US5059330A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gray water reclamation method and apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1990-04-02
•
Granted: 1991-10-22
•
Expires: 2010-04-02
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for cleansing gray water from showers and the like and reclaiming the cleansed water for reuse comprises a receptacle and a conduit for delivering gray water to the receptacle. A sensor detects flow of gray water into the receptacle and injects cleansing agents into the flow in response to such detection. A drain conduit communicates with the upper portion of the receptacle for extracting floating contaminants from the surface of gray water therein and a valved conduit communicates with the bottom of the receptacle for selectively extracting sinking contaminates thereform. A pump is adapted to draw the resulting cleansed gray water from the receptacle and deliver it to a remote location for reuse as, for example, in flushing toilets.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald O. Burkhardt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 21:29
CPC Classifications
E; E03; E03B; E03B1/00; E03B1/04; E03B1/041; E03B2001/045; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A20/00; Y02A20/146; Y02A20/148; Y02A20/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
An apparatus for cleansing gray water and reclaiming the cleansed water for reuse with said apparatus comprising: a receptacle for receiving and containing gray water; conduit means for delivering gray water to said receptacle; means for extracting floating contaminants from the surface of gray water within said receptacle; means for extracting precipitated contaminants from the bottom of gray water within said receptacle; means for drawing cleansed gray water from said receptacle for reuse; and a first shutter valve means within said receptacle for selectively isolating floating contaminants from gray water within said receptacle for extraction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising pump means for pumping isolated surface liquid from said receptacle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 and further comprising a second shutter valve means within said receptacle for selectively isolating precipitated contaminant bearing liquid from gray water within said receptacle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3 and further comprising pump means for pumping isolated precipitated contaminant bearing liquid from said receptacle.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of cleansing gray water and reclaiming the cleansed water for reuse with said method comprising the steps of: (a) directing gray water from a source into a receptacle; (b) allowing the gray water to stand within the receptacle until floating contaminants have migrated to the surface of the gray water and sinking contaminants have precipitated to the bottom of the receptacle; (c) isolating the floating contaminants from gray water within the receptacle and pumping the isolated floating contaminants from the receptacle for disposal; (d) periodically extracting the sinking contaminants from the bottom of the receptacle and directing the sinking contaminants to a drain; and (e) drawing the remaining substantially contaminant free gray water from the receptacle and directing it to a remote location for reuse.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 5 wherein step (d) comprises isolating the sinking contaminants from gray water within the receptacle and pumping the isolated sinking contaminants from the receptacle for disposal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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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) | 1994-10-21 | 1995-04-22 | 1995-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-21 | 1999-04-22 | 1999-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-21 | 2003-04-22 | 2003-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |