Full flow leaching pit

Claim 2

A structure for placement in a leaching field to which effluent is applied for disposal, said structure comprising an effluent accumulator in the form of a cistern for temporarily storing excess effluent therein and having means forming a fluid transfer channel therein communicating directly with the field surrounding said accumulator and positioned to admit effluent to said accumulator from said field when the level of effluent in said field is above a given level and to discharge effluent therefrom when the level of effluent in said field is below a given level.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1 in which said means comprises A. at least one generally unrestricted fluid inlet channel communicating between the exterior and interior of said accumulators at an upper portion thereof, and B. at least one fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said accumulator at a lower end thereof and restricting the inflow of effluent therethrough.

Claim 4

adapted to transport effluent therein,

Claim 5

adapted to transport effluent therein,

Claim 6

admitting effluent inflow thereto when the effluent exterior thereof is above a given level,

Claim 7

admitting effluent inflow thereto when the effluent exterior thereof is above a given level,

Claim 8

a fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said section at a lower portion thereof and restricting the inflow of effluent therethrough, and B. the means in said lower section comprises a fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said section at a lower portion thereof and restricting the inflow of effluent therethrough.

Claim 9

a fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said section at a lower portion thereof and restricting the inflow of effluent therethrough, and B. the means in said lower section comprises a fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said section at a lower portion thereof and restricting the inflow of effluent therethrough.

Claim 10

second and third fluid channels, in said upper and lower sections, respectively, communicating between an interior lower portion of the corresponding section and the exterior thereof and each having a valve therein responsive to differences in hydrostatic ''''head'''' between the interior and exterior of the corresponding section for discharging effluent from the corresponding section when the effluent level exterior to said section drops below the effluent level interior thereto.

Claim 11

second and third fluid channels, in said upper and lower sections, respectively, communicating between an interior lower portion of the corresponding section and the exterior thereof and each having a valve therein responsive to differences in hydrostatic ''''head'''' between the interior and exterior of the corresponding section for discharging effluent from the corresponding section when the effluent level exterior to said section drops below the effluent level interior thereto.

Claim 12

discharging effluent therefrom when the exterior effluent level drops below the interior effluent level, and B. means for carrying effluent to the void exterior to said accumulator for disposal therein.

Claim 13

discharging effluent therefrom when the exterior effluent level drops below the interior effluent level, and B. means for carrying effluent to the void exterior to said accumulator for disposal therein.

Claim 14

in communication with said void over at least one segment intermediate said ends for supplying effluent to said void.

Claim 15

in communication with said void over at least one segment intermediate said ends for supplying effluent to said void.

Claim 16

A structure according to claim 2 in which said fluid outlet channel includes a valve operable to facilitate effluent outflow but restrict effluent inflow.

Claim 17

A structure according to claim 3 in which said valve comprises a flapper valve reSponsive to the difference in effective hydrostatic head between the interior and exterior of said accumulator to regulate the flow of effluent through the outlet channel.

Claim 18

A structure according to claim 1 in which said means comprises A. at least one generally unrestricted fluid inlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said accumulator at an upper portion thereof, and B. at least one fluid outlet channel communicating between the interior and exterior of said accumulator at a lower portion thereof and substantially restricted in cross section with respect to the cross section of the fluid inlet channel to thereby restrict the effluent flow rate therethrough

Claim 19

A structure according to claim 1 in which said means comprises a fluid channel forming a siphon communicating between the interior and exterior of said accumulator.

Claim 20

A structure according to claim 6 in which said siphon is formed from first and second vertically extending fluid channels connected to each other at upper portions thereof and terminating on the interior and exterior, respectively, of said accumulator at lower portions thereof.

Claim 21

A structure according to claim 1 in which said accumulator comprises a cistern of generally rectangular cross-section and extended length.

Claim 22

A structure according to claim 1 in which said accumulator includes fluid distribution channels formed in an upper portion thereof and extending along the length of said accumulator for carrying effluent from an effluent source and distributing it about the exterior of said accumulator.

Claim 23

A structure according to claim 9 in which said channels each include A. a protuberance on one end thereof, and B. means forming a corresponding recess on the other end thereof for receiving the protuberance of an adjacent accumulator therein, whereby generally continuous distribution channels are formed in accumulators aligned end to end.

Claim 24

A structure according to claim 1 in which said accumulator has an inwardly tapering cross-section from the top to the bottom thereof to thereby elevate the center of gravity of effluent therein.

Claim 25

A structure according to claim 1 in which said accumulator is constructed to provide greater effluent storage capacity at an upper portion thereof than at a lower portion to thereby elevate the center of gravity of effluent within said accumulator.

Claim 26

A structure according to claim 1 comprising upper and lower accumulator sections, and in which said means comprises A. means in said upper section for restricting effluent inflow thereto when the effluent exterior thereof is below a given level, freely admitting effluent to the interior thereof when the effluent is above said level, and discharging effluent therefrom when the exterior effluent level is below the interior effluent level, B. means in said lower section for discharging effluent therefrom when the exterior effluent level is below the interior effluent level, and C. fluid-transfer means interconnecting the upper and lower sections for supplying effluent to the lower section from the upper section when the effluent in the upper section exceeds a predetermined level.

Claim 27

A structure according to claim 13 in which A. the means in said upper section comprises

Claim 28

A structure according to claim 14 in which said both fluid outlet channels include valves operable to restrict effluent inflow and provide generally unobstruCted effluent outflow.

Claim 29

An effluent accumulator temporarily storing therein effluent supplied thereto from a leaching field in which said accumulator is placed and into which said effluent is discharged for disposal, and thereafter releasing it for discharge to said field, said accumulator comprising a generally fluid-impermeable cistern for placement within said field and having A. means defining a relatively unobstructed fluid inlet channel extending between an upper portion of the exterior of said accumulator and the interior thereof for admitting effluent to said accumulator from said field when the fluid level in said field is above that within said accumulator, and B. means defining a fluid outlet channel extending between a lower portion of the interior of said accumulator and the exterior thereof and constructed to restrict effluent inflow therethrough while providing relatively unobstructed effluent outflow therethrough when the fluid level in said field is below that within said accumulator.

Claim 30

An effluent accumulator temporarily storing therein effluent supplied thereto from a leaching field in which said accumulator is placed and into which said effluent is discharged for disposal, and thereafter releasing it for discharge to said field, said accumulator comprising a generally fluid-impermeable cistern for placement within said field and having A. means defining a relatively unobstructed fluid inlet channel extending between an upper portion of the exterior of said accumulator and the interior thereof for admitting effluent to said accumulator from said field when the fluid level in said field is above that within said accumulator, and B. means defining a fluid outlet channel extending between a lower portion of the interior of said accumulator and the exterior thereof and constructed to restrict effluent inflow therethrough while providing relatively unobstructed effluent outflow therethrough when the fluid level in said field is below that within said accumulator.

Claim 31

An accumulator according to claim 16 which A. has bottom and side walls and a roof defining an enclosed volume for storage of effluent therein, B. is of generally rectangular cross section and extended length for placement in a leaching trench.

Claim 32

An accumulator according to claim 17 including means defining a covered manhole extending through said roof and providing access to the interior of said accumulator.

Claim 33

An accumulator according to claim 16 which includes means in said roof defining effluent distribution channels for receiving effluent from a source and distributing it exterior of said accumulator.

Claim 34

An accumulator according to claim 16 which is generally cylindrical in shape for placement in a leaching pit.

Claim 35

An accumulator according to claim 16 which is of generally rectangular cross section and extended length for placement with a number of similar accumulators side by side and end to end in a leaching bed.

Claim 36

An accumulator according to claim 16 which has at least side walls and a roof, said side walls tapering inwardly from said roof.

Claim 37

An accumulator according to claim 16 in which said fluid outlet channel includes a valve responsive to the difference in hydrostatic head between the effluent level exterior to said accumulator and that interior thereto to discharge effluent from, and restrict its admission to, said accumulator.

Claim 38

A leaching field for the disposal of effluent, comprising A. at least one effluent accumulator for subsurface placement in an excavated void forming said field for periodically storing effluent therein and subsequently discharging it to the void exterior thereof, said accumulator comprising a fluid-confining cistern having flow-regulating means

Claim 39

A leaching field for the disposal of effluent, comprising A. at least one effluent accumulator for subsurface placement in an excavated void forming said field for periodically storing effluent therein and subsequently discharging it to the void exterior thereof, said accumulator comprising a fluid-confining cistern having flow-regulating means

Claim 40

A leaching field according to claim 24 in which said flow regulating means includes A. means defining an inlet channel extending between the exterior of the accumulator at an upper portion thereof and the interior of the accumulator and supplying effluent to the interior thereof when the exterior effluent level is at or above the level of said channel at the exterior of said accumulator, B. means defining an outlet channel extending between the interior of said accumulator at a lower portion thereof and the exterior of said accumulator and operable to discharge effluent from the accumulator when the exterior effluent level drops below the interior effluent level.

Claim 41

A leaching field according to claim 25 which includes a valve responsive to thE difference in hydrostatic head between the interior and exterior of said accumulator and positioned within said outlet channel to control effluent flow therethrough.

Claim 42

A leaching field according to claim 26 in which said accumulator has a generally rectangular cross section for placement in a leaching trench or bed.

Claim 43

A leaching field according to claim 26 in which said accumulator has a generally cylindrical cross-section for forming a leaching pit.

Claim 44

A leaching field according to claim 26 in which said accumulator has side walls tapering inwardly from an upper portion thereof to therby store effluent at a higher gravitational potential than in a non-tapered accumulator.

Claim 45

A leaching field according to claim 24 in which the means for carrying effluent to said void comprises at least one distributor channel

Claim 46

A leaching field according to claim 24 in which said accumulator has A. upper and lower fluid-storage sections, B. an overflow conduit connecting the upper and lower sections and having an upper end thereof terminating in an upper portion of said upper section for passing effluent to said lower section when the effluent in said upper section exceeds a given level.

Claim 47

A leaching field according to claim 31 in which said flow regulating means comprises