Wastewater disposal mechanism for recreational vehicles
A mechanism for managing the wastewater compartments of recreational vehicles (RVs) is disclosed. The mechanism reduces work and health risk associated with emptying wastewater compartments commonly found in RVs.
1 . A device for managing flow of wastewater in recreational vehicles, comprising:
a central controlling mechanism for accepting and activating user choices;
a plurality of macerator-transfer pumps under the control of the central controlling mechanism and connected to black water and gray water tanks of an RV;
a plurality of shut-off valves under the control of the central controlling mechanism, connected between each of said tanks and each of the macerator pumps;
a rinse valve located between the gray and black water tanks, for selectively routing contents of the gray tank into the black tank; and
a four-way joint connection wherein two of the connections are attached to the outputs of the macerator pumps, one of the connections is attached to a discharge hose for evacuating the wastewater, and one of the connections is attached to the rinse valve.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the rinse valve is manually operated and not under the control of the central controlling mechanism.
3 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the rinse valve is under the control of the central controlling mechanism.
4 . The device of claim 1 being accessible through a covered service area that is commonly found at the side of most RVs
5 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the discharge hose is three-quarter inch in diameter.
6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein wastewater is conveyed greater than 150 feet from the RV.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
sensing mechanisms attached to either the black tank, gray tank, or both tanks, for detecting the available storage capacity of the tanks.
8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensing mechanisms can detect whether the tank levels are rising or falling, at what rate, and whether the tanks are close to overflowing
9 . The device of claim 1 , last valve before the contents of the tanks get entirely emptied from the RV
10 . The device of claim 1 , rinse valve and last valve are always in opposite positions.
11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein said opposition achieved using a spool mechanism.
12 . The device of claim 1 , single-motor embodiment exists in which one motor supplies power to both the black water and gray water macerator-transfer pumps
13 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user-operated console mechanism for operating the central controlling mechanism system, having buttons for accepting user input and indicator lights for indicating which functions have been accepted.
14 . The device of claim 13 , further comprising:
the central controlling mechanism having means to force a shut-off of the plurality of macerator-transfer pumps and alert a user through the console.
15 . The device of claim 14 , further comprising:
blinking various of the indicator lights to alert a user of specific events.
16 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
means for sensing the difference in the amount of current drawn by the pumps and take preventative action to prevent burning out of one of the pumps
17 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
the central control system can either be manually calibrated but also can self-calibrate, such as every time it is activated.
18 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
means for measuring the flow and volume of the plurality of macerator-transfer pumps.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein the means for measuring is to store the total revolutions of motors belonging to the macerator-transfer pumps.
20 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a gray water bypass connected between the gray tank and the four-way valve, for draining the gray tank without running any motors or pumps and not use electrical or battery system of the RV.
21 . The device of claim 20 , further comprising:
a gray water bypass valve, connected to the gray water bypass.
22 . A method for managing flow of wastewater in recreational vehicles, comprising:
activating a central control mechanism;
viewing a user-console;
making a selection to either empty a tank or rinse a tank using the user-console;
configuring a plurality of valves;
activating a plurality of macerator-transfer pumps; and
discharging wastewater.
23 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
forcing a shut-off of the plurality of macerator-transfer pumps; and
alerttng a user through the user-console.
24 . The method of claim 23 , further comprising:
blinking various indicator lights within the user-console to alert a user of specific events.
25 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
sensing the difference in the amount of current drawn by the plurality of macerator-transfer pumps; and
taking preventative action to prevent burning out of one of the pumps.
26 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
manually calibrating the central control mechanism.
27 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
the central control mechanism self-calibrating, such as every time it is activated.
28 . The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
measuring the flow and volume of the plurality of macerator-transfer pumps.
29 . The method of claim 28 , further comprising:
storing the total revolutions of motors belonging to the macerator-transfer pumps.