Patent Publication Number: US-4650224-A

Title: Apparatus for discharging sewage from travel trailers and the like

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a sewage discharge device and in particular to a device for temporarily connecting a holding tank in a travel trailer or the like to a drain. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     As travel has become more popular, many individuals and families have purchased travel trailers, motor homes and the like having holding tanks for retaining sewage generated during use. When it is time to empty the holding tank, typically a flexible hose is connected between a standard discharge coupling on the holding tank and a sewer or collection tank. A flexible hose is utilized because it is capable of extension and contraction to compensate for the relative positions of the holding tank outlet and the collection point. It is desirable that the hose be supported in such a manner as to enable the sewage to gravitate from the holding tank to the sewer without sags in the hose in which sewage may accumulate and freeze, and in such a manner that the hose is protected against damage. It is also desirable that the hose be supported such that it can be handled in a sanitary manner without the sewage coming in contact with the user. Furthermore, it is desirable that the hose and its support be capable of being stored in as small a space as possible when not in use. 
     A prior art hose supporting device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,228 issued on May 1, 1973. There is shown in that patent a hose case for supporting and enveloping a flexible hose, which case is capable of longitudinal extension and contraction in any position of extension and contraction of the hose. The case is formed of a plurality of telescoping tubular sections, through which the hose extends, that can be relatively extended and contracted in correlation with the extension and contraction of the hose. One disadvantage of this device is that is must be supported in the desired position by two pairs of legs which are pivotly connected to the telescoping case. When in use, the legs must be pivoted in a downward direction to engage the ground and then pivoted upward for storage. Of course, this device is difficult, if not impossible, to utilize when the supporting ground is uneven or is not available and is bulky to store. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is concerned with a sewage discharge apparatus having a telescoping tubular body with one end connected to a flexible hose and fitting for connection to a standard discharge outlet coupling on a holding tank. The other end of the telescoping tube is connected to an L-shaped discharge pipe for insertion into a sewer inlet opening. In addition, a quick disconnect coupling can be utilized for permitting the insertion of a fixed length extension tube between the telescoping tube section and the L-shaped discharge pipe where the distance between the holding tank and the sewer inlet exceeds the maximum extended length of the discharge apparatus. When not in use, the discharge apparatus telescopes to its minimum length for easy storage. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a sewage discharge device for travel trailers and the like which can be easily operated and stored. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sewage discharge apparatus for travel trailers and the like which is economical to manufacture and assemble. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a sewage discharge apparatus for travel trailers and the like which can be adapted to connect a holding tank discharge outlet to a sewer inlet from a wide variety of relative locations of the inlet and the outlet. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a sewage discharge device according to the present invention shown in a partially extended position; 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the inlet coupling section of the sewage discharge apparatus shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the outlet coupling section of the discharge apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and 
     FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an extension section for use with the outlet coupling section shown in FIG. 3. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     There is shown in FIG. 1, a front elevational view of a sewage discharge apparatus 10 in accordance with the present invention. A standard fitting 11 is adapted to connect to a holding tank discharge outlet coupling (not shown) of the type which is typically attached to the holding tanks of travel trailers, motor homes and the like. The fitting 11 is attached to one end of an inlet coupling section 12 which is typically formed of a flexible hose. The opposite end of the inlet coupling section 12 is attached to an inner tube section 13 which telecscopes inside an outer tube section 14. The end of the outer tube section 14 into which the inner tube section 13 extends is sealed against leakage by a locking coupling 15. The opposite end of the outer tube section 14 is attached to a locking coupling 16 which in turn is attached to a fixed outlet coupling section 17. The open of the outlet coupling section 17 is adapted to be inserted into a sewer inlet opening such that the sewage discharge apparatus 10 provides a closed conduit for the discharge of sewage from a holding tank to a sewer. 
     As shown in FIG. 2, the fitting 11 has a larger diameter open end 20 having a pair of coupling slots 21 formed in the walls thereof for cooperation with a locking device on the holding tank discharge outlet coupling (not shown). The fitting 11 also has a smaller diameter end 22 which snuggly fits inside one end of the flexible inlet coupling section 12. The coupling section 12 includes a length of flexible hose 23 which is firmly attached to the fitting 11 by a standard hose clamp 24. The clamp 24 encircles the outer end wall of the hose 23 and clamps the inner wall of the hose firmly against the outer wall of the smaller diameter end 22 of the fitting 11 to achieve a fluid tight seal. 
     The opposite end of the flexible hose 23 receives an end of the inner tube section 13 and is attached thereto by a standard hose clamp 25 which encircles the outer surface of the end of the flexible hose 23. The clamp 25 firmly holds the inner wall of the hose 23 against the outer surface of the end of the inner tube section 13 to achieve a fluid tight seal. The other end of the inner tube section 13 telescopes inside the outer tube section 14. The inner tube section 13 can be formed of a standard 21/2&#34; inside diameter polyvinylchloride pipe, for example, while the outer tube section 14 can be formed from a standard 3&#34; inside diameter polyvinylchloride pipe. The locking coupling 15 includes an inner ring 26 which accepts the end of the outer tube section 14. An inwardly extending radial flange 27 is formed at one end of the ring 26 to abut the end of the outer tube section 14 and the ring 26 is attached to the tube section 14 by a suitable adhesive. 
     Typically, a pair of ears or posts 28 extend radially outwardly from the outer wall portion of the inner ring 26 and engage slots formed in the wall of an outer ring 29. The bottom wall of the outer ring 29 has an inwardly extending flange 30 formed at one end thereof to abut the flange 27. A circumferentially extending &#34;O&#34; ring groove is formed about the inner edge of the flange 30 to accept an &#34;O&#34; ring 31. When the outer ring is engaged with the inner ring 26, the ears 28 engage the coupling slots formed in the outer ring 29 to lock the rings together and the &#34;O&#34; ring 31 is compressed between the inner ring flange 27 and the outer ring flange 30 to seal against the outer surface of the inner tube section 13 as the tube 13 is moved into and out of the interior of the outer tube section 14. 
     At the opposite end of the inner tube section 13 there can be attached to the outer surface one or more circumferential seals 40 which seal against the inner surface of the outer tube section 14 as shown in FIG. 3. The other end of the outer tube section 14 is attached to th locking coupling 16. The coupling 16 is similar to the locking coupling 15 in that an inner ring 41 is attached to and accepts the end of the outer tube section 14. An inwardly extending flange 42 is formed at one end of the inner ring 41 to abut the end of the outer tube section 14. A pair of radially outwardly extending ears or posts 43 are formed on an outer surface of the inner ring 41 and engage slots formed in the walls of an outer ring 44. The outer ring 44 has an inwardly radially extending step 45 formed on the inner wall thereof including an &#34;O&#34; ring groove for accepting an &#34;O&#34; ring 46. When the outer ring 44 is rotated into engagement with the inner ring 41, the ears or posts 43 engage the slots in the outer ring 44 and lock the two rings together. In this position, the &#34;O&#34; ring 46 is compressed to seal the connection between the rings 41 and 44. 
     The outer ring 44 also includes a tubular extension 47 which extends inside one end of an L-shaped outlet coupling section 17. The coupling section 17 can be formed from a standard &#34;L&#34; coupler made of polyvinylchloride material. The coupling section 17 includes a female end 48 for accepting the extension 47 and a male end 49 which fits into a sewer inlet (not shown). The inner ring 41 can be attached to the outer tube section 14 and the extension 47 can be attached to the female end 48 with a suitable adhesive for fluid tight seals. 
     When the sewage discharge apparatus 10 is to be stored, the inner tube section 13 is telescoped inside the outer tube section 14 to reduce the length of the apparatus to a minimum. The apparatus is then ready for storage in any suitable space in a travel trailer, motor home or the like. When it is time to utilize the apparatus 10, the fitting 11 is connected to the discharge outlet coupling on the holding tank to be emptied and the inner tube section 13 is extended from the outer tube section 14 a distance sufficient to place the male end 49 of the coupling section 17 at the inlet of a sewer. The flexible inlet coupling section 12 accommodates various angles created by the relative positions of the holding tank and the sewer. 
     There is shown in FIG. 4, an extension section for the sewage discharge apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The extension section permits the fixed outlet coupling section 17 to be disconnected from the tube section 14 for the insertion of the extension section to accommodate distances which are longer than the fully extended length of the sewage discharge apparatus 10 of FIG. 1. 
     There is shown in FIG. 4 an extension section 60 for use with the sewage discharge apparatus 10. The extension section 60 includes a tubular pipe 61 having a male coupler 62 attached at one end and female coupler 63 attached at the other end thereof. The couplers 62 and 63 are similar to the locking coupler 16 of FIG. 3. A pair of post 64 formed on the male coupler 62 extend radially outwardly to cooperate with the slots formed in the outer ring 44 of FIG. 3. The female coupler 63 has a pair of slots 65 (only one is shown) formed therein for cooperation with the posts 43 of FIG. 3. Therefore, the extension section 60 can be inserted between the locking coupling 16 and the outer tube section 14. The extension section 60 is utilized in case the distance between the holding tank outlet and the sewer inlet is greater than the maximum extended distance of the sewage discharge apparatus 10. The extension section 60 can be formed of any suitable length and more than one such extension section can be utilized to provide the necessary spacing between the flexible inlet coupling section 12 and the fixed outlet coupling section 17. 
     In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the principle and mode of operation of the invention have been explained in its preferred embodiment. However, it must be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise than specifically illustrated and described without departing from its spirit or scope.