Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Treatment by living organism
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-01
2001-08-21
Smith, Duane (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Treatment by living organism
C210S119000, C210S484000, C210S532200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06277280
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to filtering effluent in septic tank systems and, more particularly, to a drainfield filter for reducing organic matter including bacteria levels within the effluent prior to discharging to a drainfield.
BACKGROUND
The monitoring of effluent discharge from a septic tank, prior to its discharge into a drainfield, is know, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,319,998 to Anderson, which discloses a screen positioned within a housing located downstream the septic tank. When the screen becomes clogged by suspended solids released from the septic tank, a float positioned within the housing and upstream the screen rises as a result of fluid level rising within the housing. Such is useful in warning of impending drainfield malfunction, but has no effect on the requirements for absorption of effluent within the drainfield. Absorption fields, such as the septic tank drain fields, receiving effluent from a treatment facility may be reduced in size by up to 50% of that normally required if the effluent is tested by a certified ANSI testing facility or NSF and meets the classification for a Class 1 effluent. As a result, a significant increase in usable real estate can result for replacement of ground space typically taken up by a septic tank drainfield. To achieve such a classification, a reduction in the organic matter including bacteria levels within the effluent must be achieved. Often times, septic tank filters rely on aerobic treatment of the affluent, as described by way of example in U.S. Pat. No. 5,620,602 to Stuth, which discloses an aerobic digester mounted in a secondary compartment of the septic tank for receiving aerated waste frothed upward from the effluent within the tank and allowed to cascade downward over packing media. The use of filtering media having a high surface to volume ratio is desirable, yet leads itself to clogging and as a result replacement that is time consuming and often expensive. A need exists for an economical treatment of effluent easily accommodated by a typical septic tank system owner, which treatment reduces the organic matter including bacteria levels within the effluent to achieve the Class 1 effluent classification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing background it is therefore an object of the invention to improve the quality of effluent within a septic tank system before the effluent reaches the drainfield. Further, it is an object of the invention to provide a filtering medium with a large surface to volume ratio for placement downstream of the septic tank and upstream of the drainfield for removing organic matter including bacteria from the effluent leaving the septic tank. It is yet another object of the invention to provide a simple, low cost, and easy-to-use filter for removing such organic matter including bacteria from the effluent.
This and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention are provided by a septic tank effluent filtering apparatus comprising a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port for transferring effluent received from a septic tank therethrough to a drainfield, a container having a plurality of perforations therein, the container removably carried within the housing in fluid communication with the outlet port for receiving effluent therein through the plurality of perforations for passage through the container and out of the housing through the outlet port, and a plurality of plastic beads carried within the container, wherein the effluent enters the housing through the inlet port, flows through the plurality of plastic beads, passing over the bead surfaces, while permitting organic matter including bacteria to be collected thereon prior to the effluent flowing out of the housing through the outlet port thereof. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of beads is carried within a mesh bag positioned within the container for easy placement and removal therefrom. Further, effluent level indicator means is provided for indicating the level of effluent within the housing. In one embodiment, the indicator means comprise a float communicating with the effluent within the housing and an indicator rod extending upwardly through a cover in the housing for providing a level indication to a user.
A method aspect of the present invention comprises the steps providing a housing having inlet and outlet ports therein for flowing effluent therethrough, placing a container within the housing in fluid communication with the outlet port, the container having a perforated wall for passing the effluent therethrough, wherein the container receives effluent through the perforated wall for passage of the effluent out of the housing through the outlet port, and placing a plurality of plastic beads into the container, wherein the effluent entering the housing through the inlet port flows through the plurality of plastic beads, passing over the bead surfaces for permitting organic matter including bacteria to be collected thereon prior to the effluent flowing out of the housing through the outlet port thereof. In a preferred method, the plurality of beads are carried within a deformable plastic bag which is placed within the container for ease in replacing the beads with clean beads.
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E Z Flow L.P.
Lawrence Frank M.
Smith Duane
Tamburro David A.
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