Vehicle wastewater drainage system
AssigneeThetford Corporation
InventorLannie Stegall
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A wastewater drainage system for a vehicle, such as a recreational vehicle (RV), is provided. The system includes a pump, such as a macerator pump, in selective fluid communication with the black water tank and the gray water tank, and a drainage hose connected to the exit end of the pump for directing wastewater to a wastewater storage area. The system allows the RV user to clean the black water tank using water from the gray water tank, and allows gray water to be stored in the black water tank so that less time is spent draining the tanks and more time is spent enjoying the RV experience.
Claims39
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a discharge device attached to the exit of the outlet hose, wherein the discharge device includes a removable drip cap.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- a black water tank;
- a gray water tank;
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle a discharge pipe in selective fluid communication with the black water tank and the gray water tank;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose discharge pipe and in fluid communication therewith;
- and
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end, further comprising;
- and
- a bypass hose releasably connected to the inlet hose discharge pipe and to the outlet hose, the bypass hose coupled to the discharge pipe and the outlet hose for selective fluid communication therebetween.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising;
- a black water tank;
- a gray water tank;
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle a discharge pipe in selective fluid communication with the black water tank and the gray water tank;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose discharge pipe and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a flush hose connected to the outlet hose and a wastewater storage tank of the vehicle to the black water tank for selective fluid communication therebetween for directing wastewater from the outlet hose to the wastewater storage black water tank.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- at least one wastewater storage tank inside the vehicle;
- a discharge pipe connected to the at least one wastewater storage tank;
- an inlet hose connected to the discharge pipe for directing a flow of wastewater from the at least one wastewater storage tank;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being permanently attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a discharge device connected to the exit of the outlet hose, the discharge device being operable to selectively prevent the flow of wastewater therethrough, said pump operable to pump wastewater directly from the wastewater storage tank in the vehicle to a fixed dump station.
A method of disposing wastewater from a vehicle having a black water tank and a gray water tank in selective fluid communication therewith via a hose, the gray water tank having an initial gray water level greater than zero, the method comprising:
- draining the black water tank through the hose to a level below the initial water level in the gray water tank;
- draining the gray water tank such that at least a portion of the gray water flows into the black water tank due to a pressure differential between the gray water tank and the black water tank;
- and
- emptying at least a portion of the gray water and the black water from the black water tank through the hose to flush the black water tank.
A method of storing wastewater in a vehicle having a gray water tank and black water tank in selective fluid communication therewith via a hose discharge pipe connected to a pump, the gray water tank having an initial water level greater than zero, the method comprising:
- turning off the pump;
- providing an initial water level in the black water tank less than the initial water level in the gray water tank;
- and
- adding wastewater to the gray water tank such that the gray water tank has a water level greater than the black water tank;
- directing a second flow of wastewater from the gray water tank to the black water tank until the gray water tank and the black water tank have substantially equal water levels;
- and
- directing a flow of wastewater from the gray water tank to the black water tank until the gray water tank and the black water tank have substantially equal water levels.
A method of disposing wastewater into a fixed dump station from a vehicle having a black water tank and a gray water tank, the method consisting of:
- directing black water from the black water tank through a pump and a drainage hose;
- and
- directing gray water from the gray water tank through the pump and the drainage hose, wherein the pump and drainage hose are cleaned by the gray water and the wastewater is passed directly into the fixed dump station.
A method of disposing wastewater from a vehicle having a black water tank and a gray water tank, comprising:
- attaching a flush hose from the black water tank to an intermediate location along a drainage hose that is connected to a pump, the drainage hose having an exit end;
- directing wastewater from the gray water tank through the pump and flush hose to the black water tank;
- and
- directing wastewater from the black water tank through the pump and out the exit end of the drainage hose.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being permanently attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- and
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a discharge device attached to the exit of the outlet hose, said discharge device including an adapter for releasably securing the discharge device to an opening defined by a wastewater storage area, said opening having a diameter greater than that of said outlet hose;
- wherein the discharge device comprises a valve for selecting a desired flow rate therethrough.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a discharge device attached to the exit of the outlet hose, said discharge device including an adapter for releasable securing the discharge device to an opening defined by a wastewater storage area, said opening having a diameter greater than that of said outlet hose;
- wherein the adapter is capable of preventing the release of gases from the discharge device to the atmosphere.
A wastewater disposal system for a vehicle, comprising:
- an inlet hose for directing a flow of wastewater from a discharge pipe of the vehicle;
- a pump having an inlet and an outlet, the inlet of the pump being attached to the inlet hose and in fluid communication therewith;
- an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end;
- and
- a discharge device attached to the exit of the outlet hose, said discharge device including an adapter for releasably securing the discharge device to an opening defined by a wastewater storage area, said opening having a diameter greater than that of said outlet hose;
- wherein the pump is a macerator pump.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.