Air drive system for a toilet

Abstract

An air drive system for a toilet includes a compression cylinder including an air space, a fluid space, a base orifice adjoining the fluid space, and an outlet orifice adjoining the air space, and an air drive passage configured to carry pressurized air to the toilet. The flow of water increases the fluid space of the compression cylinder or increases an air pressure associated with the air space of the compression cylinder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for operation of a toilet, the method comprising:
 supplying a flow of water through a passthrough passage past a base opening of a compression cylinder;   increasing a fluid space of the compression cylinder or an air pressure associated with an air space of the compression cylinder in response to the flow of water;   opening an outlet orifice adjoining the air space in response to the increase in the fluid space or the air pressure of the air space; and   providing, in response to opening the outlet orifice, a flow of air through an air drive passage to an air driven device associated with the toilet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice is opened using an air vent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air vent is released at a predetermined pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet orifice is opened in response to a command from a controller. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air driven device includes a sump jet for flushing the toilet. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 supplying a refill flow of water through the passthrough passage past the base opening of the compression cylinder.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air driven device includes a seat operable via a pneumatic solenoid mechanically coupled to the seat and in fluid communication with the air drive passage. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the pneumatic solenoid is configured to move from a first position to a second position when the flow of air is supplied to the pneumatic solenoid. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein, when the pneumatic solenoid is in the second position, the pneumatic solenoid is configured to transmit a mechanical force to the seat and move the seat to a closed position. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air driven device includes a wet accessory. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 directing a flow of water to a user of the toilet through the wet accessory.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 directing a flow of water to the toilet through the wet accessory.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the air driven device includes an atomizer. 
     
     
         14 . A toilet comprising:
 a bowl;   a chamber;   an air space disposed in the chamber;   a base orifice of the chamber in fluid communication with the air space;   an outlet orifice of the chamber adjacent to the air space;   a water passage configured to carry a flow of water past the base orifice, wherein the flow of water increases an air pressure associated with the air space; and   an air drive passage configured to supply pressurized air from the chamber to an accessory associated with a toilet.   
     
     
         15 . The toilet of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a piston chamber in fluid communication with an air timing space and the air drive passage.   
     
     
         16 . The toilet of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a vent in fluid communication with the air drive passage, wherein the vent is configured to release the pressurized air from the air drive passage.   
     
     
         17 . The toilet of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a sump disposed at a bottom of a bowl of the toilet and to store water, wherein the accessory comprises a siphoning jet in fluid communication with the air drive passage and configured to provide the pressurized air to expel the water from the sump.   
     
     
         18 . The toilet of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a seat,   wherein the accessory comprises a pneumatic solenoid mechanically coupled to the seat and in fluid communication with the air drive passage.   
     
     
         19 . The toilet of  claim 14 , wherein the accessory comprises an atomizer, wherein the atomizer is in fluid communication with the air drive passage and configured to provide the pressurized air to the atomizer, and wherein the atomizer is configured to dispense the fluid in an atomized form when the pressurized air is supplied to the atomizer. 
     
     
         20 . An accessory for a toilet, the accessory comprising:
 a chamber;   an air space disposed in the chamber;   a base orifice of the chamber in fluid communication with the air space;   an outlet orifice of the chamber adjacent to the air space;   a water passage configured to carry a flow of water past the base orifice, wherein the flow of water increases an air pressure associated with the air space; and   an air drive passage configured to supply pressurized air from the chamber to an accessory output associated with a toilet.