Portable Heated Shower Unit

Abstract

A portable shower kit, intended to parasitically draw its heat source from a vehicle's cooling system and provide an endless supply of hot water to a shower head or a hose head. It has a vehicle mounted portion and a quick connectable portable section contained in a waterproof container such as a plastic bucket. It may take its water supply as pressurized water from a campground or municipal water system, or draw directly from a body of water such as a lake or river via its suction pump, or pump water from the kit's storage container. It's portable section is self-contained in the kit's container and connects to the vehicle mounted portion in seconds. A magnetic or suction mounted arm can hold the shower head in position from the vehicle.

Description

COPYRIGHT STATEMENT

[0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates, in general, to camping equipment, and more particularly to the technology of using automotive reject heat for other purposes.BACKGROUND

[0003] Approximately 48 million households went camping in 2020 which is a rise of up over 6 million since 2019. This number includes a larger proportion who camped three or more times. Since the COVID pandemic, this has risen again. Of these 48 million camping households, the majority were tent campers without the luxury of motorcoaches or trailers, and thus lacked their own private heated showers.

[0004] While many of the state and private campgrounds provide heated showers, others do not. Those that travel and camp off of the beaten path, such as hikers, explorers, hunters and fishermen do not have the convenience of a heated shower. While many of these outdoor adventurers can get to their camping area by vehicle, many of the travel routes are not navigable by large motor coaches or with trailers or campers in tow. Additionally, the last five years have seen a surge in the ownership of mini-campers or mini-coaches. These miniaturized, gas efficient versions of motorcoaches are built on smaller truck / van frames and all the components therein are selected for space saving. Many of the components re selected for storage inside, but operation outside. Because of space restrictions, generally, they have no inside shower facilities. Those that carry portable shower facilities heat their water with solar, propane or electric heaters. This necessitates carrying and storage of these water heating units and their attendant fuel sources, that can be bulky.

[0005] Henceforth, a small, portable heated shower unit that is self-contained and does not require its own source of energy to heat the water would fulfill a long felt need in the camping industry. This new invention utilizes and combines known and new technologies in a unique and novel configuration to overcome the aforementioned problems and accomplish this.BRIEF SUMMARY

[0006] In accordance with various embodiments, a self-contained, heated water disbursement / shower unit that operates parasitically from reject vehicle heat, is provided.

[0007] In one aspect, a heated water disbursement / shower unit that fits into a storage container, that doubles as a bucket is provided.

[0008] In another aspect, a heated water disbursement / shower unit that can draw its wash water from the storage container bucket, or from any source of water that a feed tube / hose can be inserted into, is provided.

[0009] In yet another aspect, a heated shower unit that has a vehicle mounted heat exchanger portion and a quick connectable shower head and water supply.

[0010] In a final aspect, a heated shower unit that can be used with pressurized or non-pressurized water for use in remote locations or from facilities with cold water supply systems.

[0011] Various modifications and additions can be made to the embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combination of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] A further understanding of the nature and advantages of particular embodiments may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used to refer to similar components.

[0013] FIG. 1 is a representative diagram of the first embodiment heated water disbursement / shower unit;

[0014] FIG. 2 is a representative cross sectional drawing of the storage container portion of the primary embodiment heated water disbursement / shower unit;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a representative diagram of the alternate embodiment heated water disbursement / shower unit;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a representative cross sectional drawing of the storage container portion of the secondary embodiment heated water disbursement / shower unit;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a side view of the heat exchanger; and

[0018] FIG. 6 is a top view of the heat exchanger.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and may eliminate mechanical details well known to those skilled in the art. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth to enable a thorough understanding of the inventive concept. It should be understood, however, that persons having ordinary skill in the art may practice the inventive concept without these specific details.

[0020] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first attachment could be termed a second attachment, and, similarly, a second attachment could be termed a first attachment, without departing from the scope of the inventive concept.

[0021] It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to as being “on,”“coupled to,” or “connected to” another element or layer, it can be directly on, directly coupled to or directly connected to the other element or layer, or intervening components such as hoses or lines may be present, such as in the case of the heat exchanger secondary fluid inlet and outlet connections. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. As used herein, the term “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0022] The terminology used in the description of the inventive concept herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the inventive concept. As used in the description of the inventive concept and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term “and / or” as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and / or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / or groups thereof.

[0023] Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers herein used to express quantities, dimensions, and so forth, should be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about.” In this application, the use of the singular includes the plural unless specifically stated otherwise, and use of the terms “and” and “or” means “and / or” unless otherwise indicated. Moreover, the use of the term “including,” as well as other forms, such as “includes” and “included,” should be considered non-exclusive. Also, terms such as “element” or “component” encompass both elements and components comprising one unit and elements and components that comprise more than one unit, unless specifically stated otherwise.

[0024] As used herein, the terms “hose” and “line” are interchangeable and represent the same fluid carrying conduits, pipes, tubes and the mechanical equivalent. Hoses and lines need not be flexible and may be rigid piping.

[0025] As used herein, the term “cross fitting” refers to a mechanical connector between multiple plumbing lines, hoses or piping that diverts or channels the flow of a fluid therein to any or all of the various multiple connected plumbing lines, hoses or pipes.

[0026] As used herein, the terms “fitting” and “coupling” are interchangeable and represent a mechanical device that can be used to connect components either directly or with intervening hoses / lines. Quick connect fittings / couplings are generally self-sealing two part male and female fittings / couplings that releasably engage each other and may be interchangeably used in place of non, quick-connect fittings / couplings.

[0027] As used herein, the terms “primary fluid” refers to the vehicle's coolant and the term“secondary fluid” refers to the water to be heated in the heat exchanger and used for showering.

[0028] The present invention relates to a novel design for a portable hot water disbursement unit that may be used primarily as a shower or as a pressurized supply of hot water to be distributed through a hose. (Herein, “shower unit”.) This shower unit draws its heat source parasitically from an idling vehicle's cooling system. The unit is self-contained and its enclosure (a bucket) couples as both a storage for all of the equipment and as a reservoir for water obtained at a remote location.

[0029] To cool an internal combustion engine a slightly pressurized coolant fluid is circulated by a water pump through voids in the engine block. The hot coolant exiting from the engine block, flows through hoses to the radiator where it passes through smaller diameter tubing that is surrounded by highly thermally conductive cooling fins around which the automobile's fan pushes cooler air to lower the temperature of the coolant. The coolant, although still warm, generally between 195 and 220 degrees F., now circulates through this cooling loop. In this cooling circuit or loop, there is a heater core (heat exchanger) which is another smaller radiator, through which the hot coolant passes. When demanded, a heater core fan is started and blows across the heat dissipation fins of the heater core and removes more of the heat from the hot coolant, pushing its warm reject air into the interior of the car. The present shower unit uses an additional heat exchanger that is placed within the vehicle's cooling loop to transfer heat (reject heat) from the cooling loop to the shower water loop.

[0030] It is to be noted that his shower unit has its components divided into two connectable portions. Although depicted herein as the primary and alternate embodiments, these differ only by which components are grouped together in the vehicle (internal unit) and in the storage container (external unit). These are essentially the same shower units, and share equivalent subcomponents however, the combinations of the subcomponents that make up the internal unit and external units differ. In the preferred embodiment there are two additional hoses required to connect the internal unit to the external unit in order to allow the two units to be seperable with the arrangement of components as will be better understood looking at FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0031] Looking at FIGS. 1 and 3, the common, primary and alternate embodiment components can be seen. In its simplest forms, the shower unit consists of a double wall heat exchanger 2, an adjustable mixing valve 4, a DC powered, self priming water pump 6, a cross fitting 8 (a four port body), a shower head 10, a shower head mounting device 12, a bucket suction line 14, an optional pressurized water line 16, a storage container 18 (this and the components therein are the external unit) and the attendant system hoses and connection fittings. These components are segregated into an internal unit that is permanently mounted in the engine compartment of the vehicle, connected in line with the vehicle's heater core, and a portable external unit that is removably connected to the internal unit. The internal unit is comprised of all the components shown within the dashed engine compartment enclosure 20. The external unit is comprised of all the components shown within dashed storage container 18, the shower head 10, the shower head mounting device 12 and the storage container 18. The internal unit parasitically transfers heat from the automobile's hot coolant to the water to be used by the external unit.

[0032] Looking at FIGS. 1, 2, 5 and 6, the preferred embodiment of the shower unit can best be described. Within the engine compartment (designated as dashed enclosure 20) the engine coolant hose 22 has been cut and one end connected to the primary fluid inlet fitting 24 and the other end connected to the primary fluid outlet fitting 26 of the double wall, 304 stainless steel heat exchanger 2. The manner of connection is well known in the industry and may be by hose clams and barbs, pipe / tubing connectors or any style of what is commonly known as two piece, quick connect fittings, depending on whether this is a permanent mount (preferred) or a removable, temporary mount. If it is a temporary mount, quick connect fittings may be utilized on either end of the cut coolant hose 22 but installed with their respective fitting halves reversed such that the two portions of the coolant lines 22 can be connected together when the heat exchanger 2 is removed. The heat exchanger 2 is securely mounted within the engine compartment by any number of mechanical mounting methods as are well known in the industry. Although the preferred method of installation is as described as being in series with the cooling loop that passes through the heater core, it is also known that this could also be connected in parallel with the heater core, depending on the specifics of the vehicles cooling circuit. In other embodiments it may be connected directly to a radiator hose.

[0033] On the other side of the double wall, stainless steel heat exchanger 2, its secondary fluid inlet port 34 is connected to a first quick connect fitting half 28. This may optionally utilize an upper secondary fluid inlet hose 30 with the first quick connect fitting half 28 at its other end, depending on the design of the ports on the heat exchanger 2. Similarly, the heat exchanger's secondary fluid outlet port 36 is connected to a second quick connect fitting half 29. This may optionally utilize an upper secondary fluid outlet hose 32 with the second quick connect fitting half 29 at its other end depending on the design of the ports on the heat exchanger 2. If utilized, the upper secondary fluid inlet hose 30 and upper secondary fluid outlet hose 32 to heat exchanger 2 connections may be made by any of a plethora of equivalent mechanical connection means as is well known in the industry. Similarly, at the ends of the lower secondary fluid inlet second hose 97 and secondary fluid outlet hose 33 there will be the third and fourth quick connect connection fitting halves 25 and 27 to matingly engage and mechanically connect to the first and second quick connect connection fitting halves 28 and 29 so as to connect the internal unit 20 to the external unit 18.

[0034] The quick connect connection fitting halves 25, 27, 28 and 29 preferably will be stainless steel, self-sealing, fluid-tight, two part quick connect fittings as is well known in the industry. The first and These two part quick connect mechanical fittings facilitate quick connection between the internal unit 20 and the external unit 18 of the shower unit.

[0035] In the preferred embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 is of a plate style heat exchanger where the number of plates 38 used determines the amount of heat transferred between the primary and secondary fluids. These are thus varied and tapered to the specific engine that the shower kit is to be utilized with. To maintain as small a profile as possible in the engine compartment, the heat exchanger 2 has a counter current flow pattern indicated by primary fluid flow directional arrow 40 and secondary fluid flow directional arrow 42. (FIG. 6) These heat exchangers transfer heat primarily by convection and their efficiency rises with faster flow rates and longer contact time. Testing has shown that a shower water temperature of up to 120 degrees F. can be achieved and maintained indefinitely with a small profile plate style heat exchanger (approximately 8″×4″×2″) from a 350 cubic inch Chevy motor on idle. This is easily able to be secured under the hood of a vehicle without spatial constraints. This type of heat exchanger has excellent corrosion resistant properties for handling automotive coolants laden with anti-freeze and other chemical additives.

[0036] The external portion of the shower kit, shown in dashed enclosure 18, is a storage container 44 with any of a plethora of different style engageable lids 46, including friction fit, latched, and threaded lids (as illustrated). Preferably it is a water tight polymer bucket 44 with a handle 48. Inside the bucket 44 is a tray 50, preferably removeable, that resides partway along the vertical rise of the bucket 44. The tray 50 rests on an internal flange 52 extending from the interior sidewall of the bucket 44 such that the tray 50 may be lifted out to fill the bucket 44 with water. In the upper cavity formed between the tray 50 and the lid 46, the remainder of the system components are affixed or loosely stored. There is an opening 54 between the tray and the lower cavity 56 to allow the passage of the pump inlet hose 58.

[0037] There is a self-priming pump 6 capable of drawing water that is less than 25 feet lower than the pump 6 itself. In the preferred embodiment, the pump is a DC powered pump and draws its DC power from the vehicle's electric system (denoted by dashed line 60) preferably via a vehicle accessory plug connector 62 (commonly known as a cigarette lighter plug). However in alternate embodiments an AC pump could be used with an AC to DC inverter also drawing its DC power from the vehicle's electric system. The pump inlet hose 58 has a connector fitting at one end to connect to the pump suction. This pump inlet hose 58 may be a short section of hose that is fed through an orifice 54 in the platform 50 to the bottom of the bucket 44 or it may be of a substantially longer section of hose 57 capable of extending down into a water body such as a creek, lake, river etc. These pump inlet hoses 58 and 57 may have an optional foot valve / filter installed at their distal ends.

[0038] From the discharge or pressure side of the pump 2 the lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31 is connected to a first port 99 of a cross fitting 8 so as to flow secondary fluid through this cross fitting 8 and out a second port 98 to the lower secondary fluid inlet second hose 97 which is connected through the quick connect fitting halves 25 and 28 to the upper secondary fluid inlet hose 30, going to the heat exchanger 2. The lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31 also flows secondary fluid out of the third port 95 on said cross fitting 8 to the first inlet port 94 of the mixing valve 4 through the mixing valve inlet hose 65. This path of secondary fluid does not pass through the heat exchanger and is cooler such that it may be blended or mixed in with the hot water exiting the heat exchanger 2 to temper the overall temperature of water at the shower head 10.

[0039] There may be an optional backflow or one-way valve installed between the cross fitting 8 and the pump 6 to prevent pressurized secondary fluid from the water system pressurized hose 16, which is connected at the forth port 92 of the cross fitting 8, from traversing backwards through the pump 6. It is to be noted that the cross fitting 8 may be a three port or four port fitting. If there is no pressurized source of water envisioned there need only be three ports on this cross fitting 8.

[0040] The secondary fluid passing through the heat exchanger 2 exits at secondary fluid outlet port 36 and passes through the upper and lower secondary fluid outlet hoses 32 and 33 to the second inlet port 91 on the mixing valve 4. Connection fittings are located on these hoses for connection, as is well known in the industry. The mixing valve 4 has a manual adjustment knob 69 to mix and adjust the temperature of the secondary fluid (water) exiting the shower head 10.

[0041] The tempered secondary fluid exits the mixing valve 4 and enters the connected proximal end of the shower head hose 70, and passes through to the distal end where the shower head 10 resides. The shower head hose 70 is able to be coupled to a vehicle by its shower head to vehicle mounting device 12, which may be selected from the set of mounting devices including magnetic, mechanical or suction mounts. This mounting device 12 is adjustably mounted between the proximal and distal ends of the shower head hose 70. This allows the shower head 10 to spray heated secondary fluid in a desired area without being hand held. The shower head 10 has an on / off switch. Connection fittings are utilized to facilitate the connection of all hoses and components as necessary.

[0042] In the operation of the primary embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 is mounted in the vehicle and its primary fluid inlet and outlet fittings 24 and 26 are connected to the ends of a cut cooling system circulating hose 22 so as to be located in line with the cooling system. The heat exchanger's secondary fluid inlet and outlet fittings 34 and 36 are connected to secondary fluid inlet and outlet hoses 30 and 32. These sections of hose (30 and 32) have self-sealing quick connect fittings 28 on their ends so as to allow of connection of the external unit to the internal unit.

[0043] The external unit is brought near the vehicle. The lid 46 is removed, the tray 50 is removed and the bucket 44 is filled with water from a nearby source. The tray 50 is replaced and the short pump inlet hose 58 is connected to the pump 2 and pushed through orifice 54 in the tray 50. Alternatively, the long pump suction hose 57 may be connected to the pump 2 and its free end submerged into a water source.

[0044] The engine of the vehicle is started and the pump 2 is electrically connected to the vehicle via the vehicle accessory plug connector 62. The pump draws water from the pump inlet hose 58 and pushes it through lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31, cross fitting 8, lower secondary fluid inlet second hose 97, and the upper secondary fluid inlet hose 30 to the heat exchanger 2. The water is heated as is passes by the counter flowing vehicle coolant in the heat exchanger 2. It exits the heat exchanger 2 and is routed to the first inlet to the mixing valve 4 through upper and lower secondary fluid outlet hoses 32 and 33.

[0045] The hot water passes tempered or not, through the adjustable mixing valve 4 to the shower head hose 70 and the shower head 10. The on / off switch is actuated to allow water to exit the shower head 10. After the water has run for a brief period the water temperature is tested and the mixing valve manual adjustment knob 69 is adjusted to admit more of less water from the cross fitting 8 into the second inlet 94 of the mixing valve 8 and its mixing bowl internal design, and adjust the water temperature up or down. When at the desired temperature, the shower head 10 may be attached to the vehicle to spray in a fixed area.

[0046] There may be an optional recycle line with valve (not illustrated) installed after the mixing valve to allow the warmed water to recirculate back into the bucket 44 if warmer water is desired. In this way the water theoretically could be brought to boiling since the vehicle's coolant is hotter than 212 degrees F.

[0047] In the operation of the secondary embodiment, the heat exchanger 2 is mounted in the vehicle and its primary fluid inlet and outlet fittings 24 and 26 are connected to the ends of a cut cooling system circulating hose 22. The suction side of the pump 2 is connected to the pump inlet hose 58. This pump inlet hose 58 may be a short section of hose that is fed through an orifice 54 in the platform 50 to the bottom of the bucket 44 or it may be of a substantially longer section of hose 57 capable of extending down into a water body such as a creek, lake, river etc. From the discharge or pressure side of the pump 2 the lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31 that is connected to a first port 99 of a cross fitting 8 through the quick connect fitting halves 25 and 28, to flow secondary fluid through this cross fitting 8 and out a second port 98 to the upper secondary fluid inlet hose 30, going to the heat exchanger 2. The lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31 also flows secondary fluid out of the third port 95 on said cross fitting 8 to the first inlet port 94 of the mixing valve 4 through the mixing valve inlet hose 65. This path of secondary fluid does not pass through the heat exchanger and is cooler such that it may be blended or mixed in with the hot water exiting the heat exchanger 2 to temper the overall temperature of water at the shower head 10 with a third quick connect fitting 100.

[0048] The heat exchanger's secondary fluid outlet fitting 36 is directly connected to the second inlet port 91 on the mixing valve 4. The mixing valve 4 is connected to the shower head hose 70 and the shower head 10.

[0049] The external unit is carried near the vehicle by its handle 48, and the lid 46 is removed, the tray 50 is removed and the bucket 44 is filled with water from a nearby source. The tray 50 is replaced and the short pump suction hose 59 is connected to the pump 2 and pushed through orifice 54 in the tray 50. Alternatively, the long pump suction hose 57 may be connected to the suction side of the pump 2 and its free end submerged into a water source.

[0050] The external unit 18 is connected to the internal unit 20 via the lower secondary fluid inlet first hose 31 which extends from the pump 2 to the cross fitting 8. The shower head hose 70 (also external) is connected to the outlet of the mixing valve 4. The pump 6 is electrically connected to the vehicle's DC power. The remainder of the operation of taking a hot shower, follow, the steps of the primary embodiment.

[0051] The pump 6 is not necessary for operation of either embodiment, when there is a source of pressurized water available. In this scenario (such as can be found at a campground or building hose bib) there is a pressurized water line 16 with quick connectors 28 that connects into a cross fitting 8 downstream of the pump 6. Here, the pump 6 need not be connected to DC power and ran. (Note, there may be a backflow valve installed between the cross 8 and the pump 6 depending on the pump used.)

[0052] It is to be noted that the principal purpose of the unit is to create and dispense hot water which can be sent to a shower head or a hose.

[0053] In view of the wide variety of permutations to the embodiments described herein, this detailed description and accompanying material is intended to be illustrative only, and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the inventive concept. What is claimed as the invention, therefore, is all such modifications as may come within the scope and spirit of the following claims and equivalents thereto.

Claims

1. A portable, self-contained shower unit device having an internal unit and a separated but connectable external unit, comprising:an internal unit permanently mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, said internal unit comprising:a dual wall heat exchanger having a primary fluid side with a primary fluid inlet and a primary fluid outlet, and a secondary fluid side with a secondary fluid inlet and a secondary fluid outlet, said primary fluid inlet and said primary fluid outlet connected in-line with a vehicle's heater core;an upper secondary fluid inlet hose connected at a proximal end to said secondary fluid inlet and having a first quick-connect fitting half on a distal end thereof; andan upper secondary fluid outlet hose connected at a proximal end to said secondary fluid outlet and having a second quick-connect fitting half on a distal end thereof;an external unit with a portable bucket-based storage container adapted for storage and to provide a secondary fluid from a lower reservoir portion of said portable storage container or from a remote body of water, said external unit comprising:a vehicle powered pump housed in said storage container adapted to draw said secondary fluid from a said lower reservoir compartment or from said remote body of water via a suction line;a cross fitting having at least three connectable ports, a first port, a second port and a third port formed therethrough, adapted to receive and pass therethrough said secondary fluid from said vehicle powered pump;a lower secondary fluid inlet hose having a third quick connect fitting half at one end and connected at a second end to said second port of said cross fitting;a mixing valve having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet;a mixing valve inlet hose connecting said third port of said cross fitting to said first inlet of said mixing valve;a lower secondary fluid outlet hose having a fourth quick connect fitting half at one end and connected at a second end to said second inlet of said mixing valvea shower head hose having a proximal end connected to said mixing valve outlet and a distal end connected to a shower head; andwherein said internal unit and said external unit are operationally joined by the mating of said first quick-connect fitting half to said third quick-connect fitting half and the mating of second quick-connect fitting half to said fourth quick-connect fitting half; andwherein said pump draws said secondary fluid through said pump suction line and pushes said secondary fluid in said first port of said cross fitting, then to said secondary fluid inlet of said heat exchanger, through said secondary fluid side of said heat exchanger and out of said secondary fluid outlet of said heat exchanger to said second inlet of said mixing valve and simultaneously through said third port of said cross fitting to said first inlet of said mixing valve where said secondary fluid is tempered and is pushed from said mixing valve to said shower head.

2. (canceled)3. (canceled)4. The portable, self-contained shower unit of claim 1 wherein said pump, said mixing valve, said cross fitting, said mixing valve inlet hose, said lower secondary fluid inlet hose, said lower secondary fluid inlet hose and said lower secondary fluid outlet hose, said third quick connect fitting half, and said fourth quick connect fitting half reside in said storage container on a platform above a bucket cavity formed therein said storage container, and said pump suction hose extends between said pump and said bucket cavity through an opening in said platform. A portable, self-contained shower device having an internal unit and a separated but connectable external unit, comprising:an internal unit permanently mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle, said internal unit comprising:a dual wall heat exchanger having a primary fluid side with a primary fluid inlet and a primary fluid outlet, and a secondary fluid side with a secondary fluid inlet and a secondary fluid outlet, said primary fluid inlet and said primary fluid outlet connected in-line with a vehicle's heater core;a cross fitting having at least three connectable ports, a first port, a second port and a third port formed therethrough, adapted to receive and direct therethrough said secondary fluid;a mixing valve having a first inlet, a second inlet and an outlet;a mixing valve inlet hose connecting said third port of said cross fitting to said first inlet of said mixing valve;a secondary fluid inlet hose connecting said second port of said cross fitting to said secondary fluid inlet of said heat exchanger;a secondary fluid outlet hose connecting said secondary fluid outlet from said heat exchanger to second inlet of said mixing valve;an upper pump hose having a first end connected to said first port of said cross fitting and a first quick connect fitting half on a second end;a shower head with a hose connected to said outlet of said mixing valve;an external unit with a portable bucket-based storage container adapted for storage and to provide a secondary fluid from a lower reservoir portion of said storage container or from a remote body of water, said external unit comprising:a vehicle powered pump housed in said storage container and adapted to draw said secondary fluid from a lower reservoir compartment or from a remote body of water via a suction line, said pump having a lower pump hose with a second quick connect fitting half connected at a discharge end; andwherein said internal unit and said external unit are operationally joined by the mating of said first quick-connect fitting half to said second quick-connect fitting half; andwherein said pump draws said secondary fluid through said pump suction line and pushes said secondary fluid in said first port of said cross fitting, then to said secondary fluid inlet of said heat exchanger, through said secondary fluid side of said heat exchanger and out of said secondary fluid outlet of said heat exchanger to said second inlet of said mixing valve and simultaneously through said third port of said cross fitting to said first inlet of said mixing valve where said secondary fluid is tempered and is pushed from said mixing valve to said shower head.

6. (canceled)7. (canceled8. (canceled)9. The portable, self-contained shower unit of claim 1 wherein said cross fitting has a fourth port therethrough, connectable to a hose providing an externally pressurized secondary fluid, and wherein said cross fitting is adapted to receive and pass therethrough said externally pressurized secondary fluid in place of said secondary fluid from said vehicle powered pump.

10. (canceled)11. The portable, self-contained shower unit of claim 5 wherein said cross fitting has a fourth port therethrough, connectable to a hose providing an externally pressurized secondary fluid, and wherein said cross fitting is adapted to receive and pass therethrough said externally pressurized secondary fluid in place of said secondary fluid from said vehicle powered pump.

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