Vacuum sewer system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for transporting waste material in a vacuum sewer system, which includes a source of waste ( 1 ), a sewer pipe ( 2, 21, 22 ), a first discharge valve ( 3 ) between the source of waste ( 1 ) and the sewer pipe ( 1, 21 ), a second discharge valve ( 4 ) in the sewer pipe ( 2 ), a waste receiving space and means ( 100 ) for generating vacuum into the sewer pipe. Waste is transported in the form of waste slugs, whereby during a first phase, the waste slug is conveyed from the waste source ( 1 ) through the first discharge valve ( 3 ) into the sewer pipe ( 2, 21, 22 ) by way of vacuum, and in a second phase, waste is conveyed further in the sewer pipe ( 2, 21,22 ), in the direction of the receiving space. For automatically adjusting the flush cycle according to the waste slug, in the first phase, the pressure flow after the waste slug, higher than said vacuum, is introduced from the location ( 9 ) after the first discharge valve ( 3 ) to the second discharge valve ( 4 ) for closing the same so that the flow through the first discharge valve is stopped, and in the second phase, a vacuum connection to the second discharge valve ( 4 ) is activated for opening the same.

1 - 18 . (canceled)  
     
     
         19 . A method for transporting waste material in a vacuum sewer system including a source of waste, a first discharge valve between the source of waste and the sewer pipe, a second discharge valve in the sewer pipe, a waste receiving space, and means for generating vacuum in the sewer pipe, wherein the waste material is transporting in the form of slugs, the method comprising: 
 a first phase in which the waste slug is transported from the source of waste through the first discharge valve into the sewer pipe by way of vacuum; and    a second phase in which the waste slug is further transported along the sewer pipe toward the receiving space;    wherein during the first phase, a pressure after the waste slug higher than the vacuum is communicated from a predetermined location downstream of the first discharge valve to the second discharge valve for closing the second discharge valve, thereby stopping flow through the first discharge valve; and    wherein during the second phase, a vacuum connection to the second discharge valve is activated for opening the second discharge valve, thereby to advance the waste slug further along the sewer pipe by vacuum.    
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which a vacuum connection to an auxiliary valve is activated by a control means for opening the auxiliary valve so that a flow connection is formed between the predetermined location downstream of the first discharge valve and the second discharge valve.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , in which the auxiliary valve is closed after a predetermined time after waste slug flow through the first discharge valve has stopped.  
     
     
         22 . A method according to  claim 21 , in which the predetermined time for closing the auxiliary valve is controlled by a flow restrictor.  
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which a vacuum connection to the first discharge valve is activated by a control means.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , in which the first discharge valve is closed after a predetermined time after waste slug flow through the first discharge valve has stopped.  
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , in which the predetermined time for closing the first discharge valve is controlled by a flow restrictor.  
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which a vacuum connection to a rinse water valve is activated by a control means to supply rinse water to the source of waste.  
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , in which the rinse water valve closes after a predetermined time after the first discharge valve closes.  
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , in which the predetermined time for closing the rinse water valve is controlled by a flow restrictor.  
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 19 , in which a vacuum connection to an aeration valve in fluid communication with the sewer pipe is activated to open the aeration valve after a predetermined time after the first discharge valve opens, thereby to supply transport air into the sewer pipe.  
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , in which the aeration valve is closed after a predetermined time after the second discharge valve is opened.  
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , in which the predetermined time for closing the second discharge valve is controlled by a flow restrictor.  
     
     
         32 . A vacuum sewer system comprising: 
 a source of waste;    a sewer pipe;    a first discharge valve disposed between the source of waste and the sewer pipe;    a second discharge valve disposed in the sewer pipe;    a waste receiving space in fluid communication with the sewer pipe;    a vacuum generator in fluid communication with the sewer pipe; and    a flow connection communicating between a first section of the sewer pipe at a predetermined location downstream of the first discharge valve and the second discharge valve.    
     
     
         33 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 32 , in which the flow connection includes an eighth tube means between said predetermined location of the sewer pipe and an auxiliary valve and a second tube means between the auxiliary valve and the second discharge valve, wherein the system further includes a control means, a third tube means between the auxiliary valve and the control means, and a fourth tube means between the control means and a second section of the sewer pipe downstream of the second discharge valve.  
     
     
         34 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 33 , further comprising a fifth tube means between the first discharge valve and the control means.  
     
     
         35 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 34 , further comprising a rinse water valve in fluid communication with the control means through a sixth tube means, wherein the rinse water valve is further in fluid communication with the source of waste through a seventh tube means.  
     
     
         36 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 35 , further comprising an aeration valve in fluid communication with the control means through a third tube means and a second tube portion means, and the aeration valve is in fluid communication with the first section of the sewer pipe.  
     
     
         37 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 36 , in which the first tube means and second tube means are connected to each other by a first tube portion means having a first flow restrictor, a second flow restrictor is attached to the aeration valve, a third flow restrictor is attached to the rinse water valve, and a fourth flow restrictor is attached to the control means.  
     
     
         38 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 37 , in which each of the flow restrictors comprises a nozzle.  
     
     
         39 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 37 , in which each of the flow restrictors comprises an adjustable valve.  
     
     
         40 . A vacuum sewer system according to  claim 33 , further comprising a pneumatic activator means connected to the control means through a fourth tube means.