GB2329193A

GB2329193A - Vehicle with lavatory

Info

Publication number: GB2329193A
Application number: GB9719578A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Bembrose Hodgson
Original assignee: KENBAL PROPERTIES Ltd
Current assignee: KENBAL PROPERTIES Ltd
Priority date: 1997-09-16
Filing date: 1997-09-16
Publication date: 1999-03-17
Anticipated expiration: 2017-09-16
Also published as: GB2365030B; GB9719578D0; GB0123805D0; GB2329193B; GB2365030A

Abstract

A vehicle with a lavatory therein has a tank for receiving the waste from the lavatory, and pump means for pumping the waste from the tank to a waste discharge pipe. In an alternative embodiment, a vehicle with a lavatory therein has a macerator connected to the lavatory, the macerator discharging into a tank removably mounted in the vehicle. The macerator and the holding tank are preferably combined into a single removable module.

Description

VEHICLE WITH LAVATORY Field of the Invention This invention relates to a vehicle, for example a caravan, having a lavatory and a system for handling the waste materials from the lavatory.

Background to the Invention To maximise the flexibility of use and convenience of operation of a touring caravan or similar vehicle, it is important that, whilst being independent of external services, the vehicle should have the ability to take advantage of such services when they are available. For example, most caravans have their own independent electricity supply in the form of a rechargeable battery, but convenience is considerably enhanced by having the facility to connect to a mains supply when the opportunity arises. The provision of a waste water disposal system which is capable of taking advantage of external services when available, whilst at the same time retaining the ability to be independent of such services, would have a considerable advantage over conventional systems.

Summary of the Invention According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a vehicle having a lavatory therein, a tank for receiving the waste from the lavatory, and pump means for pumping the waste from the tank to a waste discharge pipe The tank may be connected to the lavatory and to the pump means in such a manner as to permit the tank to be removed and replaced readily for emptying, for example being lifted or slid out of the vehicle body without the need for removal of the connections thereto. The vehicle's lavatory may thus be used when the device is directly connected to an external mains drain, or for circumstances when no drain is available, the waste being stored in the tank until discharge into a suitable emptying point can be achieved, either by pumping from the tank or, in the case of the removable tank, and where pumping is not possible, by removing the tank and conveying it to a discharge point for emptying manually.

Another aspect of the invention provides a vehicle having a lavatory therein, a macerator connected to the lavatory, the macerator discharging into a tank removably mounted in the vehicle.

The tank is suitably mounted in such a manner as to permit it to be slid into and out of the vehicle body.

Valve means may be provided to close the pipe from the macerator when the tank is removed. The valve means may be manually operable, or automatically closed when the tank is removed from the vehicle and reopened when the tank is returned to its position.

For use where a temporary mains drainage connection is available, the tank may be provided with a gravity outlet permitting waste materials to be discharged directly through the tank and into the drain. Alternatively, a valve may be provided to divert the output from the macerator from the tank to a discharge pipe for connection directly to the drain.

The macerator and the holding tank may be combined into a single removable module.

Both aspects of the invention provide for the possibility of the vehicle lavatory being usable both where mains drainage is available and where no drainage is available, without the need to adapt the vehicle only to one situation in advance.

The invention is especially applicable to touring trailer caravans and motor caravans.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings which illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a lavatory system according to one embodiment; Figure 2 illustrates an alternative embodiment; and Figure 3 illustrates a third embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments Referring first to Figure 1, the system comprises a lavatory 1 located vertically above a holding tank 2. A pump 3 is connected to the tank 2 to pump the contents of the tank to a discharge pipe 4, which can be connected to a mains drainage connection or simply led to a cesspit or the like. This arrangement permits alternative modes of use. Where a mains drainage connection is available adjacent to the caravan's location, the waste material simply drops into the tank 2 from the lavatory 1, and from there is immediately pumped to the drain by the pump 3. Where no connection is available, the tank 2 holds the waste until the caravan can be moved to a discharge point, when the pump can be used to empty the tank. In an alternative arrangement, the tank is readily removable from the caravan, for example by locating it in a compartment accessible from the exterior of the caravan and providing for it to be slidable from the compartment to be carried to an emptying point for tipping. The pump may be replaced by a macerator serving both the pumping function as well as liquefying the waste to facilitate disposal.

Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which the lavatory 1 is located above a macerator 5 which reduces the waste to a slurry before discharging it into a holding tank 6. The tank 6 is removably mounted in the caravan body so as to permit the system to be used in different circumstances, as with the embodiment of Figure 1. For example, where a mains drainage connection is available, the tank 6 is directly connected to the drain via a discharge pipe 7, the waste simply passing through the tank and not being stored. Where the caravan is located at a site where no facilities are available, a valve 8 between the tank 6 and the discharge pipe 7 is closed, so that the tank accumulates the macerated waste until it can be emptied in one of two ways. If the caravan can be moved to a discharge or emptying point, the valve can be opened to allow the waste material to flow out along the pipe 7. Alternatively, since the tank is removable, it is slid out of its compartment in the caravan body and carried to a discharge point for tipping. The valve 8 is integral with the tank 6, and can be used at the discharge point to empty the tank without tipping.

A more complex arrangement is illustrated by Figure 3. The lavatory 1 is connected alternatively to a holding tank 9 or to a macerator10 by means of a valve 11.

The holding tank 9 can be fixed in the body of the caravan, or removable therefrom to facilitate emptying. The holding tank can be selectively connected to the macerator 10 by means of a second valve 12, so that material held in the tank can be macerated for discharge via a discharge pipe 1 3 to a discharge point. Alternatively, the discharge pipe can be connected to a mains drainage connection when the macerator is connected directly to the lavatory. A transfer tank 14 may be employed where the holding tank 9 is fixed in the body of the caravan. This is shown in broken lines in Figure 3, and is connected to the second valve 12 so that emptying of the holding tank when the caravan has been used at a site with no drainage facilities can be achieved by way of the portable transfer tank, on using the valve 12 to divert the flow from the macerator.

Waste water from sinks, basins and showers in the caravan can also be introduced into the system via a separate connection 1 5 upstream of the valve 11, shown in broken lines. It will be appreciated that the other embodiments may be similarly modified to receive such waste water.

Claims

1. A vehicle having a lavatory therein, a tank for receiving the waste from the lavatory, and pump means for pumping the waste from the tank to a waste discharge pipe.

2. A vehicle according to Claim 1, wherein the tank is connected to the lavatory and to the pump means in such a manner as to permit the tank to be removed and replaced readily for emptying.

3. A vehicle according to Claim 2, wherein the tank is arranged to be lifted or slid out of the vehicle body without the need for removal of the connections thereto.

4. A vehicle having a lavatory therein, and a macerator connected to the lavatory, the macerator discharging into a tank removably mounted in the vehicle.

5. A vehicle according to Claim 4, wherein the tank is mounted in such a manner as to permit it to be slid into and out of the vehicle body.

6. A vehicle according to Claim 4 or 5, comprising valve means to close the pipe from the macerator when the tank is removed.

7. A vehicle according to Claim 6, wherein the valve means are manually operable.

8. A vehicle according to Claim 6, wherein the valve means are arranged to close automatically when the tank is removed from the vehicle and to reopen when the tank is returned to its position.

9. A vehicle according to any of Claims 4 to 8, wherein the tank is provided with a gravity outlet permitting waste materials to be discharged directly through the tank and into a drain.

10. A vehicle according to any of Claims 4 to 8, wherein a valve is provided to divert the output from the macerator from the tank to a discharge pipe for connection directly to a drain.

11. A vehicle according to any of Claims 4 to 10, wherein the macerator and the holding tank are combined into a single removable module.

12. A vehicle comprising a lavatory arrangement substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, the drawings.

1 3. A vehicle according to any preceding claim, in the form of a caravan.