Preassembled modular vacuum plumbing assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11536013-B2
Application number	US-202117364403-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2021
Priority date	Aug 18, 2020
Publication date	Dec 27, 2022
Grant date	Dec 27, 2022

Abstract

A preassembled modular vacuum plumbing assembly for attaching a plumbing fixture to a water supply system and to a vacuum-assist waste removal system includes a frame having two upright members and at least one connecting member between the two upright members. At least one water supply conduit is attached to the frame, each water supply conduit having a first end configured for attachment to the water supply system and a second end configured for attachment to the plumbing fixture for providing water from the water supply system to the plumbing fixture. An accumulator is associated with the plumbing fixture for receiving and holding water provided by the at least one water supply conduit to the plumbing fixture. A wastewater outlet conduit is attached to the frame, the wastewater outlet conduit having a first end attached to the accumulator and a second end configured for attachment to the vacuum-assist waste removal system for directing water from the accumulator to the vacuum-assist waste removal system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system comprising:
a frame including two upright members and at least one connecting member between the two upright members;
at least one water supply conduit attached to the frame, the at least one water supply conduit including a first end that attaches to a water supply system and a second end that attaches to a plumbing fixture to allow water to travel from the water supply system to an accumulator of the plumbing fixture;
and
a wastewater outlet conduit attached to the frame, the wastewater outlet conduit including a first end that attaches to the accumulator of the plumbing fixture and a second end that attaches to a vacuum-assist waste removal system for directing the water away from the accumulator of the plumbing system via suction.

2. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one water supply conduit includes a cold water supply conduit and a hot water supply conduit.

3. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one water supply conduit further comprises:
a trunk portion adjacent to the first end that attaches to the water supply system;
a first branch portion disposed between the trunk portion and the second end that attaches to the plumbing fixture; and
a second branch portion disposed between the trunk portion and a third end that attaches to another plumbing fixture.

4. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 3 , wherein the first end of the wastewater outlet conduit attaches to the accumulator of the plumbing fixture and to another accumulator of the other plumbing fixture.

5. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 3 , wherein the frame has a first side and a second side, and wherein the first branch portion of the at least one water supply conduit is disposed along the first side and the second branch portion is disposed along the second side.

6. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator is mounted to the frame.

7. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , wherein the accumulator includes a container mounted to the frame.

8. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
thermal insulation implemented within at least part of the frame to encase at least a portion of the at least one water supply conduit.

9. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wiring conduit attached to the frame, the wiring conduit including a first end attached to frame proximate to an attachment location of the plumbing fixture and a second end attached to the frame proximate to an attachment location of the vacuum-assist waste removal system, the wiring conduit including wiring for at least one of providing electrical power and providing electrical signaling.

10. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 9 , further comprising:
a junction box disposed at the first end of the wiring conduit, the junction box including at least one of an electrical connector and at least one signaling device.

11. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one signaling device includes at least one of a user operable device for actuating the plumbing fixture and a touchless sensor device for actuating the plumbing fixture.

12. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 11 , wherein the user operable device and the touchless sensor device are configured to operate at least one of a valve to provide water from the at least one water supply conduit to the plumbing fixture and the vacuum-assist waste removal system to remove water from the accumulator.

13. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a vacuum control valve located along the wastewater outlet conduit, the vacuum control valve being openable by the vacuum-assist waste removal system to remove water from the accumulator through the wastewater outlet conduit via suction.

14. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one vent conduit connected to the accumulator and extending from the accumulator through the frame, the vent conduit allowing flow of air into the accumulator when the vacuum-assist waste removal system is removing the water from the accumulator.

15. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one level sensor that detects a level of the water in the accumulator, wherein responsive to the at least one level sensor detecting the level of the water has reached a predetermined level, the at least one level sensor sends a signal to the vacuum-assist waste removal system to remove the water from the accumulator.

16. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 15 , further comprising:
at least one sensor conduit including a lower end disposed inside the accumulator and an upper end affixed to the frame, the at least one level sensor affixed to the upper end, wherein the at least one level sensor detects a pressure change in the at least one sensor conduit when the level of the water in the accumulator reaches and covers the lower end of the sensor conduit.

17. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a recirculation conduit extending from the at least one water supply conduit and the water supply system, the recirculation conduit selectively redirecting water from the at least one water supply conduit back to the water supply system via the recirculation conduit instead of to the plumbing fixture, wherein the recirculation conduit includes a valve that controls the flow of the water to either the recirculation conduit or to the plumbing fixture.

18. The preassembled modular vacuum plumbing system of claim 1 , wherein a bottom end of the frame includes a base for attachment to a flooring surface and a top end of the frame is spaced upwardly from the flooring surface, and wherein the at least one water supply conduit, the accumulator, and the wastewater outlet conduit are all located within the frame so as to not extend in a direction from the top end of the frame to the bottom end of the frame past the bottom end of the frame, wherein the water supply system and the vacuum-assist waste removal system are attached respectively to the at least one water supply conduit and the wastewater outlet conduit proximate the top end of the frame.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Massa Gabriel J

Classifications

• E03C1/304 Primary

  using fluid under pressure · CPC title

• E03C1/1222 Primary

  Arrangements of devices in domestic waste water pipe-line systems · CPC title