Wastewater treatment mechanism

Claim 2

A mechanism for wastewater treatment comprising means for defining a outer chamber in which wastewater is treated during the passage thereof through said outer chamber, said outer chamber including filter means for separating larger and smaller solids by passing wastewater and smaller solids entrained therein through said filter means and effecting settling of the larger solids in a first downstream settling zone on a downstream side of said filter means, means for defining an inner chamber within said outer chamber and downstream of first settling zone, said inner chamber including means for settling solids therein in a second settling zone downstream of said first settling zone, a cap member at an upper end of said inner chamber, said cap member having a cap chamber defined by top and bottom walls and a peripheral wall therebetween, a first opening for introducing wastewater from said inner chamber to said cap member, a second opening for discharging wastewater from said cap chamber, and means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater along an upper surface thereof in a generally radially outward direction.

Claim 3

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including means downstream of said first downstream settling zone for controlling wastewater flow through said first settling zone generally in response to the level of the wastewater in said first settling zone.

Claim 4

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means in an opening in fluid communication with said first downstream settling zone.

Claim 5

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said first downstream settling zone is defined between said filter means and a first wall downstream thereof, and said controlling means is an opening in said first wall.

Claim 6

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said first downstream settling zone is defined between said filter means and a first wall downstream thereof, a second wall downstream of said first wall and defining therewith a third downstream settling zone, and said controlling means is in fluid communication with said first and third downstream settling zones.

Claim 7

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said first downstream settling zone is defined between said filter means and a first wall downstream thereof, a second wall downstream of said first wall and defining therewith a third downstream settling zone, and said controlling means is an opening in said second wall.

Claim 8

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow in response to the hydraulic head of the wastewater in said first settling zone.

Claim 9

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow proportionally in response to the hydraulic head of the wastewater in said first settling zone.

Claim 10

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone.

Claim 11

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control waste water flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, and said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of elevationally spaced openings.

Claim 12

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, and said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of generally vertically spaced openings.

Claim 13

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, and said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of elevationally spaced openings in said first wall.

Claim 14

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, and said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of generally vertically spaced openings in said first wall.

Claim 15

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of elevationally spaced openings, and said openings are different sizes.

Claim 16

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control wastewater flow at at least two distinct levels of the wastewater in said first settling zone, said two distinct levels are defined by a pair of elevationally spaced openings, said openings are different sizes, and a larger of said openings is disposed elevationally above a smaller of said openings.

Claim 17

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 including means for defining a second settling zone downstream of said controlling means, and said controlling means is constructed and arranged to control the wastewater flow from said first settling zone to said third settling zone.

Claim 18

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is effective for separating the wastewater flow into at least two flow paths during passage from said first settling zone.

Claim 19

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is effective for separating the wastewater flow into at least two elevationally offset flow paths during passage from said first settling zone.

Claim 20

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said controlling means is effective for separating the wastewater flow into at least two generally similarly horizontally disposed flow paths during passage from said first settling.

Claim 21

The mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said filter means include at least two different porosities, and a larger of said two different porosities is located vertically above a smaller of said two different porosities.

Claim 22

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said wastewater directing means initially directs wastewater from generally opposite points to a point of merger prior to effecting said radially outwardly direction.

Claim 23

The mechanism as defined in claim 21 wherein said peripheral wall includes means generally aligned with said upper surface wastewater directing means for directing wastewater downwardly along an outer peripheral surface portion of said peripheral wall.

Claim 24

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 including means defined by said top wall for locating thereat means for introducing a wastewater treatment medium upon said top wall upper surface.

Claim 25

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 including means defined by said bottom wall for converging the flow of wastewater during the flow thereof from said first opening to said second opening.

Claim 26

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 including at least one threaded rod projecting in a direction away from said bottom wall for securing said cap member to at least one of said inner and outer chamber defining means.

Claim 27

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 including means for leveling said cap member upon installation thereof relative to at least one of said inner and outer chamber defining means.

Claim 28

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 including a third opening in said top wall for introducing a wastewater treatment medium into said cap chamber.

Claim 29

The mechanism as defined in claim 22 wherein said settling solids means in said inner chamber are a plurality of stacked solids settling plates.

Claim 30

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including means defined by said top wall for locating thereat means for introducing a wastewater treatment medium upon said top wall upper surface.

Claim 31

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including means defined by said bottom wall for converging the flow of wastewater during the flow thereof from said first opening to said second opening.

Claim 32

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including at least one threaded rod projecting in a direction away from said bottom wall for securing said cap member to at least one of said inner and outer chamber defining means.

Claim 33

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including means for leveling said cap member upon installation thereof relative to at least one of said inner and outer chamber defining means.

Claim 34

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 including a third opening in said top wall for introducing a wastewater treatment medium into said cap member.

Claim 35

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said settling solids means in said inner chamber are a plurality of stacked solids settling plates.

Claim 36

The mechanism as defined in claim 1 wherein said peripheral wall includes means generally aligned with said upper surface wastewater directing means for directing wastewater downwardly along an outer peripheral surface portion of said peripheral wall.

Claim 37

A mechanism for wastewater treatment comprising inner and outer relatively telescopic units, said inner and outer telescopic units each being a distinct unitized structure; said outer telescopic unit including an outer container, said outer container including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall collectively defining a generally upwardly opening chamber, filter means exteriorly of said peripheral wall and defining therewith a first downstream settling zone, control means in said peripheral wall for controlling wastewater flow through said first settling zone generally in response to the level of wastewater in said first settling zone, and means for unitizing said filter means and said outer container; said inner telescopic unit including an inner container having a chamber defined in part by a peripheral wall, said peripheral walls being in relatively spaced relationship to each other and defining a second settling zone therebetween, means within said inner telescopic unit chamber for defining a third settling zone, and means for unitizing said third settling zone defining means and said inner container peripheral wall whereby said distinct inner and outer unitized units can be bodily telescopically assembled and disassembled; a cap member at an upper end of said inner telescopic unit, said cap member having a cap chamber defined by top and bottom walls and a peripheral wall therebetween, a first opening for introducing wastewater from said inner telescopic unit chamber into said cap chamber, a second opening for discharging wastewater from said cap chamber, and means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater along an upper surface thereof in a generally radially outward direction.

Claim 38

A mechanism for wastewater treatment comprising inner and outer relatively telescopic units, said inner and outer telescopic units each being a distinct unitized structure; said outer telescopic unit including an outer container, said outer container including a bottom wall and a peripheral wall collectively defining a generally upwardly opening chamber, filter means exteriorly of said peripheral wall and defining therewith a first downstream settling zone, control means in said peripheral wall for controlling wastewater flow through said first settling zone generally in response to the level of wastewater in said first settling zone, and means for unitizing said filter means and said outer container; said inner telescopic unit including an inner container having a chamber defined in part by a peripheral wall, said peripheral walls being in relatively spaced relationship to each other and defining a second settling zone therebetween, means within said inner telescopic unit chamber for defining a third settling zone, and means for unitizing said third settling zone defining means and said inner container peripheral wall whereby said distinct inner and outer unitized units can be bodily telescopically assembled and disassembled; a cap member at an upper end of said inner telescopic unit, said cap member having a cap chamber defined by top and bottom walls and a peripheral wall therebetween, a first opening for introducing wastewater from said inner telescopic unit chamber into said cap chamber, a second opening for discharging wastewater from said cap chamber, and means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater along an upper surface thereof in a generally radially outward direction.

Claim 39

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for conducting wastewater from said third settling zone exteriorly of said outer telescopic unit through the peripheral wall thereof.

Claim 40

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for defining a separate top wall of said inner telescopic unit, and said last-mentioned unitizing means is constructed and arranged for unitizing said top wall and said inner container peripheral wall.

Claim 41

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for defining a top wall of said inner telescopic unit, means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber, and further means defined by said top wall for converging the flow of wastewater along a top surface of said top wall.

Claim 42

The mechanism as defined in claim 37 including means for defining a top wall of said inner telescopic unit, opening means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber, and further opening means defined by said top wall for converging the flow of wastewater along a top surface of said top wall.

Claim 43

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for maintaining lowermost end portions of said inner and outer telescopic units in spaced relationship to each other.

Claim 44

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for defining a separate top wall of said inner telescopic unit, and means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater from said control means to said second settling zone.

Claim 45

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for maintaining said filter means in generally spaced relationship to said outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 46

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for maintaining said filter means in generally spaced relationship to said outer container peripheral wall, and said maintaining means are a plurality of outwardly directed projections disposed about an exterior of said outer chamber peripheral wall.

Claim 47

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes an opening.

Claim 48

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least a pair of generally diametrically disposed openings.

Claim 49

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least a pair of generally vertically spaced disposed openings.

Claim 50

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least a pair of generally elevationally spaced disposed openings.

Claim 51

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least two pairs of generally diametrically disposed openings.

Claim 52

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least two pairs of generally vertically spaced disposed openings.

Claim 53

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said control means includes at least two pairs of generally elevationally spaced disposed openings.

Claim 54

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said filter means is generally in external telescopic surrounding relationship to said outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 55

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said filter means includes at least two different porosities, and a larger of said two different porosities is located vertically above a smaller of said two different porosities.

Claim 56

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said filter means is generally in external telescopic surrounding relationship to said outer container peripheral wall, and means for clamping said filter means against said outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 57

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said filter means is generally in external telescopic surrounding relationship to said outer container peripheral wall, and a plurality of external clamping band means for clamping said filter means against said outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 58

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for conducting wastewater outflow from said inner container through said filter means and outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 59

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for conducting wastewater outflow from said inner container through said filter means and outer container peripheral wall, and means for creating a liquid seal between said conducting means and said filter means and outer container peripheral wall.

Claim 60

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for defining a top wall of said inner telescopic unit, and means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber.

Claim 61

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means defining a top wall having first and second wall portions, means defined by said first top wall portion for directing wastewater from said control means to said second settling zone, and means defined by said second top wall portion for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber.

Claim 62

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for defining a top wall of said inner telescopic unit, and opening means defined by said top wall for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber.

Claim 63

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means defining a top wall having first and second wall portions, means defined by said first top wall portion for directing wastewater from said control means to said second settling zone, and opening means defined by said second top wall portion for directing wastewater outwardly of said inner container chamber.

Claim 64

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said wastewater directing means initially directs wastewater from generally opposite points to a point of merger prior to effecting said radially outward direction.

Claim 65

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means defined by said top wall for locating thereat means for introducing a wastewater treatment medium upon said top wall upper surface.

Claim 66

The mechanism as defined in claim 62 wherein said peripheral wall includes means generally aligned with said upper surface wastewater directing means for directing wastewater downwardly along an outer peripheral surface portion of said peripheral wall.

Claim 67

The mechanism as defined in claim 64 including means defined by said top wall for locating thereat means for introducing a wastewater treatment medium upon said top wall upper surface.

Claim 68

The mechanism as defined in claim 64 including means defined by said cap chamber defining bottom wall for converging the flow of wastewater during the flow thereof from said first opening to said second opening.

Claim 69

The mechanism as defined in claim 64 including at least one threaded rod projecting in a direction away from said bottom walls which is adapted for securing said cap member to said inner telescopic unit.

Claim 70

The mechanism as defined in claim 64 including means for levelling said inner telescopic unit chamber relative to said outer telescopic unit chamber.

Claim 71

The mechanism as defined in claim 64 including a third opening in said top wall for introducing a wastewater treatment medium into said chamber.

Claim 72

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means defined by said cap chamber defining bottom wall for converging the flow of wastewater during the flow thereof from said first opening to said second opening.

Claim 73

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including at least one threaded rod projecting in a direction away from said bottom walls which is adapted for securing said cap member to said inner telescopic unit.

Claim 74

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including means for levelling said inner telescopic unit chamber relative to said outer telescopic unit chamber.

Claim 75

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 including a third opening in said top wall for introducing a wastewater treatment medium into said chamber.

Claim 76

The mechanism as defined in claim 73 wherein said settling solids means in said inner chamber are a plurality of stacked solids settling plates.

Claim 77

The mechanism as defined in claim 36 wherein said peripheral wall includes means generally aligned with said upper surface wastewater directing means for directing wastewater downwardly along an outer peripheral surface portion of said peripheral wall.