APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING A SEPTIC TANK INTO AN AEROBIC TREATMENT SYSTEM AND A WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM EMPLOYING SUCH APPARATUS

Abstract

An apparatus for converting the septic tank into an aerobic treatment system has a clarifier with a collapsible wall which allows the clarifier to fold in order to pass through the opening of the septic tank and to unfold upon entry into the septic tank, an aerator having a size suitable for passing through the opening of the septic tank in position between the wall of the clarifier and a wall of the septic tank, and an air pump connected to the aerator so as to pass air to the aerator. The clarifier has an opening at a bottom thereof having a diameter no greater than a diameter of the top of the clarifier. The effluent outlet pipe is received in an aperture formed in a wall of the clarifier.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting a septic tank into an aerobic treatment system for treating liquor containing biodegradable waste, the septic tank having an opening at a top thereof, the septic tank having a wastewater inlet pipe and an effluent outlet pipe, the apparatus comprising: a clarifier having a collapsible or flexible wall which allows said clarifier to fold or compress in order to pass through the opening of the septic tank and to unfold upon entry into the septic tank, said clarifier having an opening at a top thereof and an opening at a bottom thereof, said opening at the bottom having a diameter no greater than a diameter at the opening at the top of said clarifier; an aerator having a size suitable for passing through the opening of the septic tank, said aerator adapted to be positioned between the wall of said clarifier and a wall of the septic tank; and an air pump connected to said aerator so as to pass air to said aerator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, said clarifier having an aperture formed in the wall thereof, said aperture receiving the effluent outlet pipe therein such that the effluent outlet pipe opens to an interior of said clarifier.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the wall of said clarifier being spaced from an end of said wastewater inlet pipe.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the liquor in the septic tank having a top surface, said clarifier positionable such that the top of said clarifier resides above the top surface of the liquor, the bottom of the clarifier being positionable below the top surface of the liquor.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, said clarifier having at least one float connected thereto, the float causing the clarifier to float in the liquor within the septic tank.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, said at least one float comprising a plurality of floats arranged in spaced relationship around said clarifier.

7. The present claim 5, the float being affixed to the wall of said clarifier such that a portion of the float is exposed at an inner wall of said clarifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said clarifier having a truncated conical configuration.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, said aerator comprising: a ceramic diffuser; a tube connected to said ceramic diffuser and to said air pump; and an anchor connected to said ceramic diffuser.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said tube being flexible so as to extend through the opening of the septic tank, said air pump positioned exterior of the septic tank away from said clarifier.

11. A wastewater treatment system comprising: a septic tank having an opening at the top thereof, said septic tank having an interior volume surrounded by a wall, said septic tank having a wastewater inlet pipe and an effluent outlet pipe; a clarifier having a compressible or flexible wall which allows said clarifier to fold or compress to pass through the opening of said septic tank and to unfold or decompress upon entry into said septic tank, said clarifier having an opening at the top thereof and an opening at a bottom thereof, said opening at the bottom having a diameter no greater than a diameter of the opening at the top of said clarifier; an aerator having a size suitable for passing through the opening of said septic tank, said aerator adaptable to be positioned between the wall of said clarifier and the wall of said septic tank; and an air pump connected to said aerator so as to pass air to said aerator.

12. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, said clarifier having an aperture formed in the wall thereof, said aperture receiving the effluent outlet pipe therein such that the effluent outlet pipe opens to an interior of said clarifier.

13. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, the wall of said clarifier being spaced from an end of said wastewater inlet pipe.

14. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, said septic tank having a liquor therein, the liquor having a top surface within said septic tank, said clarifier positioned such that the top of said clarifier resides above the top surface of the liquor, the bottom of said clarifier being positioned below the top surface of the liquor.

15. The wastewater treatment system of claim 14, said clarifier having at least one float connected thereto, the float causing said clarifier to float in the liquor of said septic tank.

16. The wastewater treatment system of claim 15, said at least one float comprising a plurality of floats arranged in spaced relationship around said clarifier.

17. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, said clarifier having a truncated conical configuration.

18. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, said aerator comprising: a ceramic diffuser; a tube connected to said ceramic diffuser and to said air pump; and an anchor connected to said ceramic diffuser.

19. The wastewater treatment system of claim 18, said tubing being flexible so as to extend through said opening of said septic tank, said air pump positioned exterior of said septic tank away from said clarifier.

20. The wastewater treatment system of claim 11, said septic tank having a bottom, said aerator positioned at the bottom of said septic tank, the bottom of said clarifier being spaced above the bottom of said septic tank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing the wastewater treatment system of the present invention.

[0037] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view showing the interior of the wastewater treatment system of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a transparent top view of the wastewater treatment system of the present invention.

[0039] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the foldable or compressible clarifier as used in the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the foldable or compressible clarifier as used in the system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0041] Referring to FIG. 1, there shown the wastewater treatment system 10 in accordance with teachings of the present invention. The wastewater treatment system 10 includes a septic tank 12 having an opening 14 at the top wall 16 thereof. The septic tank 12 has a wastewater inlet pipe 18 and an effluent outlet pipe 20. Wastewater inlet pipe 18 extends through a sidewall 22 of the septic tank 12. The effluent outlet pipe 20 extends through another wall 24 as indicated by the arrows, the wastewater will enter the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12 through the wastewater inlet pipe 18.

[0042] In FIG. 1, it can be seen that there is an aerator 28 positioned within the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12. Aerator 28 includes a porous ceramic a diffuser 29 having a tube 32 connected thereto. An anchor 30 is connected to a bottom of diffuser 29. Anchor 30 will reside at the bottom 34 of the septic tank 12. The tube 32 will extend from the diffuser 29 upwardly through the septic tank 12 and ultimately outwardly through the opening 14 of the septic tank. An air pump 36 is positioned exterior of the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12. The tube 32 is connected to the air pump 36. Air pump 36 can be connected to a suitable supply of electricity and operated so as to pump air through the tube 32 and ultimately to the diffuser 29.

[0043] A clarifier 40 having collapsible walls is placed in the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12. Importantly, since the clarifier 40 has foldable or compressible walls, the clarifier 40 can be passed through the opening 14 at the top 16 of the septic tank 12. Once the folded clarifier 40 has been passed into the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12 in an area below the top 16, the clarifier 40 is unfolded so as to return to its original configuration. The clarifier 40 has an opening at a top 42 thereof and an opening at a bottom 44 thereof. The diameter of the opening at the bottom 44 should be no greater than the diameter of the opening at the top 42. As such, as shown in FIG. 1, the clarifier 40 has a truncated conical shape. However, experiments conducted with the present invention have indicated that the clarifier 40 will work properly if the sidewalls of the clarifier form a cylindrical shape rather than a tapered truncated conical shape. This is a surprising result since clarifiers of the prior art have all had a truncated conical configuration.

[0044] The walls of the clarifier 40 can be made foldable or compressible by being formed of a relatively thin polymeric material. Alternatively, the various sections of the clarifier 40 can be hinged together so as to allow the walls to fold one upon the other. Still in other circumstances, the clarifier 40 is flexible enough to be simply squeezed or compressed so as to fit through the opening 14.

[0045] The clarifier 40 has an aperture 45 formed on a wall thereof. The effluent outlet pipe 20 will extend through this aperture 45 and into the interior volume 46 of the clarifier 40. As such, the end 48 of the effluent outlet pipe 20 will reside within the clarifier 40. A plurality of floats 50 are affixed to the wall of the clarifier 40 so as to cause the clarifier 42 to float at the top surface 52 of the liquor within the septic tank 12. The top 42 of the clarifier 40 will be located above this top surface 52. The bottom 44 of the clarifier 40 is located below this top surface 52.

[0046] The clarifier 40 creates a clarifying or settling chamber within the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12. The aerator 28, along with the air pump 36, serve to create an aeration compartment within the septic tank 12.

[0047] This aeration compartment within the interior of the septic tank 12 receives the raw wastewater by way of the wastewater inlet 18. It is in this aeration compartment that the raw wastewater is mixed with the activated sludge and is aerated by way of the aerator 28. As the raw wastewater is mixed with oxygen in this aeration compartment, the aerobic bacteria uses the oxygen in solution so as to break down the wastewater and convert it to an odorless liquid and gas. As this aeration compartment comes full, hydraulic displacement will cause the mixture to enter the clarifier 40 through the opening at the bottom 44. This flow path is indicated by the arrows in FIG. 1. The opening at the bottom 44 of the clarifier 40 allows remaining settleable material to return to the aeration compartment portion of the septic tank 12 for further treatment. When the remaining effluent fills the clarifier 40, it will reach the effluent outlet pipe 20 so as to be discharged from the septic tank.

[0048] The air pump 36 is suitable for causing compressed air to pass through the tube 32 into the interior of the septic tank 12. Air is then passed from the tube 32 toward the diffuser 29. The diffuser 29 is positioned adjacent to the bottom of the septic tank 12. Diffuser 29 is a porous ceramic diffuser. This diffuser creates thousands of tiny air bubbles which provide oxygen for the aerobic digestion process and serves to mix the entire contents of the septic tank 12.

[0049] Once the wastewater full of bacteria enters the septic tank 12 and is mixed with dissolved oxygen, the bacteria starts to grow and flourish. Suspended solids (i.e. partially metabolized bacteria-rich waste) start to form. These suspended solids or mixed liquor is what will treat the wastewater and inevitably produce a clear odorless effluent from the septic tank 12. As the wastewater enters the septic tank through the wastewater inlet 18, it is mixed with the already present mixed liquor and is metabolized by the bacteria. Hydraulic displacement causes the suspended solids to enter the bottom of the clarifier 40. Due to the calm quiescent condition within the clarifier 40, the solids settle out of the clarifier 40 and return to the interior volume 26 for further treatment and to further reseed the septic tank with bacteria. The clear odorless effluent remaining will leave the septic tank through the effluent outlet 20 and is delivered toward the drainfield. The problem of suspended solids carrying out of the septic tank 12 to the drainfield and the environment is solved. The aerated treatment ability of the septic tank 12 is enhanced further due to the receipt of the bacteria when the suspended solids return to the interior volume 26 of the septic tank.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows a top view of the wastewater treatment system 10 of the present invention. In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the septic tank 12 has a generally circular configuration. It is important to note that the present invention can be used effectively with septic tanks having other shapes and other sizes. The clarifier 40 has been placed through the opening and now is open and is in the original configuration within the interior volume 26 of the septic tank 12. A plurality of floats 50 are affixed to the clarifier 40 so as to allow the clarifier 40 to float at the top surface of the liquor within the septic tank 12. The wastewater inlet pipe 18 extends through the wall of the septic tank 12 so as to open to the space between the clarifier 40 and the inner wall 56 of the septic tank 12. Ultimately, this wastewater will flow downwardly so as to ultimately enter the opening 58 at the bottom 44 of the clarifier 40. As treated wastewater moves upwardly in the clarifier 40, it can ultimately be delivered to the drainfield by way of the effluent outlet pipe 20. The effluent outlet pipe 20 is received through an aperture 45 in the wall of the clarifier 40. FIG. 2 also shows that there are diffusers 29 and 60 placed on opposite sides of the clarifier 40 for the purpose of aerating the liquor within the septic tank 12, as described hereinbefore.

[0051] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a square-shaped septic tank 70. The septic tank 70 has the clarifier 40 positioned on an interior thereof. The opening 14 of the septic tank 70 is shown in broken line fashion in FIG. 3. The clarifier 40 should have suitably collapsible, compressible or foldable walls so that the clarifier 40 can pass through the opening 14 at the top of the septic tank 70 and then unfold on the interior of the septic tank. The effluent outlet pipe 20 extends so as to have its end positioned generally over the clarifier 40 and above the opening 58 at the bottom 44 of clarifier 40. A plurality of floats 50 are arranged in spaced relationship along the inner or outer walls of clarifier 40. These floats 50 can have a portion extending into the interior volume of the clarifier 40. FIG. 3 shows that there is an aerator or diffuser 74 positioned in the interior volume 76 of the septic tank 70 on the exterior of the clarifier 40.

[0052] FIG. 4 is a plan view of the clarifier 40. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the aperture 45 opens through a wall of the clarifier 40. Broken line areas 80 illustrate seams, perforations, slots, hinges, or other configurations which allow the clarifier to suitably fold or compress for insertion into the opening 14 of the septic tank.

[0053] FIG. 5 is a side view of the clarifier 40. FIG. 5 shows that the floats 50 are arranged generally in the area adjacent to the bottom of the aperture 45. As such, the top surface or water line of the liquor within the septic tank will be generally adjacent to where the effluent outlet pipe 20 resides. The clarifier 40 is illustrated in FIG. 5 as having a truncated conical configuration. However, it is important to note that the cylindrical configuration will work properly with the present invention. Importantly, the clarifier 40 can be installed through a top opening of the septic tank. No excavating or damage to property adjacent to the septic tank is necessary.

[0054] Within the concept of the present invention, there is provided a clarifier which is collapsible, foldable or compressible so as to allow the clarifier to be received into the interior of the septic tank. Once inside the septic tank, the clarifier will float in a proper position after being installed on the effluent outlet pipe. Importantly, in the present invention, it is also possible to support the clarifier with brackets attached to the bottom of the clarifier and supported on the bottom of the septic tank. Additionally, or alternatively, brackets can be attached to the top of the clarifier so that the clarifier is supported from the septic tank lid or from the septic tank walls.

[0055] The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the true spirit of the invention. The present invention should only be limited by the following claims and their legal equivalents.