Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to a lightweight, multifunctional valve assembly.

Various types of valves are known for controlling the flow of fluid (including gases, liquids fluidized solids and slurries) by selectively opening and closing passageways. Within system having multiple fluid flows that need to be opened and closed, each fluid flow may be associated with an individually controlled valve. Alternatively, it is generally known to provide a common valve assembly for controlling multiple fluid flows. Such valve assemblies may be generally referred to as multifunctional valve assemblies.

While known valve assemblies, including common valve assemblies for controlling multiple fluid flows, may have proven to be successful for their intended purposes, known assemblies are associated with disadvantages and limitations. For example, material used in known valve assemblies, including but not limited to electric ball valves, increase the weight of the valve assembly. Additionally, each valve or each multi-functional valve is associated with a motor, again increasing the weight and complexity of systems including multiple valves. Accordingly, a continuous need for improvement remains in the pertinent art to address the noted and additional disadvantages and limitations associated with known valve assemblies.

<CIT> discloses a valve assembly according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

It is an object of the present teachings to provide a multifunctional valve assembly with reduced weight.

According to the invention, the multifunctional valve assembly, as defined by independent claim <NUM>, includes a first portion for controlling at least two fluid flows and a second portion for controlling at least two fluid flows, the first and second portions operated by a single motor.

It is another object of the present teachings to provide a multifunctional valve assembly associated with reduced operation times for the switching of valve positions.

It is also an object of the present teachings to provide a multifunctional valve assembly incorporating an integrated and replaceable filter.

Still further objects of the present teachings will become apparent below.

In accordance with the claimed invention, the multifunctional valve assembly includes a first portion with a first <NUM>-way valve functionality for selectively controlling flow of a first fluid and a second portion with a second, <NUM>-way functionality valve functionality for selectively controlling flow a second fluid. The multifunctional valve assembly further includes a common motor associated with the first and second portions and operative to drive both of the first and second portions to operate in first, second and third operational modes.

In accordance with another particular aspect, the present teachings provide a method of operating a multifunctional valve assembly including rotating a first sleeve about an axis of the first sleeve with a common motor to concurrently drive first and second portions of the valve assembly to each operate in first, second and third operational modes.

Referring generally to the drawings, a lightweight, multifunctional valve assembly in accordance with the present teachings is illustrated and generally identified at reference character <NUM>. As will be further understood below, the valve assembly <NUM> includes a first portion 100A with a first <NUM>-way valve functionality for selectively controlling flow of a first fluid and a second portion 100B with a second, <NUM>-way valve functionality for selectively controlling flow of a second fluid. The present teachings may be readily adapted for various uses where it is desired to selectively control the flow of a first fluid and second fluid. The first and second fluids may be the same type of fluid or distinct types of fluids.

In one particular application, the valve assembly <NUM> may be incorporated into a wastewater management system <NUM> for a recreational vehicle ("RV"). It will be understood that this particular application shown in the drawings and described herein is merely an exemplary application of the present teachings. Before addressing the valve assembly <NUM> of the present teachings in greater detail, an understanding of such an exemplary use and the general functioning of the valve assembly <NUM> is warranted. Reference in this regard will be made particularly to the high-level block diagram of <FIG>.

The wastewater management system <NUM> includes a first holding structure defined by a black water holding tank <NUM>, a second holding structure defined by a grey water holding tank <NUM>, and a third holding structure defined by a fresh water holding tank <NUM>. In general, the grey water tank <NUM> may hold grey water in the form of kitchen wastewater <NUM> from a kitchen sink, for example, and bathroom wastewater <NUM> from a bathroom sink and/or shower, for example. The grey water in the grey water holding tank <NUM> may be used for flushing of a toilet <NUM> for purposes of conserving water in the fresh water tank <NUM>, and reduction of grey water in the grey water tank. The black water tank <NUM>, in general, receives black water from a positive pressure or macerator pump <NUM>. The macerator pump <NUM> is located in a macerator housing <NUM> associated with the toilet <NUM>.

In addition to the lightweight, multifunctional valve assembly <NUM>, the system <NUM> is illustrated to include various other valves for controlling flow between the various components. These other valves may be electronically controlled valves <NUM> or manually controlled valves <NUM>. The valves <NUM> and <NUM> may be gate valves or ball valves, for example.

The system <NUM> includes level sensors 30A, 30B and 30C for sensing the level within the black water tank <NUM>, the grey water tank <NUM> and the fresh water tank <NUM>, respectively. The level sensors 30A, 30B and 30C may be float assemblies, for example, configured to transmit electronic signals that indicate a fluid level within the corresponding tank <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

The system <NUM> is shown to further include various pumps <NUM> for pumping fluid (e.g., fresh water, grey water, and black water and additives) through the system <NUM>. The pumps <NUM> may be automatically controlled by electronic signals from the controller <NUM>. Alternatively, the pumps <NUM> may be controlled by user input. The pumps <NUM> for the grey and black water tanks <NUM> and <NUM> may be centrifugal pumps and the pumps <NUM> for the additives may be piston pumps.

A control sub-system in the form of a control unit <NUM> and a display unit may be incorporated for controlling the management of wastewater within the system <NUM> and for emptying of the wastewater tanks <NUM>, among other functions. The control unit <NUM> may be located anywhere in the vehicle. The control unit <NUM> may include a controller <NUM> in communication with the various pumps <NUM>, the macerator pump <NUM>, each of the valves, and each of the level sensors 30A, 30B and 30C.

A display unit <NUM> may incorporate a user operated keypad <NUM> or other buttons in communication with the controller <NUM> for initiating programmed routines of the system <NUM> and/or for opening/closing selected ones of the valves or pumps. The macerator pump <NUM> may be controlled at the toilet <NUM>, for example. The grey water pump <NUM> may be controlled at both the toilet <NUM> (for flushing) and at a display <NUM> of the display unit <NUM> ( for instance, for pumping grey water to the black water tank <NUM>, for mixing grey water or as part of an automated cleaning cycle). The controller <NUM> may be in communication with a display <NUM>. The display may be an LCD touchscreen display <NUM>, for example. The display <NUM> may have soft touch keys or controls to enable user selection various functions. Such soft touch keys or controls may be in addition to or in lieu of the keypad <NUM>.

As shown in dashed lines in <FIG>, the fresh water tank <NUM> may optionally be in fluid communication with the grey water tank <NUM>. This fluid communication may be through a valve <NUM>. With such an optional communication between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the grey water tank <NUM>, fluid communication between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the toilet <NUM> would not be required. Explaining further, such optional fluid communication may deliver fresh water to the grey water tank <NUM> for toilet flushing in the event the grey water tank <NUM> is empty or below a predetermined level and the system <NUM> does not provide for direct communication between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the toilet <NUM>. Additionally, this communication between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the grey water tank <NUM> may be used for complete flushing/rinsing of the system <NUM>.

The system <NUM> may additionally include an additive sub-system <NUM>. The additive sub-system <NUM> may include additive dispensers 54A, 54B, and 54C. Each of the additive dispensers 54A, 54B, and 54C may be refillable with specific additives. In one embodiment, the additive dispensers 54A, 54B, and 54C may receive replaceable cartridges containing the specific additives. Each additive cartridge 54A, 54B, and 54C may be associated with an RFID label <NUM> that communicates with the controller to keep track of the pumped volume of additives from the dispenser. In this manner, the controller <NUM> can communicate the remaining level of additives to the user on the display. The RFID label <NUM> may also include, store and communicate other information such as, but not limited to, cartridge lifetime, cartridge type for keying in the wrong receptacle, cartridge producer, relevant usage data, etc..

The additive dispenser 54A may be in fluid communication with the grey water tank <NUM> through a pump <NUM> for delivering a grey water additive to the grey water tank <NUM>. Dosing of the grey water additive to the grey water tank <NUM> may be controlled automatically by the controller <NUM>. For example, the controller <NUM> may control dosing of the grey water additive to the grey water tank <NUM> in response to detection of a predetermined volume level of grey water in the grey water tank <NUM> by the level sensor 30B.

The additive dispenser 54B may be in fluid communication with the housing <NUM> associated with the toilet <NUM> through a pump <NUM> for delivering a black water additive. In this manner, black water additive may be delivered to the macerator housing 34A in response to a flush of the toilet <NUM>. Alternatively, the black water additive may be delivered directly to the black water tank <NUM> (as shown in <FIG> in dashed lines). The amount of additive per flush may be fixed and be sufficient to control the generation of malodor by the contents of the black water tank <NUM>. Alternatively, the amount of black water additive per flush may be adjusted by the control <NUM> based on various factors, including but not limited to a time that waste is held in the black water tank <NUM>, a temperature of the black water tank <NUM>, a volume of black water in the black water tank.

The additive dispenser 54C may be in fluid communication with the flush conduit <NUM> through a pump <NUM> for delivering a flush water additive to the toilet bowl which is activated by a flush signal. In certain applications, each of the additive dispensers 54A, 54B, and 54C may also be associated with a sensor to sense the age of the corresponding additive and communicate a corresponding signal to the controller <NUM> when replacement is needed due to additive expiration.

When an RV equipped with the system <NUM> begins a trip, the fresh water tank <NUM> may be substantially or completely full. The black water tank <NUM> and the grey water tank <NUM> may be substantially or completely empty. The system <NUM> may monitor the levels within the tanks <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> with the sensors 30A, 30B and 30C, respectively. At least the level of the black water tank <NUM> may be additionally monitored with an acceleration sensor <NUM> to more accurately assess tank capacity. The sensed levels of the tanks <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> may be communicated to the controller <NUM> and in turn displayed for the user on the display <NUM>, or the remote display.

Kitchen wastewater <NUM> from a kitchen sink, for example, and bathroom wastewater <NUM> from a bathroom sink and/or shower, for example, may drain to the grey water tank <NUM> under the force of gravity through a conduit <NUM>. The kitchen wastewater <NUM> and bathroom wastewater <NUM> may be collected and stored in the grey water tank <NUM>. The grey water in the grey water tank <NUM> may be used for flushing of the toilet <NUM> in response to a user request for flushing. This grey flush water is delivered to a filter <NUM> through a conduit <NUM>. The filter <NUM> filters solids from the grey water to create a visually acceptable toilet flush water for the user. Filtered grey flush water is delivered to the toilet <NUM> for flushing through a conduit <NUM>. The flush water additive discussed below may be introduced at this location. The conduit <NUM> is associated with a valve <NUM>. Explaining further, the controller <NUM> may operate to open the electronically actuated valve <NUM> associated with the conduit <NUM> and pump grey water to the toilet <NUM>.

The solids collected by the filter <NUM> may be periodically transported to the black water tank <NUM> through a conduit <NUM>. In this regard, the controller <NUM> periodically functions to close the valve <NUM> associated with the conduit <NUM>, open the portion of the valve assembly <NUM> associated with the conduit <NUM> to communicate the filter <NUM> with the black water tank <NUM>, and pump grey water from the grey water tank <NUM> through conduit <NUM> and into the filter <NUM>. These actions clean the inside of the filter <NUM> and transport the filtered solids through conduit <NUM> from the filter <NUM> to the black water tank <NUM>.

The grey water in the grey water tank <NUM> is treated with automatically dosed additives. The filter <NUM> also enables a grey water mixing cycle that more evenly distributes grey water additives to treat the grey water and at the same time flushes the filter medium of the filter <NUM> clean. In this regard, a further conduit <NUM> extends from the filter <NUM> to the grey water tank <NUM>. As shown in the embodiment illustrated, the further conduit <NUM> may be associated with the first portion 100A of the valve assembly <NUM>. Explaining further, the first portion 100A of the valve assembly <NUM> may be controlled to completely close flow to both conduit <NUM> and conduit <NUM>, may be opened to flow only to conduit <NUM> or may be open to flow only to conduit <NUM>.

A hose or conduit <NUM> may extend between the black water tank <NUM> and the discharge adapter <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> may be associated with the second portion 100B of the valve assembly <NUM> and a pump <NUM>. The second portion 100B of the valve assembly <NUM> may be connected back to the black water tank <NUM> through black water mix conduit <NUM>. When the valve assembly <NUM> is positioned in a mixing mode to allow flow back to the black water tank, the black water gets mixed when the black water pump <NUM> runs. Mixing of the black water is preferred to avoid sediments of black water in the tank and also to distribute incoming additives from the toilet macerator chamber with the total black water volume in the tank. The second portion 100B of the valve assembly <NUM> can also be operate to allow flow of black water to the discharge adapter <NUM>.

In the event that the grey water tank <NUM> does not have sufficient grey water to complete a requested flush cycle of the toilet, the toilet <NUM> may be flushed with fresh water. Flushing of the toilet <NUM> with fresh water may be accomplished in two different manners depending on the particular configuration of the system <NUM>. In a first manner, upon sensing of a low level of grey water within the grey water tank <NUM>, the controller <NUM> opens an electronically actuated valve <NUM> associated with a conduit <NUM> between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the toilet <NUM>. Fresh water is pumped from the fresh water tank <NUM> to the toilet <NUM>. In a second manner, the controller <NUM> may open an electronically actuated valve <NUM> associated with an option conduit <NUM> between the fresh water tank <NUM> and the grey water tank <NUM>. Fresh water is pumped from the fresh water tank <NUM> to the grey water tank <NUM>. The controller then delivers the fresh water residing in the grey water tank <NUM> to the toilet <NUM> in the manner discussed above.

The black water tank <NUM> and the grey water tank <NUM> may be periodically emptied in response to a user command entered through a control on the discharge adapter <NUM> or by a remote device. Such emptying of the black water tank <NUM> may be desired when the black water tank <NUM> has reached capacity or when an RV trip has been completed, for example. In response to user input, the controller <NUM> may operate to open the valve <NUM> associated with the conduit <NUM> providing fluid communication between the black water tank <NUM> and a drain <NUM> or discharge adapter <NUM>. The conduit <NUM> may also be associated with a first manually actuated valve <NUM> proximate the discharge adapter <NUM>. Upon opening the valve <NUM>, the controller <NUM> may pump black water from the black water tank <NUM> to the discharge adapter <NUM>. After the black water tank <NUM> is emptied, the grey water pump will pump the grey water into the black water tank <NUM> to rinse the walls of the black water tank <NUM> and empty the grey water tank <NUM>. The grey water will then travel from the black water tank <NUM> to the discharge adapter <NUM> to clean out the discharge adapter <NUM> and associated hoses.

Optionally, the discharge adapter <NUM> may be connected to a further waste holding tank <NUM>. The further waste holding tank <NUM> may be permanently or removably carried by the RV, may provide further capacity for black water storage, and may to be able to dump waste in a traditional way (i.e., transport of the waste holding tank <NUM> without moving the vehicle). One suitable type of portable waste holding tank <NUM> is sold by the assignee of this application under the trademark Cassette®.

The lightweight, multifunctional valve assembly <NUM> of the present teachings will now be further described. The valve assembly <NUM> includes a valve housing <NUM>. The valve housing <NUM> may be unitarily constructed of plastic to thereby reduce the weight of the valve assembly <NUM>. In one application, the valve housing <NUM> may be injection molded of plastic.

As generally shown in the figures, the valve assembly <NUM> is constructed to be located at a distance from the filter <NUM> and connected by a hose or conduit <NUM> (see <FIG>). In some applications, however, it may be desired to incorporate the valve assembly <NUM> into a larger assembly including the filter <NUM>. In this regard, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> illustrated an alternative embodiment in which the valve assembly <NUM> is shown as part of a larger assembly including a filter housing <NUM> for the filter <NUM>.

Insofar as the present teachings are concerned, the filter housing <NUM> will be understood to be similar in construction and operation where the filter housing <NUM> is located remote from the valve assembly <NUM> and where the valve assembly <NUM> and filter housing <NUM> are part of a common, larger assembly. As shown in the alternative embodiment of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the valve assembly <NUM> and filter housing <NUM> may be elongated along a common central axis <NUM>.

The filter housing <NUM> may define a cavity <NUM> open at an upper end of the housing <NUM>. The cavity <NUM> may receive a filter insert <NUM>. The filter insert <NUM> is generally cylindrical in shape, including a closed end <NUM> and an open end <NUM>. A central portion of the filter insert <NUM> between the closed end <NUM> and the open end <NUM> includes a plurality of windows. The windows are covered by the media of the filter <NUM>. The interior of the filter insert <NUM> is in fluid communication with the conduit <NUM> though a filter housing input port <NUM>. In this manner, the conduit <NUM> is in fluid communication with a dirty side of the filter <NUM>. The filter housing <NUM> further includes a filter housing output port <NUM>. The output port <NUM> provides fluid communication between the conduit <NUM> leading to the toilet <NUM> and the clean side of the filter <NUM>. The filter insert <NUM> carries one or more sealing members or O-rings <NUM> that define fluid tight interfaces between the filter insert <NUM> and the housing <NUM> to prevent dirt from flowing from the "dirty" side of the filter to the "clean water" side of the filter.

The valve assembly <NUM> is illustrated to generally include a valve housing <NUM>, a valve subassembly <NUM>, and a drive arrangement <NUM>. The valve housing <NUM> defines a cylindrical chamber <NUM>. At one end <NUM>, the chamber <NUM> is in fluid communication with the filter <NUM>. At a second end <NUM>, the chamber <NUM> is in fluid communication with the black water tank <NUM> through the conduit <NUM>. The housing <NUM> includes a first output port <NUM> for connecting to the conduit <NUM> leading to the black water tank <NUM>, a second output port <NUM> for connecting to the conduit <NUM> leading to the grey water tank <NUM>, a third output port <NUM> for connecting to the conduit <NUM> leading to the black water tank <NUM>, and a fourth output port <NUM> for connecting to the conduit <NUM> leading to the discharge adapter <NUM>.

The valve subassembly <NUM> is received within the chamber <NUM> and rotatable about the axis <NUM> to control various modes of operation of the valve assembly <NUM>. The valve subassembly <NUM> generally includes a first sleeve or inner sleeve <NUM>, a second sleeve or outer sleeve <NUM> and a tubular gasket <NUM>. The outer sleeve <NUM> is rotationally fixed relative to the housing <NUM>. The tubular gasket <NUM> is carried on the outside of the outer sleeve <NUM> and similarly is rotationally fixed relative to the housing <NUM>. The inner sleeve <NUM> rotates within the outer sleeve <NUM>. The tubular gasket <NUM> provides a seal between the housing <NUM> and the outer sleeve <NUM> and also seals with the inner sleeve <NUM>.

The inner sleeve <NUM> includes a cylindrical sidewall <NUM> open at axial opposite ends with a first or upper sleeve portion <NUM> with a first sidewall opening <NUM> and a second or lower sleeve portion <NUM> with a second sidewall opening <NUM>. The first portion <NUM> is open to receive the first fluid or grey water into a first inner portion 142A of the first sleeve <NUM>. The second portion <NUM> is open to receive the second fluid or black water into a second inner portion 142B of the first sleeve <NUM>. The first and second inner portions 142A, 142B of the first sleeve <NUM> are separated by a radially extending wall <NUM>. The first and second sidewall openings <NUM> and <NUM> are radially offset <NUM> degrees from each other and correspond with valve open positions. The inner sleeve <NUM> may be injection molded or otherwise suitably formed of plastic.

The outer sleeve <NUM> includes a cylindrical sidewall <NUM> open at axial opposite ends with a first or upper portion <NUM> and a second or lower portion <NUM>. The first and second portions <NUM> and <NUM> both include four openings <NUM> equally spaced about the circumference of the cylindrical sidewall <NUM>.

The tubular gasket <NUM> includes a cylindrical sidewall <NUM> with a first or upper portion <NUM> and a second or lower portion <NUM>. The first and second portions <NUM> and <NUM> are both integrally formed to include four O-rings <NUM> in a convex portion of the sidewall <NUM>. Two of the O-rings <NUM> on both the first and second portions <NUM> and <NUM> that are radially opposite one another surround open holes <NUM> in the sidewall <NUM>. The remaining O-rings <NUM> surround solid portions <NUM> of the gasket <NUM>. The tubular gasket <NUM> also integrally defines circumferentially extending O-rings <NUM> at the first end, second end and an axial center of the gasket <NUM>. The O-rings <NUM> cooperate to seal against the housing <NUM>.

The inner sleeve <NUM> is driven for rotation within the housing <NUM> and about the axis <NUM> by the drive arrangement <NUM>. The drive arrangement <NUM> generally includes a housing <NUM>, a drive motor <NUM>, a drive gear <NUM> and a driven gear <NUM>. The drive motor <NUM> is a common motor associated with the first and second portions 100A and 100B of the valve assembly <NUM> and operative to drive both of the first and second portions to operate in first, second and third operational modes.

The housing <NUM> includes a first housing portion <NUM> captured between the filter housing <NUM> and the valve housing <NUM>. The first housing portion <NUM> defines a tray that rotatably receives the driven gear <NUM>. The driven gear <NUM> includes a first keyed portion that extends into a central opening of the tray of the first housing portion <NUM> and engages a second, cooperating keyed portion <NUM> of the inner sleeve <NUM>. In this manner, the inner sleeve <NUM> is coupled to the driven gear <NUM> for rotation about the axis <NUM>.

A second housing portion <NUM> of the housing <NUM> carries the drive motor <NUM>. A shaft <NUM> driven by the drive motor <NUM> carries the drive gear <NUM>. Teeth of the drive gear <NUM> meshingly engage teeth of the driven gear <NUM>. When the controller <NUM> operates the drive motor <NUM>, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> between various operational modes. The amount of rotation the driven gear <NUM> and resultantly the inner sleeve <NUM> may be controlled by a limit switch <NUM>.

The first portion 100A of the valve assembly <NUM> will now be understood to control the flow a first fluid within the system <NUM>, namely grey water from the filter <NUM>. The first portion 100A has three operating conditions. In a first operation condition of the first portion 100A, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> are both closed to the flow of grey water from the filter <NUM>. Under this first operating condition, grey water from the filter <NUM> is available for flushing of the toilet <NUM>. In a second operation condition of the first portion 100A, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is closed to the flow of grey water from the filter <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is open to the flow of grey water from the filter <NUM>. Under this second operating condition, grey water from the filter <NUM> is directed back to the grey water tank <NUM> for mixing within the grey water tank. In a third operation condition of the first portion 100A, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is open to the flow of grey water from the filter <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is closed to the flow of grey water from the filter <NUM>. Under this third operating condition, grey water from the filter <NUM> is discharged to the black water tank <NUM>.

The second portion of the valve assembly 100B controls the flow of a second fluid within the system <NUM>, namely black water from the black water tank <NUM>. The second portion 100B similarly has three operating conditions. In a first operation condition of the first portion 100B, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> are both closed to the flow of black water from the black water tank <NUM>. Under this first operating condition, there is no flow of black water within the system <NUM>. In a second operation condition of the first portion 100B, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is open to the flow of black water and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is closed to the flow of black water. Under this second operating condition, black water from the black water tank <NUM> is returned to the black water tank <NUM> for mixing within the black water tank <NUM>. In a third operation condition of the first portion 100B, the inner sleeve <NUM> is rotated about the axis <NUM> such that the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is closed to the flow of black water and the outlet port <NUM> leading to the conduit <NUM> is open to the flow of black water. Under this third operating condition, black water from the black water tank <NUM> is discharged to the discharge adapter <NUM>.

Insofar as rotation of the inner sleeve <NUM> controls the operating conditions of both the first portion 100A and second portion 100B of the valve assembly <NUM>, it will be understood that the valve assembly <NUM> can be controlled to operate in three distinct operating modes. In a first operating mode of the valve assembly <NUM>, the first and second portions 100A and 100B are both in their first operating condition. In this first mode, or static mode, there is no flow of grey water from the filter <NUM> through the valve assembly <NUM>. In a second operating mode of the valve assembly <NUM>, the first and second portions 100A and 100B are both in their second operating conditions. In this second operating mode, or mix mode, grey water from the filter <NUM> flows back to the grey water tank <NUM> to mix grey water within the grey water tank <NUM> and black water from the black water tank <NUM> flows back to the black water tank <NUM> for mixing. In a third operating mode of the valve assembly <NUM>, the first and second portions 100A and 100B are both in their third operating conditions. In this third operating mode, or discharge mode, grey water from the filter <NUM> flows to the black water tank <NUM> to flush the filter of captured solids and black water from the black water tank <NUM> is discharged to the discharge adapter <NUM>.

Accordingly, it will now be appreciated that the present teachings to provide a multifunctional valve assembly with reduced weight. The present teachings additionally provide a multifunctional valve assembly including a first portion for controlling at least two fluid flows and a second portion for controlling at least two fluid flows, the first and second portions operated by a single motor. Further, the present teachings provide a multifunctional valve assembly associated with reduced operation times for the switching of valve positions.

While specific details have been described, those skilled in the art will recognize that various modifications or variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A multifunctional valve assembly (<NUM>) comprising:
a first portion (100A); and
a second portion (100B), wherein
the first portion (100A) includes a first <NUM>-way valve functionality for selectively controlling flow of a first fluid;
the second portion (100B) includes a second <NUM>-way valve functionality for selectively controlling flow of a second fluid; wherein
the multifunctional valve assembly (<NUM>) further includes a common motor (<NUM>) associated with the first and second portions (100A) and (100B) and operative to drive both of the first and second portions (100A) and (100B) to operate in first, second and third operational modes, and wherein
the multifunctional valve assembly (<NUM>) further includes a valve housing (<NUM>),
a first sleeve (<NUM>) rotatably disposed in the valve housing (<NUM>), the first sleeve (<NUM>) including a first sleeve portion (<NUM>) and a second sleeve portion (<NUM>) that rotate together about an axis, the first sleeve portion (<NUM>) adapted to control flow of the first fluid through the valve housing (<NUM>) and the second sleeve portion (<NUM>) adapted to control flow of the second fluid through the valve housing (<NUM>), wherein the first sleeve (<NUM>) is an inner sleeve, and wherein
the valve assembly (<NUM>) further comprises an outer sleeve (<NUM>) circumferentially surrounding the first sleeve (<NUM>), wherein the outer sleeve (<NUM>) is rotationally fixed relative to the valve housing (<NUM>) and the inner sleeve (<NUM>) is rotatable relative to the outer sleeve (<NUM>) characterized in that the valve assembly (<NUM>) further comprises a one-piece tubular gasket (<NUM>) carried on an outside of the outer sleeve (<NUM>) and thereby rotationally fixed relative to the valve housing (<NUM>), the tubular gasket (<NUM>) sealing the valve housing (<NUM>) relative to each of the outer sleeve (<NUM>) and the first sleeve portion (<NUM>) and the second sleeve portion (<NUM>) of the first sleeve (<NUM>).