Liquid purification or separation – Recirculation – Serially connected distinct treating or storage units
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-30
2001-04-17
Upton, Christopher (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Recirculation
Serially connected distinct treating or storage units
C210S196000, C210S265000, C210S532200, C210S299000, C137S118010
Reexamination Certificate
active
06217760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
Flow distribution boxes have typically been used in waste water systems to split and distribute the flow of waste water effluent that has been treated by a waste water treatment system. Particularly, flow distribution boxes have been used in waste water systems to split the waste water effluent into separate equal flows and distributed the flows between several distribution pipes disclosed within a drain field or leech field.
Flow distribution boxes used for this previously described purpose often retain waste water within the interior of the distribution box. This waste water is prone to freezing in cold weather which may result in a blockage of flow or possibly damage to the box. Additionally, the retention of waste water within the flow distribution box may result in undesirable odors emanating from the distribution box.
Additionally, if the flow is not accurately split within the distribution box, uneven flows of waste water may result in the distribution pipes. These uneven flows cause clogging in some lines or excessive saturation of portions of the drain field or leech field.
For these reasons, there is a need for flow distribution boxes that are able to accurately split the flow of waste water entering into the distribution box, and to distribute the flows to separate outlets where each outlet receives the same flow. This allows the distribution box to provide evenly distributed flows within a drain field or leech field.
Small waste water treatment systems often use a primary treatment facility such as a septic tank and a secondary treatment facility such as a sand filter or a de-nitrification filter. Waste water which has first been treated in the septic tank and subsequently treated by the secondary treatment facility may benefit from being re-circulated gain through the secondary treatment facility. In some situations, the waste water which has first been treated in the septic tank and subsequently treated by the secondary treatment facility may benefit from being re-circulated again through the primary treatment facility and the secondary treatment facility.
Waste water which will be re-circulated may be collected in a reservoir or chamber which serves as a re-circulation tank.
In some waste water systems, the septic tank which also served as the primary treatment facility may be used as the re-circulation tank. In this situation, a portion of the waste water that has passed through the secondary treatment facility will be re-circulated back into the septic tank. Subsequently, this re-circulated flow will be re-circulated through the secondary treatment facility. Another portion of the waste water will be discharged to an outlet which feeds a drain field, leech field, lagoon, or other treatment facility. A flow distribution box may be used to split the flow leaving the secondary treatment facility into the desired portions of waste water which will be re-circulated and that which will be discharged to the outlet.
In other waste systems, a separate re-circulation tank may be used. In this situation, a portion of the waste water that has passed through the secondary treatment facility will be passed to the re-circulation tank so that it may be re-circulated through the secondary treatment facility. Another portion of the waste water will be discharged to an outlet which feeds a drain field, leech field, lagoon, or other treatment facility. Again, a flow distribution box may be used to split the flow leaving the secondary treatment facility into the desired portions of waste water which will be collected in the re-circulation tank for re-circulation through the secondary treatment facility and that which will be discharged to the outlet.
There is a need for flow distribution boxes that may be used in a re-circulation system to accurately split the flow of waste water entering into the distribution box into two or more flows, and to distribute the split flows to outlets where a desired ratios of flows is achieved. This allows the distribution box to provide an accurate ratio of re-circulation flow to discharge flow.
There is a further need that the distribution box used in this way allow for the changing of ratios of the flows which are split and distributed between a discharge pipe and a re-circulation pipe.
There is a further need that a distribution box used in this way will not retain waste water which may cause freezing damage and undesirable odors.
SUMMARY
The waste water treatment system of the present invention satisfies the previously mentioned needs.
The waste water treatment system comprises a waste water treatment facility having an inlet for the entry of waste water and an outlet, and a re-circulation tank including an inlet and an outlet. The inlet of the waste water treatment facility is in fluid communication with the outlet of the re-circulation tank. The system includes a distribution chamber including an upstanding wall, a floor, an inlet, and at least two outlets conduits. A first outlet conduit is in fluid communication with the re-circulation tank; and a second outlet conduit is in fluid communication with a discharge conduit.
Typically, at least one flow distribution chamber outlet conduit includes an inlet opening which is disposed at the same vertical height as the floor of the distribution chamber to allow the entry of waste water which has entered into the distribution chamber, such that substantially no waste water entering into the distribution chamber through the inlet will be retained within the chamber.
Each outlet conduit typically comprises a pipe having a wall, a portion of which is vertically disposed within the distribution chamber. The vertical disposed portion of the pipe wall typically further includes a plurality of vertically spaced inlet openings passing through the wall. Each outlet conduit pipe typically passes through the floor.
The flow distribution chamber may further include at least a third outlet conduit in fluid communication with the re-circulation tank. In this version, the distribution chamber includes a re-circulation manifold disposed beneath the floor. The first and third outlet conduits are in fluid communication with the re-circulation manifold. The flow distribution chamber may further include at least a fourth outlet conduit in fluid communication with the discharge conduit. In this version, the distribution chamber includes a discharge manifold disposed beneath the floor. The second and fourth outlet conduits are in fluid communication with the discharge manifold. Specifically, the re-circulation manifold may further include a plurality of fittings. An outlet conduit pipe may be disposed in each fitting of the re-circulation manifold. Similarly, the discharge manifold may also include a plurality of fittings. An outlet conduit pipe may be disposed in each fitting of the discharge manifold. The manifolds allow for the selective setting of the desired ratio of re-circulation outlet conduits to discharge outlet conduits. Accordingly, the desired ratio of re-circulation flow to discharge flow may be selectively set for the system.
The waste water treatment system may include a primary treatment chamber which typically comprises a septic tank for anaerobic digestion and gavitational precipitation of waste water solids. The waste water treatment facility is typically a secondary treatment facility that comprises a sand filter. The sand filter comprises a horizontal bed of solid particulate media, and wherein the inlet of the sand filter is disposed proximate to the top of the horizontal bed, and wherein the outlet of the sand filter is disposed proximate to the bottom of the horizontal bed.
The waste water treatment system further includes an orifice shield adapted for selective placement on the exterior surface of a fluid distribution pipe which is placed in solid particulate media. The orifice shield is adapted to cover an orifice in the pipe to prevent entry of the solid media into the orifice.
The orifice shield comprises an orifice cover plate, wherein the cover plate includes a bottom surface fo
Johnson Jerry
Upton Christopher
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