Pressure sewer system

Claim 2

A pressure sewage transport system including in combination a plurality of sewage generating sites with each of said sewage generating sites including in combination at least one collection tank; grinder means having its inlet taking suction on the liquid sewage contents of the tank and discharging ground liquid slurry sewage from its outlet; pump means having its inlet connected to the outlet from said grinder means and providing a significant discharge flow of ground liquid slurry sewage under pressure from its outlet, a discharge passage connected to the outlet from said pump means for discharging ground liquid slurry sewage from said tank under pressure to one or more receiving points; outlet check valve means within said discharge passage permitting liquid sewage flow only in the direction from the outlet of said pump means to the receiving point and preventing backflow of pressurized liquid sewage; first conduit means connected at one end to said discharge passage and freely open at its other end to a source of venting gas; anti-siphon check valve means within said first conduit means for passing gaseous fluids through said first conduit means at least in a direction from said open end to said discharge passage and for preventing the passage of liquid sewage from said one end to said open end of said first conduit means; at least one common pressure sewage main for connecting to at least one other sewage generating site and to at least one pressure sewage collection point; second conduit means connecting the outlet from said first check valve means to said common pressure sewage main and redundant check valve means connected in said second conduit means.

Claim 3

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 wherein said anti-siphon check valve means passes gaseous fluids through said first conduit means in either direction and said pump means is self-priming.

Claim 4

A pressure sewage system according to claim 2 wherein said pump means comprises semi-positive displacement pump means for providing a significant discharge flow of ground liquid sewage slurry under pressure from its outlet substantially independently of the pressure head into which the discharge is directed.

Claim 5

A pressure sewage system according to claim 3 wherein said semi-positive displacement pump means comprises a positive helical screw-type pump employing a flexible boot with an internal helical surface in cooperative working engagement with a rigid shaft having an external helical surface, but of a different pitch, the discharge from said helical screw-type pump being directly connected to said discharge passage, said first conduit means and said anti-siphon check valve means also comprise pump priming means for relieving build-up of gaseous fluids in the pump means, and allow liquid sewage to rise through the suction inlet into the flexible boot of the pump means as liquid sewage accumulates within the collection tank to some predetermined maximum level and actuates the pump means.

Claim 6

A pressure sewage system according to claim 4 wherein said first conduit means and said anti-siphon check valve means comprise anti-siphon means for preventing the removal of the pump liquid prime and liquid from said collection tank upon a vacuum being produced in said discharge line due to siphoning, said anti-siphoning means allowing removal of liquid sewage in said discharge line down to the point of connection of said first conduit means or below and thereafter providing passage of venting gas through the open end of said first conduit means and through said anti-siphon check valve means into said discharge line and allowing the liquid in the discharge line to seek the level of the liquid in the collection tank.

Claim 7

A pressure sewage system according to claim 5 wherein said discharge passage is permanently sealed with respect to tHe interior of said collection tank between said outlet from said pump and said first conduit means, the interior of said collection tank is vented to the atmosphere, said first conduit means is connected at said one end to said discharge passage intermediate the outlet from said pump means and said outlet check valve means and is sealed and uninterrupted between its one end connected to the discharge passage and its open end save for the anti-siphon check valve means, the open end of said first conduit means opens directly into said collection tank at a level substantially above the maximum predetermined level of sewage collected in the tank, and said redundant check valve means is connected in said second conduit means substantially at the intersection of said common pressure sewage main.

Claim 8

A pressure sewage system according to claim 6 further including a combination clean-out, flushing station, air accumulator, system air purging and system excess pressure release mechanism located at strategic points along the common pressure sewage main generally at the terminus of each section of the low pressure sewage main.

Claim 9

A pressure sewage system according to claim 7, further including air relief valve means installed in the common pressure sewage main at respective high points in the main intermediate the sewage generating sites and the pressure sewage collection point.

Claim 10

A pressure sewage system according to claim 8 further including sectional division stop valves included in the pressure sewage main at strategic points in each section of the main for isolating desired sections of the main from other sections, and means for providing bypass pressure sewage conduits interconnecting particular sections of the common pressure sewage main for isolating a desired section through the medium of said sectional division valves without interrupting service to other sections or portions of a section.

Claim 11

A pressure sewage system according to claim 9 further including system pressure control regulator means included in the common pressure sewage main at a point substantially at the point of connection to the pressure sewage receiving point.

Claim 12

A pressure sewage system according to claim 3 wherein said semi-positive displacement pump means comprises a positive helical screw-type pump employing a flexible boot with an internal helical surface in cooperative working engagement with a rigid shaft having an external helical surface, but of a different pitch, the discharge from said helical screw-type pump being directly connected to said discharge passage, said first conduit means and said second anti-siphon check valve means comprise pump priming means for relieving build-up of gaseous fluids in the pump means and allow liquid sewage to rise through the suction inlet into the flexible boot of the pump means as liquid sewage accumulates within the collection tank to some predetermined maximum level and actuates the pump means; said first conduit means and said anti-siphon check valve means comprise anti-siphon means for preventing the removal of the pump liquid prime and liquid from said collection tank upon a vacuum being produced in said discharge line due to siphoning, said anti-siphoning means allowing removal of liquid sewage in said discharge line down to the point of connection of said first conduit means or below and thereafter providing passage of venting gas through said first conduit means open end and through said anti-siphon check valve means into said discharge line and allowing the liquid in the discharge line to seek the level of the liquid in the collection tank; said discharge passage being permanently sealed with respect to the interior of said collection tank between said outlet from said pump and said first conduit means, the interior of said collection tank being vented to the atmosphere; said first conduit means being connected at said one end to said discharge passage intermediate the outlet from said pump means and said outlet check valve means and sealed and uninterrupted between its one end connected to the discharge passage and its open end save for the anti-siphon check valve means and the open end of said first conduit means opens directly into said collection tank at a level substantially above the maximum predetermined level of sewage collected in the tank, said redundant check valve means is connected in said second conduit means substantially at the intersection of said common pressure sewage main, and the pressure sewage main comprises a small diameter, non-corroding pipe laid just below the frost line and to afford protection for the pipe while following substantially the contour of the land where the pressure sewage system is installed.

Claim 13

A pressure sewage system according to claim 11 further including relief valve means installed in the common pressure sewage main at respective high points in the main intermediate the sewage generating sites and the pressure sewage collection point, and system pressure control regulator means included in the common pressure sewage main at a point substantially at the point of connection to the pressure sewage receiving point.

Claim 14

A pressure sewage system according to claim 12 further including lift station means installed in the common pressure sewage main at particular points where the main must traverse substantial increases in grade intermediate the sewage generating sites and the low pressure sewage collection point.

Claim 15

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 further including system pressure control regulator means included in the common pressure sewage main at a point substantially at the connection to the receiving point.

Claim 16

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 wherein the pressure sewage main is comprised by a small diameter, non-corroding plastic pipe installed just below the frost line and/or sufficiently deep for protection while following the contour of the land where the pressure sewage system is located, and further including relief valve means installed in the pressure sewage main at respective high points in the main intermediate the sewage generating sites and the pressure sewage collection point.

Claim 17

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 further including air accumulator means connected to the second conduit means intermediate the outlet check valve means and the redundant check valve means.

Claim 18

A pressure sewage system according to claim 16 wherein said air accumulator means comprises a vertically extending stand pipe.

Claim 19

A pressure sewage system according to claim 17 wherein said vertically extending stand pipe has at least a portion extending within said sewage collection tank and further includes controlled orifice leak means formed in said stand pipe portion for assuring air charging of the air accumulator means, said controlled orifice leak means being located within said sewage collection tank for returning any liquid sewage emanating through the leak means to the tank.

Claim 20

A pressure sewage system according to claim 15 further including air accumulator means connected to the second conduit means intermediate the first outlet check valve means and the redundant check valve means, said air accumulator means comprising a vertically extending stand pipe having at least a portion extending within said sewage collection tank and further including controlled orifice leak means formed in the stand pipe portion for assuring air charging of the air accumulator means, said controlled orifice leak means being located within said sewage collection tank for returning any liquid sewage emanating through the leak means to the tank.

Claim 21

A pressure sanitary wastewater including sewage transport system including in combination a plurality of sanitary wastewater including sewage generating sites, a number of said wastewater including generating sites including in combination at least one wastewater collection tank; grinder pump means having solids handling capability with its inlet taking suction on tHe contents of the wastewater collection tank and providing a significant discharge flow of liquid wastewater under pressure from its outlet substantially independently of the pressure head into which the discharge is directed, discharge passage means connected to the outlet from said pump means for discharging liquid wastewater from said tank under pressure to a pressure sewage main; first outlet check valve means within said discharge passage means permitting liquid sewage flow only in the direction from the outlet of said pump means to the pressure sewage main and preventing backflow of pressurized liquid sewage; venting conduit means connected at one end to said discharge passage means and open at its other end to a source of venting gas; check valve means within said venting conduit means for passing gaseous fluids through said venting conduit means at least from its open end toward said discharge passage and for preventing the passage of liquid sewage from said one end to said open end of said venting conduit means; at least one common pressure liquid wastewater main for connection to at least one other liquid wastewater including sewage generating site and to at least one low pressure liquid wastewater including sewage collection point; second conduit means connecting the outlet from said first outlet check valve means to said common low pressure liquid wastewater main and redundant check valve means connected in said second conduit means.

Claim 22

A pressure sanitary wastewater including sewage transport system including in combination a plurality of sanitary wastewater including sewage generating sites, a number of said wastewater including generating sites including in combination at least one wastewater collection tank; grinder pump means having solids handling capability with its inlet taking suction on tHe contents of the wastewater collection tank and providing a significant discharge flow of liquid wastewater under pressure from its outlet substantially independently of the pressure head into which the discharge is directed, discharge passage means connected to the outlet from said pump means for discharging liquid wastewater from said tank under pressure to a pressure sewage main; first outlet check valve means within said discharge passage means permitting liquid sewage flow only in the direction from the outlet of said pump means to the pressure sewage main and preventing backflow of pressurized liquid sewage; venting conduit means connected at one end to said discharge passage means and open at its other end to a source of venting gas; check valve means within said venting conduit means for passing gaseous fluids through said venting conduit means at least from its open end toward said discharge passage and for preventing the passage of liquid sewage from said one end to said open end of said venting conduit means; at least one common pressure liquid wastewater main for connection to at least one other liquid wastewater including sewage generating site and to at least one low pressure liquid wastewater including sewage collection point; second conduit means connecting the outlet from said first outlet check valve means to said common low pressure liquid wastewater main and redundant check valve means connected in said second conduit means.

Claim 23

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 20 wherein said check valve means within the venting conduit means passes gaseous fluids through said venting conduit means in either direction and said pump means is self-priming.

Claim 24

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 21 further including air accumulator means connected to the second conduit means intermediate the first outlet check valve means and the redundant check valve means.

Claim 25

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 22 wherein said air accumulator means comprises a vertically extending stand pipe.

Claim 26

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 23 wherein said vertically extending stand pipe has at least a portion extending within said wastewater collection tank and further includes controlled orifice leak means for assuring air charging of the air accumulator means, said controlled orifice leak means being located within said sewage collection tank for returning any liquid sewage emanating through the leak means to the tank.

Claim 27

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 21 wherein said discharge passage is permanently sealed with respect to the interior of said collection tank between said outlet from said pump and said venting conduit means, the interior of said collection tank is vented to the atmosphere, said venting conduit means is sealed and uninterrupted between its one end connected to the discharge passage and its open end save for the check valve means secured therein and the open end of said first venting conduit means opens directly into said collection tank at a level substantially above the maximum predetermined level of liquid wastewater collected in the tank.

Claim 28

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 25 further including air accumulator means connected to the second conduit means and the redundant check valve means, said air accumulator means comprising a vertically extending stand pipe having at least a portion extending within said wastewater collection tank and further including controlled orifice leak means formed in the stand pipe portion for assuring air charging of the air accumulator means, said controlled orifice leak means being located within said sewage collection tank for returning any liquid sewage emanating through the leak means to the tank.

Claim 29

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 25 further including a combination clean-out, fluShing station, air accumulator, system air purging and system excess pressure release mechanism located at strategic points along the common pressure wastewater main generally at the terminus of each section of the low pressure wastewater main, and air relief valve means installed in the common pressure sewage main at respective high points in the main intermediate the sewage generating sites and the pressure sewage collection point.

Claim 30

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 27 further including sectional division stop valves included in the pressure wastewater main at strategic points in each section of the main for isolating desired sections of the main from other sections, and means for providing bypass pressure wastewater conduits interconnecting particular sections of the common pressure wastewater main for isolating a desired section through the medium of said sectional division valves without interrupting service to other sections or portions of a section.

Claim 31

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 28 further including system pressure control regulator means included in the common pressure wastewater main at a point substantially at the point of connection to the pressure wastewater receiving point.

Claim 32

A pressure sanitary wastewater transport system according to claim 29 wherein said semi-positive displacement pump means comprises a positive helical screw-type pump employing a flexible boot with an internal helical surface in cooperative working engagement with a rigid shaft having an external helical surface, but of a different pitch, said check valve means within the venting conduit means comprising pump priming means for relieving build-up of gaseous fluids in the pump means and allowing liquid sewage to rise through the suction inlet into the flexible boot of the pump means as liquid wastewater accumulates within the collection tank to some predetermined maximum level and actuates the pump means; said venting conduit means and said check valve means within the venting conduit means also comprising anti-siphon means for preventing the removal of the pump liquid prime and liquid from said collection tank upon a vacuum being produced in said discharge line due to siphoning, said anti-siphon means allowing removal of liquid wastewater in said discharge line down to the point of connection of said venting conduit means or below and thereafter providing passage of venting gas through said venting conduit means open end and through said check valve means within said venting conduit means and into said discharge line and allowing the liquid in the discharge line to seek the level of the liquid in the collection tank; and the pressure sewage main comprises a small diameter, non-corroding pipe laid just below the frost line and following substantially the contour of the land where the pressure wastewater transport system is installed.

Claim 33

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 further including a combination clean-out, flushing station, air accumulator, system air purging and system excess pressure release mechanism located at strategic points along the common pressure sewage main generally at the terminus of each section of the low pressure sewage main.

Claim 34

A pressure sewage system according to claim 31 further including air relief valve means installed in the common pressure sewage main at respective high points in the main intermediate the sewage generating sites and the pressure sewage collection point.

Claim 35

A pressure sewage system according to claim 1 further including sectional division stop valves included in the pressure sewage main at strategic points in each section of the main for isolating desired sections of the main from other sections, and means for providing bypass pressure sewage conduits interconnecting particular sections of the common pressure sewage main for isolating a desired section through the medium of said sectional division valves without interrupting service to other secTions or portions of a section.