US3673614A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sewage disposal system with reusable flush medium
Assignee: KEY MARINE SERVICES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1970-12-21
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Granted: 1972-07-04
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Expires: 1990-12-21
Abstract
Abstract A sewage disposal system comprising a flush medium separation and distribution sub-system and a final sewage disposal subsystem. The disposal system is connected directly to existing plumbing. Sewage is transmitted from commodes and the like to a separation tank where the sewage is separated from the flush medium. A reusable flush medium replaces water to facilitate the separation process. The sewage is transferred to the final disposal sub-system and the flush medium is re-cycled for reuse.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert W Claunch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:15
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03D; E03D5/00; E03D5/016; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S4/00; Y10S4/11; Y10S4/19
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
A sewage disposal system for separating sewage from a flush medium so the medium can be reused with minimal loss, comprising: a non-aqueous liquid flush mediUm for receiving and carrying sewage, the flush medium having a specific gravity less than that of water; a separating tank having an inlet in its lower portion for receiving sewage carried by the flush medium, the flush medium separating from the sewage after entering the separating tank and floating above the sewage due to its different specific gravity, the sewage remaining in the lower portion of the separating tank; sewage receiving means for receiving sewage from the separating tank after its separation from the flush medium; electrically operable sewage transfer means connected to the lower portion of the separating tank for transferring the sewage from the lower portion of the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; first electrical circuit means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for initiating its operation; sewage level sensing means positioned in the lower portion of the separating tank and operably connected to the first electrical circuit means for activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the tank thereby initiating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; second electrical circuit means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for terminating its operation, and sewage level sensing means positioned in the sewage receiving means and operably connected to the second electrical circuit means for de-activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the sewage receiving means thereby terminating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
A sewage disposal system for separating sewage from a flush medium so the medium can be reused with minimal loss, comprising: a non-aqueous liquid flush mediUm for receiving and carrying sewage, the flush medium having a specific gravity less than that of water; a separating tank having an inlet in its lower portion for receiving sewage carried by the flush medium, the flush medium separating from the sewage after entering the separating tank and floating above the sewage due to its different specific gravity, the sewage remaining in the lower portion of the separating tank; sewage receiving means for receiving sewage from the separating tank after its separation from the flush medium; electrically operable sewage transfer means connected to the lower portion of the separating tank for transferring the sewage from the lower portion of the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; first electrical circuit means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for initiating its operation; sewage level sensing means positioned in the lower portion of the separating tank and operably connected to the first electrical circuit means for activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the tank thereby initiating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; second electrical circuit means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for terminating its operation, and sewage level sensing means positioned in the sewage receiving means and operably connected to the second electrical circuit means for de-activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the sewage receiving means thereby terminating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the level sensing means in the separating tank and in the sewage receiving means both consist of float assemblies.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the sewage transfer means includes means for guiding the sewage and pump means for transferring it.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein: the separating tank includes a relatively coarse mesh screen positioned therein, dividing the tank into upper and lower portions, and the sewage level sensing means in the separating tank is positioned in the lower portion thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein the sewage level sensing means in the separating tank includes two sensor assemblies, one being positioned below the screen while the other is positioned above the screen, the lower assembly providing the primary operating function with respect to the first electrical circuit means and the upper assembly being redundant with respect thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
115 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein: the first electrical circuit means includes a normally open electrical switch means operably connected to the separating tank sewage level sensing means to be closed thereby when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the separating tank and initiates operation of the sewage transfer means, and the second electrical circuit means includes a normally closed electrical switch means connected in parallel with the normally open switch means of the first circuit means and operably connected to the sewage receiving means sewage level sensing means to be opened thereby when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the sewage receiving means and terminate operation of the sewage transfer means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system according to claim 6 wherein: the separating tank includes a screen positioned therein, dividing the tank into upper and lower portions, and the sewage level sensing means in the separating tank is positioned in the lower portion thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
59 words
The system according to claim 7 wherein: the sewage level sensing means in the separating tank includes two sensor assemblies, one being positioned below the screen while the other is positioned above the screen, the lower assembly providing the primary operating function with respect to the first elecTrical circuit means and the upper assembly being redundant with respect thereto.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
80 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein the first and second electrical circuit means are serially connected to a source of electrical power and further include: a relay having a winding connected serially to the normally open switch means, the relay also including a pair of normally open electrical contacts which close when the relay winding is energized by the closing of the normally open switch, and additional circuit means operably connecting the relay contacts to the sewage transfer means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system according to claim 9 wherein the sewage transfer means includes: an electrical grinder and an electrically operated valve interconnected between the separating tank and the sewage receiving means; an outlet for sewage in the sewage receiving means; an electrical pump and another electrically operable valve connected into the outlet, and all of the above are operably connected electrically in parallel to the relay contacts whereby operation is initiated when the relay contacts close.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
The system according to claim 9 including: an additional normally closed switch means operably connected to the separating tank sewage level sensing means to open when the tank empties to a predetermined level; a relay having a winding; two pairs of electrical contacts; electrical circuit means connecting the relay winding to the switch means whereby the winding is normally energized, one set of contacts are normally closed and the other set of contacts are normally open during energization of the winding; electrical circuit means connecting the normally closed contacts of the normally energized winding in series circuit between the second electrical circuit means and its power source means; an electrical alarm circuit, and electrical circuit means connecting the normally open contacts of the normally energized winding in series circuit with the alarm circuit whereby power may be supplied to the alarm circuit when the contacts close due to the opening of the normally closed switch means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein all the level sensing means used comprise float assemblies arranged to mechanically operate the electrical switch means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the sewage transfer means comprises a grinder and an electrically operated valve, and conduit means is included to interconnect the grinder and valve between the separating tank and the sewage receiving means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
122 words
The system according to claim 1 including: additional electrically operable sewage transfer means connected to the sewage receiving means for transferring sewage therefrom to an ultimate point of disposal from the system; additional electrical circuit means operably connecting the additional sewage transfer means to the first electrical circuit means so that its operation is initiated when the first electrical circuit means is activated; further additional electrical circuit means operably connected to the additional sewage transfer means for continuing its operation after the first electrical circuit means is de-activated, and additional sewage level sensing means in the sewage receiving means operably connected to the further additional electrical circuit means for de-activating it when the sewage receiving means has emptied to a predetermined level.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein: the additional electrically operable transfer means comprises pump and valve means, and conduit means connecting the pump and valve means to the sewage receiving means near the bottom thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein the additional level sensing means comprises a float assembly positioned to operate when the sewage receiving means empties to a predetermined level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
155 words
The system according to claim 14 wherein the additional electrical circuit means comprises: an electrical Control circuit connected between the first electrical circuit means and the additional sewage transfer means, an asymmetric electrical conductor connected in the circuit so as to conduct current only from the first electrical circuit means to the additional electrical circuit means; normally open switch means closed by the additional sewage level sensing means when sewage reaches a predetermined level in the sewage receiving means; a source of electrical energy and an electrical relay including an energization coil and a pair of normally open electrical contacts connected serially to the normally open switch means whereby the additional electrically operable sewage transfer means is ''''locked-in'''' operation after the first electrical circuit means is de-activated and maintained in operation until the additional level sensing means releases the closed normally open switch means after the sewage receiving means has emptied to a predetermined level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system according to claim 17 wherein the additional level sensing means is a float positioned near the bottom of the sewage receiving means and mechanically connected to the normally open switch means to close it when sewage rises in the sewage receiving means causing the float to rise above a normal rest position and to release the switch when the sewage level falls to a level corresponding to the normal float position or below it.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 1 including: fluid circulation means including electrically operable pump means, fluid circulation means, connected to the upper portion of the separating tank for directing the fluid to a point of utilization.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
94 words
The system according to claim 19 wherein: pressurized accumulator means is included in the fluid circulation means; a normally open pressure operated electrical switch means is connected to the accumulator means for closing when the pressure therein falls below a predetermined value; electrical circuit means connecting the switch means to a source of electrical energy and to the pump means of the fluid circulation means whereby additional fluid is pumped from the separating tank into the fluid circulation means when the pressure therein falls below the predetermined value maintained by the pressure switch means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 20 including check valve means positioned in the fluid circulation means at a point between the pump means and the accumulator means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system according to claim 19 including filter means positioned at the fluid entrance to the fluid circulation means and elsewhere therein for further separating sewage from the fluid before its reuse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
196 words
A sewage disposal system for separating sewage from a flush medium so the medium can be reused with minimal loss, comprising: a non-aqueous liquid flush medium for receiving and carrying sewage, the flush medium having a specific gravity less than that of water; a separating tank having an inlet for receiving sewage carried by the flush medium, the flush medium separating from the sewage after entering the separating tank and floating above the sewage due to its different specific gravity, the sewage remaining in a lower portion of the separating tank; sewage receiving means for receiving sewage from the separating tank after its separation from the flush medium; sewage transfer means connected to the separating tank for transferring the sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for initiating its operation, and sewage level sensing means positioned in a lower portion of the separating tank and operably connected to the means for activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the tank thereby initiating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
196 words
A sewage disposal system for separating sewage from a flush medium so the medium can be reused with minimal loss, comprising: a non-aqueous liquid flush medium for receiving and carrying sewage, the flush medium having a specific gravity less than that of water; a separating tank having an inlet for receiving sewage carried by the flush medium, the flush medium separating from the sewage after entering the separating tank and floating above the sewage due to its different specific gravity, the sewage remaining in a lower portion of the separating tank; sewage receiving means for receiving sewage from the separating tank after its separation from the flush medium; sewage transfer means connected to the separating tank for transferring the sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means; means operably connected to the sewage transfer means for initiating its operation, and sewage level sensing means positioned in a lower portion of the separating tank and operably connected to the means for activating it when the sewage reaches a predetermined level in the tank thereby initiating operation of the sewage transfer means and the transfer of sewage from the separating tank to the sewage receiving means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-04 | 1976-01-03 | 1976-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-04 | 1980-01-03 | 1980-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-04 | 1984-01-03 | 1984-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |