Abstract: A control apparatus for pneumatic evacuation and/or water valves, operated by vacuum pressure and used for a vacuum sewerage system, particularly for pneumatically operated sanitary appliances, such as vacuum closets, urinals or wash basins. The control apparatus comprises an activating element, such as a push button, which is integrated in a housing and moved relative to this housing against a force to operate a control valve which comprises a valve disc and a valve piston and transmits vacuum pressure from a vacuum source to the evacuation and water valves. A compact control apparatus is provided which prevents continuous transmittal of vacuum to the evacuation and water valves if the activating element is maloperated. The piston of the control valve is moved by a diaphragm separating a first and a second chamber within the housing. The first chamber is connectable through the first control valve to the evacuation and/or water valves and is connected to the vacuum source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for evacuation of liquids, such as wastewater from e.g. wash basins, urinals, bath tubs or showers, whereby the liquid is collected in a sump, generates a hydrostatic pressure and is evacuated from the sump through a vacuum pipeline after a predetermined hydrostatic pressure is generated. In order to avoid flexible control conduits and to achieve time controlled evacuation with a simple mechanism, valves are integrated in a housing and operated by pressure differences acting on diaphragms after a certain hydrostatic pressure has been generated. One of the valves opens a connection between the sump and the vacuum pipeline to evacuate the liquid.