The disclosure relates to sewer inlets configured to receive sewage and waste water from recreational vehicles (RVs) and the like. RV park sewer inlet configurations may vary from park-to-park. This may be a function of local codes and standards or for other reasons. The lack of sewer inlet standardization can result in sewage and waste water spills and ground contamination because a given sewer inlet might not be configured to receive a given RV's sewer discharge hose or nozzle in secure and/or fluid tight engagement.
Terms of orientation as may be used herein generally should be construed as referring to relative orientation of components and not to absolute orientation unless context clearly dictates otherwise.
The drawings show an illustrative sewage or waste water discharge nozzle as might be provided for use in draining effluent, sewage, and/or waste water from a recreational vehicle or the like. The drawings also show various illustrative sewer inlet fittings that may be permanently or otherwise connected to an inlet of a sewer system or sewage receptacle as might be found in an RV park. The sewer inlet fittings include covers operable between open and closed positions. A spring or other biasing mechanism may be provided to bias the covers to the closed position. Interaction of the nozzle with the covers may be sufficient to overcome the biasing force such that engagement of the nozzle with the covers causes the covers to open such that the nozzle may be inserted into the fitting without a user directly handling the covers. The biasing mechanism may cause the covers to close when the nozzle is withdrawn from the fitting. In other embodiments, the nozzle could be a hose end or other fitting configured for interaction with the sewer inlet.
First and second side walls 26, 28 abut and extend from respective opposite sides of the central portion 18 and the first and second side portions 22, 24 in directions generally perpendicular thereto. As such, the first and second sidewalls 26, 28 extend upwardly above upper surfaces of the central portion 18 and the first and second side portions 22, 24.
An outlet sleeve 30 defining an outlet port 32 collinear and coextensive with the inlet port 20 and axis 21 extends downwardly from the central portion 18. A lower portion 34 of the outlet sleeve 30 may be generally annular and configured to be received by a sewer inlet pipe or fitting (see, for example,
The upper edges of the first side wall 26 define first and second slide rails 40, 42. The upper edges of the second side wall 28 define third and fourth slide rails 44, 46. The first through fourth slide rails 40, 42, 44, 46 may be identical to or mirror images of each other. As such, only the first slide rail will be described in detail herein.
The first slide rail 40 defines a hemispherical or other curved upper surface 48 configured for sliding engagement with a respective groove or slot of first cover 12, as will be discussed further below. In another embodiment, the upper surface 48 of the first slide rail 40 and the corresponding surface of the first cover 12 may have other complementary profiles or shapes.
The first slide rail 40 may define a tubular region 54 for receiving a spring 56. The spring 56 may be a helical extension spring having a first retention hook 74 at a first end thereof and a second retention hook 76 at a second end thereof. Further, the first slide rail 40 may define a groove 50 for receiving a respective tab of the first cover 12 and a slot 52 allowing engagement of the first cover 12 with the second retention hook 76 at the second end of the spring 56, as will be discussed further below.
The first and second covers 12, 14 may be identical to or mirror images of each other. As such, only the first cover 12 will be described herein in detail. The first cover 12 includes a generally planar top portion 58. First and second opposing side portions 60 extend downwardly from the top portion 58, generally perpendicular thereto. A tab portion 62 extends inwardly and generally perpendicularly from the lower end of each side portion 60. Each tab portion 62 is configured for sliding engagement with the corresponding groove 50 in the respective slide rail 40, 44. A front portion 64 may extend downwardly from the top portion 58 and inwardly from the side portions 60. Where provided, the front portion 64 defines generally U-shaped notches 66 configured to receive the upper edge of the respective slide rail 4044, in sliding engagement therewith.
First and second guide fins 64 extend upwardly from the top portion 58 of the first cover 12. Each of the first and second guide fins 64 defines a planar guide surface 66 configured to receive the nozzle 38 in sliding engagement. Each guide surface 66 is oriented at an angle oblique to the longitudinal axis 21 of the inlet port 20 and outlet sleeve 30. In a second embodiment, as shown in
The first cover 14 may be assembled to the base 12 by inserting a spring 56 into the tubular region 54 of the first slide rail 40 and attaching the first retention hook 74 of the spring to the first guide rail by inserting a pin 70 through the first retention hook and one or more respective pin-receiving apertures 72 defined by the first slide rail. Another spring 56 may be similarly inserted into the tubular region 54 of the third slide rail 44 and attached thereto.
The first cover 12 may be attached to the second retention hooks 76 of the respective springs 56 in the first and third slide rails by inserting pins 72 through the respective second retention hooks and through corresponding apertures 74 in the side walls 60 of the first cover.
The second cover 16 may be assembled to the base 12 in a similar manner.
So assembled, the springs 56 bias the first and second covers 12, 14 to closed positions as shown, for example, in
In other embodiments, other biasing mechanisms could be provided to bias the first and second covers to the foregoing closed positions. For example, one or elastomeric bands could be connected between the base 12 and the first and second covers 14, 16. Alternatively, one or more elastomeric bands could be connected between the first and second covers 14, 16 and biased to pull the first and second covers toward each other and toward their respective closed positions. In yet another embodiment, gas struts or the like could be provided to bias the first and second covers 14, 16 toward their respective closed positions.
A user may insert the nozzle 38 into the fitting 10 without actually touching the first and second covers 12, 14 by engaging the nozzle with the guide surfaces 66 of the guide fins 64 of the first and second covers and moving the nozzle 38 toward the inlet port 20 along the longitudinal axis 21. Because the guide surfaces 66 of the guide fins 64 are angled with respect to the longitudinal axis 21 as shown in the drawings and as described above, further movement of the nozzle 38 toward the inlet port 20 imparts a side load on the first and second covers 12, 14. The side load may be sufficient to overcome the biasing load provided by the springs 56. As such, movement of the nozzle 38 toward the inlet port 20 and/or outlet port 32 causes the first and second covers 12, 14 to slide from their respective closed positions, as shown in
Similar operation of the second embodiment is shown in
As best shown in
In another embodiment, as shown in
The second portion 34B may have an inside diameter sized to fit about or over a sewer inlet pipe 78 of corresponding outside diameter. For example, the second portion 34B may be sized to fit snugly or loosely about or over a nominal three and one-half inch sewer inlet pipe 78. A land 35 may be provided within the interior of the outlet sleeve 30, for example, a surface of a flange extending radially inwardly from the sidewall of the outlet sleeve, to provide a stop configured to engage with the end of sewer pipe 78 received therein.
In an embodiment, as shown in
The tube 82 could be configured with a tapering sidewall so that the lower end thereof may fit within the inside diameter of a sewer inlet pipe 78 having one of several inside diameters. For example, the lower end of the tube 82 could be configured to fit within the inside of either a four inch or three and one-half inch nominal diameter sewer inlet pipe 78. Further, the tube 82 could be configured to self-seal at the lower end thereof in the absence of a nozzle 38 or other structure inserted therein. For example, the tube 82 could be configured so that stresses internal to the material from which it is made cause the free end thereof to close upon itself. Such stresses may also cause the free end to curl upon itself in this condition. This feature may prevent sewer gas from escaping through the fitting 10 when not in use.
The embodiments shown and described herein are illustrative and the details thereof could be modified without departure from the scope of the appended claims. For example, features shown only in connection with one embodiment may be provided in connection with other embodiments, as well.
This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/066,463, filed on Oct. 21, 2014, and incorporates by reference the disclosure thereof in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62066463 | Oct 2014 | US |