Falcon Waterfree Technologies, LLC

Falcon Waterless Technologies

Falcon Waterfree Technologie

Michael Higgins

Ditmar L Gorges

A bushing () has an entry portion () which is secured to a urinal housing () and an exit portion () which faces a drain pipe (). The entry portion interior surface () is fittable about and sealingly grips the urinal exit tube (). The interiors of the entry and exit portions lie on a common axis () and with the axis () of the urinal exit tube. These axes define a sloped incline and, thus, a built-in, gravitationally-directed downwardly-disposed inclination. Because the axes usually do not fall on the axis () of the conduit, they are angled and offset from the conduit axis. The offset of the bushing raises it above the axis of the conduit. Tubing () is secured at its end () to the bushing exit portion so that the tubing axis at its end () similarly is raised above the conduit axis. The tubing extends from the bushing at an incline that is determined by the built-in incline of the bushing. This tubing is smaller in its outer diameter than the inner diameter of the conduit so that the tubing can pass through the conduit and into the drain pipe. The interior surface () of the bushing is offset from its outer surface which is secured to the conduit. Thus, the tubing is allowed to ensure that the conduit will not so contact the tubing as to deleteriously affect the downward inclination of the tubing. An orientation indicator tab () on the bushing ensures that its inclined orientation is properly positioned vis-a-vis the conduit. The exterior surfaces of the bushing are designed to enable it to fit within a variety of conduits, to accommodate new and existing connections such as flanges and hardware associated with the drain pipe, to ensure its durability, and to otherwise enable retrofitting to new and existing installations.

Coupler for improved flow to an external drain

In a urine cartridge or wastewater trap, equalized pressures and increased flow rate between its inlet and outlet compartments increases the life of the cartridge. The pressure equalizing is effected by placement of a separator between the two compartments to provide them with substantially equal volumes. The increased flow rate is created by a uniquely configured baffle positioned adjacent a pan at the bottom of the cartridge. The baffle configuration is shaped to provide a constriction that increases the flow velocity of the urine so that the fluid flow effects a channel along the bottom pan and through any solids deposited on the bottom pan. A diverter may be placed above the centrally located entry to the inlet compartment to create a circuitous path for preventing a disturbing impingement of the urine onto the sealant contained in the inlet compartment. To accommodate the centrally placed entry and its placement vis-a-vis the inlet compartment, the separator is bowed at its location adjacent the entry and towards the outlet compartment. To fit the configuration of the baffle, the separator is curved generally in a likewise manner.

Flow trap with compartment separator and baffle for use in a water-free urinal

A diverter () atop the upper wall () of a cartridge () and over the opening () therein avoids direct access of urine to the opening and the sealant () within the cartridge. The diverter is spaced by standoffs () from the upper wall to provide a urine flow passage. A float () can be incorporated in the diverter to provide a visible signal of the presence of collected urine on the cartridge upper wall. A pre-treatment chemically-constituted tablet () held by a retainer () in the diverter provides sanitizing and/or deodorizing means. Post-treatment chemically-constituted tablets () or pellets () placeable at the outlet of the cartridge protect the drain pipe from corrosion and other harm.

Diverter, liquid-level indicator and chemical pre-treatment and post-treatment implementations useful in waterless urinals

In a urine cartridge, equalized pressures and increased flow rate between its inlet and outlet compartments increases the life of the cartridge. The pressure equalizing is effected by placement of a separator between the two compartments to provide them with substantially equal volumes. The increased flow rate is created by a uniquely configured baffle positioned adjacent a pan at the bottom of the cartridge. The baffle configuration is shaped to provide a constriction that increases the flow velocity of the urine so that the fluid flow effects a channel along the bottom pan and through any solids deposited on the bottom pan. A diverter may be placed above the centrally located entry to the inlet compartment to create a circuitous path for preventing a disturbing impingement of the urine onto the sealant contained in the inlet compartment. To accommodate the centrally placed entry and its placement vis-a-vis the inlet compartment, the separator is bowed at its location adjacent the entry and towards the outlet compartment. To fit the configuration of the baffle, the separator is curved generally in a likewise manner.

Flow trap with compartment separator and baffle for use in a waterless urinal

An exit opening () in a cartridge () is alignable with an opening () in a housing () for communication to an external drain. The cartridge and the housing have positions of final secured and initial unsecured interconnections, when openings () are respectively aligned and unaligned. A lever () is swivelably secured to the housing bottom wall (), whose cap () can close housing exit tube (); a projection () is engageable with the cartridge for effecting the closure when the housing and cartridge openings () are not aligned. Three L-shaped keyways () in the housing interior mate with three keyways () in the cartridge, and have corrugated surfaces to provide a ratcheted secure connection between the cartridge and the housing when in the secure connection. A tool () is used to insert and to remove the cartridge into and from the housing.

Horizontal-flow trap and housing assembly with odor preventing closure mechanism

A liquid flow meter ( ), including a microcontroller ( ) and associated algorithm, monitors urine flow through a cartridge trap ( ). Measuring the duration of such flow and the number of times the urinal is used will determine, in accordance with preset criteria, when servicing or replacement is needed, and alerts a service person to that effect by a warning light ( ) or other signal. Because urine has a high mineral content, it is electrically conductive, effective to complete circuits between closely spaced metal contacts ( ) coupled to the PROM, which allows the manner and existence of the urine to be detected. The liquid flow meter is installed in the cartridge trap by utilizing and placing a split ball stem ( ) located at the base of the meter into a mounting hole ( ) located in the center of the drain holes ( ) on the cartridge cover ( ).

Liquid flow meter

An odor trap apparatus ( ) includes a housing ( ) having an interior and an opening ( ) extending from the interior to the external drain, and a cartridge ( ). The cartridge has an exit opening ( ) disposed to communicate with the housing opening. The cartridge and the housing have positions of final secured interconnection, when openings ( ) are aligned, and of initial unsecured interconnection, when their openings are not aligned. A lever ( ) is swivelably secured to the housing bottom wall ( ), and has a cap ( ) for closing the housing exit tube ( ) and a projection ( ) engageable with the cartridge for effecting the closure when the housing opening ( ) is not aligned with the cartridge exit opening ( ). Three L-shaped keyways ( ) in the housing interior are adapted to mate with three keyways ( ) in the cartridge, and have corrugated surfaces to provide a ratcheted secure connection between the cartridge and the housing when in the secure orientation. A tool ( ) is used to insert and to remove the cartridge from the housing.

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La Habra Heights, CA, United States of America

Michael Higgins