Recreational Vehicle Wastewater Holding Tank By-Pass and Flush Piping Apparatus

Abstract

The Recreational Vehicle (RV) Black Water Holding Tank By-Pass Piping Apparatus invention is a RV black water holding tank by-pass plumbing system that enables continuous use of the toilets within said RV while docked that is residential plumbing code compliant. Our invention consists of additional “Drain” piping , fittings and gate valves to divert the toilets discharge waste product when flushed around the RV's existing Black Water Holding/Storage Tank directly to the RV's Main Sewer Connection while at the same time maintaining the ability to flush the entire sewer discharge piping/lines with available waste from the RV's gray water storage/holding tanks as highly recommended by all RV manufacturers. This by-pass capability eliminates the need to “Routinely Dump” the normally accumulated black wastewater collected in the black water tank, a procedure that can be required typically every 3 to 5 days and one that can also, by the nature of the waste product being handled, cause severe illness if not performed with caution. Our invention does not require any replacement or reworking of any Original Equipment (RV) Manufacturer's (OEM) provided appliances or apparatus. All required components are external to these devices. Our invention can either be installed as part of the original build at the RV manufacturers manufacturing facility or as an add on or “After Market” addition at any Dealers or RV Equipment Suppliers facility/shop. While our inventions description describes a primarily manually operated system it can optionally include a partially automated wired or wireless automation control system. This invention minimizes the environmental impact of the use of black wastewater holding tank additives/chemicals by avoiding use of the black wastewater holding tank entirely thereby enabling the conservation of chemical additives commonly used by preventing the need to add them.

Claims

1. A recreational vehicle (RV) toilet to black water tank by-pass process/piping system comprising a by-pass valve having an open position and a closed position, a waste water entry, an open valve exit connectively attached to said RV black water holding tank, and a closed valve exit connectively attached to a by-pass pipe enabling the continuous by-pass of the black water effluent around the manufacturers typically provided black water tank enabling continuous use of said RV toilet while conserving the use of said black water tank.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of selective automated controls connectively attached to said by-pass valve enabling the automated control of said by-pass.

3. A method of using a toilet to a black water tank by-pass apparatus to by-pass the use of said black water tank to conserve use of black water tank additives by by-passing the use of said black water tank thereby preventing a need to add additives.

13. A method of using RV toilet to black water tank by-pass apparatus to by-pass the use of said black water tank. In doing so we reduce/eliminate the use of said black water tank thereby preventing a need to add the additives. In addition to the cost and time savings associated with this requirement we also add the the environmental friendliness of the RV experience.

Description

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0019] FIG. 1 shows an overall conceptual view of the functioning relationships of the waste water systems as they are typically provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturer [OEM] at time of purchase.

[0020] FIG. 2 shows an overall conceptual view of the functioning relationships of the ADDED black water tank by-pass system components of the present invention to the waste water systems as they are typically provided by the Original Equipment Manufacturer [OEM] at time of purchase.

[0021] FIG. 3 shows the location of the invention within a typical plumbing system of an RV.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms.

[0023] The details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis for teaching one skilled in the art how to make and use the invention.

[0024] References in the specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “an example embodiment,” etc., indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarily include the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover, such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment. Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic is described in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it is within the knowledge of one skilled in the art to effect such feature, structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodiments whether or not explicitly described.

[0025] Furthermore, it should be understood that spatial descriptions [e.g., “above,” “below,” “up,” “left,” “right,” “down,” “top,” “bottom,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” etc.] used herein are for purposes of illustration only, and that practical implementations of the structures described herein can be spatially arranged in various orientations or manners.

[0026] Referring to the figures, that are shown in FIG. 1, entitled, the following list of elements (in numeric order):

[0027] Element 100A is a gray water waste holding tank 1

[0028] Element 100A1 is the gray water waste holding tank 1 discharge gate valve

[0029] Element 100B is a gray water waste holding tank 2

[0030] Element 100B1 is the gray water waste holding tank 2 discharge gate valve

[0031] Element 101 is a black water waste holding tank

[0032] Element 1011 is the black water waste holding tank discharge gate valve

[0033] Element 102 is the RV main discharge connection to sewer gate valve

[0034] Element 103 is the RV main discharge to sewer connection point on the RV

[0035] Element 104 is the main discharge pipe from the toilets bottom discharge to the black water waste holding tank in the “As provided by the OEM” scenario and to the black water tank inlet shut off valve 201 AND the black water tank by-pass valve 202 in the “By-Pass” scenario

[0036] Element 106 is the main discharge pipe from the black water waste holding tank discharge gate valve 1011 to the RV main discharge pipe 107 connection

[0037] Element 107 is the main discharge pipe from the connection point of the main discharge pipe from the gray tank(s) discharge valves 100A1 AND 100B1-105, the main discharge pipe from the black water waste holding tank discharge gate valve 1011-106 in the in the “As provided by the OEM” scenario and as well as the main discharge by-pass pipe from the black water tank by-pass pipe 203 in the “By-Pass” scenario.

[0038] In Todays scenario where a “Blackwater Tank By-Pass” is not installed on the RV or if there has been a system installed and the owner is not utilizing the by-pass option and has preferred to send the Black Water waste direct to its respective storage tank. NOTE: Most manufacturers will specify in their instructions that while the RV is traveling or not being used or the tanks are not at least ¾ full, that “ALL WASTE WATER VALVES BE CLOSED/SHUT/TURNED OFF”. The following set up instructions assume this state when the RV first arrives at a location or point of use and that the required sewer hose from the RV to the Site sewer Connection/Dump Station is installed and operational.

[0039] to Dump the Gray Water tank(s)

[0040] .1 open the RV main discharge connection to sewer gate valve 102

[0041] .2 open the the gray water waste holding tank discharge gate valve. If there is more than one gray water holding tank Empty only ONE TANK AT A TIME as two tanks being emptied simultaneously may exceed the discharge sewer lines volume capabilities and cause a potential issue.

[0042] .3 when you are satisfied that the tank has emptied close the respective tanks waste holding tank discharge gate valve.

[0043] .4 when you are satisfied that as much of the waste water being dumped has emptied the sewer lines close the RV main discharge connection to sewer gate valve 102.

[0044] Referring to the figures, that are shown in FIG. 2 the following list of elements (in numeric order)

[0045] Element 201 the black water tank inlet shut off valve

[0046] Element 202 the black water tank by-pass valve

[0047] Element 203 is the main discharge by-pass pipe from the black water tank by-pass valve 202 to the connection point to pipe 107

[0048] In a scenario where a “Blackwater Tank By-Pass” is installed on the RV and the owner wants to utilize the by-pass option:

[0049] .1—open the RV main discharge connection to sewer gate valve 102

[0050] .2—ensure that the black water waste holding tank discharge gate valve 1011 is closed

[0051] .3—close the black water tank inlet shut off valve 201

[0052] .4—open the black water tank by-pass valve 202

[0053] .5—when you are ready to leave the site or wish to switch back to sending the black water waste to the black water holding/storage tank close the the black water tank by-pass valve 202

[0054] .6—open the black water tank inlet shut off valve 201

[0055] .7—ensure that the black water waste holding tank discharge gate valve 1011 is closed

[0056] .8—close the black water tank by-pass valve 202

[0057] The components of the apparatus of the present invention is for by-passing the black tank starting with the by-pass valve 202 the by-pass valve 202 the by-pass valve 202 situated in the pipe 203 from the toilet bottom discharge to the black water pipe 104 to the black tank entry hole. The by-pass valve 202 that the black water waste stream from a connected drain point toilet-to an alternate drainage exit via pipe 203.

[0058] The grey water holding tank by-pass drain pipe105 and the black water holding tank by-pass drain pipe 103 and pipe 107 are pitched with the proper sewer drainage pitch connectively attached for sewage with the proper pipe pitch for sewer drainage. The conventional or usual proper plumbing pitch for sewage draining piping is typically 0.635 cm (0.25 inch) drop over a 30.48 cm (12 inch) run. The apparatus of the present invention can be embodied with any plumbing pitch known to function properly by ensuring the continuous flow of effluent. The various by-pass valves, are manually operable without said automated controls. The various by-pass valves, when connectively attached to automation controls are manually operable without said automated controls for emergency and power outage control of said by-pass valves.

[0059] The preferred embodiment the apparatus of the present invention can further comprise a control panel [250] with an automatic switching system to enable or disable the by-passing and water flushing devices/elements of the present invention in partially or fully automated operation.

[0060] In an embodiment a plurality of on/off automation controls on the control panel 250 connectively attach to each component/element to automate the system are added.

[0061] This Optional automated controls include electrical, pneumatic, and/or mechanical controls and wring from each control connectively attached to each element of the system back to a set of collectively centralized electrical and/or mechanical controls on a control panel that enable the automatic operation of each and all of the elements of the apparatus of the present invention to partially or fully automate its operation.

[0062] The present invention reduces the use of RV black tank chemicals and/or additives when in by-pass operation given that the tank is completely by-passed and therefore does not require the additives. This reduction in the use of black tank chemicals contributes to lower cost operation, and reduction in environmental impact. The present invention reduces the use of the black water tank of an RV and consequently reduces the normal buildup of detritus that passes through, less buildup of detritus results in easier and more complete flushing and cleaning.

[0063] In a preferred embodiment, there is a recreational vehicle (RV) toilet to black water tank by-pass apparatus comprising a by-pass valve having an open position and a closed position, a waste water entry, a open valve exit connectively attached to said RV black water holding tank, and a closed valve exit connectively attached to a pipe having a vent and a p-trap enabling the continuous by-pass of the black water tank enabling continuous use of said RV toilet while conserving the use of said black water tank.

[0064] In an alternate embodiment, there is a RV toilet to black water tank by-pass apparatus further comprising a plurality of automated controls connectively attached to said by-pass valve enabling the automated control of said by-pass.

[0065] In an alternate embodiment, there is a method of using a toilet to a black water tank by-pass apparatus to by-pass the use of said black water tank to conserve use of black water tank additives by by-passing the use of said black water tank thereby preventing a need to add additives.

[0066] A key advantage of the apparatus/device of the present invention is that once it is installed in a recreational vehicle it enables the continuous use of the toilet without using the black water holding tanks.

[0067] The invention has been described by way of examples only. Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the claims.

[0068] Although the invention has been explained in relation to various embodiments, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.