Abstract: A portable toilet is provided comprising a bowl provided with an outlet and at least one spout. A flush tank is adapted to store a fluid, wherein the flush tank is adapted to be pressurized. A manually-actuated pump is in sealed communication with the flush tank, wherein the pump is adapted to cause the flush tank to become pressurized. A pressure relief valve adapted to release pressure from the flush tank. A manually-actuated flush valve is in sealed communication with the flush tank and is normally biased to a closed position. The flush valve includes a fluid outlet connected to the at least one spout and a fluid inlet. A flush valve actuator is disposed outside of the flush tank and is adapted to actuate the flush valve, wherein actuation of the flush valve actuator causes the flush valve to open to permit pressurized fluid contained within the flush tank to be delivered through the at least one spout.

Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.

Abstract: An apparatus for aiding an individual using a plastic hose or pipe in an assembly or installation. The apparatus heats an end of the hose or pipe to soften the plastic, or other heat softenable material, thus making the end pliable, thereby allowing the hose or pipe to be more easily mated with a corresponding component. The apparatus is adapted for preventing the interior and/or exterior of the hose or pipe from deforming during the heating process.

Abstract: A toilet (10) and toilet system suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like is operated via a microprocessor controller to effect a convenient and efficient operation. The toilet includes a base assembly (30) having an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area. A flush lever assembly (15) has flush lever displaceable from a neutral position toward one of a “flush” position and an “add water” position. In this context, the flush lever initiates a flush cycle in the “flush” position and initiates an add water cycle in the “add water” position. The controller communicates with a water inlet valve, the flush valve and the flush lever assembly. In operation, the controller opens and closes the water inlet valve and controls a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of the flush lever.

Abstract: A toilet and toilet system suitable for a boat, recreational vehicle, bus or the like is operated via a microprocessor controller to effect a convenient and efficient operation. The toilet includes a base assembly having an electrically-operated flush valve that opens and closes a passage to a waste receiving area. A flush lever assembly has a flush lever displaceable from a neutral position toward one of a “flush” position and an “add water” position. In this context, the flush lever initiates a flush cycle in the “flush” position and initiates an add water cycle in the “add water” position. The controller communicates with a water inlet valve, the flush valve and the flush lever assembly. In operation, the controller opens and closes the water inlet valve and controls a position of the flush valve in accordance with a position of the flush lever.

Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.

Abstract: A vacuum tank assembly includes a vacuum tank that has a low profile and will fit in small, and particularly low height, compartments of a boat or RV. The tank is connected to a vacuum toilet and a vacuum pump during use. The tank preferably has a generally rectangular prism configuration, and has a front surface in which openings for receipt of a dip tube assembly, sewage inlet (from the toilet), and vacuum switch are provided. The dip tube assembly includes an adaptor operatively connected to the vacuum pump and an evacuator component which has a generally tubular configuration and a substantially flat open bottom closely overlying the bottom interior of the tank. A locator tab cooperates with a cut out in the tank front surface to properly position the evacuator open bottom adjacent the tank bottom.

Abstract: A sanitary system including a toilet adapted for use in a recreational vehicle, and a recreational vehicle including the toilet and sanitary system.

Abstract: A vacuum tank assembly includes a vacuum tank that has a low profile and will fit in small, and particularly low height, compartments of a boat or RV. The tank is connected to a vacuum toilet and a vacuum pump during use. The tank preferably has a generally rectangular prism configuration, and has a front surface in which openings for receipt of a dip tube assembly, sewage inlet (from the toilet), and vacuum switch are provided. The dip tube assembly includes an adaptor operatively connected to the vacuum pump and an evacuator component which has a generally tubular configuration and a substantially flat open bottom closely overlying the bottom interior of the tank. A locator tab cooperates with a cut out in the tank front surface to properly position the evacuator open bottom adjacent the tank bottom.

Abstract: A multi-position (e.g. three way) valve is operatively connected to a combined vacuum/holding tank for a vacuum toilet system, and to a pump capable of pumping both air and sewage. When the valve is in one position air is pulled from the tank through the pump to increase the vacuum level in the tank, e.g. to above 10 in/Hg. When the valve is moved to a second position by either a float or manual switch operation, the sewage is pumped out of the tank through the pump while surrounding air moves through the valve into the tank.

Abstract: A multi-position (e.g. three way) valve is operatively connected to a combined vacuum/holding tank for a vacuum toilet system, and to a pump capable of pumping both air and sewage. When the valve is in one position air is pulled from the tank through the pump to increase the vacuum level in the tank, e.g. to above 10 in/Hg. When the valve is moved to a second position by either a float or manual switch operation, the sewage is pumped out of the tank through the pump while surrounding air moves through the valve into the tank.

Abstract: A plastic sewage holding tank in a boat, associated with a toilet, includes a vent check valve for providing vacuum relief. By mounting the vent check valve in the top of the tank, when the tank is being emptied by rapid pumpout implosion or other damage to the tank is prevented. The vent check valve may include a valve body with an interior surface mounting a quad sealing ring, with a valve element guided for reciprocal movement between a sealing position where an axially elongated substantially cylindrical peripheral surface of the valve element engages the quad ring, to an open position where the valve element is moved against spring bias away from the valve body. A spider, with a collar for guiding a shaft portion of the valve element, may mount a coil spring to provide a biasing action.

Abstract: Flexible PVC hose can be used with toilet systems in vehicles, such as boats, recreational vehicles, etc, or at pumpout stations. The hose includes about 40-55% by weight PVC resin, and at least 10% by weight of an EVA high molecular weight plasticizer. The hose also typically includes a low molecular weight plasticizer, stabilizer, lubricant, filler (such as 5-20% by weight dense filler like calcium carbonate), and pigment. The hose typically will not fail (that is will not transmit odor) for the life of the toilet system, or mechanical life of the hose.

Abstract: A lightweight toilet unit is provided particularly for use with vehicles such as boats, RVs, and trailers. The toilet unit includes a plastic toilet bowl having an interior surface, open top, and exterior surface, a plastic body positioned exteriorly of the toilet bowl exterior surface, and a plastic toilet seat for partially closing the open top of the toilet bowl. To enhance the longevity and effectiveness of the toilet bowl without significantly increasing the cost and weight of the toilet unit, a layer, coating, or thin walled insert liner made of a non-polymeric substantially poreless material that is not degraded by contact with excrement, light, or toilet bowl cleaning agents, is disposed interiorly of the plastic toilet bowl and is at least partially supported by the plastic toilet bowl and may comprise porcelain, glazed ceramic, glass, corrosion resistant sheet metal, or sheet metal with a corrosion resistant poreless interior coating.

Abstract: A vacuum tank assembly has a low volume configuration so that it can be used in boats and recreational vehicles where space is at a premium. A stack of components, with a waste tank at the bottom, then a vacuum tank with directly connected vacuum pump, and one or more fresh water tanks, is located remote from a vacuum toilet, with a discharge from the toilet (below a vacuum-tight ball valve) connected to the vacuum tank, which is in turn connected to the vacuum pump, in turn connected to the waste tank. A submersible centrifugal pump may be provided mounted to a cap of the water tank, with an anti-siphon device associated with it. The vacuum tank is of high density polypropylene having flat walls, with no continuous flat surface more than 80 square inches. Lipless duckbill check valves are provided on opposite sides of the vacuum pump, the valves of elastomeric material having a ratio of the wall thickness to thickness of the sealing edges of about 1:1.

Abstract: A vacuum toilet assembly including a vacuum toilet and a vacuum tank (e.g. a combined holding and vacuum tank) uses a simple air pump to remove air from the tank to create a partial vacuum. The air pump is capable of achieving about ten inches mercury of vacuum in an empty 9.5 gallon vacuum tank in roughly one minute, and can pump at least about one liter of liquid per minute. A combined sound muffler and odor filter and/or rat-tail check valve and noise reducer, is/are connected to the outlet from the air pump. The pump comprises a powered reciprocating diaphragm pump having a reciprocating diaphragm powered by an electric motor rotating an eccentric at about 2300 rpm, and oppositely directed first and second disk valves. The disk valves have elastomeric disk valve elements die-cut from flat sheets which cooperate with perforated concave surfaces in a dividing wall in the pump housing. The reciprocating diaphragm has a total stroke length of about 0.3-0.33 inches.

Abstract: A plastic sewage holding tank in a boat, associated with a toilet, includes a vent check valve assembly for providing vacuum relief. By mounting the vent check valve in the top of the tank, when the tank is being emptied by rapid pumpout implosion or other damage to the tank is prevented. The vent check valve assembly may include a valve body surface operatively connected to the tank and having a plurality of openings formed in it, and a flexible material diaphragm covering the openings adjacent the inside of the tank, and uncovering openings to allow air flow through the openings substantially only when a vacuum condition exists inside the tank. A plastic disk biases the diaphragm into its opening-covering position, but a partial vacuum of at least about 2-5 inches of water allows air to flow through the openings past the diaphragm.

Abstract: A conventional recreation vehicle or caravan toilet, which normally is connected by a simple slide valve to a holding tank mounted below it, can be easily converted to a vacuum toilet at a campground or like stationary site. The holding tank is slid out of the compartment in which it is mounted below the toilet of the recreation vehicle or caravan, and a vacuum adaptor is slid into its place, making a substantially airtight connection with the toilet. The vacuum adaptor is connected up to a substantially stationary vacuum source, such as a below ground vacuum tank at a campground. The vacuum adaptor is preferably connected by a dripless connection to the vacuum source, and includes an arcuately shaped movable valve element that is rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis from a substantially airtight closed position, to an open position, when the toilet is flushed.

Abstract: A no-drip, substantially air, vacuum, and liquid tight connection is provided between a conduit and a tank, such as a combined sewage and holding tank for a boat or recreational vehicle. The connection may include first and second hollow tubes having a telescopic relationship when moved into association with each other, and openings within them that are aligned to allow fluid flow between a conduit and the tank. A cover may slide over the first tube and be spring biased into a position covering the first tube, while a blocking element may slide within the second tube and be spring biased to a position blocking the second opening. A holding element may hold the tubes together with their openings aligned against the bias of the springs. Initial positioning elements on the blocking element end wall and the first tube end wall ensure proper relative positioning of those components to facilitate their movement with respect to each other.

Abstract: A boat has a seacock operatively attached to the hull and movable between open and closed positions. The seacock is operatively connected to a discharge pump, which in turn is connected to a sewage holding tank. An electrical switch is actuated in response to the position of the seacock, and control circuitry is connected to the seacock electrical switch and the discharge pump to prevent operation of the pump if the seacock is closed (or in any position aside from fully open). An indicator, such as one or more light emitting diodes, is also actuated in response to the seacock electrical switch position, and another indicator, such as one or more light emitting diodes, is connected to the discharge pump and indicates when that pump is operating. The electrical switch is waterproof and meets marine vessel ignition prevention and electromagnetic compatibility requirements, and typically is actuated in response to the position of a manually actuable (e.g. rotatable) handle of the seacock.