System for filtration of septic tank sewage effluent

Details System for filtration of septic tank sewage effluent System for filtration of septic tank sewage effluent

1999-08-23

2001-07-31

Hruskoci, Peter A. (Department: 1724)

Liquid purification or separation

Structural installation

Geographic

C210S258000, C210S284000, C210S290000, C210S532200, C210S484000, C405S043000, C405S045000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06267882

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to drainage fields for septic tank sewage effluent and, more particularly, to a filter container and system for filtering septic tank sewage effluent prior to land application.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conventional drainage fields for land application of septic tank sewage effluent are constructed by digging trenches on land adjoining the septic tank. Filtering beds are created in these trenches by depositing a layer of filtering material in the bottom of the trenches. Conventional filtering material is rock, crushed stone gravel, sand, or a combination thereof. A network of perforated pipe is connected to the septic tank and laid in the trenches on top of the filter bed. Such systems normally operate by gravity flow, however, it is common practice to connect a pump to the septic tank to aid in moving the sewage effluent from the septic tank and through the drainage field, particularly where required by the lay of the land. The sewage effluent is distributed through the network of perforated pipes and trickles onto and through the filter bed, where its nutrient content is reduced by microbial action. After passing through the filtering material, the sewage effluent is absorbed by the soil surrounding and underlying the trench.
Standard practices, however, suffer from severe disadvantages. For example, conventional drainage fields for septic tanks require the transportation of heavy materials, such as the stone, rock gravel or sand required for installing filtration beds. In addition, conventional drainage fields generally operate for years, however, they must be dug up and replaced when they become clogged or otherwise stop functioning as designed. Replacement of the drainage field costs essentially as much as installing a completely new field, and perhaps more.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
With the foregoing in mind, the present invention advantageously provides a system for filtering sewage effluent from a septic tank, including a novel filter container and associated method. The system is intended to replace a conventional septic tank drainage field which employs heavyweight filtering materials such as rock gravel and which cannot be easily renewed once the drainage field becomes clogged or otherwise inefficient.
The filter container includes a body having an inner cavity extending from a lower end of the container to an upper end, and a mouth opening positioned at the upper end of the body to provide access to the inner cavity. A lid is positioned on the upper end of the body so as to cover the mouth cavity and thereby close the container. A plurality of pipes connects the container in fluid communication with the septic tank or with another container. The pipes include at least one sewage delivery pipe for delivering sewage effluent to the inner cavity of the container and at least one outlet pipe for discharging filtered sewage effluent from the container. The container also includes at least one filter having a filter matrix made of a lightweight particulate material. The filter is positioned within the inner cavity of the container for filtering the sewage effluent.
In a preferred embodiment the filter container may further include a plurality of sewage delivery pipes positioned at the upper end of the container to deliver sewage effluent into the inner cavity so that the sewage effluent flows therefrom through the filter matrix. These sewage delivery pipes may be preassembled drainage lines having a perforated pipe positioned within a water permeable sleeve member containing the filter matrix so that the sewage delivery pipes are essentially surrounded by the filter matrix to thereby provide added filtration for the sewage effluent. The filter container may also include a clean out port positioned at the lower end and connecting the inner cavity to the outside thereby providing access for cleaning out the inner cavity or flushing the filter matrix.
The filter container in another preferred embodiment includes an inlet T-pipe and an outlet T-pipe positioned substantially opposite each other at the lower end of the container body so that the leg of said inlet T-pipe forms an inlet to the inner cavity and the leg of said outlet T-pipe forms an outlet to the inner cavity, the second pipe of each said T-pipe being positioned substantially vertically within the inner cavity. In addition, the filter matrix may be disposed within a water permeable sleeve member, so that the filter is easily removable from the container, allowing for changing the filter as necessary. The lightweight particulate material included in the filter matrix is preferably a synthetic material selected from expanded polystyrene particles, and rubber chips from ground up tires. Final discharge of filtered effluent is accomplished from a plurality of discharge openings providing fluid communication from the inner cavity of a filter container to the outside to thereby discharge filtered effluent from the container to a soil drainage field.
The filter containers may be connected to form a system for filtering sewage effluent from a septic tank. The system includes a plurality of filter containers connected in fluid communication with the septic tank such that each container of the plurality is connected with at least one other filter container to form a chain of filter containers connected to the septic tank. The system is suitable for use as a complete drain field for a septic tank system. The invention also includes an associated method employing the filter container and the system for filtering sewage effluent from a septic tank.


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