US3762559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Filter bottom and molded module therefor
Assignee: ROSTONE ACQUISITION Corp
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Filing: 1972-07-17
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Granted: 1973-10-02
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Expires: 1992-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A preferred filter bottom module is molded of high strength plastic resin in a configuration which permits it to withstand the weight of the filter bed, and when bolted down, to withstand the backwash pressure. The module has a reinforced structural floor section formed with a horizontal wall and a network of intersecting vertical ribs, and has supporting legs at its corners and at intermediate points, each provided with shoulders to engage hold-down bolts. The modules are formed at their sides to interlock and be sealed to each other by sealing compound. Molded nozzles are uniformly distributed over the floor section to pass filtered water and distribute backwash water. Each nozzle includes low-velocity distribution apertures directed laterally, and desirably includes a restricted control orifice to equalize backwash flow among the several nozzles. Either the apertures or orifices are molded into the module, and the others thereof are either molded or installed in inserts. Various nozzle configurations may be used. The modules are light weight and may weigh only about 10 percent of corresponding concrete structures. For example, 4-foot by 4-foot module may weigh only about 100 lbs or less so as to be easily installed with minimum labor. A modified module has a molded floor section with nozzles therein as above, supported by side walls and closed by a bottom pan to form a closed conduit unit. Such units are laid side-byside and sealed end-to-end to form water distribution chambers; and may be held down by the weight of the filter bed or by adhesives.
Inventors
- 👤 M Knoy
- 👤 L Alt
- 👤 W Work
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:39
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D24/00; B01D24/46; B01D24/4631; B01D24/4636; B01D24/02; B01D24/10; B01D24/12; B01D2201/00; B01D2201/04; B01D2201/0415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 51
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A filter bottom module adapted to form a unitary part of a filter bottom, molded of plastic resin composition, comprising a thin-walled, reinforced, horizontal structural section including a horizontal wall, side walls joined thereto at its edges, and a plurality of vertical reinforcing ribs integral with said horizontal and side walls and extending in an intersecting pattern between said side walls to form a highstrength filter-bottom structural section adapted to sustain the weight of an overlying filter bed and withstand the upward pressure of backwash water from below, spaced legs joined to said section and extending downward therefrom to support the same above a tank bottom and provide an underlying water chamber, and means forming a plurality of nozzles distributed over the area of said structural section, for passing filtered water downward through said filter bottom and discharging backwash water upward through the same, said horizontal wall being molded with a plurality of openings therein to form water passages for said nozzles.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A filter bottom module adapted to form a unitary part of a filter bottom, molded of plastic resin composition, comprising a thin-walled, reinforced, horizontal structural section including a horizontal wall, side walls joined thereto at its edges, and a plurality of vertical reinforcing ribs integral with said horizontal and side walls and extending in an intersecting pattern between said side walls to form a highstrength filter-bottom structural section adapted to sustain the weight of an overlying filter bed and withstand the upward pressure of backwash water from below, spaced legs joined to said section and extending downward therefrom to support the same above a tank bottom and provide an underlying water chamber, and means forming a plurality of nozzles distributed over the area of said structural section, for passing filtered water downward through said filter bottom and discharging backwash water upward through the same, said horizontal wall being molded with a plurality of openings therein to form water passages for said nozzles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 1 in which said horizontal wall is formed as the top wall of said section, with said integral ribs below said wall.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
90 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 1 in which said horizontal wall is formed below the top of said structural section and said ribs extend upward therefrom to define a plurality of separate upward-open cells distributed over the horizontal wall, means to form a filter bed supporting surface above said horizontal wall, nozzle distribution apertures extending through said surface-forming means to pass backwash water from said cells to the overlying filter bed, and control orifices formed in said horizontal wall to pass backwash water to the cells from below.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
177 words
A filter bottom module adapted to form a unitary part of a filter bottom to sustain the weight of an overlying filter bed and the upward pressure of backwash water from below, molded of plastic resin composition, comprising a thin-walled, reinforced, horizontal structural section, including a molded top wall, side walls joined thereto at its edges, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs below said wall and integral therewith, extending between and joined to said side walls, to support itself both against the weight of an overlying filter bed and against upward backwash pressure, spaced legs joined to said top wall and extending downward therefrom to support the same above an underlying tank bottom and to provide a water chamber beneath the filter bottom, and a plurality of nozzles uniformly distributed over said top wall for passing filtered water downward to said water chamber and for discharging backwash water upward from said water chamber into the filter bed, each of said nozzles having at least one element thereof molded in as an integral part of the molded module.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
177 words
A filter bottom module adapted to form a unitary part of a filter bottom to sustain the weight of an overlying filter bed and the upward pressure of backwash water from below, molded of plastic resin composition, comprising a thin-walled, reinforced, horizontal structural section, including a molded top wall, side walls joined thereto at its edges, and a plurality of reinforcing ribs below said wall and integral therewith, extending between and joined to said side walls, to support itself both against the weight of an overlying filter bed and against upward backwash pressure, spaced legs joined to said top wall and extending downward therefrom to support the same above an underlying tank bottom and to provide a water chamber beneath the filter bottom, and a plurality of nozzles uniformly distributed over said top wall for passing filtered water downward to said water chamber and for discharging backwash water upward from said water chamber into the filter bed, each of said nozzles having at least one element thereof molded in as an integral part of the molded module.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 which includes means to hold the module down to the tank bottom to resist lifting force of upward backwash pressure.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
82 words
A filter bottom as in claim 5 in which said top wall is rectangular and has downward extending legs at its corners, each corner being molded with a downward offset shoulder overlying the leg at said corner, said offsets being such that at the meeting corners of four adjoining modules the offsets combine to form a recess for the reception of the upper end of a hold-down bolt and the shoulders thereof form a platform for hold down engagement by the bolt.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
52 words
A filter bottom as in claim 6 which includes at least one additional leg at an intermediate position between corner legs, said section being formed at said leg to pass a hold-down bolt and to provide a recess with a downward-offset platform therein for at least partial engagement by a hold-down fastener.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter bottom module as in Claim 7 which includes such an additional leg and recess and shoulder at the center of the top section of the module.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 7 which includes such an additional leg and recess at an intermediate point along at least two opposite sides of the top section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 9 in which the side legs are at the side edges of the top section and the recesses formed thereat are outward open notches, each adapted to mate with a corresponding notch of an adjoining module to form a complete bolt-receiving recess between the two modules.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 7 in which the legs at the periphery of the module are splayed outward to overlap the sides of the top section of an underlying similar module in stacked relation, and each leg inward of said sides extends downward from a recess formed in said top wall and is shaped to nest within the corresponding recess of the underlying similar module.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 which includes an outward extending flange along at least one side of the module and a depending edge along another side thereof adapted to overlie the flange of an adjoining module to close the joint between the adjoining modules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 further comprising interlocking means formed on the module for interlocking adjoining modules to each other in a filter bottom.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
57 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 13 in which the module is rectangular in plan and said interlocking means comprises an upward open channel along each of two sides of the module, and a depending edge along each of the other sides thereof adapted to enter the channels of adjoining modules to interlock the modules together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
64 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 14 in which each channel has its outer edge spaced outward from the side face of the module and is adapted to receive the depending edge of the adjoining module with the sides of the modules in spaced relation, said sides and channel thereby forming a trough for the reception of sealing compound between the adjoining modules.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
106 words
A filter bottom as in claim 4 in which the module is rectangular in plan and further comprises an outward extending ledge along each of two sides of the module, below the top thereof, the other two sides of the module having bottom edges shaped to closely overlie said ledges of adjoining modules, a plurality of said modules being thereby adapted to be placed in adjoining relation with the ledges of one under-lying the said bottom edges of adjoining modules and with the sides of the modules in spaced relation to define troughs closed at the bottom by the ledges for the reception of sealing compound.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A filter bottom as in claim 16 in which said ledges are along adjoining edges of the module.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 17 in which legs are formed integrally with the module at its corners, said ledges along said two adjoining sides being formed at corners of the module to pass hold down bolts for the module.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4, wherein said supporting legs comprise downward-extending walls along two opposite sides of the reinforced section to form therewith a downward open channel, and a bottom pan joined to said downward extending walls to close the open bottom of said channel, and means at each end of the module to engage the opposite end of an adjoining module for joining adjacent modules end-to-end.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which legs are formed integrally with the side walls at the corners of the module and extend downward therefrom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
78 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which legs are formed at the corners integral with the side walls of the module, said side walls being formed with bottom edges having end portions adjacent the bottom of the legs and intermediate portions elevated above the bottoms of the legs, and ledges extending outward at two sides of the module in position to closely underlie the botTom edges of other sides of similar modules in adjoining position.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 21 with the addition that said ledges have upstanding flanges at their outer ends to form upward open channels, and the said bottom edges of the other sides are shaped for reception in said channels to interlock adjoining modules together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
40 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 21 in which the ledges are wide ledges adapted to bridge the space between narrowly spaced adjoining modules and thereby form with the sides thereof a trough for the reception of sealing compound.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said top wall is rectangular and has legs at the corners thereof and at least one leg at an intermediate position between corner legs.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 24 which has a leg at its center.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 which includes a supporting leg inward of its sides, said leg being formed as a hollow post open through the said top wall, and nozzle distribution apertures formed about and outward of the periphery of said post.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 26 in which the outer periphery of said post is spaced from surrounding wall areas to define one or more control orifices for passage of water between the water chamber below the module and said distribution apertures.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
28 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said nozzles comprise a central plate spaced upward from surrounding wall areas to define lateral distribution apertures therebetween.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filter bottom as in claim 28 in which at least one of said nozzles includes a hollow post extending downward from said plate to form a supporting leg for the module.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
29 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 28 in which said nozzle plate is at the intersection of reinforcing ribs which integrally join the plate to support the same.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said nozzles include a control orifice to receive backwash water from the space below said top section and distribution apertures to discharge said water to the space above said top wall.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 31 in which the distribution apertures are formed in the molding of the module.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 31 in which the control orifices are formed in the molding of the module.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
60 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 33 in which the nozzle structure comprises an opening formed in the top wall of said horizontal section to provide a control orifice therethrough, and a diffusion unit secured to said wall over said opening to receive backwash water therefrom, said diffusion unit being provided with laterally directed distribution apertures about its periphery.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
50 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 34 in which said opening formed in the top wall is of keyhole shape, and said diffusion unit has a key-head engaged in said hole to lock the unit in place, a portion of said hole remaining open to provide the control orifice.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
36 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 34 in which the diffusion unit is formed with latch projections at its periphery and said top wall is formed with keeper slots in which said projections are engaged.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 34 in which the top wall has fastener inserts molded therein and said diffusion unit is mounted by means of fasteners engaged in said inserts.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 31 in which both said orifice and said apertures are formed in the molding of the module.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
74 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 31 in which the nozzle structure comprises a collar integral with said top wall and defining an opening therethrough, a plate integrally joined to the collar by spaced ribs or the like and spaced from the collar to define laterally directed distribution apertures between the plate and the adjacent structure, and an insert closing said collar opening and defining a control orifice leading to said distribution orifices.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
30 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 39 in which said collar and insert are respectively formed with bayonet slots and lugs which interfit to lock the insert in place.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
59 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 39 in which the collar is connected to the adjacent top wall by a border area of outwardly upward slope which disposes the collar below the level of said top wall, and said plate is substantially coplanar with the top wall, whereby the top of the module presents a substantially flat face.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
94 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 31 in which said nozzle structure comprises an imperforate wall upstanding above said top wall of said molded section, a series of upstanding slot-forming ribs spaced along said side wall and projecting outward therefrom to define a series of outward extending slots, and a control orifice formed adjacent said side wall in communication with each said slot at the inner edge thereof, each slot being open outward to form a discharge aperture at its outer end and providing a diffusion passage from said orifice to said aperture.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
47 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 42 in which said slot-forming ribs are joined to the upstanding wall over substantially their enter height, and the orifice for each slot is formed as an individual opening through the top wall at the base of the upstanding wall.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
56 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 42 in which at least some of said ribs are spaced outward from said upstanding wall to define a water flow passage between their inner edges and said wall, said passage extending through the plane of the top wall of said horizontal section to form a control orifice therethrough.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
42 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 44 in which the upstanding wall extends downward through the plane of said top wall and is surrounded therebelow by a collar spaced therefrom to define an elongated narrow extension of said control orifice passage.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
60 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said nozzle structure comprises wide spaced ridges formed above the top wall of the module, said ridges having laterally open slots extending longitudinally along their sides, and having bottom cavities communicating with said slots at spaced points along their length to define orifices for supplying backwash water thereto from below.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
41 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which the nozzles have laterally directed distribution apertures, are countersunk into said top wall to provide a substantially flat top face on said wall, and are bordered by outwardly upward sloping walls.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
32 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said nozzles are circular and include a circumferential series of distribution apertures directed radially outward about the entire peripheries of the nozzles.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
53 words
A filter bottom module as in claim 4 in which said nozzles are of rectangular shape in plan and have distribution apertures at both their ends and their sides, said apertures being arranged in parallel rows in staggered relation with the apertures of one row discharging toward the spaces of an adjacent row.
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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) | 1976-10-01 | 1977-04-02 | 1977-10-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-01 | 1981-04-02 | 1981-10-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-01 | 1985-04-02 | 1985-10-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |