Disposable Sewer Hose Liner for RV Contamination Containment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Recreational vehicle (RV) sewer hoses are frequently contaminated with bacteria and fecal matter, leading to unpleasant odors and increased cleaning frequency when disconnecting and storing the hoses.
Innovation Solution
A disposable sewer hose liner made of non-porous, flexible materials like polyethylene or nylon, which can be threaded through the hose and secured with anchors and fastening devices, allowing for easy disposal after use, reducing contact with bacteria and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a reusable sewer hose is used, then the initial cost is lower, but the hose requires frequent cleaning and maintenance due to bacterial contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the disposable principle by providing a liner that is intentionally designed to be single-use. The liner is inserted into the sewer hose, used once to contain waste, then removed and discarded. This eliminates the need to clean the liner itself, while the reusable hose is protected from direct contamination. The disposable nature resolves the contradiction by accepting frequent replacement of the liner in exchange for eliminating cleaning requirements of the containment system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sewer hose system into two distinct parts: the reusable outer hose and the disposable inner liner. This segmentation allows the liner to bear the burden of contamination and frequent replacement, while the outer hose remains clean and reusable. The liner acts as a separable component that can be independently removed and discarded, resolving the contradiction between reusability and cleaning frequency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sewer hose is disconnected frequently for travel, then the RV can be moved, but bacteria and fecal matter spread to the user and environment
Solution Approach 1:
The disposable liner contains bacteria and fecal matter during use, and when the hose is disconnected for travel, the entire liner with its contents is removed and discarded as a single unit. This prevents any spread of contaminants to the user or environment during the disconnection process, while still allowing frequent movement of the RV. The liner's disposable nature enables mobility without compromising hygiene.
Solution Approach 2:
The liner acts as a flexible barrier shell that lines the interior of the sewer hose. This thin film containment structure prevents direct contact between contaminants and the external environment during disconnection. The flexibility of the liner allows it to conform to the hose while providing complete containment, resolving the contradiction between mobility and contamination prevention.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a liner is inserted into the sewer hose, then contamination is contained, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a simple flexible liner made of thin film material to contain contaminants. This single-layer barrier provides effective containment without requiring complex multi-component structures. The liner's simplicity in design (a basic tubular shape) minimizes device complexity while maximizing contaminant containment effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable nature of the liner simplifies the overall system by eliminating the need for complex cleaning mechanisms, valves, or reusable containment structures. The entire containment function is achieved through a single, simple, throwaway component that requires no maintenance or complex operation, resolving the contradiction between containment effectiveness and system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention relates to a disposable sewer hose liner that may be used to line the inside of a sewer hose for recreational vehicles, trailers, and mobile homes. The disposable sewer hose liner provides a more sanitary method of disposing sewage and waste water from an RV, trailer, or mobile home and reduces the odor emanating from a sewer hose, the amount of cleaning necessary, and the amount of bacteria or waste that a user comes in contact with when interacting with a sewer hose.