Urine-feces separation unit and lavatory bowl

Abstract

A lavatory bowl that can separate urine and feces and improve sealing performance of the feces container, and is applicable to the urinary use appropriately. The lavatory bowl (1) has a urine container (20) and a feces container (30). It is characterized by an opening and shutting lid (60) to open and close a feces slot (12) located above a feces container (30), and an accumulation part to put urine in the urine container (20). It is also characterized by the configuration that the accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath (14) where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot (12) and a urine accumulation tube (16) that is installed between the urine guidepath (14) and the urine container (20).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(i) Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a urine-feces separation unit and a lavatory bowl.

(ii) Background Art

The lavatory bowl used for the care etc. is well-recognized as the one that can be set up for a room. The lavatory bowl for setting up in a room is known as one with a degradation processing part to do the biodegradation processing of organic wastes such as excrements and a toilet paper threw in. (Refer to patent document 1).

The lavatory bowl of the conventional technology is composed of the lavatory seat for a user to have a seat and the degradation processing part to do the biodegradation processing of organic wastes threw in from the lavatory seat opening (the opening for feces). The degradation processing part is composed of a processing tank, sawdust in the processing tank and an agitating blade to agitate sawdust and organic wastes threw in.

In the lavatory bowl mentioned above, sawdust and organic wastes are agitated to activate microorganism efficiently by rotating the agitating blade. It leads to the biodegradation processing of organic wastes.

[patent document 1] Japanese published unexamined application Publication No. 2001-120460

There are the following problems in many kinds of lavatory bowls of the conventional technology including the one that is disclosed in patent document 1.

The first problem is a point that the lavatory bowl of the conventional technology is composed of one container putting urine and feces in. Decreasing “Smell” becomes important when the lavatory bowl is set up in a room, and when it puts urine and feces in the same container, decreasing “Smell” by all means becomes difficult. Moreover, the problem that doing appropriately the washing processing etc. becomes difficult when it puts urine and feces in the same container is caused.

The second problem is a point that sealing performance of the container where it puts urine and feces are low in the lavatory bowl of the conventional technology. It is important to decrease “Smell” as shown in the above-mentioned not only in a room but anywhere the lavatory bowl is set up. Nevertheless, it has been a problem that sealing performance of the container is low in the lavatory bowl of the conventional technology so far.

The third problem is a point of not being applicable when the lavatory bowl of the conventional technology is used “only for urine”. The lavatory bowl of the conventional technology should keep it open the container for feces even when usually used “only for urine”. Therefore, “Smell” cannot be decreased.

Then, this invention is the one performed to solve the problems of the above-mentioned the lavatory bowl of the conventional technology. Also, it is assumed to be problems for this invention to offer the urine-feces separation unit that can separate urine and feces, improve sealing performance of the container for feces etc., and is applicable to the use only of urine appropriately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of this invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems. This invention provides the urine-feces separation unit that separates urine and feces. The urine-feces separation unit is characterized by the opening and shutting lid to opens and closes feces slot, and by the urine accumulation part to put urine in.

The urine-feces separation unit of this invention is desirable in that the urine accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and the urine accumulation tube that is connected with the urine guidepath.

Moreover, this invention is the one performed to solve the above-mentioned problems and it is the urine-feces separation unit that separates urine and feces, and it has the opening and shutting lid to opens and closes feces slot, and it has the urine accumulation part to put urine in. It is characterized by the configuration that the urine accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and that the urine accumulation tube is connected with the urine guidepath. Also, the urine-feces separation unit is characterized by the configuration that the opening and shutting lid keeps the feces slot closed and urine is put in a urine storage tank through the urine accumulation part when urine is excreted, and that the opening and shutting lid keeps the feces slot opened and feces are put in a feces storage tank through the feces slot when feces are excreted.

Here, “the urine accumulation part” is not the one to show only the urine container installed in the lavatory bowl to put urine in. It is a concept including the urine container installed outside the lavatory bowl, and the urine processing tank and the urine processing device outside the lavatory bowl, or the piping etc., for the urine to be laid on the processing tank etc. installed outside the lavatory bowl.

Moreover, “the feces accumulation part” is not the one to show only the feces container installed in the lavatory bowl to put feces in. It is a concept including the feces container installed outside the lavatory bowl, and the feces processing tank and the feces processing device outside the lavatory bowl, or the piping etc., for the feces to be laid on the processing tank etc. installed outside the lavatory bowl.

This invention is the one performed to solve the above-mentioned problems and it is the lavatory bowl that has the urine container and the feces container. The lavatory bowl is characterized by the opening and shutting lid, which is located above the feces container, to opens and closes the feces slot, and by the urine accumulation part to put urine in the urine container.

In addition, the lavatory bowl according to this invention is desirable in that the urine accumulation part is composed of the urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and the urine accumulation tube that connects the urine guidepath with the urine container.

According to this invention, it is possible to make the urine-feces separation unit that appropriately separates urine and feces, improves sealing performance of the feces container etc., and also is applicable to the urinary use properly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view showing a lavatory bowl according to the present embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view showing main parts of the lavatory bowl in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a diagrammatic view showing main parts of the lavatory bowl in FIG. 1 with an additional opening and shutting mechanism of an opening and shutting lid; and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

To avoid making of the drawing complex, some configurations are properly omitted from FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. (For instance, the opening and shutting mechanism of the opening and shutting lid installed in the main body of the lavatory bowl is omitted. This mechanism is described later.)

As shown in these figures, the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is composed of an outer casing (10), and a urine container (20) and a feces container (30) installed in the outer casing (10), and a main body of the lavatory bowl (11), and a lavatory seat (40) located above the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1), and a lid part (50) located above the lavatory seat (40).

A feces slot (12) is provided at a lower position of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. The feces slot (12) has an opening and shutting lid (60). By driving the opening and shutting lid (60), the feces slot (12) can be opened and shut.

A urine guidepath (14) in canaliform pattern is provided in the outer edge part of the feces slot (12). This urine guidepath (14) has an inclination to a prescribed angle θ to flow the fluids (urine or washing water, etc.) from backward (11b) to front (11a) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1). It is desirable to set up at 2°˜45° and it is more preferable to set up at 3°˜10° as a “prescribed angle θ”

Troubles may occur in that the fluids such as urine that dropped on the opening and shutting lid (60) do not gather easily or take time to gather to the urine guidepath (14) when this “Prescribed angle θ” is smaller than 2°. Moreover, trouble may occur in that the fluids such as the rinse water flows fast so that enough effects of the washing cannot be achieved when the washing processing is done (this washing processing is described later) when this “Prescribed angle θ” is larger than 45°. Therefore, it is desirable that “Prescribed angle θ” is about 2°˜45° in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above as the fluids such as urine and the rinse water that dropped on the opening and shutting lid (60) can gather efficiently to the urine guidepath (14).

A through-hole part (15) is provided on the lowest part of the urine guidepath (14) where it is located on front (11a) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1). This through-hole part (15) connects one end of a urine accumulation tube (16). The other end of the urine accumulation tube (16) is placed in a urine container (20). In the illustrative embodiment, “a urine accumulation part” by this invention is composed of the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16).

A top surface (the top surface of the opening and shutting lid (60a)) of the opening and shutting lid (60) to opens and closes the feces slot (12) has an inclination to a prescribed angle θ as well as the urine guidepath (14). As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, a surface of an inner edge part (14a) of the urine guidepath (14) is coplanar with the top surface of the opening and shutting lid (60a).

“The urine-feces separation unit” of this invention in this illustrative embodiment is composed of the opening and shutting lid (60) to opens and closes the feces slot (12), and the urine accumulation part to put urine in, which includes of the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16).

The urine container (20) in the outer casing (10) may adopt any kinds of configuration for a container, for instance, a closed container as long as a container has a portion to insert the urine accumulation tube (16). This means a configuration of the urine container (20) is not limited to a closed container, and is acceptable to an open type container if required. Also, the urine container (20) may be composed with detachable one out of the outer casing (10) according to the state of accommodation such as urine in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment.

It is composed to be open at top surface of the feces container (30) in the outer casing (10). The porous material (sawdust) is put in the feces container (30) to do the biodegradation processing of organic wastes such as feces threw in from the feces slot (12) though the illustration of the sawdust is omitted in FIG. 1 and others. The feces container (30) is composed with detachable one out of the outer casing (10) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment as well as the urine container (20).

For instance, the door part (not shown in the figure) to be opened and shut can be installed at the side of the outer casing (10) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment, and the urine container (20) and the feces container (30) can be taken out outside of the outer casing (10) through this door part.

The lavatory seat (40) is located above the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) and can be opened and shut if necessary by means of hinged connection with the outer casing (10) (not shown in the figure). Moreover, the lavatory seat (40) has the lavatory seat opening (41) to be thrown urine and/or feces. When a user sits on the lavatory seat (40) and excretes urine and/or feces, urine goes to the urine container (20) through the lavatory seat opening (41) and the urine accumulation part [the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16)], and feces goes to the feces container (30) through the lavatory seat opening (41) and the feces slot (12). This lavatory seat (40) also can be used as “Heating lavatory seat” by using an electric heater or the warm water, etc. In addition, you may install the warm water washing device near the lavatory seat (40).

The lid part (50) is located above the lavatory seat (40) and the lid part (50) can be opened and shut if necessary by means of hinged connection with the lavatory seat (40) (not shown in the figure).

Next, the opening and shutting mechanism of the opening and shutting lid (60) using FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 is explained. FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view showing main parts of the lavatory bowl with an additional opening and shutting mechanism of opening and shutting lid in shown at FIG. 1 etc. FIG. 5 is a top plan view of FIG. 4.

The lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is composed to be opened and shut the opening and shutting lid (60) by using the drive motor (61), which opens and shuts the feces slot (12) that is located at a lower position of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1).

Specifically, the drive motor (61) is installed near the opening and shutting lid (60), and this drive motor (61) is electrically connected through the electricity wiring (63) and the drive switch (62) that is located above the outer casing (10). The first gear (64) is set at the rotating shaft (around the motor side) (61A) of the drive motor (61), and the second gear (65) is set at the rotating shaft (around the lid side) (66) that enables to rotate the supporting part (60b) of the opening and shutting lid (60). This first gear (64) and the second gear (65) engage appropriately.

When the button (62A) of the drive switch (62) is pushed, an electric signal from the drive switch (62) is transmitted to the drive motor (61) through the electricity wiring (63) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. The rotation driving force of the drive motor (61) is transmitted to the opening and shutting lid (60) [the supporting part (60b)] through the rotating shaft around the motor side (61A), the first gear (64), the second gear (65), and the rotating shaft around the lid side (66) and it enables to open and shut properly the opening and shutting lid (60).

It is composed so that the direction where the drive motor (61) is rotated may reverse every time the button (62A) is pushed in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. When the loading more than preset level acts the drive motor (61), the drive motor (61) may stop. The loading more than preset level is for instance, in the case that the opening and shutting lid (60) keeps closed, or the opening and shutting lid (60) keeps open and reaches the limit of its open.

Even if feces etc. are piled up on the opening and shutting lid (60) with closed the feces slot (12), it is composed that the sensor (not shown in the figure) of the opening and shutting lid (60) can detect weight more than a prescribed level and let the opening and shutting lid (60) open by driving the drive motor (61) automatically in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment mentioned above. It prevents troubles in the opening and shutting mechanism etc. (to be specific, each gear (64) (65), and the drive motor (61) etc.).

The lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is composed it mentioned above and used by the following embodiment based on the configuration mentioned above.

First of all, the case that the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is used “only for urine” (Only the urine excretion) is explained.

When the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is used “only for urine” and either the man or the woman uses it, it is assumed to keep closed the opening and shutting lid (60) of the feces slot (12) where it is located at a lower position of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) (reference as shown in FIG. 2 etc.). The lavatory bowl (1) is used for a women to have a seat on the lavatory seat (40) shown in FIG. 2 etc. and for a men to lift up the lavatory seat (40) shown in FIG. 2 etc. on the upper side. The lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is applicable to either use mode.

When either the man or the woman uses it, urine comes in contact with front (11a) and backward (11b) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1), the top surface of the opening and shutting lid (60a), and near the top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60). Urine that comes in contact with front (11a) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) flows in the direction of the urine guidepath (14) from front (11a) (reference as shown the direction of arrow X1 of FIG. 2 and the one of arrow Y1 of FIG. 3). Urine that comes in contact with backward (11b) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) flows in the direction of the urine guidepath (14) from backward (11b) (reference as shown the direction of arrow X2 of FIG. 2 and the one of arrow Y2 of FIG. 3). The top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60) has the same inclination as the urine guidepath (14) and urine that comes in contact with the top surface of the opening and shutting lid (60a) flows to the lowest point side (position of the through-hole part (15) (reference as shown the direction of arrow X3 of FIG. 2 and the one of arrow Y3 of FIG. 3).

Even if urine comes in contact with any part of the lavatory bowl, all urines are led to the urine guidepath (14) by configuration of the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. The urine guidepath (14) has an inclination to a prescribed angle θ from backward (11b) to front (11a) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) and urine put together in the urine guidepath (14) are led to the through-hole part (15) where is the lowest point of the urine guidepath (14) along a prescribed angle θ (from backward (11b) to front (11a)) (reference as shown the direction of arrow Y4 and Y5 of FIG. 3).

The through-hole part (15) has the urine accumulation tube (16) that connects the urine container (20) and urine is put into the urine container (20) through the urine guidepath (14), the through-hole part (15), and the urine accumulation tube (16).

Next, the case that the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is used “only for feces” (Only the feces excretion) is explained.

When the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is used “only for feces” and either the man or the woman uses it, it is assumed to use the lavatory bowl (1) for a user to have a seat on the lavatory seat (40). Before or after sitting on the lavatory seat (40), a user pushes the button (62A) of the drive switch (62) to open the opening and shutting lid (60) that keeps closed the feces slot (12) before the feces excretion.

When the button (62A) is pushed, an electric signal from the drive switch (62) is transmitted to the drive motor (61) through the electricity wiring (63), and the rotation driving force of the drive motor (61) is transmitted to the opening and shutting lid (60) (the supporting part (60b)) through the rotating shaft around the motor side (61A), the first gear (64), the second gear (65), and the rotating shaft around the lid side (66), and then the opening and shutting lid (60) (refer to the solid line part in FIG. 4) with closed starts activated to open the opening and shutting lid (60) to the position where the feces slot (12) opens (refer to virtual line (chain double-dashed line) part in FIG. 4).

As a user excretes feces after he/she makes the opening and shutting lid (60) driven to keep open the feces slot (12) which is located at a lower position of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1), feces are put in the feces container (30) through the lavatory seat opening (41) of the lavatory seat (40) and the feces slot (12).

Even if a user excretes urine with sitting on the lavatory seat (40) in the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment, urine comes in contact with inner surface of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) and flows it there, and then urine is led to the urine guidepath (14). Even if the opening and shutting lid (60) is kept open, most urine comes in contact with inner surface of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and is put in the urine container (20) through the urine guidepath (14)

As the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment is composed mentioned above and used, it has the following operations and effects of the invention based on the embodiment etc.

The lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is composed to put urine and feces in a separate container [the urine container (20) and the feces container (30)], and that enables to inhibit ammonia generation and decrease the possibility to generate “Smell (stink)”.

The lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment has the opening and shutting lid (60) to open and shut the feces slot (12) which is located at a lower position of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1). When the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is unused or used only for urine, the feces slot (12) is kept closed with the opening and shutting lid (60).

The lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment enables to decrease effectively smell that is generated from the urine container (20) and the feces container (30) as the air convection between internal space of outer casing (10) (space where the urine container (20) and the feces container (30) are installed) and upper space of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) is eliminated. Also, a high effect can be achieved on the aspect of good hygiene by eliminating the air convection between an internal space and external space of the outer casing (10).

The lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment has a beneficial effect on its urinary use. According to the usage mentioned above, it is properly applicable to the urinary use, keeping the sealing performance between the internal space and external space of the outer casing (10).

When the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is used only for urine, it is used for a woman to have a seat on the lavatory seat (40) shown in FIG. 2 etc. and for a man to lift up the lavatory seat (40) shown in FIG. 2 etc. on the upper side. The lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment is appropriately applicable to either use mode.

When a woman uses the lavatory bowl (1) only for urine, urine comes in contact with front (11a) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1), backward (11b) of it, or the top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60) and near the top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60), and then urine is put in the urine container (20) through the urine guidepath (14). When a man uses the lavatory bowl (1) only for urine (when he lifts up the lavatory seat (40) and excretes urine upright), most urine comes in contact with backward (11b) of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and then is put in the urine container (20) through the urine guidepath (14).

When a user, whether a woman or a man, uses the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment only for urine, urine can be put in the urine container (20) through the urine accumulation part [guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16)] with closed the feces slot (12) which is located at a lower position of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) by the opening and shutting lid (60).

Anywhere of inner surface of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) is inclined to the urine guidepath (14) which is composed at the outer edge part of the feces slot (12) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. Urine comes in contact with front (11a) of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and flows in the direction of arrow Y1 (refer to FIG. 3). Urine comes in contact with backward (11b) of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and flows in the direction of arrow Y2 (refer to FIG. 3). Urine comes in contact with both sides (right and left side) (11c) of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and flows in the direction of arrow Y6 (refer to FIG. 3). All urine from each part is put in the urine guidepath (14). Even if urine is excreted in any part of the lavatory bowl (11) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment, urine can be properly put in the urine container (20) through the urine accumulation part [guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16)].

As the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment can appropriately put urine, it enables to prevent effectively urine from being mixed in the feces container (30) and control ammonia generation and decrease “Smell”.

The lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment based on a configuration mentioned above is easy to use as a compost lavatory and the potty-seat type lavatory as the collection ratio of urine is high. It is because urine can be appropriately separated and collected, and the generation of “Smell” can be controlled.

The lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment can be offered as the lavatory of practical use easily and one of serving many uses for the user who requests urine-feces separation unit with high level of certainty of separation for resources recycling business and other reasons.

Even if a user excretes urine with sitting on the lavatory seat (40) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment, urine comes in contact with and flows at inner surface 11a, 11b, and 11c of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) and then urine is led to the urine guidepath (14). Even if the opening and shutting lid (60) is kept open, most urine comes in contact with inner surface 11a, 11b, and 11c (mainly front part (11a)) of the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) and is put in the urine container (20) through the urine guidepath (14).

Even if urine is excreted during feces excretion in the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment, it is possible to properly put urine and feces in each container after separating them. Therefore, various effects such as decreases of “Smell” mentioned above can be achieved.

As the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment based on a configuration mentioned above can properly put urine in the urine container (20) without mixing it in the feces container (30), it can have smaller sized one. If the lavatory is a configuration that it puts urine and feces in the same container (ones of such a configuration are most in the conventional technology), it needs to have big sized feces container (30) and to do the washing processing in the feces container (30) and the disposal of organic waste, etc. frequently. However, it enables to have small sized feces container (30) and decrease the frequency of the washing processing etc. in the urine-feces separation unit of the illustrative embodiment as it can put urine and feces in each container after separating them as mentioned above. Consequently, it can reduce the size of its configuration in the lavatory bowl (1) by the illustrative embodiment.

As the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment uses the urine-feces separation unit {the urine accumulation part [the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16)] and the opening and shutting lid (60)}, the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) can be efficiently washed. Therefore, it becomes possible to keep the lavatory bowl (1) sanitary at any time.

The washing processing is done at such as inner surface 11a, 11b, and 11c of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1), the top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60), and the urine guidepath (14) by using the detergent and the rinse water, etc. with keeping closed the feces slot (12) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) by the opening and shutting lid (60) as the lavatory bowl (1) is used only for urine. When the washing processing is done as mentioned above, the fluids such as the detergents and the rinse water flow into the urine guidepath (14) from inner surface (front (11a), backward (11b), and both sides (right and left side) (11c)) of the main body (11) of the lavatory bowl (1) and the top surface (60a) of the opening and shutting lid (60) as well as the case of urine. Then the fluids which put in this urine guidepath (14) are led to the urine container (20) through the through-hole part (15) and the urine accumulation tube (16).

The washing processing can be done sanitary without caring about the smell because it can be done with keeping closed the internal space of the outer casing (10) that has the feces container (30) in the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment. The urine-feces separation unit being used, all of the washing processing water etc. can be put in the urine container (20) without mixing and put it into the feces container (30). Therefore, the washing processing in the main body of the lavatory bowl (11) can be done only by detaching the urine container (20) without detaching the feces container (30). In this case, if the urine accumulation tube (16) is inserted not in the urine container (20) but, for instance, the tank for washing or the disposal place out of the lavatory bowl (1), the washing processing can be done more easily.

The urine-feces separation unit that composes the lavatory bowl (1) of the illustrative embodiment can demonstrate various, excellent effects mentioned above, and it is a very easy, compact configuration. The size of the unit itself can be greatly miniaturized compared with the lavatory of the urine-feces separation type known so far.

It is not limited to this illustrative embodiment mentioned above and it is also possible to make various changes to this invention when needed within the purpose of this invention and that is all included within the technical scope of this invention.

It explained the use of the porous material (sawdust) to do the biodegradation processing of organic wastes such as feces in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, the invention is not limited to this configuration and it is possible the use of, for instance, plant system materials such as straw, rice chaff, and palm shell or inorganic materials such as activated charcoal and zeolite. It can be allowed even if the porous material (sawdust) is not used in the feces container (30) as appropriate in this configuration.

It explained the case that “Urine-feces separation unit” according to this invention is applied to “Portable type lavatory” that can be set up for a room, which has the urine container (20) and the feces container (30) in the lavatory bowl (1) in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, the invention is not limited to this configuration. The purpose of the “Urine-feces separation unit” by this invention is to separate urine and feces, and it can be any configurations of such as the storage method (device) and the processing method (device) after urine and service are separated. Therefore, “Urine-feces separation unit” according to this invention can be applied to the lavatories of configurations for instance, that collect excretion such urine and feces outside of the lavatory bowl (1) and do the processing excretion in the septic tank outside of the lavatory bowl (1).

It explained the configuration that has the through-hole part (15) at the lowest point of the urine guidepath (14) and connects the urine accumulation tube (16) to the through-hole part (15) in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above; however, the invention is not limited to this configuration. It can be allowed the configuration for instance, that has more than one through-hole parts at the urine guidepath (14) and connects the urine accumulation tubes to each through-hole parts and inserts them in the urine container (20) with gathering and bundling them into one. Or, it can be allowed the configuration that inserts more than one through-hole parts in the urine container (20) respectively. Briefly, it is not limited to the configuration of the only one through-hole part (15) in the urine guidepath (14), and it can be allowed the configuration having more than one through-hole parts if necessary in this invention.

It explained the case that “Urine accumulation part” is composed of the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16) in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above; however, the invention is not limited to this configuration. For instance, “Urine accumulation part” can be composed only of the urine guidepath (14) if it can put urine directly in the urine container (20) through the through-hole part (15) in the urine guidepath (14).

In the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, it explained the configuration that makes it open the opening and shutting lid (60) by driving the drive motor (61) automatically when the opening and shutting lid (60) with keeping closed detects weight more than a prescribed level to prevent troubles in the opening and shutting mechanism of the opening and shutting lid (60) in which case feces etc. are piled up on the opening and shutting lid (60) that keeps closed the feces slot (12), however, this invention is not limited to this configuration. It is possible to adopt any configurations if the opening and shutting lid (60) has the same structure-function that make itself open when it detects sediments more than a prescribed level in weights. It can be allowed a configuration for instance, that does not engage first gear (64) and second gear (65) when the opening and shutting lid (60) keeps closed, which is the configuration that engages first gear (64) and second gear (65) by signal of the drive switch (62) and that the opening and shutting lid (60) opens by itself when there are sediments on it.

It explained the configuration that opens and shuts the opening and shutting lid (60) using drive motor (61), first gear (64) and second gear (65) in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, this invention is not limited to this configuration as long as a user can open and shut the opening and shutting lid (60) on his/her intention. It is possible to adopt any configurations such as the electric mechanism that is a different from this illustrative embodiment or the mechanism of the machine type that combines spring and the rod, etc. or the mechanism of the hydraulic type.

It explained the configuration that switching action of the opening and shutting lid (60) is a vertical movement in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, this invention is not limited to this configuration. It can adopt the opening and shutting mechanism of a horizontal movement such as the slide type.

It explained the configuration that the drive switch (62) is installed on the back of a user sitting on a seat in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, this invention is not limited to this configuration, and a position of the drive switch (62) is changeable accordingly. It can be allowed that a position of this drive switch (62) is installed in any place for a user to push easily if necessary.

It explained the case that the urine-feces separation mechanism according to this invention is applied to a western-style lavatory in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above, however, this invention is not limited to this configuration, and it can be apply to a Japanese style lavatory as a matter of course. All various effects of explaining in the illustrative embodiment mentioned above can be achieved if the urine-feces separation unit {[the accumulation part the urine guidepath (14) and the urine accumulation tube (16)] and the opening and shutting lid (60)} by the illustrative embodiment is applied as a Japanese style lavatory has the feces slot (12) at the lower position of the main body of the lavatory bowl as well.

POSSIBLE AVAILABILITY ON INDUSTRY

It can be obtained the urine-feces separation unit by this invention that can appropriately separate urine and feces, improve sealing performance of containers such as feces, and correspond to the use only of urine properly. Moreover, it can be obtained by the lavatory of this invention that can appropriately separate urine and feces and improve sealing performance of containers such as feces, and is applicable to the urinary use properly.

The urine-feces separation unit and the lavatory according to this invention that have various effects mentioned above are a very easy, compact configuration. The market expansion in the fields of such as the compost lavatory and the urine-feces separation type of the lavatory that is difficult to miniaturize is expected by this invention.

The urine-feces separation unit and the lavatory according to this invention can be used as a lavatory at bed side (in a room) [welfare sector] and a lavatory in a camping car or a trailer that are in high demand for one with compact and high-efficiency [leisure sector]. It is anticipated demand as a lavatory for a camping car, a prefabricated house, a cottage, and a villa especially in North America etc.

Claims

1. A urine-feces separation unit that separates urine and feces, comprising:

an opening and shutting lid to open and close a feces slot; and

a urine accumulation part to put urine in.

2. The urine-feces separation unit according to claim 1, wherein the urine accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and a urine accumulation tube that is connected with the urine guidepath.

3. A urine-feces separation unit that separates urine and feces, comprising:

an opening and shutting lid to open and close feces slot; and

a urine accumulation part to put urine in,

wherein the urine accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and an accumulation tube for urine that connected with the urine guidepath, and

wherein the opening and shutting lid keeps the feces slot closed and urine is put in a urine storage tank through the urine accumulation part when urine is excreted, and that the opening and shutting lid keeps the feces slot opened and feces are put in a feces storage tank through the feces slot when feces are excreted.

4. A lavatory bowl that has a urine container and a feces container, comprising:

an opening and shutting lid, which is located above the feces container to open and close the feces slot; and

a urine accumulation part to put urine in the urine container.

5. The lavatory bowl according to claim 4, wherein the urine accumulation part is composed of a urine guidepath where it is the outer edge part of the feces slot and the urine accumulation tube that connects the urine guidepath with the urine container.