Recreational vehicle remotely controlled tank drain valve and flushing method

• US 5,056,544 A
• Filed: 01/16/1990
• Issued: 10/15/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Charles F. Stevens
• Original Assignee: Charles F. Stevens
• Inventors: Stevens, Charles F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Application Number:
  US07/466,250
• Time in Patent Office: 637 Days
• Field of Search: 251/14, 251/62, 251/63.4, 251/63.5, 251/63.6, 251/326, 251/328, 134/166 R, 134/96
• US Class Current: 134/166.00R
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices

Abstract

The recreational vehicle has a valve which is remotely controlled to permit remote draining of the drain water tank. The method of flushing the tank, including remote control of the drain valves is also included.

Claims

1. A drain valve for a recreational vehicle tank flushing system, said drain valve comprising:

a body having a drain passage therethrough, said body being a two-piece body including a first body half and a second body half, said first and second body halves having facing flanges for engagement to each other and means for clamping said flanges together, at least one of said body halves having a pocket therein, first and second gaskets between said first and second body halves, at least one of said gaskets having a gate pocket therein, said drain passage extending through said flanges and including openings in said gaskets between said flanges;

a gate in said gate pocket in said gasket, said gate being movable from a position where it obstructs and closes said passage and is in contact with said first and second gaskets to seal said passage to a position where it is away from obstruction of said passage;

an operating rod, said operating rod being smooth and being fixed to said gate and extending out of said body comprising said first and second flanges;

a fluid cylinder, said fluid cylinder having a piston rod therein, said piston rod lying substantially parallel to and detachably connected to said operating rod;

a fluid control valve connected to said fluid cylinder to move the piston therein and said piston rod; and

a source of fluid under pressure mounted on said body connected to said control valve for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to move said piston therein to open and close said drain valve.

2. The drain valve for a recreational vehicle tank of claim 1 wherein said means for supplying fluid under pressure is an air compressor mounted with said drain valve body and said fluid control valve is a reversing air control valve which selectively supplies air under pressure to one end of said piston and drains the other.

3. The drain valve for a recreational vehicle tank of claim 2 wherein the connection between said piston rod and said operating rod is disconnectable so that said operating rod can be manually operated.

4. The drain valve of claim 2 wherein said fluid control valve is controlled by a control system so that each time fluid under pressure is supplied thereto, the pressure delivered from said reversing valve to said cylinder is reversed.

5. A drain valve for a recreational vehicle tank flushing system, said drain valve comprising:

a body having a drain passage therethrough, said body being comprised of first and second flange body portions, said flanges being detachably secured to each other, at least one pocket formed in said flange body portion, two gaskets positioned in said pocket, said gaskets defining a gate pocket;

a gate slidably mounted in said gate pocket between said gaskets, said gate being movable from a position where it obstructs and closes said passage and seals with said gaskets to a position where it is away from obstruction of said passage;

an operating rod, said operating rod being smooth and being fixed to said gate, operating rod extending out of said body, said operating rod having a straight pull handle thereon so that by direct manual engagement with said straight pull handle, said gate can be moved between its obstructing and nonobstructing positions, said operating rod having an annular groove thereon;

a fluid cylinder, said fluid cylinder having a piston rod thereon, said piston rod having an arm thereon, a hook on said arm for selective engagement in said annular groove;

a fluid control valve connected to said fluid cylinder to move the piston therein and said piston rod; and

a source of fluid under pressure mounted on said body connected to said control valve for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to move said piston thereinto to open and close said drain valve.

6. A recreational vehicle waste water tank flushing system comprising:

a control system;

a drain valve for connection to the recreational vehicle tank for draining the waste water tank, said drain valve being connected to said control system for opening and closing upon command by said control system, said drain valve having a body having a drain passage therethrough, said body being a twopiece body including a first body half and a second body half, said first and second body halves having facing flanges for engagement to each other and means for clamping said flanges together, at least one of said body halves having a pocket therein, first and second gaskets between said first and second body halves, at least one of said gaskets having a gate pocket therein, said drain passage extending through said flanges and including openings in said gaskets between said flanges;

a gate in said gate pocket in said gasket, said gate being movable from a position where it obstructs and closes said passage and is in contact with said first and second gaskets to seal said passage to a position where it is away from obstruction of said passage;

an operating rod, said operating rod being smooth and being fixed to said gate and extending out of said body comprising said first and second flanges;

a fluid cylinder, said fluid cylinder having a piston rod therein, said piston rod lying substantially parallel to and detachably connected to said operating rod;

a fluid control valve connected to said fluid cylinder to move the piston therein and said piston rod;

a source of fluid under pressure connected to said control valve for supplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to move said piston therein to open and close said drain valve;

a water spray nozzle for positioning in the recreational vehicle waste water tank for spraying the walls of the tank;

a pressurized water supply valve connected to said spray nozzle for supplying water to said spray nozzle, said pressurized water control valve being connected to said control system, said water supply valve being for connection to the waste water tank and being connected to be controlled by said control system so that said control system opens said spray water valve and opens said drain valve for spraying down the walls of the waste water tank and thereupon said control system closes said spray water valve and said drain water valve and opens said water supply valve to fill the waste water tank and upon completion of filling said control system closes said water supply valve and opens said drain valve until the waste water tank is empty; and

a fluid chemical degreaser dispensing tank, a chemical degreaser dispensing control valve connected to said chemical degreaser dispensing tank, said chemical degreaser dispensing control valve being for connection to the recreational vehicle waste water tank so that upon opening of said chemical degreaser dispensing valve, chemical is dispensed to the recreational vehicle waste water tank, said chemical dispensing valve being connected to said control system so that said control system controls said valves to spray the walls of the recreational vehicle waste water tank and thereupon said control system closes said drain valve and opens said chemical supply valve to place degreaser treatment chemical in the waste water tank.

7. A recreational vehicle waste water tank flushing system comprising:

a control system;

a drain valve for connection to the recreational vehicle tank for draining the waste water tank, said drain valve being connected to said control system for opening and closing upon command by said control system, said drain valve having a body having a drain passage therethrough, said body being a twopiece body including a first body half and a second body half, said first and second body halves having facing flanges for engagement to each other and means for clamping said flanges together, at least one of said body halves having a pocket therein, first and second gaskets between said first and second body halves, at least one of said gaskets having a gate pocket therein, said drain passage extending through said flanges and including openings in said gaskets between said flanges;

a gate in said gate pocket in said gasket, said gate being movable from a position where it obstructs and closes said passage and is in contact with said first and second gaskets to seal said passage to a position where it is away from obstruction of said passage;

an operating rod, said operating rod being smooth and being fixed to said gate and extending out of said body comprising said first and second flanges;

a linear actuator detachably connected to said gate operating rod and to said control system to move said gate to open and close said drain valve in accordance with commands of said control system;

a water spray nozzle for positioning in the recreational vehicle waste water tank for spraying the walls of the tank;

a pressurized water supply valve connected to said spray nozzle for supplying water to said spray nozzle, said pressurized water control valve being connected to said control system, said water supply valve being for connection to the waste water tank and being connected to be controlled by said control system so that said control system opens said spray water valve and opens said drain valve for spraying down the walls of the waste water tank and thereupon said control system closes said spray water valve and said drain water valve and opens said water supply valve to fill the waste water tank and upon completion of filling said control system closes said water supply valve and opens said drain valve until the waste water tank is empty; and

a fluid chemical degreaser dispensing tank, a chemical degreaser dispensing control valve connected to said chemical degreaser dispensing tank, said chemical degreaser dispensing control valve being for connection to the recreational vehicle waste water tank so that upon opening of said chemical degreaser dispensing valve, chemical is dispensed to the recreational vehicle waste water tank, said chemical dispensing valve being connected to said control system so that said control system controls said valves to spray the walls of the recreational vehicle waste water tank and thereupon said control system closes said drain valve and opens said chemical supply valve to place degreaser treatment chemical in the waste water tank.