U.S. patent number RE29,996 [Application Number 05/838,748] was granted by the patent office on 1979-05-15 for upflow filter.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Jet Aeration Company. Invention is credited to Edward J. Jordan, John R. Snyder.
United States Patent |
RE29,996 |
Jordan , et al. |
May 15, 1979 |
Upflow filter
Abstract
An upflow filter adapted to be used with a home sewage treatment
plant which includes a container which has a wall extending
thereacross to divide the container into first and second filtering
chambers. First and second gratings are located in the first and
second chambers respectively and serve to divide each filtering
chamber into top and bottom portions and each grating has filtering
media covering the same. The container has an inlet and an outlet
with the outlet located at a lower level from the inlet. .[.First
liquid conduit means are connected to the wall and provides for
fluid communication from the inlet to the bottom portions of each
of the first and second filtering chambers. Second liquid.].
.Iadd.A vertical opening is cast into the dividing wall and has
lateral exit portions that communicate with the bottom portions of
the first and second filtering chambers. The liquid inlet
communicates with this vertical opening. Liquid .Iaddend.conduit
means are connected to the wall and provides for fluid
communication from the top portion of each of the first and second
filtering chambers to the outlet. A variation of the invention
involves the providing of a cut out in the dividing wall so that
filtered material will exit both filtering chambers in the event
the filter is not set or installed perfectly level. The foregoing
abstract is merely a resume of one general application and is not a
complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications
and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the
claimed subject matter.
Inventors: |
Jordan; Edward J. (Willoughby,
OH), Snyder; John R. (Fort Wayne, IN) |
Assignee: |
Jet Aeration Company
(Cleveland, OH)
|
Family
ID: |
23785286 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/838,748 |
Filed: |
October 3, 1977 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
449735 |
Mar 11, 1974 |
|
|
|
Reissue of: |
558820 |
Mar 17, 1975 |
03950252 |
Apr 13, 1976 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
210/281;
210/170.08; 210/286; 210/311; 210/284; 210/293; 405/36 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E03F
5/14 (20130101); C02F 3/1242 (20130101); Y02W
10/15 (20150501); C02F 3/06 (20130101); Y02W
10/10 (20150501) |
Current International
Class: |
B01D 023/16 ();
B01D 023/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;61/11,13
;210/80,153,170,264,266,275,281,284,285-286,291,293,311 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hart; Charles N.
Assistant Examiner: Cross; Ethel R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Woodling, Krost, Granger &
Rust
Parent Case Text
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 449,735 filed Mar. 11, 1974, now abandoned,
and entitled "Upflow Filter".
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An upflow filter including in combination a generally
rectangularly-shaped, cast, one-piece, concrete container having an
open top, a bottom wall and four sidewalls, said container
containing a concrete dividing wall integral with and extending
between two opposed sidewalls of said container thereby forming
first and second filtering chambers, said dividing wall having a
first and a second end portion and an intermediate portion
therebetween, said first end portion and said intermediate portion
each having a top edge portion which is at a higher vertical level
than a top edge portion of said second end portion, said dividing
wall comprising generally an L-shape in side elevational view with
said top edge of said first end portion and said intermediate
portion being on the high part of the L-shape and the top edge of
said second end portion being on the low part of the L-shape, a
vertical opening cast into said intermediate portion of said
dividing wall and extending through said intermediate portion from
said top edge portion substantially to said bottom of said
container and having first and second lateral exit portions that
communicate with the bottom of said first and second filtering
chambers, a liquid inlet, first conduit means extending along the
top edge of said first end portion of said dividing wall from said
liquid inlet to said vertical opening, a grating positioned in each
of said first and second filtering chambers and dividing each into
top and bottom portions, a filtering material on each of said
gratings for filtering liquid passing between said bottom and top
portions of each chamber, a liquid outlet, second conduit means
integrally formed on the top edge of said second end portion of
said dividing wall and defining a second passage connected to said
liquid outlet, first and second weirs formed in said second conduit
means to provide for the entrance of liquid from said first and
second chambers into said second passage and thereafter out said
liquid outlet, and a cover closing said open top of said
container.
2. A filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second passage on
said L-shape is generally trough-shaped in cross section.
3. A filter as claimed in claim 2, wherein said trough-shape of
said second passage includes a flat bottom wall and first and
second side walls which taper toward each other as they approach
said flat bottom wall to which they are attached.
4. A filter as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said gratings
are of cast concrete and comprise a one-piece integral unit.
5. A filter as claimed in claim 4, wherein a one-piece cast
concrete cover closes the open top of said container.
6. A filter apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said
gratings includes a plurality of elongated openings which are
generally V-shaped in cross.
7. An upflow filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top edge
portion of said first end portion of said dividing wall extends all
the way to the sidewall of the container to which it is
attached.
8. An upflow filter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said top edge
portion of said first end portion of said dividing wall and a
vertical extent of said dividing wall are spaced from the sidewall
to which said first end portion of said dividing wall is attached
producing a cut out portion to permit fluid flow between the top
portions of said first and second filtering chambers. .Iadd. 9. An
upflow filter including in combination a generally
rectangularly-shaped, cast, one-piece, concrete container, having
an open top, a bottom wall, and four side walls, said container
containing a concrete dividing wall integral with and extending
between two opposed side walls of said container thereby forming
first and second filtering chambers, said dividing wall having a
first and a second end portion and an intermediate portion
therebetween, said first end portion and said intermediate portion
each having a top edge portion which is at a higher vertical level
than a top edge portion of said second end portion, said dividing
wall comprising generally an L-shape in side elevational view with
said top edge of said first end portion and said intermediate
portion being on the high part of the L-shape and the top edge of
said second end portion being on the low part of the L-shape, a
vertical opening cast into said dividing wall upstream from said
second end portion and extending from said top edge portion
substantially to said bottom of said container and having first and
second lateral exit portions that communicate with the bottom of
said first and second filtering chambers, a liquid inlet
communicating with said vertical opening, a grating positioned in
each of said first and second filtering chambers and dividing each
into top and bottom portions, a filtering material on each of said
gratings for filtering liquid passing between said bottom and top
portions of each chamber, a liquid outlet, conduit means integrally
formed on the top edge of said second end portion of said dividing
wall and defining a passage connected to said liquid outlet, first
and second weirs formed in said conduit means to provide for the
entrance of liquid from said first and second chambers into said
passage and thereafter out said liquid outlet, and a cover closing
said open top of said container. .Iaddend.
Description
The filter of the present invention has been designed particularly
for use with a sewage treatment system used by the home owner where
city sewage treatment systems are not available. The filter, while
susceptible of many other uses, is used with a home system which
utilizes an aerobic bacteria system of sewage disposal, as
distinguished from an anerobic system which generates methane as
one of the by-products.
In present home aerobic systems the effluent from the plant has
been filtered through so-called sand filters and through leach
fields (or combination of the two); however, these systems do not
provide the complete clarification of the plant effluent which is
desired by many governmental agencies.
The filter of the present invention reduces the suspended solids
and BOD in the effluent from the home plant where the aerobic
bacterial decomposition of the sewage takes place. This home plant
may be of many configurations and one example would be a tank
having a first compartment which receives the household sewage
where solid material settles to the bottom and at this point
anerobic bacteria act on the solids to break them down. This
pre-treated sewage then passes to a second compartment where it is
saturated with oxygen to support the aerobic bacterial digestion
process. The treated sewage next passes to a third compartment
which functions as a settling compartment where solids settle to
the bottom and return to the second compartment and purified liquid
on the top of the third compartment exits through a discharge
line.
The present filter is quite advantageous in that it has no moving
mechanical parts, solids separated by the filter can be
conveniently returned to the home plant and the filtering media,
which never need by replaced, can be easily backwashed with water
to clean the same.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be
had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view in section of the filter of the
present invention and taken generally along the line 1--1 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 2 is an end view of the filter shown in FIG. 1 and taken
generally along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a plan view of the filter of the present invention and
taken generally along the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the concrete grating seen in FIG. 2;
FIG. 5 is a view taken generally along the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a
modification of bringing the top edge of the filter up to
grade;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 and showing another variation of
bringing the top of the filter up to grade;
FIG. 8 is a side elevational view in section, similar to FIG. 1,
showing a modification of the invention; and
FIG. 9 is a view taken generally along the line 9--9 of FIG. 8.
The upflow filter of the present invention has been indicated
generally in the drawings by the reference numeral 20 and includes
in combination a generally rectangularly-shaped reinforced cast
concrete container 22 which has an open top, a bottom wall 24 and
four sidewalls identified by the reference numerals 27, 28, 29 and
30. The container comprises a concrete central dividing wall 33
which extends between the two opposed sidewalls 27 and 29 and thus
forms first and second filtering chambers 37 and 38. The dividing
wall 33 has first and second end portions 41 and 42, respectively,
and an intermediate portion 43 located therebetween. The dividing
wall 33 as seen in the view of FIG. 1 presents a generally L-shaped
configuration which has a top edge on the high part of the L-shape
and which has a top edge on the low part of the L-shape. In other
words, the first end portion 41 and the intermediate portion 43 of
the dividing wall has a top edge portion which is at a higher
vertical level than the top edge portion of the second end portion
42.
These top edges of 41 and 43 have been identified by the reference
numeral 46 and the top edge of 42 has been identified by the
reference numeral 48.
A vertical opening 51 is cast into the dividing wall and extends
through the intermediate portion 43 from the top edge 46 toward the
bottom of the container 22 and at the bottom of the vertical
opening 51 there are provided first and second lateral exit
portions 58 and 59 from the opening which communicate with the
bottom of the first and second filtering chambers 37 and 38,
respectively. A liquid inlet 63 is provided in the container 22 and
serves to connect the outlet of a home effluent plant 67 to the
filter 20. First liquid conduit means 66 are provided on the top
edge 46 of the first end portion 41 of the dividing wall 33 and as
will be seen from the drawings this conduit means is in the shape
of a trough or a U-shaped configuration and provides for the
passage of fluid from the inlet 63 to the vertical opening 51. A
notch 68 or cutout portion is provided in the conduit 66 for a
purpose which will be described in more detail hereinafter. A cast
concrete grating 69 is positioned in each of the first and second
filtering chambers 37 and 38 and is best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Each of the gratings comprises a generally rectangularly-shaped
member in plan view with planar sides and comprises a plurality of
openings or slots 71 which extend therethrough which openings, as
seen in the sectional view of FIG. 5, are generally tapered in
their shape. Reinforcing material such as metal members are
embedded in the grating 69 and in FIG. 4 the general alignment and
positioning of the reinforcing in indicated by the dot-dash lines
165. These gratings at their peripheral edges rest upon a shoulder
70 which extends completely around each of the chambers 37 and 38.
The concrete gratings 69 serve to divide each of the chambers 37
and 38 into a top portion 74 and a bottom portion 75. A layer of
filtering material is positioned on the entire upper surface of
each of the gratings 69 and the filtering media comprises smooth
gravel 77 having a preferred diameter of from one-quarter inch to
three-eighths inch.
A liquid outlet 83 is provided in the container 22 opposite the
inlet 63 and at a lower vertical level than the inlet. Second
liquid conduit means 81 are provided on the top edge 42 of the
second end portion 42 to provide for the exit of filtered liquid
from the top portion 74 of the chambers 37 and 38. The conduit 81
is shaped essentially as the conduit 66 and is generally
channel-shaped or U-shaped in cross-sectional configuration and
includes weirs 86 and 87. It will be noted that the container 22
and the dividing wall as well as the complete first and second
liquid conduit means are cast as an integral one-piece reinforced
concrete unit.
A cast concrete cover 90 serves to close the top of the container
and an access riser 92 also comprising a one-piece cast concrete
unit provides access to grade level and this riser is closed by a
riser cover 94.
The operation of the filter is essentially as follows. Liquid
leaving the home plant 67 enters the inlet 63 of the filter and
travels in the conduit 66 to the opening 51 and enters the bottom
portion 75 of each of the filtering chambers 37 and 38. From this
position it travels up through the filtering media 77 where solids
are filtered out and remain in the bottom portion 75 of the
filtering chambers. As the liquid flows up through the concrete
grating, bacteria attaches to the stones making the stones, in
effect, a biological filter which then serves to filter out and
adsorb smaller solids. The effluent from the home plant is
maintained at a high level of dissolved oxygen in order to keep the
filter 20 aerobic with carbon dioxide as the main by-product
thereby resulting in few or no odors. The filtered liquid which
passes to the top portion 74 of each of the filtering chambers then
exits the filter by overflowing the weirs 86 and 87 into the
conduit 81 and exit of the fluid from the filter is provided
through outlet 83. A chlorination system can be provided in the
conduit 81 if desired to properly and appropriately chlorinate the
liquid leaving the filter.
It is necessary at appropriate intervals to clean the filter of the
present invention and one of the advantages of the present
invention is the ease with which this may be done and also the fact
that the filter has a built-in cleaning indicator. As the filtering
media begins to clog or become occluded with solids which have been
removed from the liquid being filtered, a pressure head of liquid
backs up the vertical opening 51. When a given head has developed
in the filter as a result of clogging of the filtering media, the
liquid in conduit 66 overflows the notch 68 traveling directly into
the top portion 74 of the filtering chambers 37 and 38. This
signals the necessity of cleaning the filter. As a matter of
example only, this may occur under normal usage conditions at
approximate six-month intervals.
In order to properly clean the filter, all that need be done is to
remove the riser cover 94 as seen in FIG. 1 and insert a hose down
through the vertical opening 51 into the bottom portion 75 of the
filtering chambers 37 and 38. The filtered solids which have
collected at this point are withdrawn and discharged back into the
home plant where they are again treated. At the same time fresh
water is passed vertically down through the filtering media from
the top portion 74 so as to wash the solids from the filtering
media which have collected through use.
FIG. 6 illustrates how the top of the filter is brought up to grade
when for one reason or another it is located too far below grade
level to simply use the riser 92 which is shown in FIG. 1. In this
particular instance an extension riser 97 is located between the
top of the container 22 in order to reach grade level properly. It
will be quite apparent that if necessary a plurality of extension
risers 97 might be utilized. FIG. 7 is quite similar to FIG. 6 in
that an extension riser 97 is utilized; however, in this particular
embodiment a grating cover 100 is utilized with a grating 101.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of the invention shown in
FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The same reference numerals have been used in the
modified form of the invention where the structure is substantially
the same as in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 and new reference numerals have
been used where the structure has been changed.
In this embodiment the major change is in the structure of the
dividing wall which has here been identified by reference numeral
133. This wall results in a cut out or void 134 which permits
passage of filtered liquid between the upper portions of filtering
chambers 37 and 38. This change in structure results in a
shortening of the conduit means 166 over that shown in FIG. 1 and a
lengthening of the inlet 163 as shown. This change in structure,
also, shortens the first end portion of the wall which is at the
same level as inlet 163 so the first end portion is identified by
numeral 141. The lower portion of the first end portion of the wall
is, however, of the same length as in FIG. 1. The by-pass notch 168
has been shifted to a position in line with the vertical opening
51.
This modification is designed to function in essentially the same
manner as that shown in FIGS. 1 through 3; however, it is capable
of functioning even though the container or tank 22 is not set
perfectly level in the ground. It is possible that the tank of FIG.
1 might be tipped to such a degree that the liquid level in
chambers 37 or 38 might be lower than weirs 86 or 87 which results
in liquid being filtered by only one-half of the tank. In the
structure of FIGS. 8 and 9 both sides of the tank function at all
times even if the tank is not installed level because filtered
liquid can pass to either side of the tank through the cut out
134.
Although this invention has been described in its preferred form
and preferred practice with a certain degree of particularity, it
is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form and
preferred practice has been made only by way of example and that
numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination
and arrangement of parts and steps may be restored to without
departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as
hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *