Sanitation system.

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to wastewater discharge systems, and more particularly to a wastewater discharge system in which a black water stream is first passed through a black water treatment clarifier to produce a treated black water stream and the treated black water stream and a gray water stream are thereafter directed into and through a combined clarifier.

Summary of the invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a wastewater discharge system is provided for treating an outflow of a black water flow from a toilet and for treating an outflow of a gray water flow from a gray water source, such as a dishwasher, a kitchen sink, a waste disposal device, a shower or a toilet, the system comprising a black water treatment clarifier for receiving the black water stream, removing a substantial portion of the solids from the received black water stream and clarifying a substantial portion of the solids, and deriving a treated black water stream from which a substantial portion of the solids has been removed ; a combined clarifier to receive the treated black water stream and to receive the gray water stream, to remove the solids from the gray water stream and from the treated black water stream, to clarify the removed solids and to derive a treated combined black and gray water stream, the combined black and gray water stream being treated is left out as a discharged, reprocessed water stream; a second combined clarifier to receive the treated combined black and gray water stream, to remove solids from the treated combined black and gray water stream, to clarify the solids removed from the treated combined black and gray water stream, and to derive a treated outlet stream, the treated outlet stream is left out as a skipped, reprocessed water stream.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for treating a black water stream discharged from a black water source (a toilet) and for treating a gray water stream from a gray water source, comprising the following: Inlet of the black water stream into a black water treatment clarifier, removal of a substantial portion of the solids from the black water stream and clarification of a substantial portion of the solids into the black water treatment clarifier and discharge of a treated black water stream; Inlet the treated black water stream and the gray water stream into a combined clarifier, removing a substantial portion of the solids from the treated black water stream and removing a substantial portion of the solids from the gray water stream, clarifying the solids removed from the treated black water stream and the gray water stream in the combined clarifier and discharge a treated combined black and gray water flow, wherein the treated combined black and gray water stream comprises an exhausted, recycled water stream; Inlet of the treated combined black and gray water flow into a second combined clarifier; Removal of a substantial proportion of solids from the treated combined black and gray water flow and clarification of the solids removed from the treated combined black and gray water flow in the second combined clarification device and derivation of a treated outlet flow from the second combined clarification device, the treated outlet flow being an discharged, recycled water flow is left out.

Brief description of the drawings

Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a sewage disposal system designed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial schematic diagram in elevation or partially from the front of a characteristic black water treatment clarifier;

Figure 3 is a sketch of a characteristic throttle used in the black water treatment clarifier of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sketch of a characteristic filter plate used in the black water treatment clarifier of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a sketch of an air tube used in the black water treatment clarifier of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a partial schematic diagram in elevation or partially from the front of a gray water clarifier;

FIG. 7 shows a sketch of a characteristic throttle which is used in the gray water clarification device from FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 shows a sketch of a filter plate which is used in the gray water clarification device from FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 shows a sketch of an air pipe which is used in the gray water clarification device from FIG. 6;

Figure 10 is a side elevational view of a typical dispenser;

Figure 11 is a schematic diagram of a waste water pipe, a plurality of gray water sources (the restaurants marked with restaurant 1 to restaurant N) feed gray water into the waste water pipe, and with a dispensing device for dispensing an activator for making the fat liquid in the one connected to the gray water pipe above the gray water source gray water;

Figure 12 is a partial isometric view of the dispenser of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a side view, partially in elevation, of a portion of the dispenser and the shell of the dispenser at a filling position.

Description of the preferred embodiments

FIG. 1 shows a wastewater discharge system designed according to the present invention and is designated by the general reference number 10. The waste water discharge system 10 is suitable for treating black water flows which are emitted from toilets, two toilets being shown in the drawing, which are identified by reference numerals 12a and 12b. In the drawing, the two toilets are marked and they are sometimes referred to as "first black water source" and "second black water source" or simply "black water source". The waste water drainage system 10 can be used with a plurality of toilets, the two toilets or black water sources 12a and 12b shown in the drawing being shown for illustration purposes only.

The waste water discharge system 10 is also suitable for the treatment of gray water. As shown in FIG. 1, there is a first gray water source 14, which represents gray water emitted by, for example, a dishwasher, a kitchen sink and / or a waste disposal device, and a second gray water source 16, which represents gray water from a shower, a washroom or sometimes represents running water from a kitchen sink. The first gray water source 14 differs from the second gray water source 16 in that the first gray water source 14 generally derives gray water containing food waste (solids) and fat, whereas these contaminants are generally not contained in the second gray water source 16.

In the waste water discharge system 10, each toilet 12 is connected to a black water treatment clarifier. In particular, the first toilet 12a is connected to a first black water treatment clarifier 18 via a line 20, while the second toilet 12b is connected to a second black water treatment clarifier 22 via a line 24.

When the flush of the first toilet 12a is actuated, a black water flow is discharged through the line 20 and fed into the first black water treatment clarifier 18. When the flush of the second toilet 12b is actuated, a black water flow is discharged through the line 24 and fed into the second black water treatment clarifier 22.

The black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 receive the black water flow from the toilets 12a and 12b via the respective lines 20 and 24, respectively. The black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 are of the same construction and each black water treatment clarifier 18 and 22 is designed to remove a substantial amount of solids from the black water streams and to treat the solids removed from the black water streams primarily via aerobic treatment, to produce a treated black water stream.

The treated black water stream is passed from the black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 through a line 26 which is connected to a combined clarifier 28. The treated black water stream is passed into and through a combined clarifier 28.

The first and second gray water sources 14 and 16 each generate a gray water flow, and the gray water flow from each gray water source 14 and 16 is passed through a line 30 and into a combined clarifier 28. The combined clarification device 28 is designed in such a way that it removes a substantial proportion of solids from the received gray water stream and from the received treated black water stream. The solids removed from the gray water stream and the treated black water stream are aerobically processed in the combined clarifier 28 to produce a treated combined black and gray water stream.

The treated combined black and gray water flow is conducted from the combined clarifier 28 via a line 32 into a second combined clarifier 34. The function of the second combined clarification device 34 lies in the further removal of solids from the treated combined black and gray water stream as well as in the aerobic treatment of the solids removed from the treated combined black and gray water stream, so that a treated outlet stream is generated which is generated via the Line 36 is omitted from the second combined clarifier 34.

The treated outlet stream is passed through line 36 and through a filter 38. The filter 38 has activated carbon and the treated outlet stream is passed through the activated carbon to further filter and treat the treated outlet stream. The treated outlet stream is passed through the filter 38 and into the holding tank 40. The treated outlet stream is stored in the holding tank 40.

A pump 42 is connected to the holding tank 40 via a line 44. The pump has an ON state and an OFF state. When the pump 42 is ON, the pump 42 pumps the treated outlet stream from the holding tank 40, the treated outlet stream being passed through a line 46 into and through a chlorinator 56. The chlorinator 56 has chlorine tablets and chlorinates the treated outlet stream. The treated outlet stream is discharged from the waste water discharge system 10 as a discharged, recycled water stream via a line 60.

In some applications, the filter 38 may be omitted, and the treated outlet stream may be passed directly from the second combined clarifier 34 to the holding tank 40. Furthermore, the chlorinator 56 can be located at any position before the outlet of the discharged, reprocessed water stream, such as between the filter 38 and the holding tank 40. In some applications, the treated outlet stream derived from the second combined clarifier 34 may be discharged as a discharged, recycled water stream.

In most applications, continuous or continuous discharge of the treated outlet stream is not desirable. For this reason, the holding tank 40 is provided with means which, together with the pump 42, provide a means for discharging the treated outlet flow at periodic intervals, such as three times a day.

The first greywater source 14 generates a greywater stream that has solids and sometimes fat associated therewith. A gray water clarification device 62 is located between the combined clarification device 28 and the first gray water source 14. The gray water clarification device 62 serves to remove a substantial proportion of solid matter from the gray water flow from the first gray water source 14 and to remove fat from the gray water flow from the first gray water source 14. The gray water clarification device 62 essentially functions as a grease filter. The greywater derived from the greywater clarifier 62 is connected to the greywater derived from the second greywater source 16, and the combined greywater flows are conducted through the line 30 into the combined clarifier 28. It was found that the efficiency of the waste water discharge system 10 is greatly improved by using the gray water clarifier 62.

The clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62 each effect an aerobic treatment or treatment of the substances contained therein. The wastewater discharge system 10 includes a compressed air source 63 which is designed to deliver air at a predetermined pressure. The air discharged from the compressed air source 63 is input to each of the clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62, as indicated in the drawing by the dashed arrow lines, for the aerobic treatment that is present in the corresponding clarifiers 18, 22, 28 , 34 and 62 located substances to facilitate. A vent hole is also formed on each clarifier 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62 to vent gases generated in the respective clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62.

The construction and operation of the first and second black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 are identical. A characteristic black water treatment clarifier 18 or 22 is shown in FIGS. 2-5.

The black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 each have a throttle pair 64 and 66. The throttles in the first black water treatment clarifier 18 are identified in FIG. 1 by the reference numerals 64a and 66a, while the throttles in the second black water treatment clarifier are identified by the reference numerals 64b and 66b.

The chokes 64 and 66 each extend over a central section of the black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22, so that the solids tend to either float up or sink or settle on the bottom of the corresponding black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 when the black water streams flow through the respective black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22.

Each of the black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 includes a container 68 having an inlet end 70, an outlet end 72, an upper end 74 and a lower end 76.

An inlet pipe 78 is disposed through the upper end 74 of the tank 68, the inlet pipe 78 extending a bit through the tank 68 and ending in a lower end 80. The lower end 80 of the inlet tube 78 is located near and slightly above the lower end 76 of the tank 68. The inlet pipes are designated with the corresponding reference numerals 78a and 78b in relation to the corresponding black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 from FIG. 1.

The tank 68 also includes an outlet tube 82 that extends through the outlet end 72 of the tank 68. The outlet pipe 82 extends down through the tank 68 and terminates with a lower end 84 that is generally above and a distance above the lower end 76 of the tank 68. The lower end 84 of the outlet tube 82 is on a plane that is coplanar with the lower end 80 of the inlet tube 78. The outlet pipes in the clarification devices 18 and 22 are designated in FIG. 1 by the corresponding reference numerals 82a and 82b.

In general, there is a spaced-apart filter plate 86 next to the outlet end 72 of the tank 68. The corresponding filter plates are identified in Figure 1 by the reference numerals 86a and 86b.

The filter plate 86 is a solid plate that extends across the tank 68 and separates the inlet end of the tank 68 from the outlet end of the tank 68, thereby forming an outlet chamber 88 in the tank 68, generally near the outlet end 72 of the tank 68. The filter plate 86 has a series of openings 90 formed through an upper portion of the plate, the openings spaced from the upper end 74 of the tank 68. The openings 90 extend approximately from the upper end of the restrictors 64 and 66 to the upper end 74 of the tank 68.

In the section of the lower end 76 of the tank 68 there is a U-shaped air pipe 92. The air pipe 92 has a plurality of openings 94 therein (only one of the openings 94 is designated by the reference number in FIG. 5).

A vent hole 96 is formed in the upper end 74 of the tank 68.

A dispenser 98 is connected to the upper end 74 of the tank 68. The corresponding delivery devices are designated in FIG. 1 by the reference numbers 98a and 98b. The dispensing devices 98 are each suitable for holding a predetermined amount of a biological activator therein. The dispensing devices 98 are each suitable for dispensing a predetermined amount of the biological activator into the corresponding black water treatment clarification devices 18 and 22. Dispensers 98 are located near the inlet end 70 of tanks 68 to dispense the biological activator into the black water stream generally near the position at which the black water stream enters tank 68.

In one embodiment, the particular biological activator is a commercially available activator sold by Humphrey Marine Sewage Treatment Systems, Inc., California as Activator # 9. This activator is a culture which, in order to promote the processing of the solids in the black water stream conducted into and through the clarification devices 18 and 22, produces bacteria.

It is hereby established that the dispensing device 98 can also be used only on one of the clarifying devices 18 or 22, and the dispensing device 98 can be used in conjunction with the combined clarifying device 28.

In operation, the black water enters the tank 68 through the inlet pipe 78. The lower end 76 of the inlet pipe 78 is located near the lower end 76 of the tank 68 to reduce turbulence and to reduce the amount of solids entering the central portion of the black water in the tank 68.

The lower ends 100 and 102 of the respective restrictors 64 and 66 are on a horizontal plane which is approximately on the same level as the lower ends 80 and 84 of the corresponding inlet and outlet pipes 78 and 82, so that the solids in the black water in the tanks 68 are moved to a position below the lower ends 80 and 84 of the inlet and outlet pipes 78 and 82. The upper ends 104 and 106 of the respective restrictors 64 and 66 are on a plane that is approximately coplanar with the outlet end 108 of the outlet pipe 82. The upper ends 104 and 106 of the corresponding throttles 64 and 66 are more precisely on a level with the level of an overflow line 110 of the outlet pipe 82.

The black water streams in clarifiers 18 and 22 generally run from inlet end 70 to outlet end 72. Throttles 64 and 66 tend to force the solids either to the water surface in tank 68 or to the bottom of tank 68 if that Black water flows from the inlet end 70 to the outlet end 72 through the tank.

The openings 90 and the filter plates 86 are generally above the upper ends 104 and 106 of the restrictors 64 and 66. The black water from the upper end of the black water in the tanks 68 flows through the openings 90, the openings 90 serving a large part filter the solids from the black water flowing through the openings 94 and into the outlet chamber 88.

When the black water flows into the outlet chamber 88, the black water in the outlet chamber 88 continues to fill the outlet chamber 88 until the black water in the outlet chamber 88 reaches a level that is generally at or slightly above the overflow line 110, and that Black water in the outlet chamber 88 then overflows and is discharged through the outlet pipe 82 so that the treated black water is discharged from the tank 68. The lower end 84 of the outlet tube 82 is in the outlet chamber 88 to primarily black water in the outlet chamber 88 at a central position with respect to the lower end 76 of the tank 68 and the lower Pegerl of black water in the outlet chamber 88 to received, which tends to reduce the amount of solids discharged from the exhaust pipe 82 as treated black water stream.

As shown in Figure 1, the combined clarifier 28 includes a series of chokes (three chokes are shown in Figure 1, generally designated by reference numerals 112, 114 and 116). The throttles 112, 114 and 116 are arranged to provide a curved path through which the treated black water stream and the gray water stream flow through the combined clarifier 28. The restrictors 112, 114 and 116 also tend to cause the solids to sink to the bottom of the combined clarifier 28 or to settle on the bottom to reduce the amount of solids discharged from the combined clarifier 28 and so on to facilitate the aerobic processing of the solids in the combined clarifier 28.

As shown in Figure 1, the second combined clarifier 34 also includes throttles 118 and 120 and an end plate 122. When the treated combined black and greywater flow flows through the second combined clarifier 34, throttles 118 and 120 tend to solids bring to settle on the floor or to sink to the floor to facilitate the processing of the solids in the second combined clarifier 34.

The end plate 122 includes an overflow pipe 124. The overflow pipe is arranged to receive liquid in the second combined clarifier 34 at a level generally midway between the lower end of the second combined clarifier 34 and the upper Liquid level in the second combined clarifier 34. In other words, the overflow tube 124 is positioned in the second combined clarifier 34 so that it receives liquid approximately at the central position of the liquid in the second combined clarifier 34, and this liquid is directed into an outlet chamber 126. By withdrawing the liquid in the second combined clarifier 34 at a position generally midway between the upper and lower levels of the liquid in the second combined clarifier 34, the solids content in the liquid from the second is reduced combined clarifier 34 flows into the outlet chamber since the solids tend to to be conveyed to either the upper or the lower level in the second combined clarifier 34. The outlet chamber 126 contains the liquid having the treated outlet stream.

As shown in Figure 1, the pump 128 is located in the outlet chamber 126 of the second combined clarifier 34. The pump 128 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown). A liquid level switch 130 is located in the outlet chamber 126. The switch 130 is located between the pump and the power supply unit (not shown). The switch 130 can sense a predetermined high and a predetermined low liquid level within the outlet chamber 126.

When the liquid level in the outlet chamber 126 in operation reaches a predetermined high level, the switch 130 is closed, which turns on the pump 128 and causes the pump 128 to pump liquid out of the outlet chamber 126. The pump 128 pumps liquid from the outlet chamber 126 until the liquid in the outlet chamber 126 reaches a predetermined low level. When the liquid in the outlet chamber 126 reaches the predetermined low level, the switch 130 is opened, thereby disconnecting the pump 128 from the power supply unit (not shown), and the pumping of liquid from the outlet chamber 126 is stopped. There is also a warning switch 132 in the outlet chamber 126. The warning switch 132 can detect a predetermined high warning level of the liquid in the outlet chamber 126. In response to the detection of a predetermined high warning level of the liquid in the outlet chamber 126, the warning switch 132 is closed, whereby a contactor 134 is closed. The valve 134 is connected to the supply water meter source and is positioned and arranged to shut off the main water supply to the house when the warning switch 132 detects the predetermined high warning level of the liquid in the outlet chamber 126, thereby indicating a malfunction of the sewage drainage system 10.

As indicated in Figure 1, closing warning switch 132 also activates signal 136, thereby providing a visual or audible indication of malfunction output. Signal 136 may be a warning that provides an audible expense indicator or a flashing light that provides a visual expense indicator that indicates a malfunction of sewage disposal system 10.

As is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, the gray water clarification device 62 comprises in particular a tank 138 with an inlet end and with an outlet end 142. The tank 138 further comprises an upper end 144 and a lower end 146. An inlet tube 148 is positioned through the inlet end 140 of the tank 138, the inlet tube extending a bit from the top 144 through the tank 138 to the bottom 146 and ending in a bottom 150. The lower end 150 of the inlet tube 148 is generally near the lower end 146 of the tank 138 and a distance above this end.

A pair of throttles 152 and 154 are located in the tank 138. A plate 156 is connected to the tank 138 between the throttles 152 and 154 and the outlet end 142 of the tank 138, thereby creating an outlet tank 158 between the plate 156 and the outlet end 142 of the tank 138 is designed. A plate tube 160 extends through the plate 156. The plate tube 160 has an inlet end 162 which is located in the tank 138 between the restrictors 152 and 154 and the inlet end 140 of the tank 138. The inlet end 162 is generally near the lower end 146 of the tank 138 and generally at a distance from that end. The inlet end 162 is arranged to receive liquid from the tank at a position generally between the lower end 146 and the upper end of the liquid in the tank 138 and between the plate 156 and the inlet end 146 of the tank 138, wherein inlet end 162 is liquid from a central portion of the liquid in tank 138. The liquid received from the inlet end 162 is passed through the plate tube 160 and into the outlet container 158 when the liquid level around the tube reaches or exceeds an overflow level 164.

A filter plate 166 is connected to the tank 138 and is located between the throttles 152 and 154 and the plate 156, thereby forming a first container 168, generally between the filter plate 166 and the plate 156. In particular, the inlet end 162 is located of the plate tube 160 in the first container 168.

The filter plate 166 includes a series of upper openings 170 located near and spaced from the upper end 172 of the filter plate 166 (only one of the upper openings 170 is identified by a reference numeral in Figures 7 and 9). Filter plate 166 also includes a series of lower openings 174 that are proximate and spaced from a lower end 176 of filter plate 166. In Figures 6 and 8, only one of the lower openings 174 is designated by the reference number.

The filter plate 166 also includes a series of central openings 178 which are arranged in the filter plate 166 generally midway between the upper and lower ends 172 and 176. The central openings 178 are positioned so that they are generally located around the center of the liquid level in the tank 138, the liquid level of the liquid in the tank 138 being generally between the filter plate 166 and the inlet end 140 of the tank 138.

The upper ends 180 and 182 of the respective chokes 152 and 154 are at a level that is approximately at the same level as the overflow level 164. The lower ends 180 and 184 of the respective chokes 152 and 154 are at a level that is approximately is at the same level as the inlet end 162 of the plate tube 160 and the lower end 150 of the inlet tube 148.

An outlet pipe 188 is connected to the outlet end 142 of the tank 138. The outlet pipe 188 extends through the inlet end 140 and down a bit into the tank 138, ending with an inlet end 190. The inlet end 190 is at a level approximately level with the inlet end 162 of the plate tube 160 and the lower ends 184 and 186 of the restrictors 152 and 154. The outlet tube 188 has an outlet end 192. The outlet end 192 is at a level approximately the same level as the outlet end of the plate tube 160 and the overflow level 164. When the liquid level in the outlet container 158 reaches or exceeds the overflow level 164, the liquid is discharged through the outlet end 192 of the Outlet pipe 188 derived from the tank 138.

Dispenser 194 is connected to tank 138 and is generally near inlet end 140 of tank 138. The dispenser 194 is adapted to hold and store a predetermined amount of a biological activator. The dispenser 194 is configured and oriented to dispense a predetermined amount of the biological activator into the tank 138 at a predetermined dosage rate, generally near the inlet end 140 of the tank. The biological activator delivered via the delivery device 194 is suitable for facilitating the liquefaction of the fat in the liquid in the tank 138. In one embodiment, the biological activator suitable for use with delivery device 194 is Activator Activator # 10, available from Humphrey Marine Sewage Systems, Inc., California.

In operation, the gray water is discharged via the inlet pipe 148 into the tank 138 (gray water clarifier 62). Throttles 152 and 154 serve to facilitate the transportation of solids generally to the lower end 146 and generally to the upper end 144 of the tank 138, thereby interacting so that a central portion of the gray water in the tank 138 is generally relatively free of Fat or solids is kept. The upper and lower openings 170 and 174 in the filter plate 166 direct gray water from the area between the filter plate 166 and the inlet end 140 of the tank 138, thereby filtering grease or solids from the water. The greywater freed of fat and solids is then passed into the first container 168. A central portion of the liquid in the tank 138, generally located between the filter plate 166 and the inlet end 140 of the tank 138, passes through the central openings 178 of the filter plate 166, and this liquid is substantially free of grease and solids. This liquid is fed into the first container 168.

When the liquid level in the outlet container 158 reaches or exceeds the overflow level 164, liquid is passed through the outlet pipe 188 and discharged as a gray water stream from the tank 138. The derived greywater flow is essentially free of fats, a certain proportion of solids having been removed from the greywater flow and processed in the greywater clarification device 62.

A U-shaped air tube 196 is located in the tank 138, generally near the lower end 146. The air tube 196 includes a plurality of openings 198 (only one opening 198 is identified in Figure 10 by the specific reference number). The air tube 196 is connected to the compressed air source 63 to supply compressed air into the tank 138, so that the aerobic treatment of the solids in the tank 138 is facilitated.

A sewage disposal system designed and operated in accordance with the sewage disposal system 10 described herein has been designed and installed in a house with two toilets with a low flush volume. In the house there were normal household appliances (garbage collector, washing machine, dishwasher and the like). In this model, the black water treatment clarifiers 18 and 22 each have a capacity of approximately 38 liters (10 gallons) (which is the volume of liquid that is normally in the clarifiers 18 and 22). The combined clarifier 28 had a capacity of approximately 284 liters (75 gallons) (which is the volume of liquid that is normally in the second combined clarifier 34). Pump 128 was operated to pump approximately 18,925 liters per day from second combined clarifier 34, with pump 128 having a pumping capacity of approximately 95 liters (25 gallons) per minute. The holding tank 40 had a capacity of about 190-379 liters (50-100 gallons). Samples were taken and analyzed at various positions in the waste water discharge system 10 just described. The results of these tests are summarized in Table I below, with dissolved solids expressed in milligrams per liter (mg / 1). TABLE I - reduced solid VALUES OF clarifier FIRST black water treatment digester 18 time inlet in the first black water treatment Kläreinruchtung 18 outlet from first Schwarzwasserbehandl.-Kläreinruchtung 18 SECOND black water treatment digester 22 combined digester 28 second combined digester 34 time inlet in the first black water treatment digester 22 inlet in combined clarifier 28 inlet into second combined Clarifier 34 outlet from first black water treatment unit 22 outlet from combined unit 28 no measurement outlet from second combined unit 34 FILTER 38 OUTLET time

The waste water drainage system 10 provides a system that can treat black water and gray water in a single system so that the discharged, recycled water flow has a substantially lower solids content per liter. The present system is particularly designed to provide an exhausted, reprocessed water stream with a solids content per liter of less than 100 mg / l. The use of separate clarifiers 18 and 22, namely a clarifier for each of the black water sources or for each toilet and a separate clarifier 62 for the gray water sources, which have solids and fat, provides a treatment system that is much more efficient. The use of separate clarifiers for different types of waste (fat, garbage, faeces and urine) enables certain bacteria to develop, namely bacteria that affect fat and plant substances at neutral pH values ​​and bacteria that destroy faeces at alkaline pH values. Furthermore, the use of separate clarifiers increases the efficiency of the bacterial action, which means a reduction in the size of the tanks or the clarifiers and other system components, so that water and money savings result.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, each clarifier 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62 has an air tube, the system being designed to periodically supply compressed air to each of the clarifiers for a predetermined period of time. For example, in one system, compressed air was supplied to each of the clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34, and 62 for approximately 15 minutes during a two hour period of use. It was found that this time division supports the bacterial effect in the clarification facility. In this case, the air supply is controlled by an automatic timer (not shown).

It is hereby noted that although the waste water discharge system 10 of the present invention, in the description and illustration, aerobically processes solids in various clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34 and 64, the system is also useful in a non-aerobic treatment application, with the need for a compressed air source 63 and the various air pipes in the clarifiers 18, 22, 28, 34 and 62 would no longer be necessary.

FIG. 10 shows a characteristic delivery device that can be used for delivery devices 98 and 194, respectively. The dispenser 98 or 194 comprises a container 200 which can hold and store a predetermined amount of a biological activator. A vent hole 202 is connected to the top of the container 200 and serves to vent the particular clarifying device to which the dispensing device 98 or 194 is connected. An outlet line 204 is connected to a lower end of the container 200, and the biological activator in the container flows out of the container 200 through the outlet pipe 204 due to gravity. A contactor 206 is located in outlet conduit 204. When valve 206 is in the open position, the biological activator is passed through outlet conduit 204 and out an outlet end 208 thereof. When valve 206 is in the closed position, the biological activator cannot flow through outlet conduit 204.

A conical tube 210 is connected to the outlet end 208 of the outlet line 204. The conical tube has an opening extending through the tube which is dimensioned such that through it a predetermined amount of the biological activator drips through the conical tube 210 and into the corresponding clarifier. In a preferred embodiment, the tapered tube 210 was sized so that about 4 ounces of the biological activator dripped into the clarifier two or three times a week. The particular amount of biological activator that is released into the clarifier for a particular application depends on the parameters of a particular application.

Restaurant kitchens are usually connected to a sewer pipe so that the gray water from these kitchens, which contains solids and fat, can be drained into the sewer pipe. There is a tendency that the fat drainage through these gray water sources tends to clog the pumps in the pumping stations, so that various problems arise.

A wastewater line 212 is shown schematically in FIG. 11, the wastewater line being assigned to one or more gray water sources 214. The gray water sources 214 of this application are more precisely restaurant kitchens, the sources in FIG. 11 being designated with the corresponding designations restaurant (1) and restaurant (N) in order to designate one or more restaurants, the gray water sources in FIG corresponding reference numerals 214a and 214n are designated.

Each of the gray water sources 214a to 214n guides a fatty gray water flow into the waste water line 214, the corresponding gray water flows being designated in FIG. 11 by the reference numbers 214a and 216n. The wastewater flow identified in Figure 11 by the directional arrow and reference number 218 includes the greywater flows 216 which, under normal operating conditions in the absence of the present invention, contain the grease.

The present invention contemplates a dispenser 220 that is connected to the sewer 212 generally above the gray water sources 214. The dispenser 220 is mounted in the conduit that led from a work hole to the sewer line 212 as shown schematically in Figure 11, the dispenser 220 being connected to the dispenser 220 by fasteners 222, the fasteners being, for example, a plurality of bolts or other similar fasteners. The dispenser 222 can direct a sufficient amount of an activator into the sewer, the activator being able to liquefy a substantial amount of fat. The activator current is indicated in FIG. 11 by the directional arrow 224. The activator introduced into the waste water line 212 comes into contact with the fat in the waste water line 212 and liquefies a substantial proportion of fat in the waste water line 212, so that a derived waste water line stream 226 is generated which is substantially free of non-liquid fat. The dispensing device 220 is particularly suitable for feeding an effective amount of activator into the waste water line 212 at predetermined time intervals.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show an exemplary embodiment of a delivery device 220. The dispenser 220 includes a container 228 that is sized and configured to hold and store a predetermined amount of the activator. The container 228 includes a lower end 230 and an opening 232 is formed through the lower end 230. One end of a conical tube 234 is connected to the lower end 230 and is generally disposed around the opening 232. The activator in container 228 is passed through tube 234. The tube 234 thereby has an opening which is dimensioned such that a predetermined amount of activator with a predetermined dosage drips through the conical tube 234 through the opening.

The shell 236 is movably connected to the container 228. The shell is sized and shaped to receive the activator through an upper open end 238.

The container 228 includes a pair of side flanges 240 and 242 and a rear flange 244. A first shaft 246 is connected to the side flange 240 via a bearing 248. The opposite end of the first shaft 246 is generally connected to the shell 236 via a bearing 250.

One end of a second shaft 252 is connected to the side flange 242 via a bearing 254. The opposite end of the second shaft 252 is generally connected to the shell 236 via a bearing 256.

The tray 236 is generally supported between the flanges 240 and 242 to be rotatable in a direction 258 (Figure 13) from a filling position shown in Figures 12 and 13 to a dispensing position, the tray being tilted so that it releases the activator inside.

A spring 258 is connected to the first shaft 246 and to the side flange 240. When the cup 236 is tilted by rotating in the direction 258, the spring 258 winds around the first shaft 246 and thus provides a rotational tension by which the cup 236 is preloaded from the dispensing position in a direction 260 back to the filling position.

A counterweight 262 (FIG. 13) is connected to the shell 236. The counterweight 262 tends to bias the cup 236 toward the fill position. A stopper 264 (Figure 13) is connected to the rear flange 244, the stopper being positioned to engage the counterweight 262 to stop the movement of the cup 236 in the direction 260, thereby interacting to the Position bowl 236 at the filling position.

For a particular application, dispenser 220 was adapted to provide an activator, available through Humphrey Marine Sewage Treatment Systems, Inc., California, designated biological activator # 9 at a dosage of approximately 4 ounces per 6 hours or at a dosage of about 1 gallon a day. The container 228 was sized to hold about 14 or 15 gallons of the biological activator.