Liquid purification or separation – Serially connected distinct treating with or without storage... – One unit inside another
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-23
2001-07-17
Upton, Christopher (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Serially connected distinct treating with or without storage...
One unit inside another
C210S299000, C210S416100, C210S498000, C210S532200, C417S422000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06261452
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a wastewater management system which maintains a laminar flow of wastewater (e.g., effluent) in a septic system and, more particularly, to a wastewater management system having a laminar flow collar which maintains a laminar flow of effluent within the septic system prior to discharging into an absorption field.
2. Background Description
In the absence of conventional public wastewater disposal and treatment systems, it is not uncommon for residential and small businesses to use on-site wastewater management systems. Typically, these wastewater management systems include a septic tank, and under certain conditions may additionally include a pump tank for discharging septic effluent into an absorption field.
In one such conventional system, wastewater flows into and out of the septic tank via baffled input and output pipes. These baffled input and output pipes slow the flow of water and prevent sewage from flowing directly through the septic tank. In the septic tank, solids are settled on the bottom of the tank while lighter particles including grease and foam float to the surface and form a layer of scum. The solid material in the septic tank is then broken down via a bacterial action.
The septic effluent may then be directed into the absorption field by gravity or, alternatively, may flow into a pump tank which doses the absorption field with the septic effluent. However, it is not uncommon for the solid waste to also flow into the pump tank. This usually occurs when the septic tank overflows due to high volume use and the like, and usually occurs despite the fact that baffles are positioned at the output of the septic tank. Similar to the septic tank, once the septic effluent including the solid waste flows into the pump tank, the solids settle on the bottom of the tank while lighter particles including grease and foam float to the surface and form a layer of scum.
A liquid pump within the pump tank (or septic tank) then provides a means for discharging the effluent into the absorption field. However, current systems have a tendency to create turbulent conditions within the tank (either a pump tank or a septic tank or the like) during the dosing process. These turbulent conditions, in turn, disturb the solid waste at the bottom of the pump tank as well as the scum on the surface of the effluent at the top of the tank such that the solid waste and the scum usually enter the intake ports of the pump. This leads to clogging of the pump which, in turn, may lead to a failure of the pump which would greatly increase the cost of maintenance of the wastewater management system. It is also noted that the efficiency of the system is also greatly reduced.
Solid pumps may also be used to discharge the septic effluent from the tank into the absorption field. However, solid pumps are not very efficient and cannot reach high heads. Thus, multiple stations or pump tanks are needed when using solid pumps, which greatly adds to the cost of the wastewater management system. Thus, the use of multiple stations or pump tanks is very expensive and still is not as efficient as the use of liquid pumps.
By way of example, U.S. Pat. No. Re. 32,312 to Crates et al. disclose an inlet and outlet baffle structure for sewage treatment tanks. The structure includes a septic tank ‘A’ which has opposing arcuate walls. An inlet
20
and an outlet
40
are disposed within the opposing arcuate side walls. The inlet includes first, second and third portions
60
,
70
and
80
. Incoming raw sewage is received in the first portion
60
and drops through the second portion
80
. The sewage is slowed by the third portion
90
which absorbs some of the kinetic energy of the sewage. The reduced velocity reduces the turbulence in the tank; however, it appears that there still may be some turbulence still present in the tank.
As another example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,605,220 to R. P. Logan discloses an anaerobic digester including a closed tank with inlet and outlets. A propeller
23
is located within an upward extending tube
24
. The propeller
23
violently agitates the fluid within the tank.
Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,821 to Murphy discloses a tank having an influent delivery system
12
which delivers influent through a pipe tee
20
and pipe section
21
into substantially the bottom section of a collector
28
. A circular partition
26
, being larger in circumference than collector
28
, creates a pre-stratification zone
27
. Multiple air diffusers
30
are connected to a drop pipe
31
with the upper end of drop pipe
31
being connected to a conventional air compressor
58
which is mounted within the manway
56
. A floating decanter base section
35
and a submersible motor
36
and suction pump
38
are provided in the tank
11
.
What is needed is a wastewater management system that is capable of using a liquid pump having high head capabilities without being clogged by solid waste during the dosing process. This system would also control the effluent flow into the absorption field such that the absorption field is utilized in an efficient manner thereby providing enhanced effluent quality.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wastewater management system that prevents turbulence of effluent within either a septic tank or a pump tank or the like.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater management system that prevents a dosing pump from being clogged with solid waste or scum during discharge of effluent into an absorption field throughout a range of effluent flows.
It is also a further object of the present invention to provide a wastewater management system that includes a laminar flow collar for housing a dosing pump having high head capabilities and which further maintains a laminar flow of the effluent throughout a range of effluent flows.
It is a also an object of the present invention to provide a wastewater management system that provides a cooling tower for cooling a dosing pump.
According to the invention, there is provided a laminar flow collar which prevents turbulence from being created in a septic system throughout a range of effluent flows. That is, the laminar flow collar of the present invention maintains a laminar flow of effluent within the septic system. The laminar flow of effluent in the septic system prevents a dosing pump (preferably a liquid pump) from becoming clogged which may lead to failure of the dosing pump.
The laminar flow collar includes a cylinder having a closed bottom and an open top portion. The cylinder further includes a plurality of holes positioned about the periphery of the cylinder at a certain distance from the bottom. The diameter and number of holes within the cylinder in combination with the flow rate of the dosing pump maintains the laminar flow of the effluent within the septic system and preferably within either a septic tank or a pump tank or the like. The dosing pump is inserted into a pump cylinder which is placed within the laminar flow collar cylinder. The flow collar acts as a receptacle and a guide tube for the placement of the dosing pump within the tank. This pump cylinder is open at the bottom for the pump intake and at the top terminates in a frustro-conical fitting that connects to an effluent pipe. The laminar flow collar assembly sits on the bottom of the tank and the plurality of holes are positioned between the solid waste (e.g., sludge) which has settled at the bottom of the tank and the scum floating near the top of the tank.
The plurality of holes are engineered to match the pump flow so that effluent flowing into the collar is laminar, thereby avoiding turbulence in the tank which would otherwise stir up the sludge at the bottom of the tank. This prevents the solids and scum from entering the input ports of the pump which may clog the pump and lead to a pump failure. Also, the pump cylinder also provides a reduced volume which increase the flow rate of the effluen
American Manufacturing Company, Inc.
McGuireWoods LLP
Upton Christopher
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