Water filter abstract
The present invention is a waste water filter for use in a septic
tank. The waste water filter includes a shield comprising a vertical
peripheral wall substantially impervious to the passage of unfiltered
waste water. The shield includes an opening for the entry of unfiltered
waste water into the interior of the shield. A filter element is
disposed substantially within the shield interior. The filter element
includes a filter surface having filtering openings for restricting
the passage of waste water solids of a size larger than the filtering
openings, while allowing the passage relatively clear water. A reservoir
within which filtered waste water may be temporarily maintained
is disposed at least partially within the interior of the shield.
The reservoir includes at least a first vertical peripheral wall
defining a chamber. The filter element may be removed from the shield
without the separation of the reservoir from the shield.
Water filter claims
I claim:
1. A septic tank waste water filter for use in a septic tank comprising:
a shield comprising a vertical peripheral wall substantially impervious
to the passage of unfiltered waste water; the shield further having
a top and a bottom; the shield including an opening for the entry
of unfiltered waste water into the interior of the shield; a filter
element disposed substantially within the shield interior; the filter
element including a filter surface having filtering openings for
restricting the passage of waste water solids of a size larger than
the filtering openings; while allowing the passage relatively clear
water; the filter element further separating a first unfiltered
zone within the interior of the shield from a second filtered zone
within the shield interior; a reservoir including at least a first
vertical peripheral wall defining a chamber within which filtered
waste water may be temporarily maintained; the reservoir in fluid
communication with the second zone; and, wherein the reservoir is
disposed at least partially within the interior of the shield; and,
means to secure the reservoir to the shield, wherein the first vertical
peripheral wall of the reservoir extends through the bottom of the
shield; and means to secure the filter element within the shield;
wherein the filter element may be removed from the shield without
the separation of the reservoir from the shield.
2. The waste water filter of claim 1 wherein the means to secure
the filter element within the shield comprises a connection between
the filter element and the reservoir; and wherein the means to secure
the filter element within the shield includes means to restrict
the passage of waste water solids.
3. The waste water filter of claim 2 wherein the connection is
a frictional fit between the filter element and the reservoir.
4. The waste water filter of claim 3 wherein the connection includes
a seal of deformable material.
5. The waste water filter of claim 2 wherein the connection is
disposed between the bottom of the filter element and a portion
of the reservoir.
6. The waste water filter of claim 1 wherein the means to secure
the filter element within the shield comprises a connection between
the filter element and the shield.
7. The waste water filter of claim 6 wherein the connection includes
a seal of deformable material.
8. The waste water filter of claim 1 wherein the reservoir includes
a pump inducer chamber comprising an elongated vertical peripheral
wall within which a pump may be disposed.
9. The waste water filter of claim 8 wherein the pump inducer
chamber is disposed at least partially within the interior of the
shield.
10. The waste water filter of claim 8 wherein the pump inducer
chamber is disposed at least partially outside the vertical peripheral
wall of the shield.
11. In combination a septic tank and a waste water filter for use
in the septic tank, the waste water filter comprising: a shield
comprising a vertical peripheral wall substantially impervious to
the passage of unfiltered waste water; the shield further having
a top and a bottom; the shield bottom including an opening for the
entry of unfiltered waste water into the interior of the shield;
a filter element disposed substantially within the shield interior;
the filter element including a filter surface having filtering openings
for restricting the passage of waste water solids of a size larger
than the filtering openings; while allowing the passage relatively
clear water; the filter element further separating a first unfiltered
zone within the interior of the shield from a second filtered zone
within the shield interior; a reservoir including at least a first
vertical peripheral wall defining a chamber within which filtered
waste water may be temporarily maintained; the reservoir in fluid
communication with the second zone; and, wherein the reservoir is
disposed at least partially within the interior of the shield; and,
means to secure the reservoir to the shield, wherein the first vertical
peripheral wall of the reservoir extends through the bottom of the
shield; and means to secure the filter element within the shield;
wherein the filter element may be removed from the shield without
the separation of the reservoir from the shield.
Water filter description
BACKGROUND
Septic tank waste water filters require maintenance cleaning periodically.
The periodic cleaning involves the removal of the filter from the
septic tank in which the filter is used. For most waste water filter
designs, the removal process is difficult as many gallons of waste
water are held within the filter, and the filter in addition to
the waste water must be lifted from the septic tank. As a result,
the lifting of the filter from the tank requires two or more persons.
This greatly increases the labor requirements for a cleaning procedure
that would otherwise be performed by a single person. The lifting
of a heavy, unwieldy filter full of waste water is possibly injurious
to the maintenance personnel who are responsible for this task,
Other risks associated with the removal of waste water filters
of this type is the risk of disease associated with contacting the
waste water. If the filter includes waste water which will also
be removed from the tank, the risks of contact with waste water,
for those who will perform the maintenance cleaning procedures,
greatly increase. Even if substantial precautions are undertaken
to avoid contact with the waste water, the removal of waste water
creates a very unpleasant situation for the maintenance personnel
due to the smells produced by the waste water.
Many waste water filters further complicate the task of filter
maintenance by requiring the removal of any discharge or pumping
apparatus that may be disposed within the filter before the filter
can be removed from the septic tank. In particular, the discharge
pipe attached to a pump or dosing siphon would first have to be
disassembled from the pump or dosing siphon. Thereafter, the pump
or dosing siphon, along with the discharge pipe would need to be
removed from the filter. After the filter maintenance is performed,
the pump or dosing siphon, and the discharge pipe would need to
be reinstalled within the filter. Here again, the labor costs associated
with performing the cleaning maintenance are greatly increased due
to this extra work. For these reasons, there is a need for a waste
water filter that eliminates the need for removing the entire filter
from the septic tank for simple filter element cleaning. There is
a further need for a waste water filter that eliminates the need
to disassemble and remove the pump and discharge pipe attached to
the pump, so that simple maintenance cleaning can be performed on
the filter element.
SUMMARY
The present invention is a waste water filter for use in a septic
tank. The waste water filter includes a shield comprising a vertical
peripheral wall substantially impervious to the passage of unfiltered
waste water. The shield further includes a top and a bottom. The
shield bottom includes an opening for the entry of unfiltered waste
water into the interior of the shield. A filter element is disposed
substantially within the shield interior. The filter element includes
a filter surface having filtering openings for restricting the passage
of waste water solids of a size larger than the filtering openings,
while allowing the passage of relatively clear water. The filter
element further separates a first unfiltered zone within the interior
of the shield from a second filtered zone within the shield interior.
A reservoir within which filtered waste water may be temporarily
maintained is disposed at least partially within the interior of
the shield. The reservoir includes at least a first vertical peripheral
wall defining a chamber which is in fluid communication with the
second zone. The waste water filter further includes means to secure
the reservoir to the shield, and means to secure the filter element
within the shield. The filter element may be removed from the shield
without the separation of the reservoir from the shield.
The first vertical peripheral wall of the reservoir may extend
through the bottom of the shield. The means to secure the filter
element within the shield may comprise a connection between the
filter element and the reservoir. The means to secure the filter
element within the shield includes means to restrict the passage
of waste water solids. This connection is a typically a frictional
fit between the filter element and the reservoir created through
the use of a seal of deformable material. The connection is typically
disposed between the bottom of the filter element and a portion
of the reservoir. However, the means to secure the filter element
within the shield may also comprise a connection between the filter
element and the shield. Typically, this connection is also a frictional
fit between the filter element and the shield created through the
use of a seal of deformable material.
The reservoir may include a pump inducer chamber comprising an
elongated vertical peripheral wall within which a pump may be disposed.
The pump inducer chamber may be disposed at least partially within
the interior of the shield, or the pump inducer chamber may be disposed
at least partially outside the vertical peripheral wall of the shield.
The waste water filter of the present invention provides benefits
which have not previously been available. A first benefit of the
invention is derived from the independent manner that the filter
element and the reservoir are disposed within the shield. By independently
securing the reservoir within the shield, the filter element may
be independently removed from the shield for cleaning. This ensures
that cleaning of the filter surfaces of the filter element will
not be avoided because of the inability or unwillingness of service
personnel to lift the reservoir out of the septic tank. The lifting
of the reservoir out of the septic tank is undesirable as many gallons
of waste water are disposed within the reservoir. It is also undesirable
to remove any waste water from within the reservoir from the septic
tank. This is due to the known health risks associated with contact
with waste water. Although the present invention does not ensure
against contact with waste water by service personnel, the present
invention clearly minimizes the likelihood of any such contact.
The manner in which the reservoir of the present invention is secured
within the shield also allows a variety of filter element configurations
to be used within the shield. The manner in which the reservoir
of the present invention is secured within the shield is also configured
so that disassembly of the reservoir from the shield is easily achieved.
The filter element may be disposed such that the top and bottom
of the filter element may not move toward each other within the
shield. This configuration of the filter element ensures that collapse
of the filter element is not possible.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become
apparent upon inspection of the accompanying specification, claims,
and drawings.
DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a cross sectional side view of a first version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 1B is a bottom view of the waste water filter of FIG. 1A.
FIG. 1C shows the waste water filter of FIG. 1A disposed in a septic
tank.
FIG. 2A is a cross sectional side view of a second version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 2B is a bottom view of the waste water filter of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 3 is a cross sectional side view of a third version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a cross sectional side view of a fourth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a cross sectional side view of a fifth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a cross sectional side view of a sixth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a cross sectional side view of a seventh version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a cross sectional side view of a eighth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a cross sectional side view of a ninth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 10A is a cross sectional side view of a tenth version of the
waste water filter of the present invention.
FIG. 10B is a cross sectional top view of the bottom waste water
filter of FIG. 10A.
FIG. 11 shows a modified version of FIG. 1 where the filters includes
an outlet fitting onto which a discharge pipe would be attached
for gravity flow discharge.
DESCRIPTION
FIG. 1A shows a first version of the waste water filter 100 of
the present invention. The waste water filter 100 includes a shield
102 comprising a vertical peripheral wall which may be of a variety
of cross sectional shapes. In this version, the vertical peripheral
wall is cylindrical. The shield vertical peripheral wall includes
a top 104 and a bottom 106.
A filter element 120 includes a filter surface 124 which in this
version is a plastic screen material in the form of a cylinder.
The filter surface includes openings through which relatively clear
waste water may pass while restricting the passage of waste water
solids larger than the openings. The filter element 120 further
includes a top seal 126 which rests on the top of a support surface
110 disposed on the inside surface of the shield, and a bottom seal
128 which attaches the filter surface 124 to a filter element bottom
130.
The bottom 130 includes a horizontal plate 132 and a vertical
wall 134 extending downwardly from the horizontal plate 132. The
vertical wall includes a series of openings (which are not shown
in this figure). The openings are aligned with openings (also not
shown) which extend through the bottom of the vertical peripheral
wall of the shield. An elongated element 140 is shown which passes
through two pairs of aligned openings. A similar elongated element
passes though each pair of aligned openings. The bottom 130 is temporarily
detachably secured to the shield bottom by the elongated elements.
The shield 102 in this version has a bottom opening within which
the filter element bottom 130 is disposed. In this version, the
entire bottom of the shield is open. Unfiltered waste water enters
the interior of the shield through an annular opening 150 which
extends around the periphery of the shield interior. The annular
opening 150 allows unfiltered waste water to pass into a shield
first interior zone 152 which is defined by the area between the
filter surface 124 and the interior surface of the shield 102. The
unfiltered waste water may pass through the openings within the
filter surface into a shield interior second zone 154. Waste water
solids larger than the openings within the filter surface are restricted
from passing through the filter surface.
Unfiltered waste water in the shield interior first zone 152 is
further restricted passage into the second zone 154 by the top seal
126 which may or may not be deformable. Filtered waste water in
the second zone is discharged from the filter by a suitable outlet
(not shown).
The top and bottom of the filter element are disposed within the
shield in such a manner to minimize the possibility of filter surface
collapse. This non collapsing property is provided by a configuration
where the top and bottom of the filter element cannot move toward
each other. Specifically, the top seal 126 of the filter element
is supported by the support surface 110 and the bottom of the filter
element is secured to the shield by elongate elements 140.
FIG. 1B shows a bottom view of the filter 100 of FIG. 1A. Elongate
elements 140 and 142 are shown passing through two pairs of aligned
openings. Specifically, elongate element 140 first passes through
a first pair of openings comprising a first opening 160 in the shield,
and a first opening 170 in the filter element bottom. The elongate
element 140 then passes through a second opening 172 in the filter
element bottom, and a second opening 162 in the shield. Similarly,
elongate element 142 passes through openings 164 174 and 176 166.
The openings are sized so that the elongate elements frictionally
engage the openings so as to ensure that the elongate elements will
remain in position. This frictional fit also ensures that waste
water solids of a size larger than the openings within the filter
surface cannot pass through any gaps which separate the elongate
elements from the openings. Glues, sealants, and mechanical fasteners
can also be used for securing the elongate elements. The use of
glues, sealants, and mechanical fasteners can be in addition to
the frictional fit or instead of the frictional fit, if desired.
FIG. 1C shows the waste water filter of FIGS. 1A and 1B in a typical
arrangement within a septic tank 8. The septic tank includes three
fairly distinct layers of waste water including a top scum layer
10 a middle clear zone 20 and a bottom sludge layer 30. The shield
top 104 extends above the scum layer into an access opening 42 within
the top of the septic tank 8. A bar support 43 is used to suspend
the filter in the septic tank. A riser 44 and lid 46 cover the top
opening of the septic tank.
Unfiltered waste water within the clear zone 20 enters through
the bottom opening of the shield 150 into the first shield interior
zone 152. This unfiltered waste water passes through the filtering
openings within the filter surface 124 of the filter element into
the second shield interior zone 154.
Relatively clear, filtered waste water which has entered into the
second shield interior zone is discharged from the septic tank by
a centrifugal pump 50. The centrifugal pump 50 comprises one of
many types of incremental discharge devices which may be used in
conjunction with the invention. A discharge pipe 52 extends upwardly
from the pump and is used to discharge filtered waste to a downstream
drain field, leach field, or sand filter. Float switches 60 62
and 64 which respond to water levels in the tank are used to operate
the pump.
FIGS. 2A and 2B show a version of the Waste water filter 200 which
is slightly modified from the first version shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B,
and 1C. In this version the filter element 220 includes a filter
surface 224 attached to a top seal 226 and to a filter element bottom
230. The top seal 226 rests on a support surface 210 disposed on
the shield 202. The filter element bottom 230 as shown in FIGS.
2A and 2B, includes a pair of downwardly extending lugs 231 and
233. The downwardly extending lugs 231 and 233 each include an opening
there through. The openings within the lugs are aligned. An elongate
element 240 extends through the aligned openings as well as aligned
openings 203 and 205 within the shield. The bottom is sized so as
to leave an annular opening 250 within the open bottom of the shield
through which unfiltered waste water may enter into the shield interior.
FIG. 3 shows another version of the waste water filter 300. In
this version, the filter element bottom 330 is configured so that
the horizontal plate 332 is disposed on the bottom of the vertical
wall 334. The bottom 330 is otherwise identical to that shown in
FIG. 1A. An elongate element 340 secures the filter element bottom
330 in the same manner as was previously described.
FIG. 3 also shows the omission of a support surface on which the
top seal 326 would rest. However, a frictional fit between seal
326 and the shield restricts the movement of the seal relative to
the shield. Thus the frictional fit minimizes the possibility of
the filter surface collapsing. In this way, the frictional fit results
in the shield supporting the top of the filter element. Accordingly,
in situations where the filter surface 324 has sufficient rigidity
to not collapse under pressure, the top support can be eliminated.
Structural elements 327 and 329 are used in this version to assist
the strength of the filter element to minimize the likelihood of
collapse.
FIG. 4 is a version of the waste water filter 400 which is similar
to that shown in FIG. 3. However, in this version, the vertical
wall of the filter element bottom is lengthened by being extended
downwardly. The horizontal plate 432 is substantially beneath the
bottom of the shield. By extending the length of the vertical wall
434 the filter element bottom becomes a reservoir chamber in which
filtered waste water is maintained. The reservoir essentially enlarges
the second shield interior zone of the waste water filter. The reservoir
may also be used as a pump vault. The annular bottom opening 450
is not affected by the increased length of the filter element bottom.
FIG. 4 also shows a tapered top 435 disposed on the vertical wall
434. In this configuration, a seal 428 is shown disposed on the
bottom of the filter element 420. This seal forms a temporary, detachable
securement with the top of the vertical wall 434 through the use
of a frictional fit. The seal 428 slides over the tapered top 435
allowing the filter element to be easily installed onto the reservoir.
This feature is important should the filter element 420 be removed
from the filter 400 while the reservoir remains in place secured
to the shield. This feature allows the filter element 420 to be
removed for cleaning and easily reinstalled within the shield.
In versions of the invention such as FIG. 4 where the filter surface
is detachably secured to the reservoir, and where the reservoir
is secured to the shield, the reservoir may be considered a structural
entity independent of the filter element. Accordingly, in these
versions the expression "filter element" would describe
the filter surface and any seals attached thereto.
FIG. 5 shows another version of the waste water filter 500 of the
present invention. In this version, a pump inducer 536 comprising
a vertical peripheral wall having an open bottom is disposed within
the filter element interior. The pump inducer is shown attached
to the vertical wall 534 of the reservoir. A jet pump 590 is disposed
within the pump inducer. The top of the pump inducer is open to
allow a discharge pipe 592 to exit out the inducer. Filtered waste
water within the reservoir is drawn upward into the pump inducer
by a suction created by the jet pump.
Should the filter surface 524 require cleaning, the filter element
520 including the filter surface 524 can be removed by lifting the
filter element upward. The pump will not need to be removed from
the pump inducer for this simple procedure. However, a discharge
pipe attached to the pump would need to be disassembled from the
pump. The reservoir would not need to be detached from the shield
for this procedure.
FIG. 6 shows a version of the waste water filter 600 which is a
modified version of the waste water filter of FIG. 4. In this version,
a pump inducer 636 is disposed outside the shield 602. A fitting
637 is used to connect the interior of the reservoir to the interior
of the pump inducer 636. Filtered waste water within the reservoir
is transferred to the pump inducer through the fitting 637. The
removal and reinstallation of the of the filter element 620 is further
simplified by this design.
FIG. 7 shows a version of the waste water filter 700 including
a modified reservoir. The vertical peripheral wall 734 of the reservoir
is of a smaller diameter than that shown in FIG. 6. The seal 728
is sized to accommodate the smaller diameter vertical peripheral
wall. The reservoir includes a bottom plate 732 and an upper filter
surface 738 which extends upwardly from the vertical wall 734. This
filter surface 738 provides benefits while the filter surface 724
is removed for cleaning maintenance. Specifically, the upper filter
surface provides protection for the outlet by preventing unfiltered
waste water solids which have entered into the shield second zone,
after filter element 720 removal, from being discharged. Alternatively,
the filter surface 738 may include filter openings of a smaller
size than those of the filter surface 724. This would provide a
two stage filtering of waste water by the filter 700 when both filter
surfaces are in place.
FIG. 8 shows another version of the waste water filter 800. In
this version, the vertical peripheral wall 834 of the reservoir
extends upwardly toward the top of the shield 802. The vertical
wall includes modulating orifices 839 which modulate the flow of
filtered waste water from the shield second interior zone 854 into
the reservoir, and thus into the pump inducer 836. In this version,
the filter element 820 may use the elongate elements such as are
shown at 840 as a support surface which would limit the extent to
which a filter element could extend downwardly into the shield during
reinstallation. The elongate element 840 is used to secure the reservoir
to the shield.
FIG. 9 shows another version of the invention 900. In this version,
the filter element 920 includes a first filter surface 924 and a
second filter surface 925 disposed outside the first filter surface.
Both filter surfaces comprise vertical peripheral walls. The bottoms
of the first and second filter surfaces are attached by an annular
plate 929. A first annular seal 926 is attached to the top of the
first filter surface 924. This annular seal forms a seal with the
outer surface of the reservoir vertical wall 934. A second annular
seal 927 is attached to the top of the second filter surface 925.
Seal 927 forms a seal with the inside surface of the shield 902.
Annular seals 926 and 927 are used to frictionally engage the inside
surface of the shield and the outside surface of the reservoir vertical
wall. This frictional engagement provides the means through which
the filter element is secured within the shield.
Unfiltered waste water enters into a shield interior first zone
through the bottom opening 950. The shield interior first zone includes
a first area 951 inside the first filter surface 924 and a second
area 952 outside the second filter surface 925. Unfiltered waste
water in the area 951 must pass through first filter surface 924.
Unfiltered waste water in area 952 must pass through second filter
surface 925. Filtered waste water which has passed through either
of the filter surfaces is maintained in the area between the two
filter surfaces 953. Area 953 is part of the second shield interior
zone within which filtered waste water is maintained. The filtered
waste water in the second shield interior zone passes into the reservoir
through the open top of the vertical peripheral wall 934 of the
reservoir. The filtered waste water is discharged from the reservoir
via a pump (not shown) disposed within the pump inducer 936.
FIGS. 10A and 10B show another version of the waste water filter
1000 of the present invention. This version includes a filter element
1020 having a series of tubular filter enclosures as are shown at
1024 and 1025. Each tubular filter enclosure includes a bottom plate
as is shown at 1026 and 1027. An annular seal ring 1028 forms a
seal with the outer surface of the vertical wall 1034 of the reservoir,
and also with the inner surface of the shield 1002. Within the annular
seal ring 1028 are openings associated with each tubular filter
enclosure, as is shown at 1029 and 1030.
Unfiltered waste water enters into the shield interior first zone
1052 through the bottom opening 1050 of the shield. This unfiltered
waste water can pass into the shield interior second zone by passing
through the filter surface of any of the tubular filter enclosures.
This filtered waste water is discharged from the filter in the same
manner as was previously described.
FIG. 10B shows is a view showing the relative positions of the
tubular filter enclosures of this version. Obviously, other positions
of the filter enclosures are possible.
The waste water filter versions of FIGS. 9 and 10 include the same
benefits of the earlier described versions. In particular, benefits
are derived from the attachment of the reservoir to the shield,
and from the easy removal of the filter element from the shield.
The filter element again is removed from the shield by merely lifting
up on the element. The reservoir remains in place during this process.
The filter element is also easily reinstalled within the shield
and typically forms a seal with the shield and the reservoir.
FIG. 11 shows a modified version of FIG. 1 where the filter includes
an outlet fitting onto which a discharge pipe would be attached
for gravity flow discharge.
Different versions of the invention have been shown in FIGS. 1
to 11. It is understood that features of each version are fully
transferrable to other versions. Although only the first version
has been shown disposed in a septic tank, it is understood that
all versions of the invention would be similarly used within a septic
tank. It is also understood that modifications to each version are
also possible. Such modifications include the use of cross sectional
shaped other than circular for the various vertical peripheral walls
used in the filters. Although each version has been shown with a
filter surface created from a screen material it is understood that
many different filter surfaces are also possible. Such filter surfaces
include molded plastic assemblies having slotted or perforated openings
of the desired size.
The filter has been shown with a shield having a bottom opening
though which unfiltered waste water enters into the filter interior.
This bottom opening could be replaced with a series of filtering
orifices which would provide a pre-filtering property to the shield.
The structure used to secure the reservoir to the shield has been
shown as an elongate element passing through aligned holes. It is
understood that other structures such as properly sized spacers
could be used for this purpose. Additionally, the reservoir and
shield could be molded together in a single homogenous assembly.
Other incremental discharge devices such as dosing siphons could,
of course, be used in place of pumps. Deformable or non-deformable
seals may be used in each version of the invention.
Although preferred versions of the invention have been shown and
described in FIGS. 1 to 10 it is understood that various other modifications
and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing
from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that
the invention be not limited to the exact form and detail herein
shown and described, nor to anything less than the whole of the
invention herein disclosed and as hereinafter claimed. |