Dual flush system

Abstract

A switchable flushing system has a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, and features a dual flush system having a raw water pump, a solen

Description

[0001] DUAL FLUSH SYSTEM

[0002] CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0003] This application claims benefit to provisional patent application serial no. 63 / 467,142, filed 17 May 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] 1. Field of the Invention

[0006] The present invention relates to a switchable flushing system for a boat or vessel.

[0007] 2. Brief Description of Related Art

[0008] Waste sanitation flushing devices having a selectable inlet mode for on-board fresh water or sea / river / lake water are known in the art by the inventor. However, the known waste sanitation flushing devices have shortcomings, e.g., including the fact that a user may be unable to easily switch between seawater and fresh water to flush toilets. Moreover, sea / lake / river flushing uses sea / lake / river water that contains bacteria that can cause unpleasant odors in the known waste sanitation flushing devices, while fresh water flushing uses fresh water taken from an on-board fresh water supply, which can be a limited supply.

[0009] Moreover, one known US Patent no. 6,317,898, issued to Mehta, was developed in a patentability search and discloses apparatus for selecting marine toilet flush water using either seawater or fresh water. Mehta's apparatus includes a manual potable water shutoff valve, a potable water valve, and two check valves arranged on a T- connector supply line connected to a T-connector; a manual seacock and a seawater pump arranged in relation to a seawater pump discharge line connected to the T- connector; and a vacuum breaker connected between a flush water supply line and a vacuum breaker supply line connected to the T connector, all for providing seawater or potable water via the flush water supply line to a marine toilet. Mehta's apparatus may also include an electrically operated toilet, e.g., having a seawater selector switch with a seawater position and a potable water position. The seawater selector switch is coupled to an open / closed portable water valve that opens using a solenoid when the seawater selector switch is in the potable water position. The seawater selector switch is also coupled to a relay for activating a seawater pump when the seawater selector switch is in the seawater position.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0011] In summary, the present invention provides a switchable flush device for feeding water to a marine toilet in order to select either fresh on-board water or sea / river / lake water to flush the marine toilet, as well as to flush all seawater from the system in order to reduce bacterial build up and unpleasant odors, e.g. when and as needed.

[0012] Particular Embodiments

[0013] By way of example, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may include, or take the form of, a switchable flushing system for a boat or vessel having a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet. The switchable flushing system features a new and unique dual flush system having a combination of a raw water pump, a solenoid and a user selectable fresh / raw flush switch.

[0014] The raw water pump is configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling received from the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet.

[0015] The solenoid is arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump, and configured to respond to the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling received from the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

[0016] The user selectable fresh / raw flush switch is configured to receive a user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water to the electric marine toilet, based upon the user fresh / raw flush switch input received.

[0017] Other Features

[0018] The dual flush system may also include one or more of the following features:

[0019] The solenoid may include at least one non-retum valve configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

[0020] The solenoid may include double non-retum valves configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

[0021] The user selectable fresh / raw flush switch may be a fresh / raw toggle switch that responds to the user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provides the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to pump the fresh water to the electric marine toilet.

[0022] The dual flush system may include a fluid coupler configured to couple the solenoid and the raw water rinse pump to the electric marine toilet, receive either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse, and provide either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet. The dual flush system may include a mounting board having at least some components of the dual flush system mounted thereon. By way of example, the mounting board may include the raw water rinse pump, the solenoid, the fluid coupler, and the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch, all mounted thereon.

[0023] The raw water may include sea, river or lake water.

[0024] Mounting Board

[0025] According to some embodiments, the present invention may also include, or take the form of, a mounting board for a boat or vessel having a switchable flushing system with a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet. The mounting board may be configured for providing a dual flush system that features: a raw water pump configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet; a solenoid arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump, configured to respond to the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet; and a user selectable fresh / raw flush switch configured to receive a user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, based upon the user fresh / raw flush switch input received.

[0026] Alternatively, and according to some embodiments, the present invention may also include, or take the form of, a mounting board for a boat or vessel having a switchable flushing system with a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, where the mounting board is configured for providing a dual flush system and features a raw water pump and a fluid coupler mounted thereon.

[0027] The raw water pump may be configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet. The raw water pump has a raw water pump housing with a solenoid mounted thereon and arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump. The solenoid is configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

[0028] The fluid coupler is configured to couple the solenoid and the raw water rinse pump to the electric marine toilet, receive either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse, and provide either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet. The mounting board may also include one or more of the features set forth herein.

[0029] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0030] The drawing, which is not necessarily drawn to scale, includes the following Figures:

[0031] Figure 1 shows a diagram of a switchable flushing system for a boat or vessel having a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, and also having a dual flush system, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 2 shows a diagram of a modular board having components of the dual flush system shown in Figure 1 mounted thereon, according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 3 shows a diagram of a mounting board having components of the dual flush system shown in Figure 2 mounted thereon, according to some other embodiments of the present invention.

[0034] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] Consistent with that shown in Figures 1 -3, the present invention provides a switchable flush system generally indicated as 10 having a dual flush system design to support electric marine toilets, like element 12.

[0036] As shown in Figure 1 , the switchable flushing system 10 may include the following: a fresh water tank 14 for providing fresh water via line 14a; a seacock raw water-in 15 for providing raw water via line 15a; a fresh water pump 16 for pumping a fresh water rinse via line 16a; a solenoid 18 for opening to provide the fresh water rinse via line 18a, or closing for providing protection against potable water contamination by a raw water rinse via line 20a being pumped; a raw water rinse pump 20 for providing the raw water rinse in the line 20a; a fluid coupler 22 (aka a manifold / T-coupler) for coupling the solenoid 18 and the raw water rinse pump 20 to the electric marine toilet 12, for receiving the fresh water rinse via the line 18a, for receiving the raw water rinse via the line 20a, and for providing either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet 12 via line 22a; a 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24 for providing user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling via electrical connection 24a, which is labeled a switch to inlet option raw / fresh in Figure 1 , to the solenoid 18 and the raw water rinse pump 20; a battery feed 26 for providing a rinse feed to the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24 along line 26a; and a battery 28 for providing the battery power, e.g., to the solenoid 18 and the raw water rinse pump 20 via the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24.

[0037] By way of example, Figure 2 shows components forming part of the dual flush system shown in Figure 1 that are mounted on a mounting board 30, e.g., which may include the solenoid 18, the raw water rinse pump 20, the fluid coupler 22 and the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24. In particular, Figure 2 shows the mounting board 30 having the raw water rinse pump 20 for providing the sea / river / lake raw water, the solenoid valve 18 for providing the fresh water rinse, and the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24 for switching the solenoid 18 ON / OFF and the raw water rinse pump 20 ON / OFF. The mounting board 30 has an inlet / outlet manifold design to easily plumb into an existing boat / vessel plumbing system.

[0038] In operation, a user can now select to use fresh water or seawater to flush the electric marine toilet 12. For example, using seawater reduces the volume of stored onboard fresh water used for flushing, while using fresh water allows the user to clean the system of sea / river / lake water before leaving the boat. This reduces bacterial build-up in the plumbing system which can result in unpleasant odors on-board as bacteria develops.

[0039] The solenoid valve 18 may contain double non-return valves, which ensures that no water from the sea / river / lake inlet can get into the fresh water supply side of the plumbing system on the boat or vessel. The same solenoid valve 18 also ensures that no waste toilet water from the marine toilet 12 can contaminate the freshwater system.

[0040] The dual flush system 10 may be self-priming and can be mounted in any suitable position to serve one or more toilets in the boat or vessel.

[0041] In operation, the user selects a fresh / raw flush type from the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24, e.g., which can be hidden to avoid tampering. The solenoid 18 and raw water rinse pump 20 wired into a toilet flush panel (not shown) via the 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24. The 2-way fresh / raw flush switch 24 must be capable of handling max current through the vessel's flush panel. For the sake of completeness, it is noted that one skilled in the art would appreciate that the dual flush system may include additional discharge pump and power wiring that is not shown.

[0042] Alternative Mounting Board Embodiments

[0043] By way of further example, the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific components mounted on the mounting board. For example, embodiments are envisioned, and the scope of the invention is intended to include, a mounting board having a different combination of components than that shown in Figure 2. For instance, the mounting board 30 may be configured with the raw water rinse pump 20 and the fluid coupler 22 mounted thereon as shown in Figure 3, e.g., without either the solenoid 18, or the user selectable switch 24, or both, being mounted directly on the mounting board 30. In this case, the solenoid valve 18 may be mounted on a housing 20c of the raw water rinse pump 20, e.g., by means of a bracket, using a so- called ‘piggy back’ scenario to reduce the footprint of the mounting board. The manifold / T-coupled 22 may then be configured to run and attach the inlets / outlets of the raw water rinse pump 20 and the solenoid 18 to allow the plumbing set up for the user (e.g., as per the board set up). In effect, nothing would change in terms of which components / parts are linked to which re that shown in Figures 1 -2, instead providing just more of a compact solution.

[0044] By way of still further example, the user selectable switch 24 may not be configured on the mounting board 30, but instead may be configured and wired in a user selectable location to make accessing the switch easier and more convenient for the user, as well as to reduce the footprint of the mounting board. For example, wire lengths of 2-6 meters depending on requirements of customer may be used to couple the user selectable switch 24 configured at the user selectable location to the solenoid 18 and the raw water rinse pump 20. Consistent with that set forth above, the solenoid 18 may be configured on the mounting board 30, or may be mounted on the housing 20c of the raw water rinse pump 20.

[0045] By way of still further example, the user selectable switch 24 may not be configured on the mounting board 30, but instead may be configured and wired as part of a toilet control panel, e.g., which may be controlled by a separate box that houses a microchip program and relay arrangement.

[0046] The Solenoid 18

[0047] Solenoids like element 18, e.g., including solenoids that contains double nonreturn valves, are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof, e.g., either now known or later developed in the future.

[0048] The Pumps 16 and 20

[0049] Pumps like elements 16 and 20 are known in the art, and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to any particular type or kind thereof, e.g., either now known or later developed in the future. Possible Applications:

[0050] Possible applications may include:

[0051] Marine sanitary systems, or

[0052] Marine washdown systems.

[0053] The Scope of the Invention

[0054] The embodiments shown and described in detail herein are provided by way of example only; and the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular configurations, dimensionalities, and / or design details of these parts or elements included herein. In other words, one skilled in the art would appreciate that design changes to these embodiments may be made and such that the resulting embodiments would be different than the embodiments disclosed herein, but would still be within the overall spirit of the present invention.

[0055] It should be understood that, unless stated otherwise herein, any of the features, characteristics, alternatives or modifications described regarding a particular embodiment herein may also be applied, used, or incorporated with any other embodiment described herein.

[0056] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with respect to exemplary embodiments thereof, the foregoing and various other additions and omissions may be made therein and thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

WHAT I CLAIM IS:1 . A switchable flushing system for a boat or vessel having a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, the switchable flushing system having a dual flush system comprising: a raw water pump configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet; a solenoid arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump, configured to respond to the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet; and a user selectable fresh / raw flush switch configured to receive a user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, based upon the user fresh / raw flush switch input received.

2. A switchable flushing system according to claim 1 , wherein the solenoid comprises at least one non-return valve configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

3. A switchable flushing system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one non-return valve comprises double non-return valves configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

4. A switchable flushing system according to claim 1 , wherein the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch is a fresh / raw toggle switch that responds to the user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to pump the fresh water to the electric marine toilet.

5. A switchable flushing system according to claim 1 , the dual flush system comprises a fluid coupler configured to couple the solenoid and the raw water rinse pump to the electric marine toilet, receive either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse, and provide either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet.

6. A dual flush system according to claim 5, wherein the dual flush system comprises a mounting board having at least some components of the dual flush system mounted thereon.

7. A switchable flushing system according to claim 6, wherein the mounting board includes the raw water rinse pump, the solenoid , the fluid coupler and the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch, all mounted thereon.

8. A switchable flushing system according to claim 1 , wherein the raw water is sea, river or lake water.

9. A mounting board for a boat or vessel having a switchable flushing system with a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, the mounting board configured for providing a dual flush system and comprising: a raw water pump configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet; a solenoid arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump, configured to respond to the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet; and a user selectable fresh / raw flush switch configured to receive a user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, based upon the user fresh / raw flush switch input received.

10. A mounting board according to claim 9, wherein the solenoid comprises at least one non-return valve configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.11 . A mounting board according to claim 10, wherein the at least one non-return valve comprises double non-return valves configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

12. A mounting board according to claim 9, wherein the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch is a fresh / raw toggle switch that responds to the user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to pump the fresh water to the electric marine toilet.

13. A mounting board according to claim 9, the dual flush system comprises a fluid coupler configured to couple the solenoid and the raw water rinse pump to the electric marine toilet, receive either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse, and provide either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet.

14. A mounting board for a boat or vessel having a switchable flushing system with a fresh water pump to pump fresh water from a fresh water supply system to an electric marine toilet, the mounting board configured for providing a dual flush system and comprising: a raw water pump mounted thereon and configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and pump raw water to the electric marine toilet, the raw water pump having a raw water pump housing with a solenoid mounted thereon and arranged between the fresh water pump and the raw water pump, the solenoid being configured to respond to user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling, and either open to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, or close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet; and a fluid coupler mounted thereon and configured to couple the solenoid and the raw water rinse pump to the electric marine toilet, receive either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse, and provide either the fresh water rinse or the raw water rinse to the electric marine toilet.

15. A mounting board according to claim 9, wherein the mounting board further comprises a user selectable fresh / raw flush switch configured to receive a user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to allow the fresh water pump to pump the fresh water from the fresh water supply system to the electric marine toilet, based upon the user fresh / raw flush switch input received.

16. A mounting board according to claim 14, wherein the solenoid comprises at least one non-return valve configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

17. A mounting board according to claim 16, wherein the at least one non-return valve comprises double non-return valves configured to close to prevent the fresh water supply system from receiving either the raw water pumped from raw rinse water pump or waste water from the electric marine toilet.

18. A mounting board according to claim 15, wherein the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch is a fresh / raw toggle switch that responds to the user fresh / raw flush switch input, and provide the user selectable fresh / raw flush switch signaling to either close the solenoid and actuate the raw water pump to pump the raw water to the electric marine toilet, or open the solenoid to pump the fresh water to the electric marine toilet.

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