GB2147333A - Portable toilet - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable toilet comprises a basic chassis formed from three tanks welded together and also welded to a towbar (1) and two wheeled axles (2). Two tanks are for effluent and initially contain a small quantity of water with chemical additives. The other central tank contains fresh water fed via a pump to wash basins (3). The water tank is disposed centrally for balance when the unit is being transported ready for use. The wash basins discharge into the effluent tanks. The effluent tanks have a pump equipped with a filter and this is used to feed flush water to the cisterns (4) associated with toilets (5). The toilets discharge into the effluent tank. Each toilet complete with associated wash basin is located within a cubicle (6) arranged in two rows of four divided by a medial longitudinal partition (7). Each adjacent cubicle is separated by side walls (8), and includes a door (9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Portable toilets This invention relates to a portable toilet of the kind intended for use at gatherings where main drainage, water and electrical facilities are not available. Portable toilet facilities are known wherein a wheeled trailer is constructed internally with a plurality of W.C.'s and/or urinals, and wash basins but with such arrangements a separate or divided trailer is required for each sex, and requires mains electric, water and sewer services to be connected.

It is the object of this invention to provide a portable or towable toilet which is able to accomodate a larger number of uses for a given size, and which requires no external services such as water supply or main drainage, or mains electricity on site.

According to this invention there is provided a portable toilet system comprising a chassis structure adapted adapted for towing or carrying by a vehicle, the structure including or being formed from tanks for effluent and water, the chassis carrying a cabin internally divided into a plurality of cubicles each having an access door opening in a side of the cabin, each cubicle embodying a W.C., wash basin, and preferably lighting. The W.C. being fed with flush-water via a filter and pump from the effluent receiving tank contaning chemical additives, the wash basins being fed via a pump from the clean water tank and discharging into the effluent tank.

It has been found advantageous to provide electrically controlled cycling of the flush water pump to encourage self cleaning of the filter screens. The battery charge is conserved by use of a time out device which switches off all electrical supplies when the toilet is not in use and a disturbance sensor switches on the supplies when a person enters.

Preferably the cubicles are arranged in two rows back-to-back each side of a medial longitudinal division in the cabin, the access doors of each cubicle in a row opening along a respective side wall of the cabin. However in the case of a four cubicle unit to minimise towing width, the arrangement would be transverse with doors opening front and back.

The chassis will advantageously be constructed from two or three steel tanks welded together and to which axles and towbar assemblies are attached to form the chassis.

More than 50% of the floor area of a conventional portable toilet is wasted by people either waiting to use a W.C. compartment or waiting to wash their hands.

In the present invention the toilets are for both sexes in one unit with the maximum utilisation of all space for W.C.'s and hand basins. This is achieved by making the toilet compartments to face to the exterior with all doors to the exterior and compartments on both sides of the cabin.

This therefore allows either sex to use any compartment, and utilises space otherwise wasted in the conventional toilet where people enter the cabin to subsequently again enter a W.C.

compartment. This also prevents overloading of the cabin structure by not permitting more people in than those using the facilities.

As well as being used for its prime function as a recirculating toilet, the invention can be plumbed into all mains services if required.

The toilet is primarily for use away from services, as it is totally self-contained and can be either wheel or jack leg mounted, or skid mounted.

Power is supplied by rechargeable batteries which can be continually or intermittently charged by a portable generator if desired. The W.C. cisterns can also be filled by means of manually operated pumps.

The tanks for fresh water and effluent are used to form the chassis, this way the centre of gravity is kept at the lowest level possible so that for transport, when fully laden with effluent, the invention has the optimum road safety.

It also allows the toilet to be towed to site complete with a tank of fresh water and the effluent tanks charged with the initial chemicals and priming water.

The structure can be built to any practical size bearing transport in mind, with regard to weight, length and width. Other than the transport limitation there is no restriction on the number of compartments that can be included.

Tanks can be made of any material suitable for containing fresh water and effluent, such as metal or plastics.

One embodiment is shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 shows an eight cubicle portable toilet partly broken away, Figure 2 shows a side elevation, Figure 3 shows a plan view, and Figures 4 to 7 are included for comparison between the present invention and known art.

Referring to the drawings, the portable toilet comprises a basic chassis formed from three tanks welded together and also welded to a towbar 1 and two wheeled axles 2. Two tanks are for effluent and initially contain a small quantity of water with chemical additives. The other central tank contains fresh water fed via a pump to wash basins 3. The water tank is disposed centrally for balance when the unit is being transported ready for use. The wash basins discharge into the effluent tanks. The effluent tanks have a pump equipped with a filter and this is used to feed flush water to the cisterns 4 associated with toilets 5. The toilets discharge into the effluent tank. Each toilet complete with associated wash basin is located within a cubicle 6 arranged in two rows of four divided by a medial longitudinal partition 7. Each adjacent cubicle is separated by side walls 8, and includes a door 9.

The exterior and interior cladding is of P.V.C. coated galvanised steel sheet, to facilitate easy cleaning, but may be made of any suitable structural material.

The number of cubicles contained within the cabin structure is variable.

Comparisons between conventional toilets (known art) and the invention with regard to W.C.

and handbasin facilities are shown in Figs. 4 to 7 of the accompanying drawings, and illustrated by the following table:- This invention: Conventional Toilet HAND HAND SIZE W.C.'S BASINS W.C'S BASINS 6'x8' 4 4 1-2 1-2 12' x 8' 8 (see Fig 4) 8 2-3 (see Fig 5) 2-3 16' X 8' 12 (see Fig 6) 12 3-4 (see Fig 7a and 7b) 3-4 24' x 8' 16 16 6-7 6-7

Claims (6)

1. A portable toilet system comprising a chassis structure adapted for towing or carrying by a vehicle, the structure including or being formed from tanks for effluent and water, the chassis carrying a cabin internally divided into a plurality of cubicles each having an access door opening in a side of the cabin, each cubicle embodying a W.C., wash basin, and lighting, the W.C. being fed with flush-water via a filter and pump from the effluent receiving tank containing chemical additives, the wash basins being fed via a pump from the clean water tank and discharging into the effluent tank.

2. A portable toilet in accordance with Claim 1, including electricaily controlled cycling of the flush water pump to encourage self cleaning of the filter screens.

3. A portable toilet in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, having an electric battery power source with the charge being conserved by use of a time out device which switches off all electrical supplies when the toilet is not in use and a disturbance sensor switches on the supplies when a person enters.

4. A portable toilet in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the cubicles are arranged in two rows back-to-back each side of medial longitudinal division in the cabin, the access doors of each cubicle in a row opening along a respective side wall of the cabin.

5. A portable toilet wherein the chassis is constructed from two or three steel tanks welded together and to which axles and towbar assemblies are attached to form the chassis.

6. A portable toilet system substantially as described herein and shown in Figs. 1 to 4 and 6 of the drawings.