Rechargeable battery system for a marine vessel toilet

• US 6,085,364 A
• Filed: 08/17/1999
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thetford Corporation (Recreational Vehicle Group)
• Original Assignee: Wilcox Crittenden, Inc.
• Inventors: Baierlein, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eloshway, Charles R.
• Application Number:
  US09/375,582
• Time in Patent Office: 329 Days
• Field of Search: 4/300, 4/319-323, 4/431-433, 429/7, 429/9, 429/97, 429/100, 324/427, 318/105, 318/106, 318/109, 318/107
• US Class Current: 4/300
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 29/14 Closet or like flushing arrangements; Washing or bathing facilities peculiar to ships
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 3/04 from power plant other than propulsion power plant
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 5/02 operated mechanically or hydraulically E03D5/01, E03D5/12 take precedence(or pneumatically) also details such as push buttons, levers and pull-card therefor
• CPC Class Codes: E03D 9/10 Waste-disintegrating apparatus combined with the bowl special flushing devices E03D5/00

Abstract

A battery system for an electric motor-powered marine vessel toilet is disclosed. The battery system comprises a mounting cradle and a battery having power contacts, the battery being detachably mounted to the mounting cradle. The mounting cradle includes cradle contacts for mating with the contacts of the battery, output contacts for providing power to the motor of the marine vessel toilet, auxiliary contacts for receiving power from an auxiliary power source; and a switch for connecting the output contact to one of the cradle contacts and the auxiliary contacts for supplying power to the motor via the output contacts.

Claims

1. A battery system for an electric motor-powered marine vessel toilet, the battery system comprising:

a mounting cradle;

a battery having power contacts, said battery being detachably mounted to said mounting cradle;

said mounting cradle including;

cradle contacts for mating with said contacts of said battery;

output contacts adapted to be coupled to input power contacts of the motor for providing power to the motor;

auxiliary contacts for receiving power from an auxiliary power source; and

a switch for connecting said output contacts to one of said cradle contacts and said auxiliary contacts for supplying power to the motor via said output contacts.

2. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said auxiliary power source is an on-board house battery for a marine vessel.

3. The battery system of claim 1, further comprising a visual indicator which displays a remaining charge in said battery.

4. The battery system of claim 1, wherein said battery is rechargeable.

5. The battery system of claim 4, wherein said battery is formed from a battery material selected from the group consisting of lead acid, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion.

6. A fluid circulation system comprising:

a motor;

a first housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a second housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a fluid holding device coupled between said fluid outlet of said first housing and said fluid inlet of said second housing;

a drive shaft operatively coupled to said motor to be driven by said motor, said drive shaft extending from said motor into said first and second housings;

a first fluid transfer device mounted on said drive shaft within said first housing, said first fluid transfer device being operative to transfer fluid from said fluid inlet of said first housing, through said fluid outlet of said first housing and into said fluid holding device;

a second fluid transfer device mounted on said drive shaft within said second housing, said second fluid transfer device being operative to transfer water from said fluid holding device, through said fluid inlet of said second housing and through said fluid outlet of said second housing; and

a battery system which is electrically coupled to said motor for supplying power thereto, said battery system comprising

a mounting cradle;

a battery having power contacts, said battery being detachably mounted to said mounting cradle;

said mounting cradle including

cradle contacts for mating with said contacts of said battery;

output contacts coupled to input power contacts of the motor for providing power to the motor,

auxiliary contacts for receiving power from an auxiliary power source; and

a switch for connecting said output contacts to one of said cradle contacts and said auxiliary contacts for supplying power to the motor via said output contacts.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said fluid circulation system is a marine vessel toilet.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein said auxiliary power source is an on-board house battery for a marine vessel.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a visual indicator which displays a remaining charge in said battery.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein said battery is rechargeable.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said battery is formed from a battery material selected from the group consisting of lead acid, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride and lithium ion.