US 11,702,832 B2
Vacuum-assisted toilet systems and methods of using the same
Kent L. Gee, Provo, UT (US); Scott D. Sommerfeldt, Provo, UT (US); and Scott L. Thomson, Provo, UT (US)
Assigned to BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, Provo, UT (US)
Appl. No. 16/967,806
Filed by BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY, Provo, UT (US)
PCT Filed Mar. 21, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/023412
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 6, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/190301, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 24, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0404162 A1, Dec. 30, 2021
Int. Cl. E03D 5/02 (2006.01); E03D 1/32 (2006.01); E03D 1/36 (2006.01); E03D 11/18 (2006.01); B64D 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC E03D 5/024 (2013.01) [E03D 1/32 (2013.01); E03D 1/36 (2013.01); E03D 11/18 (2013.01); B64D 11/02 (2013.01); E03D 2201/20 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
14. A vacuum-assisted toilet system comprising:
a toilet bowl;
a flush valve fluidly coupled to the toilet bowl;
at least one water source coupled to the toilet bowl that is configured to supply water to the toilet bowl;
at least one water actuator coupled to the at least one water source, the at least one water actuator configured to control an amount of water provided from the at least one water source to the toilet bowl; and
an electrical controller coupled to the at least one water actuator that is configured to at least partially control the at least one water actuator, the electrical controller including non-transitory memory storing one or more operational instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the one or more operational instructions, wherein executing the one or more operational instructions with the at least one processor causes the at least one water actuator to provide a continuous supply of water from the water source to the toilet bowl at least between starting to switch the flush valve to an open state thereof and finishing to switch the flush valve to a closed state thereof at least by:
supplying a first amount of water to the toilet bowl for a first duration, wherein the first amount of water is at least one of a first water flow rate or a first water pressure wherein switching the flush valve to the open state thereof occurs at the beginning of or during the first duration;
after supplying the first amount of water, supplying a second amount of water to the toilet bowl for a second duration, wherein the second amount of water is at least one of a second water flow rate that is greater than the first water flow rate or a second water pressure that is greater than the first water pressure; and
after supplying the second amount of water, supplying a third amount of water to the toilet bowl for a third duration, wherein the third amount of water is at least one of a third water flow rate that is greater than the second water flow rate or a third water pressure that is greater than the second water pressure, wherein switching the flush valve to the closed state thereof occurs at the end of or during the third duration.