Waste management system for a vehicle

Abstract

A waste management system for a vehicle includes toilet, an accumulator tank and a main waste tank. The accumulator tank is in fluid communication with and fixedly mounted relative to the toilet. The main waste tank is remotely positioned relative to the toilet. A flexible fluid coupling connects the accumulator tank and the main waste tank such that the toilet and the accumulator tank can be translated relative to the main waste tank. In certain applications, the toilet is mounted in a movable cabin portion of the vehicle that is coupled to a fixed cabin portion of the vehicle for movement between an extended position and a retracted position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A waste management system for a vehicle, the waste management system comprising: 
 a toilet;    an accumulator tank in fluid communication with and fixedly mounted relative to the toilet;    a main waste tank remotely positioned relative to the toilet; and    a flexible fluid coupling connecting the accumulator tank and the main waste tank such that the toilet and the accumulator tank can be translated relative to the main waste tank.    
     
     
         2 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible fluid coupling is operative to permit the toilet and the accumulator tank to move horizontally relative to the main waste tank.  
     
     
         3 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the accumulator tank includes a first level sensor for sensing a level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         4 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 3 , further comprising a pump for pumping a waste from the accumulator tank to the main waste tank automatically in response to the first level sensor sensing a first predetermining level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         5 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising a manually operated switch for controlling the pump to pump the waste from the accumulator tank to the main waste tank prior to the first lever sensor sensing the first predetermined level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         6 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 4 , further comprising a second level sensor for sensing a level in the main waste tank.  
     
     
         7 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 6 , further comprising a control arrangement for preventing operation of the pump in response to the sensing of a second predetermined level in the main waste tank by the second level sensor.  
     
     
         8 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the toilet has a water inlet and a waste outlet and the main waste tank is in fluid communication with the waste outlet, and further comprising a fresh water tank in fluid communication with the water inlet, and a gray water tank in fluid communication with the water inlet.  
     
     
         9 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a fixed cabin portion;    a movable cabin portion defining a bathroom, the movable cabin portion coupled to the fixed cabin portion for movement between an extended position and a retracted position;    a toilet mounted in the movable cabin portion;    an accumulator tank carried by the movable cabin portion, the accumulator tank being in fluid communication with and fixedly mounted relative to the toilet;    a main waste tank fixedly mounted in the vehicle relative to the fixed cabin portion; and    a flexible fluid coupling connecting the accumulator tank and the main waste tank such that the toilet and the accumulator tank can be translated relative to the main waste tank as the movable cabin portion is moved between the extend position and the retracted position.    
     
     
         10 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the main waste tank is disposed remote to the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         11 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible fluid coupling is operative to permit the toilet and the accumulator tank to move horizontally relative to the main waste tank.  
     
     
         12 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein the accumulator tank includes a first level sensor for sensing a level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         13 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 11 , further comprising a pump for pumping a waste from the accumulator tank to the main waste tank automatically in response to the first level sensor sensing a first predetermining level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         14 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a manually operated switch for controlling the pump to pump the waste from the accumulator tank to the main waste tank prior to the first lever sensor sensing the first predetermined level in the accumulator tank.  
     
     
         15 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a second level sensor for sensing a level in the main waste tank.  
     
     
         16 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 14 , further comprising a control arrangement for preventing operation of the pump in response to the sensing of a second predetermined level in the main waste tank by the second level sensor.  
     
     
         17 . The waste management system for a vehicle of  claim 12 , further comprising a deodorant treatment arrangement for preventing odor during operation.