Water supply and waste removal system for a vehicle

The above-entitled system is especially useful in recreational vehicles but is obviously adaptable to other arrangements. As obviously applied to a recreational vehicle (RV) having a fresh water tank, a grey tank and a waste tank, the system includes a plurality of electrically activated valves, one for each tank, so arranged as to be individually operated exclusive of each other in a convenient sequence for filling the water tank, draining and rinsing the grey tank and finally draining and rinsing the waste tank. The grey and waste tanks are connected to a water supply line by separate lines, each of which includes spray nozzles assuring cleansing of the tanks. A pump is provided in conjunction with the water for use in the event of a situation in which an external water source--such as city water--is not available.

BACKGROUND ART 
A recreational vehicle (hereinafter RV) is conventionally equipped with 
three tanks: a fresh water tank, a grey tank and a waste tank. In typical 
practice, the water tank is periodically filled with fresh water when 
available. The other two tanks are drained or dumped into facilities 
commonly provided at campgrounds, roadside parks, etc. In one form of 
draining and dumping operation, the grey and waste tanks are dumped and 
then a hose is connected to a source of water under pressure and water is 
directed into the tanks to flush out any remaining waste, etc. In the case 
of the waste tank, the hose is directed into the stool with the flush 
pedal valve open, a procedure that often results in overflow and resulting 
damage to the interior of the RV. Very often the aid of service personnel 
at the dumping facility is enlisted and possible errors and carelessness 
are multiplied. 
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
According to the present invention, the foregoing and other disadvantages 
are eliminated and a simple, convenient system is provided for performing 
the supply, dump and flush tanks. To this end, the invention features a 
water supply line connectable to an external supply source, such as a city 
water outlet usually available at, say, a camp site. The supply line is 
branched off to the water, grey and waste tanks by separate lines in 
parallel and each line includes an electrically operated valve operative 
to selectively open and close its line. A control panel is provided with a 
plurality of separate switches, one for each tank. Electrical potential is 
supplied by, for example, the 12-volt D.C. battery of the RV. The switches 
are arranged so that only one switch at a time may be energized to actuate 
its respective valve. A check valve is furnished in the supply line 
upstream of the tank lines in order to prevent back flow into the supply 
source. Further a pump is furnished for pumping water from the water tanks 
to the other tanks in the event that an external water source is not 
available. 
Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as a 
preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosed in the ensuing 
description and accompanying drawing.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
Familiarity with the structure and nature of a typical RV will be assumed 
and, therefore, description of the details of that structure is deemed to 
be unnecessary. 
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is provided a main control panel (1) 
that may be placed at any convenient location in or on the RV, preferably 
in an easy access location to the person operating the system. As is 
typical, the RV is equipped with a fresh water tank (2), a grey tank (3) 
and a waste tank (4). Those versed in the art know that the grey tank 
receives discharge from the vehicle sink and shower and the waste tank 
serves the toilet. The sink, shower and toilet are, of course, not shown. 
Each tank is shown in schematic fashion as having a drain or dump valve V, 
each of which may be of any known design. A water supply line (30) is 
typically connectable at one end, via a check valve (22), to an external 
water supply source (22a); e.g., a city water outlet at which water under 
pressure is available. This line (30) may lead at (23) to the regular 
water facilities in the RV, such as the sink and shower faucets, toilet 
flush box, etc. Again these facilities are not shown since they are 
assumed to be present in the environment chosen for pruposes of the 
present disclosure. The tanks may be conveniently located in any manner in 
or under the vehicle and the supply line may be conveniently routed to 
accommodate the tanks and RV facilities, all of which is subject to many 
variations and per se forms no part of the present invention. 
Downstream of the supply source, the line (30) is connected with three 
branch lines (31), (32) and (33) for the tanks (2), (3) and (4) 
respectively. The line (31) communicates with the water tank (2) via a 
valve (5), here of the electro-magnetic type. The line (32) communicates 
with the tank (3) by means of a similar electro-magnetic value (6) for 
controlling flow to flushing nozzles (8), and a like value (7) and nozzles 
(9) are provided in the line (33) for the waste tank (4). The nozzles may 
be of any known type. A fourth branch line (34) is connected to the supply 
line (30) upstream of the branch lines (31), (32) and (33) and communicate 
with the water tank (2), and a pump (21) is interposed in the line (34) 
for use in the event that a water source such as (22a) is not at hand. The 
pump includes a built-in check valve (not shown because the pump is 
standard equipment) for preventing city water, when used, from flowing 
past the pump and into the tank (2), possibly causing overfilling and 
subsequent damage to the tank or at least spillage into undesirable areas. 
As a precaution against the foregoing, the water tank (2) is equipped with 
a micro-switch (20) of the single pole, double throw type, about which 
more will be set forth in connection with the electrical circuit. 
Previous reference has been had herein to the control panel (1), which 
carries a plurality of electrical switches and switch-relatd signals. As 
also previously indicated, the system is energized by as 12-v. D.C. 
source, such as the battery (24). Appropriate grounds are shown by 
recognized symbols. These switches include a switch (10) for the water 
tank (2), a switch (11) for the grey tank (3), a switch (12) for the waste 
tank (4) and a power-on/-off switch (13) connected to the battery through 
a typical fuse (19). The switches (10), (11) and (12) are of the single 
pole, double throw type, each having an upper and a lower position; 
although, the upper position for the switch (10) is not used in this 
embodiment of the invention. Appropriate signal lamps (15), (16), (17) and 
(18) are provided for the switches and an audible signal (14) is provided 
in the line associated with the micro-switch (20). As indicated before 
herein, the wiring is so designed that, of the switches (10), (11) and 
(12), only one can be energized at a time as regards the tank valve it 
will control. 
In use and operation, all switches (10, (11) and (12) will be in their "up" 
positions, in which case the switch (12) connects the switch (13) to the 
switch (11) and the switch (11) connects to the switch (10). Thus, when 
the power switch (13) is closed current flows through switches (12) and 
(11) to the switch (10) but not to the lower terminals of the switches 
(11) and (12). Hence, all the lines (12a), (11a) and (10a) are pen. The 
operating sequence is first to close the switch (13), which will be 
signalled by the green lamp (18). The switch (10) is then closed energize 
the line (10a) which goes to the switch (20). If the water level is lower, 
the green lamp (15) will light and the valve (5) will open to allow the 
tank to fill. When filling is completed, the switch (20) will switch over 
to its second position to close the valve (5), at which time the green 
lamp (15) will go off and the signal (14) will sound. 
In the meantime, tanks (3) and (4) can be connected to drain or dump. When 
the user hears the signal (14), he will turn the switch (11) on and the 
green lamp (16) will glow and the valve (6) will open to spray flushing 
water into the tank (3) via the nozzles (8). After the tank (3) is clean, 
the switch (11) is turned off and the switch (12) is turned on, signaled 
by illumination of the green lamp (17), and the valve (7) opens to admit 
flushing water to the tank (4) via the nozzles (9). When the tank (4) is 
considered clean, the switches are all turned off. The basic purpose of 
arranging the switches for individual and exclusive operation is to obtain 
maximum water pressure in the main line (30). 
As will be seen from the foregoing, the novel arrangement is simple, 
compact and convenient and is not likely to get out of order. Existing RVs 
may be readily equipped with the system and manufactured RVs will have the 
system factory installed. It will also be appreciated that only a 
preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed and that many 
modifications, additions, etc. may be made without departing from the 
spirit and scope of the invention.