Vacuum/holding tank
US5681148A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 1995 |
| Grant date | Oct 28, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE03F1/006
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A sewage handling assembly particularly for boats and recreational vehicles with a minimum of components. The waste discharge of a toilet is connected to an inlet for a combined vacuum and holding tank which mounts a vacuum pump, and optionally mounts a sewage discharge pump. A sewage discharge conduit, which may be connected to the optional sewage discharge pump, is connected to a first outlet from the tank, in turn connected to a dip tube terminating in an open end just above the tank bottom. A second outlet from the tank is connected to the vacuum pump (in turn connected to a gas conduit with an end termination penetrating an exterior partition of the boat or RV), and an upwardly extending gas tube inside the tank, having an opening near the interior top of the tank, is connected to the second outlet. The tank is controlled so that a gas volume of about 2 and 1/2-4 gallons is always maintained in the tank, with a vacuum level of between about 8-10 inches of mercury. Once the volume of sewage in the tank reaches a predetermined level--so that sewage might be inadvertently withdrawn by the vacuum pump--the vacuum pump is controlled so that it will not operate until the tank is emp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.