Chemical administrator for treating wastewater from a water-consuming device in a self-contained bathroom system

Abstract

Disclosed is a chemical administrator which delivers a chemical solution into a water supply line for a water-consuming device, e.g., a toilet in a recreational vehicle, for the purpose of treating waste-water before it is disposed in a holding tank. The apparatus has a container which holds the chemical solution. It also has a chemical administering system which siphons the chemical from the container into said water supply line using a vacuum created by the water moving through it.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to the field of introducing treating chemicals into water in a sewer-storage system. More particularly, the present invention provides a new and useful method for treating wastewater in a self-contained bathroom, e.g., in a recreational vehicle or on a marine craft.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many recreational vehicles and marine craft have self-contained bathrooms. The fixtures in these bathrooms (e.g., toilets) are served using a pressurized source of clean water which introduces the clean water into the toilet bowl via a hose.

Waste water is disposed into holding tanks. The holding tank is typically located immediately below the toilet so that when the toilet is flushed, the wastewater drops down through a vertical conduit into the tank. The wastewater is maintained in the storage tank until it is able to be disposed of appropriately at a dumping facility.

The addition of chemicals to the wastewater is necessary to prevent odors and to assist in the decomposition process. These chemicals can be added in many different ways. One is for the owner to manually dispose them into the bowl during every use. Obviously this subjects the user to the mechanics involved, e.g., scooping or pouring the cleaner. But it also subjects them to properly metering the use. This presents the likelihood of human error. If too much cleaner is used, it is wasted. If too little, then holding-tank odor and soiling problems (caused by the failure to decompose the solid waste) may result.

Other techniques have been used in which the cleaner is introduced automatically using some sort of system. One such system automatically squirts a regulated quantity into the toilet bowl with each flush. Unfortunately, with these systems the cleaner sometimes is not thoroughly mixed into the waste water. This creates pockets of untreated areas in the holding tanks, and other pockets of over-treated areas.

One conventional system uses a block of disinfecting cleaner in the introduction pipe before the cleaner is introduced into the toilet. But these blocks are difficult to replace, and it is difficult to identify when they have run out of cleaning power. Further, because these systems are dependent on the cleaner being dissolved into the flowing water, disposal concentrations fluctuate greatly from flush to flush dependant on the amount of time allowed between flushes. This is because there is no means to adequately meter the amount of cleaner administered with each flush.

Therefore, there is need in the art for a system which adequately, accurately, and easily administers cleaning chemicals in a self-contained bathroom system.

SUMMARY

The present invention satisfies these administration needs by providing a chemical dispensing apparatus which delivers a chemical solution into a water supply line for a water-consuming device, such as a toilet, for the purpose of treating waste-water. The apparatus has a container which holds the chemical solution. It also has a chemical administering system which vacuums the chemical from the container into said water supply line.

Another aspect of the invention is a metering system for controlling the amount of chemical administered into said water line. In one embodiment, this system includes a plate having a plurality of differently-sized orifices, each of said orifices being slidable into the flow path of chemical into the water supply line. The slidable plate sandwiched between two O-rings which are compressed against the plate to fluidly seal off one of the orifices into the flow path.

The administrating system comprises a pipe which is adapted to be spliced into the water supply line. It also includes a vertical conduit which has upper and lower ends. The upper end is tapped into the supply line and the lower end has an inlet which receives chemical up into the vertical conduit for the purpose of administering it into said supply line.

The pipe is secured to said container by an upper housing which is adapted to be fastened to an upper surface of said container. Also on the upper surface of the container is a fill opening with a removable cap so that the container can be filled with chemical.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the chemical treatment dispenser of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the dispenser.

FIG. 3 is a cross section taken at 3-3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view looking down with all the features above section 4-4 removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for delivering a chemical substance in a fluid delivery line for the purpose of sanitizing and deodorizing waste water which is destined for storage in a holding tank most typically in some sort of self contained system like those that exist in recreational vehicles, commercial airliners, or marine vessels. Other kinds of portable waste management systems, however, could use the devices and/or techniques disclosed herein and still fall within the scope of the present invention. The processes and devices could also be employed for other applications in which a fluid is chemically treated. Further, the present invention may take the form of a device embodiment or a method embodiment for chemically treating a fluid.

The device is a dispenser which is adapted so that it can be spliced into the pressurized water supply line for the water consuming device, which may be a toilet, shower, or any other kind of device which consumes water and produces waste water which is treatable. The device has a container which includes a fill cap. As water flows through the supply line, a vacuum is created in a vertical passageway which is joined into the supply line. This vacuum is used to siphon chemical up out of the container into the supply line. By the time the chemical-including water reaches the toilet (or other water-consuming device) it will be evenly mixed and better able to treat the waste water than if it were directly dispensed separately.

One embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. Referring first to FIG. 1, a perspective view of a device 10 depicts various components. The administrator 10 includes a chemical storage system. The most common chemical solutions used to treat waste water in recreational vehicles include formaldehydes, ammonias, or biological alternatives which are in liquid form. Here, the solution will be stored in a container 12. Container 12 is able to be filled with the chemical solution via a fill cap 14. In the preferred embodiment, container 12 is transparent or semitransparent to enable the user to know how full it is of chemical deodorizer. Fill cap 14 is located on an exposed area of an upper surface 15 of the container. When the user wishes to fill container 12 with chemical treatment solution, cap 14 is removed to reveal an opening (not shown) into the container. Fill cap 14 may be a snap-on type cap, but may also be a screw-on or any other type of cap if desired.

Container 12 is adapted to fluidly communicate with a water pipe 18. Physically, water pipe 18 is brought into junction with container 12 using an upper housing 16. In the preferred embodiment housing 16 is attached using a plurality of fasteners 22 which are received through flanges 23 and bored into and thus couple upper housing 16 to surface 15 of the container.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-4, fasteners 22 are screws which are received into formed apertures (not shown) in upper surface 15. Other fastening mechanisms or arrangements, however, could be used as well and still fall within the scope of the present invention. For example, fastener 22 could alternatively use a snap-to-fit arrangement where prongs depend from the bottom of the upper housing and are received in receiving apertures in surface 15 on the container. Rivets, or other known types of fasteners could also be used which are capable of securing housing 16 to container 12.

Pipe 18 will receive water in a fluid inlet 19 and dispense treated water from a fluid outlet 20. A set of threads 23 are associated with inlet 19 and a second set of threads 21 are associated with outlet 20. Each end also has tapered portions 48 and 50 which enable tubing (not shown) to be easily slid onto and disposed onto the pipe ends. Thus, the device can be spliced into the pressurized water line which feeds into the fixture (or fixtures) such as the toilet by simply cutting the line and inserting device 10.

Once ends 19 and 20 are spliced into each of the cut ends of the water line tubing, the tubing is further secured using screw-on pipe nut (not shown) which have reciprocating threads that engage threads 21 and 23 and sealingly lock the tubing onto pipe 18.

Alternatively, a quick-connect-coupler arrangement—which will also be known to those skilled in the art—could be used to accomplish this same task. It should be understood that the present invention should not be limited to any manner in which pipe 18 is fluidly connected into the water line.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a top-view of the invention is illustrated which shows fill cap 14, upper housing 16, and fasteners 22 from above. This figure also shows a tab 24 which is used to actuate a slide-metering plate 24 which may be seen in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4. The FIG. 3 a cross-sectional side-view of the present invention shows one or more exemplary parts associated with the present invention.

Device 10 also includes a siphon arrangement. The siphoning is accomplished using a vertical siphon tube 33 which may be seen in FIG. 3. The siphon tube 33 has a circular flanged top 56 and an opening 58 at the bottom. A drop down portion 60 defined into the upper surface 15 of the container has a circular cross section and defines a chamber 30 which is used to receive a compression spring 32 which is used to bear against a lower surface of flange 56. This pressure causes the upper surface of flange 56 to bear against an O-ring 39, sandwiching O-ring 39 against a lower portion of metering plate 25 to create a sealed relationship between tube 33 and an aperture (a middle aperture 37 is shown as being the selection in FIG. 3) in the metering plate. There is a first radial channel 62 defined by the upper surface of flange 56 which cups O-ring 39 so that it will not move when metering plate 25 is slid back and forth, but instead will remain secured atop the suction tube flange 56.

An upper O-ring 39 is sandwiched between the upper surface of plate 25 and the underside of a depending portion 40 which is defined by the upper housing 16. A second radial channel is defined by the underside of depending portion 40 to hold O-ring 39 in place when plate 25 moves. A vertical passageway 42 taps chemical into a longitudinal conduit 66 in which water flows through pipe 18 from end 19 to end 20. This one-way-flow limitation is created, in the disclosed embodiment, using a flapper valve 70. Flapper valve 70 has a body 72 which has disk shape which conforms to the cross section of conduit 66. When the pressure on the end 19 side of the valve is greater than the pressure on the end 20 side of the valve, it will swing open enabling flow. When the pressure on the end 20 side is greater than the pressure on the end 19 side, the lower portion of body 72 will bear against a stop member 74 and the disk body 72 will block backflow. This is important in preventing chemical flow back up into the feeder line which might cause contamination of the water distribution system.

Device 10 also includes a metering system which regulates the amount of chemical administered into conduit 66. Slide-metering plate 24 contains multiple orifices 36, 37, and 38 having various sized diameters that become selectable during the movement of slide-metering plate 25 by sliding it by manipulating cantilever tab 24 with the thumb or a finger. Each of the three orifices will result in a different flow rate. First orifice 36 is the largest and thus allows for greater flow. Second orifice 37 is smaller and will restrict flow. Third orifice 38 is the smallest and thus, will provide minimal flow. If the metering plate is slid to a position where none of orifices 36, 37, or 38 are positioned between O-rings 35 and 39, no flow will be allowed.

Assuming the device is already installed into the water line, and has been filled with cleaner as discussed above, it will be able to administer chemicals as follows. During use of the fixture, e.g., flushing the toilet, water will rush through the water supply line into which pipe 18 has been interposed causing water flowing in the line to pass through conduit 66. The flow of fluid through conduit 66 creates a vacuum in passageway 42. This vacuum draws cleaner from chamber 34 up through tube 33 and then causes it to pass through whichever orifice of orifices 36, 37, and 38 is fluidly positioned between tube 33 and passageway 42 (unless the metering plate is positioned such that none of the orifices will allow flow and the flow of cleaner will be completely shut off). The holes are sized to allow for three separate concentrations measured in chemical per gallon. For example, first orifice 36 might allow for a concentration rate of a one-half ounce of chemical per gallon of water. Second orifice 37 might be sized to accomplish a one-third ounce of chemical per gallon of water. Third orifice 38 might be sized to accomplish a flow concentration of one-quarter ounce of chemical per every gallon of water. In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, slide-metering plate 24 may provide additional orifices for obtaining additional metered values. After this cleaner passes through the orifice (orifice 37 is selected in FIG. 3) it passes up into passageway 42, then out of pipe 18 from outlet 20.

The introduction of the chemical into the water flow in advance to its being transmitted into the toilet will cause it to be thoroughly mixed. Thus, there will be no pocketing problems as existed in the prior art systems. Further, the vacuum suction arrangement causes the chemical to be automatically drawn out of the container in the same concentration flush after flush.

This disclosure sets forth illustrative examples of various embodiments for a method and device that provides a chemical solution or fluid to be vacuum drawn into a fluid pipe to provide a mix solution at the fluid outlet. The present invention is not limited to any particular type of connector, o-ring, or composition of material (plastic, metal, etc.) for the device.

Certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need to be carried out in the specific order described.

Claims

1. A chemical dispensing apparatus for delivery of a chemical into a water supply line for a water-consuming device for the purpose of treating waste-water from said device, said apparatus comprising:

a container for said chemical; and

a chemical administering system adapted to vacuum said chemical from said container into said water supply line.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 comprising:

a metering system for controlling the amount of chemical administered into said water line.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said metering system comprises:

a plurality of differently-sized orifices, each of said orifices being slidable into a flow path of said chemical into said water supply line to restrict a flow of said chemical.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said plurality of orifices are made slidable into said flow path by defining them in a plate which is located between said water supply line and said container such that it interferes with said flow of said chemical.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plate is slidably sandwiched between two O-rings to fluidly seal one of said plurality of orifices into said flow path.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said plate includes a cantilever tab which may be manipulated by a user to slide said plate.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water-consuming device is a toilet.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said water-consuming device delivers said waste water into a waste storage tank.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said administering system comprises:

a pipe which is adapted to be spliced into said water supply line; and

a vertical conduit with an upper end and a lower end, said upper end being tapped into said supply line, said lower end having an inlet which receives chemical up into said vertical conduit for the purpose of administering it into said supply line.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said pipe is secured to said container by a housing which is adapted to be fastened to an upper surface of said container.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said vertical conduit is tapped in to said supply line via an intermediate arrangement which comprises:

a plate defining a first aperture and a second aperture, said first and second apertures having different sizes;

a spring which bears against a lower surface of said flange one said upper end of said conduit to compressibly and slidably sandwich said plate between (i) an upper O-ring which is interposed between said plate and a lower surface of a portion of said housing; and (ii) a lower O-ring which is interposed between an upper surface of a flange on said upper end of said vertical conduit and a lower surface of said metering plate;

said plate being slidingly positionable in a first position in which said first aperture is located in a flow path of said chemical;

said plate being slidingly positionable in a second position in which said second aperture is located in a flow path of said chemical; and

a vertical channel above said plate and defined through said housing, said vertical channel adapted to accept chemical after said chemical passes through one of said first and second apertures in said plate and delivers said chemical into said pipe.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said intermediate arrangement further comprises:

a third position for said plate which stops the flow of said chemical into said pipe.

13. The chemical dispensing apparatus of claim 1:

a fill opening on an upper surface of said container; and

a removable fill cap adapted to optionally expose or seal off said opening so that the container is able to be filled with chemical.

14. The chemical dispensing apparatus of claim 1:

a valve in fluid communication with said supply line upstream of a junction at which said chemical is introduced said valve disallowing back flow of cleaner upstream into said supply line.

15. A method of dispensing a chemical solution into a water-consuming device for the purpose of treating waste-water from said device, said method comprising:

storing said chemical in a container; and

delivering said chemical into a water supply line which feeds into said water-consuming device by drawing said chemical solution out of said container using a vacuum creating by a pressurized flow of water in said water supply line.

16. The method of claim 15 comprising:

providing a plate which includes two differently-sized apertures; and

controlling a chemical consumption rate by interposing one of said apertures into a chemical flow path which leads into said water supply line.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising:

providing a siphon arrangement to accomplish said delivering step.