US 5,960,829 AGranted

No drip vacuum tight connector

AssigneeSealand Technology, Inc.

InventorJames A. Sigler

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Abstract

A no-drip, substantially air, vacuum, and liquid tight connection is provided between a conduit and a tank, such as a combined sewage and holding tank for a boat or recreational vehicle. The connection may include first and second hollow tubes having a telescopic relationship when moved into association with each other, and openings within them that are aligned to allow fluid flow between a conduit and the tank. A cover may slide over the first tube and be spring biased into a position covering the first tube, while a blocking element may slide within the second tube and be spring biased to a position blocking the second opening. A holding element may hold the tubes together with their openings aligned against the bias of the springs. Initial positioning elements on the blocking element end wall and the first tube end wall ensure proper relative positioning of those components to facilitate their movement with respect to each other.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A substantially no-drip fluid tight connection between a conduit and a tank, comprising:

a first elongated hollow element having an end wall, a circumferential wall with inner and outer surfaces, and a first opening extending through said circumferential wall between said inner and outer surfaces;
an elongated first opening cover mounted in substantially fluid tight engagement with said outer surface of said first hollow element and reciprocal with respect to said first hollow element to move between a first position covering said first opening and substantially preventing fluid passage therethrough, and a second position at least partially uncovering said first opening to allow fluid passage therethrough;
a second elongated hollow element having a circumferential wall with inner and outer surfaces, and a second opening extending through said circumferential wall between said inner and outer surfaces;
an elongated second opening blocking element mounted in substantially fluid tight engagement with said inner surface of said second hollow element and reciprocal with respect to said second hollow element to move between a first position blocking said second opening and substantially preventing fluid passage therethrough, and a second position at least partially exposing said second opening to allow fluid passage therethrough, said blocking element having an end wall;
and
biasing means for biasing said cover to said first position and said blocking element to said first position;
one of said hollow elements configured to be connected to a tank, and the other of said hollow elements configured to be connected to a conduit.

4 more elements

A combined sewage holding and vacuum tank assembly for a boat or recreational vehicle, comprising:

a tank body having an inlet;
a vacuum pump;
a conduit for operatively connecting said inlet to said vacuum pump;
and
means for providing a readily connectable and disconnectable, substantially air and liquid tight, substantially no drip, connection between said conduit and said inlet, comprising:
first and second elongated hollow elements primarily linearly moveable with respect to each other;
said first elongated hollow element having an end wall, a circumferential wall with inner and outer surfaces, and a first opening extending through said circumferential wall between said inner and outer surfaces;
an elongated first opening cover mounted in substantially fluid tight engagement with said outer surface of said first hollow element and reciprocal with respect to said first hollow element to move between a first position covering said first opening and substantially preventing fluid passage therethrough, and a second position at least partially uncovering said first opening to allow fluid passage therethrough;
said second elongated hollow element having a wall with inner and outer surfaces, and a second opening extending through said wall between said inner and outer surfaces;
and
an elongated second opening blocking element mounted in substantially fluid tight engagement with said inner surface of said second hollow element and reciprocal with respect to said second hollow element to move between a first position blocking said second opening and substantially preventing fluid passage therethrough, and a second position at least partially exposing said second opening to allow fluid passage therethrough, said blocking element having an end wall;
and
one of said hollow elements connected to said tank, and the other of said hollow elements connected to said conduit.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.