Vehicle wastewater drainage system

• US 6,352,088 B1
• Filed: 10/18/2000
• Issued: 03/05/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2000
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Thetford Corporation (Recreational Vehicle Group)
• Original Assignee: Lannie L. Stegall
• Inventors: Stegall, Lannie L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US09/691,002
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 141/35, 141/98, 141/1, 432/1-3-3, 134/166.C, 137/899, 137/565.37
• US Class Current: 141/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 15/00 Arrangements or adaptations of sanitation devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4673 Plural tanks or compartments with parallel flow
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle

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.

Claims

1. 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.

2. 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; and

an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end, farther comprising a bypass hose releasably connected to the inlet hose and to the outlet hose.

3. 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; and

an outlet hose connected to the outlet of the pump at one end and having an exit at the other end, wherein the bypass hose includes a valve positioned at each end thereof for selecting a desired flow rate through the bypass hose.

4. 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 flush hose connected to the outlet hose and a wastewater storage tank of the vehicle for directing wastewater from the outlet hose to the wastewater storage tank.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the black water tank draining step includes directing the black water tank through a pump.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein the emptying step includes closing the gray water tank before emptying the black water tank.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein the emptying step includes emptying at least a portion gray water from the gray water tank.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein the steps are repeated until the gray water tank is empty.

11. A method of storing wastewater in a vehicle having a gray water tank and black water tank in fluid communication therewith via a hose, the gray water tank having an initial water level greater than zero, the method comprising:

providing an initial water level in the black water tank less than the initial water level in the gray water tank; 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.

12. A method according to claim 11, comprising:

adding wastewater to the gray water tank such that the gray water tank has a water level greater than the black water tank; and

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.

13. 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.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the black water and gray water are directed through a macerator pump.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising directing the black water and the gray water out of the drainage hose through a valve operable to prevent flow therethrough.

16. A method according to claim 15, further comprising preventing flow from the gray water tank after directing the wastewater through the pump and flush hose to the black water tank.

17. A method according to claim 15, further comprising preventing flow through the flush hose before directing wastewater from the black water tank.

18. 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.

19. 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.

20. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, further comprising a discharge device attached to the exit of the outlet hose.

21. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 20, wherein the discharge device comprises a valve for selecting a desired flow rate therethrough.

22. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 20, wherein the discharge device includes a removable drip cap.

23. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, wherein the discharge device includes an adapter for releasably securing the discharge device to a wastewater storage area.

24. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 23, wherein the adapter is capable of preventing the release of gases from the discharge device to the atmosphere.

25. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, further comprising a bypass hose releasably connected to the inlet hose and to the outlet hose.

26. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 25, wherein the bypass hose includes a valve positioned at each end thereof for selecting a desired flow rate through the bypass hose.

27. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, further comprising a flush hose connected to the outlet hose and a wastewater storage tank of the vehicle for directing wastewater from the outlet hose to the wastewater storage tank.

28. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, wherein the pump is a macerator pump.

29. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, wherein the pump prevents the flow of wastewater through the pump unless the pump is turned on.

30. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, further comprising a power switch for selectively engaging the pump.

31. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 19, wherein the inlet hose is permanently attached to the discharge pipe of the vehicle.

32. 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.

33. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 32, wherein the discharge device comprises a valve for selecting a desired flow rate therethrough.

34. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 32, wherein the adapter is capable of preventing the release of gases from the discharge device to the atmosphere.

35. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 32, wherein the pump is a macerator pump.

36. A wastewater disposal system according to claim 32, wherein the inlet hose is permanently attached to the discharge pipe of the vehicle.