pass said solids. .

If it is desired to control liquid transport in a common discharge tank from multiple inlets and/or if it is desired to crush solids before transporting the liquid to the discharge tank, an intermediate tank may be formed in each risepipe. It may be desirable to connect each standpipe to an intermediate tank. In the latter case, the intermediate tank can be connected to the discharge tank via a second riser pipe that can maintain the liquid column in a stable state. Grinding of the intermediate tank solids can be provided by an air inlet. The pressure difference between the air inlet of the intermediate tank and the discharge tank can be achieved by providing a constricted line leading to the intermediate tank from the point where the air pressure is regulated by the pump.

Also, if the transport line includes two risepipes, a constricted line may be used to provide the pressure differential necessary to maintain multiple columns of liquid. The height of the liquid column in the riser pipe between one liquid inlet and its intermediate tank is then determined at steady state by the pump, taking into account the pressure increase caused by the air inlet and the pressure drop upon contraction of the air line. determined by the pressure decrease caused by A sufficient pressure differential is created by blocking the air inlet to allow liquid in the first risepipe to be removed to the intermediate tank.
can be achieved.

In the apparatus of the present invention, which includes a plurality of liquid inlets/rise pipes/intermediate tank units, the treatment vacuum level is
It may be desirable to use a constant pressure vacuum valve so that the vacuum does not change. If necessary, overpressure from the pump may be used to aerate the waste exiting the system, for example at a trickle filter.

As an alternative to a discharge tank of the type described above, the liquid transport line may have an outlet that is immersed in the liquid of the discharge tank. Due to the presence of the pump, the liquid column will then rest in the conduit above the liquid level at the outlet. The liquid transport between the inlet and the outlet can be achieved, if necessary, by changing the pipe cross-section of the line and/or by providing a further air inlet, for example between the pump and the outlet.
and/or may be controlled by providing multiple direct air pumps.

Next, the use of the device of the present invention will be described for transferring liquid from a stationary or continuously flowing liquid depending on the liquid level. This transfer can be achieved by providing an air inlet that connects with the inlet to the liquid transport line and an opening at a distance slightly above the level of the conduit inlet.
If the liquid level is below the opening, the air inlet is open and no transport occurs. When the level of liquid rises above the opening, the liquid or liquid/air mixture is drawn into the opening, the air inlet is effectively occluded, the pressure in the line is reduced, and liquid transport can occur through the line inlet. . Thus, for example, the device according to the invention can be used to transfer liquids from the atmosphere to a vacuum system (for example waste from a normal sewage system to a vacuum sewage system). To this end, the device may include a main flow pipe, a riser pipe extending to the main pipe, and a level control pipe parallel to the discharge pipe, both of which are connected to a vacuum pump.

Both the riser pipe and control pipe are
May lead to the same discharge tank. A first constant pressure valve may be provided in the control pipeline, which reduces the vacuum that must be applied when the inlet to the control pipe is uncovered. If the inlet to the control pipe is covered, a second constant pressure valve may be provided to increase the vacuum pressure applied between the pump and the inlet to the riser pipe. The possibility that large amounts of air will be drawn up through the riser pipe can be minimized by providing a recess in the lowest wall of the main pipe into which the exhaust pipe extends.

Next, the use of the apparatus of the present invention will be described in the case where a liquid is transferred from a vacuum system to an atmospheric pressure system. For example, the device of the invention can be used to discharge waste or other liquids from a vacuum sewage system to a conventional sewer.

By way of illustration, it is contemplated that during use waste or other liquids are transported along the main flow pipe under atmospheric conditions. A riser pipe extends upwardly from the flow pipe and is connected to a vacuum system (eg the outlet of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 of International Patent Publication No. WO 81/00102). The riser pipe, which serves as the discharge pipe from the vacuum system, has an inner diameter sufficient to allow continuous settling of solid material. At steady state, a column of liquid rests in the riser pipe while the liquid level in the flow pipe is above the inlet to the riser pipe. It will also often be preferable to provide an indentation in the wall of the flow pipe into which the risepipe extends to ensure that the liquid level in the flowpipe is maintained above the exit of the risepipe. .

In the risepipe, an air inlet is provided at a point above the steady level of liquid in the flowpipe, so that air can enter the risepipe and aerate the waste sitting therein. In this way, the waste is prevented from spoiling.

Although the device according to the invention can be applied to the transport of all types of liquids, the above-mentioned disadvantages can be avoided if the inlet is a waste inlet, such as in a domestic latrine. The pressure differential required to maintain the liquid column in the risepipe need not be of the same magnitude as the vacuum normally used in vacuum-flush sewer systems. For example, the pressure difference may be about 0.1 atmospheres. Additionally, the present invention can provide substantially complete and substantially silent removal of inlet waste even as the vacuum above the liquid column increases.

Transport can be coupled with the introduction of substances such as disinfectants, deodorants and dyes, and the invention provides a convenient metering system for such substances. The device can be used for exhaust/ventilation and allows central monitoring of unwanted gas evolution.

Compared to conventional vacuum transport systems, where the opening of the valve causes the transport of the substance in the plug and subsequently the reduction of the transport effect, the present invention results in an increased transport effect when applied. This is combined with ballistic systems in addition to noise reduction.

The device of the invention can be used with much simpler toilets than conventional domestic toilets. First, the system includes an odor trap and does not require any conventional "U-bends". Second, the latrine does not need to be constructed in a configuration designed for the transport of flushing water. In other words, the device according to the invention does not limit the shape of the toilet; the shape may thus be, for example, funnel-shaped, suitably with side walls perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the funnel. The toilet can be designed to minimize the surface area that can be soiled, and its geometry can be such that a small depth of water is maintained over this area during use. If desired, the funnel-shaped profile can be easily modified to create a swirling flow during flushing.

The device of the present invention has a wide range of practical applications and furthermore requires a minimum of moving parts. The vacuum pump may be the only moving part, and it may be physically separated from the liquid inlet. In particular, neither replenishment tank requires any moving parts. The system not only transports water but also removes air, rather than requiring any separate fans as was previously the case in conventional toilets. Liquids and any waste do not need to pass through mechanical valves. Although a specific application has been described with respect to waste transport, the device according to the invention may also be used, for example, when transporting potable water.

Points at which air can enter the line, whether during transport or not, may be permanent (eg standpipes), occasionally in contact with water, or not in contact at all. The actual entrance in the line is
It would be necessary to form it in such a way that it allows the passage of air in one direction, but not the passage of liquid in the other direction. However, air should not be allowed to pass through to the extent that it interferes with maintenance of the risepipe liquid column.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be specifically explained with reference to examples with reference to the accompanying drawings. In such drawings, first to
FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing different specific examples of the device of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, a device is shown consisting of a liquid inlet 1 (which may be a stool bowl) connected via a riser pipe 2 to a discharge tank 3. tank 3
By connecting to a vacuum pump (not shown) via a conduit 4, the reduced pressure can be maintained. The tank 3 also has a liquid outlet 5. Entrance 6
An air leak with a safety tank 7 and a safety tank 7 are connected to the device by a line 8. In a stable state during use, the liquid column is stationary in the riser pipe 2,
Height h above the liquid level at inlet 1 (illustrated by the dotted line)
leading to. The inlet liquid and risepipe form a seal between the inlet and the vacuum pump. The removal of the liquid column is
This may be done by blocking the air inlet 6. A tank (not shown) supplies liquid to replenish the removal liquid without breaking the seal.

FIG. 2 shows a plurality of liquid inlets 1 connected to a discharge tank 14 via associated risepipes 12, 13.
A device consisting of 0,11 is shown. tank 1
4 can be connected to a vacuum pump (not shown) through a conduit 15 to achieve its reduced pressure. Tank 14 also has a liquid outlet 16 . An air pipe with an inlet 17 enters the tank 14, the outlet 18 of which is configured like an aerator.

Also shown in FIG. 2 are means by which the liquid removed from the inlet 10 can be replaced. The supply tank 20 includes a relatively large borel arm (borel imb) 22 and a relatively small borel arm 2.
3 and a flushing tank 24 between both arms. The flushing tank 24 is connected to the discharge tank 14 via an air line 25. Replenishment tank 20 has an overflow outlet 26 .

During use of the apparatus shown in FIG.
liquid is present in the riser pipes 12, 13.
When the air inlet 17 is closed, a liquid column of the same height as the liquid column is placed on the arms 22, 23, the liquid flows through the riser pipes 12, 13 to the discharge tank 14.
and is transferred to the flushing tank 24 via the arm 22. At the same time, the level of liquid in arm 23 rises. If the liquid in either standpipe is completely or partially transferred to the discharge tank 14, air is forced into the system and increases the pressure above the liquid in both tanks 14 and 24. In this way, the liquid transferred to the flushing tank 24 via the arm 22 is transferred to the flushing tank 24 via the arm 22.
is transferred to the replenishment tank 20 via the overflow 26 and discharged to the inlet 10 via the overflow 26. Re-opening of the air inlet 17 allows resetting of the "steady state" conditions prevailing before closing the air inlet.

FIG. 3 shows an apparatus having similar components to FIG. 2, except that the second inlet/risepipe combination is not shown. The important difference is that a line 15 is connected to the flushing tank 24. The illustrated apparatus operates in the same manner as in FIG. 2, except that a low column of liquid rests in arm 23 in a stable state.

FIG. 4 shows a device consisting of a liquid inlet 30 connected via a riser pipe 31 to an intermediate tank 32. In FIG. The intermediate tank 32 is connected to a discharge tank 34 via a second riser pipe 33. The discharge tank 34 has a liquid outlet 35, a line 36 connecting to a vacuum pump (not shown) and an aerator 37. The intermediate tank 32 and the discharge tank 34 have an air pipe line 38 (including a constriction part 39) connected thereto. The intermediate tank 32 is
It is connected to an air inlet 40 which terminates in an aerator 41 .

In use with a working vacuum pump and liquid in the inlet 30, the intermediate tank 32 and the discharge tank 3
4, the liquid is placed in the riser pipes 31, 33 at different heights. This difference is due to the effect of the constriction section 39. Closure of inlet 40 causes the liquid column in riser pipe 31 to be transferred to intermediate tank 32 and make-up liquid enters inlet 30 from a source (not shown). This driving is
There is no effect on the waste inlet/standpipe/intermediate tank system (which may be connected to the discharge tank 34 in a similar manner). Therefore, each unit can be operated independently.

The illustrated riser pipe 31 can be replaced with a lead leading directly into an intermediate tank 32, which can perform the function of crushing solids by aeration milling. In this way, the pipe 33 can have a smaller cross section than the pipe 31.

Shown in FIG. 5 are a main flow pipe 50, a riser pipe 51 that connects at its upper end to a vacuum sewer system (not shown), and an air leak 52. The riser pipe 51 extends at its lower end into the recess 53 of the flow pipe 50. in use,
As a means of connection between the Baquium sewage system and the conventional sewage system, the waste flows continuously along the main flow pipe 50, while the liquid column of waste is placed in the riser pipe 51 and is suitably discharged through said pipe. Ru. The waste placed in the standpipe is aerated by the installation of an air inlet 52.

Also shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are the main flow pipe 50 and the riser pipe 51 and the recess 5, respectively.
3 (in FIG. 7) is shown. Also the 6th
7, the upper end of the riser pipe 51 terminates in a discharge tank 54 to which a vacuum pump (not shown) and a control pipe 55 parallel to the riser pipe 51 are connected. In use, the opening of the control pipe 55 (which is higher than the inlet of the riser pipe 51)
When covered with zero liquid (unless the control pipe 55 allows only air to pass), transport to the discharge tank occurs.

Constant pressure valves 56 and 57 are shown in FIG. These valves utilize reduced pressure and standard vacuum pressure when the opening of control pipe 55 is uncovered and covered, respectively.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 to 7 are simplified diagrams each showing an example of the apparatus of the present invention. 1, 10, 11, 30: liquid inlet, 2, 12,
13, 31, 33, 51: Rising pipe, 3, 1
4, 34, 54: Discharge tank, 4, 8, 15, 2
5, 36, 38: Pipeline, 5, 16, 35: Liquid outlet, 6, 17, 40: Air inlet, 7: Safety tank, 18: Air outlet, 20: Supply tank, 21:
Liquid supply tank, 22, 23: lumen arm, 2
4: Flushing tank, 26: Overflow outlet, 32: Intermediate tank, 37, 41: Aerator,
39: Throttle section, 50: Main flow pipe, 52: Air leak port, 53: Recess, 55: Control pipe, 56, 57: Constant pressure valve.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. A transport line in which a liquid inlet 1, a riser pipe 2 and a collection tank 3, which are always or substantially constantly immersed in liquid, are arranged side by side in sequence, and an air inlet 6 is provided for the inflow of air. A method of transporting liquid intermittently along the line by activating a pump that reduces the pressure in the transport line and then leaving the air inlet 6 open to the atmosphere to transfer the liquid column in the riser pipe 2 to the liquid inlet 1. the height h of the liquid column is determined by the vacuum caused by the suction of the pump, which acts against the vacuum loss caused by the air inlet, and then by the intermittent closing of the air inlet 6. Thus, the method for transporting liquid is characterized in that the liquid is intermittently fed from the riser pipe 2 to the collection tank 3. 2. The liquid transport method according to item 1, wherein the liquid inlet 1 is replenished with liquid passing through the riser pipe 2 as a result of a pressure change in the transport line due to the closure of the air inlet 6 during transport. 3. The liquid transport method according to item 2 above, wherein the toilet is of a type in which the liquid inlet is flushed with makeup water.