US5049265A — Effluent treatment system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 80 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising: a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and a biological effluent treatment medium in the container, the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically active peat and a fibrous material comprising the root residues of eriophorum (cotton grass) plants extracted from bog peat.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 80 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising: a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and a biological effluent treatment medium in the container, the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically active peat and a fibrous material comprising the root residues of eriophorum (cotton grass) plants extracted from bog peat.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio of peat to fibrous material in the medium is in the range of 10:90 to 90:10 by volume.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio is from 20:80 to 80:20.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 13 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the ratio is approximately 50:50.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as claimed in any of claim 1 wherein the biologically active peat is a young Sphagnum peat.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 25 words

A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the peat is of a Von Post humification scale of from H 1 to H 3 grade.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the peat is a Von Post H 1 grade.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mixture is compacted by from 20% to 75% by volume.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 19 words

A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the mixture is compacted by from 30% to 60% by volume.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 16 words

A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the mixture is compacted approximately 50% by volume.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 21 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein an upper effluent distribution medium is provided above the biological effluent treatment medium.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 17 words

A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the distribution medium is of an organic fibrous material.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein a lower outlet flow inducing medium is provided below the biological effluent treatment medium at or adjacent to the effluent outlet.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

A system as claimed in claim 13 wherein the outlet flow inducing medium is an organic fibrous material.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 23 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the depth of the effluent treatment medium is in the range 0.5 to 1.0 meters.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 38 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the surface area of the effluent treatment medium is at least 7 square meters for a hydraulic loading of in the order of 7cm to 15cm per day of effluent.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 36 words

A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the container is of a modular form, a number of containers being joined together and the effluent to be treated being spread across the containers, in parallel flow.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 96 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising (a) a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and (b) a biological effluent treatment medium in the container. the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically-active peat and a fibrous material, the container having a top opening closed by an air permeable lid, and the lid comprising a perforated cover having an odor control layer of fibrous peat material.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 96 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising (a) a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and (b) a biological effluent treatment medium in the container. the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically-active peat and a fibrous material, the container having a top opening closed by an air permeable lid, and the lid comprising a perforated cover having an odor control layer of fibrous peat material.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 140 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising (a) a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and (b) a biological effluent treatment medium in the container, the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically-active peat and a fibrous material, wherein the system includes means for distributing effluent across the surface of the effluent treatment medium, said effluent distributing means comprising at least one pipe extending above the treatment medium, the at least one pipe having a plurality of spaced-apart outlet holes, a layer of stone chippings being provided underneath the pipe outlets and a layer of peat material being provided above the chippings to spread and distribute effluent to be treated.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 140 words

An effluent treatment system for treating effluent which has passed through a primary treatment to remove a substantial proportion of solids comprising (a) a container having an upper inlet for effluent from a primary treatment and a lower outlet for treated effluent, and (b) a biological effluent treatment medium in the container, the biological effluent treatment medium comprising a homogenous mixture of biologically-active peat and a fibrous material, wherein the system includes means for distributing effluent across the surface of the effluent treatment medium, said effluent distributing means comprising at least one pipe extending above the treatment medium, the at least one pipe having a plurality of spaced-apart outlet holes, a layer of stone chippings being provided underneath the pipe outlets and a layer of peat material being provided above the chippings to spread and distribute effluent to be treated.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 33 words

A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for distributing effluent comprises a rosette type distributor having a central inlet and a plurality of spaced-apart outlets fed from the common inlet.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 26 words

A system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the means for distributing effluent comprises a sheet of corrugated material having a plurality of spaced-apart outlet holes.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1994-09-16	1995-03-18	1995-09-17	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1998-09-16	1999-03-18	1999-09-17	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2002-09-16	2003-03-18	2003-09-17	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Effluent treatment system

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