NZ240446A - Removable rectangular or trapezoidal shaped sewage tank for recreational vehicles - Google Patents

Description

\ \^ c\\ 6<bOftA^> lOLcj \1oiO\\ocj( £V'b0c)l0O/- &0iPil/OO. 2 7 JUL 1993 l$HO *40446 N.Z. No.

NEW ZEALAND Patents Act 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION IMPROVED TOILET SYSTEM WITH REMOVABLE HOLDING TANK FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES We, THETFORD CORPORATION, a corporation organized under the laws o£ the State of Delaware, United States of America of 7101 Jackson Road, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48103, United States of America, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- - 1 - (Followed by 1A) 2 4 G 4 4 b IMPROVED TOILET SYSTEM WITH ROMOVABLE HOLDING TANK FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to recreational vehicles, homes, travel trailers and other camping vehicles, and is particularly concerned with an improved toilet system with a removable holding tank.

Such a system is described and claimed in our co-pending New Zealand Patent Application No 228850 and the complete specification of that application is hereby incorporated by reference into the present specification. The present application relates to an improvement or modification of the invention claimed in NZ 228850.

Specifically, the present invention provides a recreational vehicle having a wheeled chassis on which a vehicle body is supported, said body comprising a horizontal floor which overlies the chassis and a vertical sidewall which extends upwardly from the floor, said floor and sidewall being exterior walls of said body, said body having an occupant space which contains a water use sanitary toilet having a bowl with a discharge outlet at the lower end thereof, a wall means cooperatively associated with said floor, sidewall and said toilet to form a stowage compartment in the interior of said body but separated from said occupant space, a portion of said stowage compartment being positioned below said bowl, an opening in said sidewall between said stowage compartment and the exterior of said body, a closure for opening and closing said opening, a liquid waste tank, having rectangular or trapezoidal walls, within said stowage compartment for collection of waste water which has been used in said sanitary toilet, said tank being positioned within said stowage compartment and hidden from view in said occupant space by said wall means and said toilet, said tank having a size and shape which allows it to pass through said opening when said closure opens said opening, means providing a disconnectable fluid connection between said tank and said sanitary discharge outlet which when connected enables fluid to pass from said toilet bowl into said tank and when disconnected allows said tank to be removed from said stowage compartment through said open opening, said tank including -1A- '-4 0 4 4 1 generally horizontal top and bottom walls spaced from one another, first and second rectangular or trapezoidal vertical sidewalis joining said lop and bottom walls along longitudinal edges of said top and bottom walls, a pair of vertical end walls closing said tank at each end forming a hollow tank, said opening displaced from said toilet such that in plan view a line normal to said sidewall and extending through the center of said opening is displaced from a line normal to said sidewall and extending through the center of said bowl discharge outlet, and guide means operatively associated with said stowage compartment and said tank for directing said tank along a predetermined arcuate path when said tank is removed from and installed in said stowage compartment through said opening.

Whereas, the specification of NZ 228850 is directed to the provision of a arcuate holding tank, the present development is directed to an improvement in which the tank is either rectangular or trapezoidal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a recreational vehicle (RV) having a self contained sanitary system embodying principals of the invention; Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of a water use sanitary toilet located within the RV adjacent to a wheel well; Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toilet of Figure 2 showing a waste holding tank located below the toilet; Figure 4 is a plan view of the holding tank located below the water use sanitary toilet in a stowage compartment embodying principles of the invention; Figure 5 is a plan view of the holding tank shown in Figure 4 showing the tank being removed from the stowage compartment; ^ Z h 0 % h- o Figure 6 is a sectional view of the holding tank and track structure within the stowage compartment for guiding the tank into and out of the stowage compartment; Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the fluid connection between the toilet outlet and holding tank; Figure 8 is a plan view of the coupling member attached to the top of the holding tank inlet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 illustrates a representative recreational vehicle (RV) 20 which embodies principles of this invention. RV 20 is illustrated as a travel trailer which is adapted to be pulled behind a towing vehicle (not shown). Principals of the invention are applicable to other types of RV's, including without limitation motor homes.

RV 20 comprises a wheel chassis 22 on which is supported the RV body 24. Chassis 22 comprises a perimeter frame 26 having a tongue 28 at the forward end by which the trailer connects to the towing vehicle. The chassis further comprises tandem axles which are supported from the frame 26 having tires 30 and 32.

Body 24, in general, comprises a floor 34, a vertical side 36, and a roof 38 forming an enclosure. The body is shown to be generally rectangular in shape although it is to be appreciated that any given body may have departures from such a shape. Side 36 comprises four side walls, namely a front wall 36a, a rear 36b, and two lateral side walls 36c. It is one of these lateral side walls 36c which is viewed directly in Figure 1, and it is arranged at a right angle to floor 34. Side wall 36c is provided with a rectangular opening 40, which is shown in Figure 1 to be closed by a door 42. ^404 Referring now to Figure 2, a cross section of a water use sanitary toilet is shown located adjacent to the tire 32 of the recreational vehicle. The toilet comprises a bowl 44 which is secured within the top of an upstanding base 46. This base sits directly on floor 34. Bowl 44 comprises an outlet 47 at its bottom which is shown in Figure 2 spaced above inlet 48 of water holding tank 50. Details of the fluid connection between the bowl 44 and tank 50 are shown later. The tank 50 is supported upon a base 52 which is vertically spaced above the RV floor 34. Shown adjacent to the toilet is the tire 32 separated from the interior of the recreational vehicle by wheel well 54. Extending upward from the wheel well 54 is the RV sidewall 36c. Shown to the other side of the toilet is an interior wall 56 which separates the bathroom of the RV from the remaining interior occupant space.

Referring now to Figure 3, a crossecticnal side view of 'the toilet is shown. The tank 50 is shown extending rearward from the toilet through an opening in interior wall 58 which forms the rearward wall of the RV bathroom. Extending rearwardly from interior wall 58 is an horizontal wall 60 above the waste holding tank 50. Wall 60 is at a vertical height above floor 34 such that it can be used to support a bed, bench or other structure within the occupant space of the RV.

Referring now to Figure 4, a vertical wall 62 is shown extending rearward from the interior wall 58 and curving to the interior side of exterior sidewall 36c. Tank 50 is entirely enclosed in a stowage compartment which is defined by the upstanding base 46 of the toilet, vertical walls 62, 58, 36c, door 42, the horizontal base 52 and platform 60. This isolates the tank 50 from the interior occupant space of the RV. As shown in plan view in Figure 4, the opening 40 in the sidewall 36c is displaced horizontally along the sidewall relative to the toilet bowl discharge outlet 47. The line 51 nonral to sidewall 36c and extending through the center of opening 40 is displaced horizontally from the line 53 extending through the toilet bowl discharge outlet 47 and normal to the sidewall 36c.

The tank 50 is constructed of a generally horizontal bottom 64 and top 66 which is spaced above bottom 64. end potions 68 and 70 vertically disposed between top 66 and bottom 64 and vertical sidewalls 72 and 74. As seen in Figure 2, the tank 50 has a generally rectangular cross-section.

When not in use, the inlet 48 of the tank is closed by a generally triangular shaped blade valve 76. For flushing of the toilet, the blade valve is rotated to the position shown in broken lines adjacent to the inlet 48. This allows the waste to drain from the bowl 44 into the holding tank 50. After use, the blade valve 76 is moved back to close the inlet 48.

Tank ends 68 and 70 include recesses 78 and 80 which are spanned by handles 82 and 84. Likewise, sidewall 74 includes at its center a recess 86 which is spanned by a handle 88. A handle 90 is attached to the top 66 directly above the location of the center of gravity 91 of the holding tank 50 when filled with waste.

When filled, the holding tank 50 is removed from the RV directly to the exterior of the RV through opening 40 as shown by the broken lines in Figure 5. This is accomplished by grasping handle 84 and pulling outward such that the tank 50 moves in a generally arcuate path through the stowage chamber. Once removed from the RV, the tank 50 can be carried to a disposal site for disposal of the waste therein. Handle 88 is positioned in the sidewall 74 such that the tank 50 will be evenly balanced fore and aft of handle 88 for convenience of carrying.

To facilitate removal and installation of tank 50, horizontal base 52 incorporates a track structure such as shown in Figure 6. This track _ structure is formed by a pair of spaced apart upwardly projecting tracfis ^ 132 and 134. Tracks 132 and 134 serve to guide the tank for motion into and out of the stowage compartment along an arcuate path. In addition, tracks 132 and 134 also retain tank 50 in position within the stowage £ ^ 0 4 1 & ccmpartnent. Tracks 132 and 134 are positioned to ensure automatic connection of the tank inlet 48 with the bowl outlet 47 when installing the tank into the stowage compartment as described below. By making tank 50 and base 52 out of suitable plastic materials having low coefficients of friction, the tank can be slid directly on the tracks into and out of the stowage compartment.

The door 42 is preferably hinged at its lower edge such that when opened, the door forms a horizontal support platform extending outward from the sidewall 36c. Tank 50 can be supported on the open door 42 for manipulation of the tank while removing or installing the tank.

The holding tank includes a rotatable pourspout 92 mounted in a hole 94 in one of the corners of the top 66. Pourspout 92 has a keyed and sealed engagement with the hole 94 to maintain sealing contact between the spout and the tank for all positions of rotation about the axis of the hole 94 and to prevent separation of the pourspout from the tank for all positions of rotation, save the unique position at which the pourspout 92 can be removed and installed. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate pourspout in its stowed position which overlies the top portion 66. The end of the spout is shown closed by a removable closure cap 96. The pourspout is rotatable from its stowed position to a range of pourout positions, one of which is portrayed in the broken lines of Figures 4 and 5 designated as 92a. In the pourout position, the pourspout points away from tank 50 beyond its sidewall 84.

For emptying of the tank 50, after the tank has been carried to a disposal site, the pourspout is rotated to the position shown in 92a, the closure cap 96 is removed from the end of the pourspout and the tank lifted such that the pourspout 32 extends beiow the tank to allow the contents of the tank to drain cut of the tank through the pourspout 92. To prevent belching or burping of the contents during discharge, an air vent can be installed at the opposite end of the tank.

In the event that the holding tank were to filled beyond its capacity, the organization and arrangement of the holding tank provides a way to alleviate such a condition. If the tank were to be overfilled, the door 42 to the stowage compartment can be opened, the pourspout rotated to a pouring position pointing out through the access opening 40 and the closure cap on the end of the pourspout removed. The pourspout defines a weir level below that of the valve blade 76 so that excess waste will flow out of the tank to bring the level to that of the weir level defined by the pourspout. This will alleviate the overfilling and then the spout, can be capped in the usual manner, the tank removed and transported for dumping.

The holding tank inlet automatically connects to and disconnects from the toilet bowl outlet in accompaniment of moving the holding tank into and out of the stowage compartment. For a toilet installation, it is important for these separable connections between the holding tank inlet and toilet bowl outlet to be of a sealed nature when connected. Briefly/ the guidance provided for holding tank 50 by the guide tracks will serve to establish precise alignment for proper registration of the bowl outlet 47 and the holding tank inlet 48. An additional means, however, is associated with the bowl outlet opening and the holding tank <£404 inlet to take into account certain tolerance variations which will inherently exist in the comnercial manufacture of the product to ensure that the final connection is properly sealed. Details are shown in Figures 7 and 8.

A flange member 102 is fitted around the bowl outlet opening at the bottom of the bowl. Member 102 forms one part of the guide mechanism for guiding the holding tank opening into precise alignment registering with the bowl outlet inlet. The other part of the guide mechanism is formed by a member 104 which attaches to the top portion 66 of holding tank 50 around inlet 48 by six screws 105.

Member 104 comprises a central annular portion 106 which serves to retain an annular elastomeric seal 108 on tank 50 around inlet 48. Specifically, seal 108 comprises a main body 110 which is disposed in a circular cavity 112 around the circular inlet 48. A pair of annular lips 114 and 116 project from main body 110. The annular retention portion 106 fits onto the top holding tank surface around cavity 112 and ccrnpresses the annular body of the elastomeric seal downwardly in the cavity to provide a seal of the elastomeric body to the holding tank around inlet 48. The member 104 further comprises channels 118 and 120 formed along its longitudinal sides that are parallel with the direction of movement of the holding tank into and out of the stowage compartment in an arcuate path.

Flange member 102 comprises an annular portion 122 which fits on the bowl outlet and side edge portions 124 and 126 which, like channels 118 and 120, are parallel with the direction of motion of the holding tank into and out of the stowage compartment.

The two members 102 and 104 are also disposed around the bowl outlet: and the holding tank respectively so that the side edge portions 124 and 126 slide into and out of edge channels 118 and 120 as the tank is rroved into and out of stowage. Each channel has essentially a 90° crcssection composed of a horizontal side and a vertical side. The vertical clearance dimension from the horizontal sides of the channels 118 and 120 to the top of lip 114 is less than the thickness of the side edge portions 124 and 126 of flange member 102 and therefore a very precise vertical fit occurs as the member 104 slides onto the flange member 102 so that a controlled deflection of lip 114 results. Similarly the nominal width of the flange member across the straight portions of the side edges is just slightly less than the clearance width between the vertical sides of the two channels 118 ana 120.

The lip 116 of the seal 108 extends downward into the holding tank ana has cooperative association with blade 76 which opens and closes inlet 48 so that wnen the blade is closed the lip 116 is deflected slightly upwardly to provide annular sealing contact with blade 76 around inlet 48.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact construction or method illustrated and described above, but that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claijns.

Claims (14)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A recreational vehicle having a wheeled chassis on which a vehicle body is supported, said body comprising a horizontal floor which overlies the chassis and a vertical sidewall which extends upwardly from the floor, said floor and sidewall being exterior walls of said body, said body having an occupant space which contains a water use sanitary toilet having a bowl with a discharge outlet at the lower end thereof, a wall means cooperatively associated with said floor, sidewall and said toilet to form a stowage compartment in the interior of said body but separated from said occupant space, a portion of said stowage compartment being positioned below said bowl, an opening in said sidewall between said stowage compartment and the exterior of said body, a closure for opening and closing said opening, a liquid waste tank, having rectangular or trapezoidal walls, within said stowage compartment for collection of waste water which has been used in said sanitary toilet, said tank being positioned within said stowage compartment and hidden from view in said occupant space by said wall means and said toilet, said tank having a size and shape which allows it to pass through said opening when said closure opens said opening, means providing a disconnectable fluid connection between said tank and said sanitary discharge outlet which when connected enables fluid to pass from said toilet bowl into said tank and when disconnected allows said tank to be removed from said stowage compartment through said open opening, said tank including horizontal rectangular or trapezoidal top and bottom walls spaced from one another, first and second vertical sidewalls joining said top and bottom walls along longitudinal edges of said top and bottom walls, a pair of vertical end walls closing said tank at each end forming a hollow tank, said opening displaced from said toilet such that in plan view a line normal to said sidewall and -10- --1''' , v.I/'* extending through the center of said opening is displaced from a line normal to said sidewall and extending through the center of said bowl discharge outlet, and guide means operatively associated with said stowage compartment and said tank for directing said tank along a predetermined arcuate path when said tank is removed from and installed in said stowage compartment through said opening.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 furtner comprising a track guide means disposed witr.m said stowage compartment for guiding said tank for horizontal arcuate motion into and out of said stowage compartment.

3. The vehicle °f claim 1 further comprising a base for said stowage compartment disposed at a vertical level above said floor.

4 The vehicle claim 2 wherein said track guide means includes a pair of horizontal parallel arcuate tracks engaging lower parallel edge portions of said tank.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein said second sidewall has a handle integrally formed at the longitudinal center of said second sidewall.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 further comprising a handle attached to said top wall and positioned above the center of gravity of the tank with waste in said tank when said tank is positioned in said stowage compartment.

7. The vehicle of claim 4 further comprising handles integrally formed in said end walls.

8. A recreational vehicle comprising: a body having a substantially horizontal floor and substantially vertical sidewalls, said body containing an interior occupant space; a water use sanitary toilet disposed at a vertical level above said floor; a rectangular or trapezoidal tank partially underlying said toilet for receiving waste from said toilet; a stowage compartment partially below said toilet for stowing said tank within said body separated from said occupant space; an opening between said stowage compartment and the exterior of said body for passage of said tank therethrough into and out of said stowage compartment; track guide means disposed within said stowage compartment for guiding said tank in a substantially horizontal arcuate path into and out of said stowage compartment. -12- \ 2 8 MAY 1993 ;;

9. A recreational vehicle having a wheeled chassis on which a vehicle body is supported, said body comprising a horizontal floor which overlies the chassis and a vertical sidewall which extends upwardly from the floor, said floor and sidewall being exterior walls of said body, said body having an occupant space which contains a water use sanitary toilet having a bowl with a discharge outlet at the lower end thereof, a wall means cooperatively associated with said floor, sidewall and said toilet to form a stowage compartment in the interior of said body but separated from said occupant space for receipt of a liquid waste rectangular or trapezoidal tank for collection of waste water which has been used in said sanitary toilet through a disconnectable fluid connection between said tank and said sanitary toilet discharge outlet, a portion of said stowage compartment being positioned below said bowl, an opening in said sidewall between said stowage compartment and the exterior of said body through which said tank is insertable into said stowage compartment, a closure for opening and closing said sidewall opening, said sidewall opening being displaced from said toilet such that in plan view a line normal to said sidewall and extending through the centre of said opening is displaced from a line normal to said sidewall and extending through the centre of said bowl discharge outlet, and guide means operatively associated with said stowage compartment for directing said tank along a predetermined arcuate path when said tank is removed from and installed in said stowage compartment through said opening.

10. A vehicle according to claim 9. further comprising a base for said stowage compartment disposed at a vertical level above said floor.

11. A vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, wherein said guide means includes a pair of horizontal parallel arcuate tracks for engaging said tank.

12. A vehicle body substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. to the accompanying drawings.

13. A waste holding tank substantially as herein de -13-

14. A recreational vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. THETFORD CORPORATION By their attorneys HENRY HUGHES LTD Pen^4^,, <f -14-