Patent US4181770A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4065391A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fluid distributor
Assignee: Xylem Water Solutions Zelienople LLC
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Filing: 1976-08-04
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Granted: 1977-12-27
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Expires: 1996-08-04
Abstract
Abstract A distributor that supplies either a liquid or a gas to a bed of granular media, such as a sand filter, is divided by inclined interior walls into primary and secondary horizontal conduits that extend parallel to each other. Gas metering orifices are positioned at an intermediate level in the inclined walls and liquid metering orifices are positioned beneath the gas metering orifices in the inclined walls. A liquid or a gas is supplied to the primary conduits, passes through the metering orifices into the secondary conduits, and through dispersion orifices in the secondary conduits into the filter bed. At least some of the secondary conduits are each connected to at least two primary conduits so that liquid can flow from one primary conduit through a secondary conduit to another primary conduit to compensate for inequalities of flow along the primary conduits.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick Farabaugh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:50
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J8/00; B01J8/02; B01J8/0278; B01D; B01D24/00; B01D24/02; B01D24/20; B01D24/24; B01D24/46; B01D24/4631
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
243 words
In a system for distributing a liquid uniformly throughout a bed of granular media, including: a distributor positioned beneath and supporting said media, said distributor being divided into primary horizontal conduits and secondary horizontal conduits that extend parallel to said primary horizontal conduits and containing liquid metering orifices that connect said primary conduits to said secondary conduits and dispersion orifices that connect said secondary conduits to said bed of granular media; a flume extending transverse to said primary conduits and connected to each of said primary conduits; and means for supplying a liquid to said flume, whereby said liquid flows from said flume to said primary conduits, through said liquid metering orifices into said secondary conduits, and through said dispersion orifices into said bed; the improvement comprising: a plurality of inclined walls separating said primary conduits from said secondary conduits, whereby said secondary conduits are positioned beside said primary conduits, said primary conduits have an upwardly tapering cross-section and said secondary conduits have a downwardly tapering cross-section; gas metering orifices located at an intermediate level in said inclined walls and defining a gas flow passage above said gas metering orifices in said primary conduits, said liquid metering orifices being positioned beneath and separated from said gas metering orifices in said inclined walls; and means for supplying a gas to said primary conduits, whereby said gas passes through said gas metering orifices into said secondary conduits and through said dispersion orifices into said bed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
243 words
In a system for distributing a liquid uniformly throughout a bed of granular media, including: a distributor positioned beneath and supporting said media, said distributor being divided into primary horizontal conduits and secondary horizontal conduits that extend parallel to said primary horizontal conduits and containing liquid metering orifices that connect said primary conduits to said secondary conduits and dispersion orifices that connect said secondary conduits to said bed of granular media; a flume extending transverse to said primary conduits and connected to each of said primary conduits; and means for supplying a liquid to said flume, whereby said liquid flows from said flume to said primary conduits, through said liquid metering orifices into said secondary conduits, and through said dispersion orifices into said bed; the improvement comprising: a plurality of inclined walls separating said primary conduits from said secondary conduits, whereby said secondary conduits are positioned beside said primary conduits, said primary conduits have an upwardly tapering cross-section and said secondary conduits have a downwardly tapering cross-section; gas metering orifices located at an intermediate level in said inclined walls and defining a gas flow passage above said gas metering orifices in said primary conduits, said liquid metering orifices being positioned beneath and separated from said gas metering orifices in said inclined walls; and means for supplying a gas to said primary conduits, whereby said gas passes through said gas metering orifices into said secondary conduits and through said dispersion orifices into said bed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said flume is positioned beneath said primary conduits and connected to the primary conduits by ports in the bottom of each conduit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein the means for supplying a gas to said primary conduits comprises a manifold positioned in said flume.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said flume is positioned at one end of said primary conduits and each primary conduit is connected to said flume by a connector that extends from the flume into said conduit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the means for supplying a gas to said primary conduits comprises a manifold and pipes extending from said manifold into said primary conduits.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein the total cross-sectional area of said gas metering orifices is substantially less than the total cross-sectional area of said dispersion orifices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the cross-sectional area of said dispersion orifices is at least twice the total cross-sectional area of said gas metering orifices.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 6 wherein the total cross-sectional area of said dispersion orifices is about ten times the total cross-sectional area of said gas metering orifices.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said inclined walls are planar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 9 wherein said primary conduits and said secondary conduits have substantially triangular cross-sections.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said distributor comprises a plurality of blocks arranged in parallel adjacent rows and said primary and secondary conduits extend from block to block along said rows.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said bed of granular media comprises a layer of gravel above said distributor and a layer of sand above said layer of gravel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a system for distributing a liquid uniformly throughout a bed of granular media, including: a distributor positioned beneath and supporting said media, said distributor being divided into primary horizontal conduits and secondary horizontal conduits that extend parallel to said primary horizontal conduits and containing liquid metering orifices that connect said primary conduits to said secondary conduits and dispersion orifices that connect said secondary conduits to said bed of granular media; a flume extending transverse to said primary conduits and connected to each of said primary conduits; and means for supplying liquid to said flume, whereby said liquid flows from said flume to said primary conduits, through said liquid metering orifices into said secondary conduits, and through said dispersion orifices into said bed; the improvement wherein: the secondary conduits have a substantially triangular cross-section; the top of said distributor defines one side of said secondary conduits and inclined planar walls that separate the primary conduits from the secondary conduits define another side of said secondary conduits; and at least some of the secondary conduits are connected to different primary conduits by liquid metering orifices that are aligned with each other and located near the intersection of two of said inclined planar walls, whereby liquid can flow from a primary conduit through a secondary conduit to another primary conduit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
218 words
In a system for distributing a liquid uniformly throughout a bed of granular media, including: a distributor positioned beneath and supporting said media, said distributor being divided into primary horizontal conduits and secondary horizontal conduits that extend parallel to said primary horizontal conduits and containing liquid metering orifices that connect said primary conduits to said secondary conduits and dispersion orifices that connect said secondary conduits to said bed of granular media; a flume extending transverse to said primary conduits and connected to each of said primary conduits; and means for supplying liquid to said flume, whereby said liquid flows from said flume to said primary conduits, through said liquid metering orifices into said secondary conduits, and through said dispersion orifices into said bed; the improvement wherein: the secondary conduits have a substantially triangular cross-section; the top of said distributor defines one side of said secondary conduits and inclined planar walls that separate the primary conduits from the secondary conduits define another side of said secondary conduits; and at least some of the secondary conduits are connected to different primary conduits by liquid metering orifices that are aligned with each other and located near the intersection of two of said inclined planar walls, whereby liquid can flow from a primary conduit through a secondary conduit to another primary conduit.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system according to claim 13 wherein said distributor comprises a plurality of blocks arranged in parallel adjacent rows and said primary and secondary conduits extend from block to block along said rows.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-12-26 | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-26 | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-26 | 1989-06-27 | 1989-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |