US4288394A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Sewage aeration system
Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises LLC
•
Filing: 1979-12-10
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Granted: 1981-09-08
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Expires: 1999-12-10
Abstract
Abstract A sewage aeration system comprising a header pipe, plenums of synthetic thermoplastic or thermoset resin with side walls inclined upwardly and outwardly to diffusion element support means, generally horizontal diffusion elements free of through-holes other than air diffusion pores, retaining means securing the elements about their peripheries to the plenums, sealing means adjacent the peripheries of the diffusion elements and airflow regulator members which terminate in the plenums beneath the horizontal diffusion elements.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd Ewing
- 👤 David T. Redmon
- 👤 Paul M. Thayer
- 👤 Frank L. Schmit
- 👤 William H. Roche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:09
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/20; B; B01; B01F; B01F23/00; B01F23/20; B01F23/23; B01F23/231; B01F23/23105; B01F23/2312; B01F23/23123; B01F23/23126; B01F23/231262; B01F23/2311; B01F23/23114; B01F23/231143; B01F23/23125; B01F23/231264; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/7722; Y10T137/7837; Y10T137/7879; Y10T137/7888
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
230 words
A sewage aeration system comprising: a horizontally extending header pipe having an upper surface which is arcuate in transverse cross-section and having air outlet openings in said arcuate upper surface at spaced points along the length of said header pipe; a plurality of synthetic thermoplastic or thermoset resin plenums secured to said arcuate upper surface at spaced points along said header pipe in communication with said air outlet openings; said plenums having wall means, including side wall means extending transversely and longitudinally relative to said arcuate upper surface, and arcuate bottom wall means sealed in gas-tight relationship to said side wall means, said plenums further including diffusion element supporting means spaced upwardly from said header pipe on said side wall means; generally horizontal diffusion elements supported by said support means, said elements having air diffusion pores extending therethrough, but being free of through-holes other than air diffusion pores; retaining means engaging said diffusion elements about their peripheries for securing said elements to said plenums; sealing means adjacent the peripheries of the diffusion elements for preventing leakage of air from said plenums past the peripheries of said elements; and air flow regulator members in communication and connected with said air outlet openings and terminating beneath said diffusion elements for providing controlled flow of air from the interior of said header pipe to the interiors of said plenums beneath said diffusion elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
230 words
A sewage aeration system comprising: a horizontally extending header pipe having an upper surface which is arcuate in transverse cross-section and having air outlet openings in said arcuate upper surface at spaced points along the length of said header pipe; a plurality of synthetic thermoplastic or thermoset resin plenums secured to said arcuate upper surface at spaced points along said header pipe in communication with said air outlet openings; said plenums having wall means, including side wall means extending transversely and longitudinally relative to said arcuate upper surface, and arcuate bottom wall means sealed in gas-tight relationship to said side wall means, said plenums further including diffusion element supporting means spaced upwardly from said header pipe on said side wall means; generally horizontal diffusion elements supported by said support means, said elements having air diffusion pores extending therethrough, but being free of through-holes other than air diffusion pores; retaining means engaging said diffusion elements about their peripheries for securing said elements to said plenums; sealing means adjacent the peripheries of the diffusion elements for preventing leakage of air from said plenums past the peripheries of said elements; and air flow regulator members in communication and connected with said air outlet openings and terminating beneath said diffusion elements for providing controlled flow of air from the interior of said header pipe to the interiors of said plenums beneath said diffusion elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the side wall means has a lower edge conforming to and sealed in gas-tight relationship to said arcuate upper surface, whereby said upper arcuate surface of said header pipe comprises arcuate bottom wall means for said plenums.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the wall means for said plenums further includes an arcuate bottom portion which conforms to and sealingly engages said arcuate upper surface of said header pipe.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The systems of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said side wall means are inclined upwardly and outwardly from said arcuate upper surface.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
22 words
The system of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein said side wall means extend substantially vertically upward from said arcuate upper surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said diffusion elements have a bubble release pressure in the range of about 2 to about 20 inches of water gauge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said diffusion elements have vertical edges which are porous, permeable and free of adhered material preventing bubble emission and in which said vertical edges are covered by the combined structures of the plenums, sealing means and retaining means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 7 wherein the sealing means are located at or above common edges between generally upright peripheral surfaces and upwardly facing upper surfaces of the diffusion elements for preventing discharge of bubbles from below said edges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plenums have outer walls positioned opposite generally upright edges of the diffusion elements, the outer surfaces of said outer walls having threads thereon, and said retaining means include ring means having corresponding internal threads for engaging the threads on said outer wall.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein all surfaces of the diffusion elements which emit bubbles have ready access to replacement water for maintaining the effect of surface tension upon said surfaces.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said diffusion elements have central zones with an enhanced apparent volumetric compression ratio.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said diffusion elements have boundary zones with an enhanced apparent volumetric compression ratio.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said header pipe is a resin pipe.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said resin pipe has a load bearing wall of polymeric material having a tensile strength of about 2000 to about 60,000 psi, a flexural modulus of about 4×10 4 to about 4×10 6 psi and a stiffness of about 10 to about 1000 psi by ASTM test D-2412.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the plenums are bonded to the header pipe.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 including adhesive bonds between the plenums and header pipe.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 15 including welded bonds between the plenums and header pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plenums and said header pipe are both of polymeric material and wherein the plenums are bonded to the header pipe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said plenums and said header pipe are both of polymeric material and include adhesive bonds between the plenums and header pipe.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 18 wherein said plenums and said header pipe are both of polymeric material and include welded bonds between the plenums and header pipe.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plenums and header pipe are both of polymeric material and said plenums include lower wall means held in close fitting engagement with a substantial portion of the length of the header pipe outer surface and of the transverse cross section of the header pipe.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said lower walls conform and engage with the transverse cross section of the header pipe through an arc of at least about 20°.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said lower walls conform and engage with the transverse cross section of the header pipe through an arc of at least about 45°.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said lower walls conform and engage with the transverse cross section of the header pipe through an arc of at least about 70°.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 21 wherein said lower walls are of oval outline.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plenums include lower wall means held in close fitting engagement with a substantial portion of the length and transverse cross section of the header pipe, and wherein said header pipe, lower wall means and air flow regulator members form a combined bonded assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
55 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said plenums include lower wall means held in close fitting engagement with a substantial portion of the length and transverse cross section of the header pipe, and wherein said header pipe, lower wall means and sleeve members for mounting the air flow regulator members form a combined bonded assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the air flow regulator members do not retain the diffusion elements in place.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the flow regulator members have uni-directional flow characteristics for discouraging backflow of liquid from the exterior of the diffuser through the diffusion elements into the plenums during loss of air pressure in said header pipe.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the air flow regulator members, as viewed in a cross section extending transversely through the header pipe and plenums, is mounted within the outline of the header pipe.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the air flow regulator members, as viewed in a cross section extending transversely through the header pipe and plenums, is mounted partly within the outline of the header pipe and partly within the outline of the plenums.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
33 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the air flow regulator members, as viewed in a cross section extending transversely through the header pipe and plenums, is mounted within the outline of the plenum.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have upper gas discharge surfaces and generally upright sides which intersect to define upper edges, the sealing means are of lesser height than the diffusion elements, and the sealing means are positioned at said edges.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 33 wherein the sealing means are in tight engagement with at least the uppermost portions of the sides of said diffusion elements.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements are coherent compacts of finely divided particulate and/or fibrous material.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said finely divided material includes one or more inorganic materials selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica, mullite and clays.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said finely divided material includes fusible polymeric material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 35 wherein said particles and/or fibers are bound together by organic adhesive bonds, ceramic or fusion bonds or sintered portions of said particles and/or fibers.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements are round as viewed in plan view.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
45 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have upper gas discharge surfaces and generally upright sides, and a step is formed in said sides adjacent said upper gas discharge surfaces for receiving said sealing means, whereby said step extends beneath said sealing means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 40 wherein the sealing means are of rubbery elastomeric material held in close fitting engagement with said step by said retaining means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
The system of claim 40 wherein the sealing means are neither adherent nor attached to the diffusion elements and are held in engagement with the steps adjacent the peripheries of the diffusion elements by portions of said plenums and of said retaining means.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 42 wherein the upper inner quandrant of the cross sections of the sealing means are uncovered.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have a bubble release pressure of about 3 to about 15 inches of water gauge.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have a bubble release pressure of about 4 to about 10 inches of water gauge.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
35 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have a specific permeability when new in the range of about 6 to about 200 SCFM per inch of thickness at 2 inches of water gauge.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said sealing means are of rubbery elastomeric material.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the diffusion elements have no fastener holes extending through said elements within the boundaries of their active diffusion surfaces.
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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) | 1984-09-07 | 1985-03-09 | 1985-09-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-09-07 | 1989-03-09 | 1989-09-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-09-07 | 1993-03-09 | 1993-09-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |