Patent Application
20180037476
The present inventive concepts relate to systems and devices for treating flowable streams including one or more liquid component(s). The present inventive concepts more particularly relate to an improved device having an adjustable conduit for transporting streams from a separation compartment of a treatment system and/or the device.
Effluent separation devices for separating water from solids, greases and the like are often designed to perform much of the separation process as the stream flows through a separation compartment. Effluent flow is commonly delivered to the separation compartment by an input conduit, and transported from the separation compartment by an output conduit. For example, an advanced effluent treatment device is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 7,481,321, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Inlet and outlet conduits of the '321 Patent are connected to a separation compartment adjacent an aperture in the sidewall of the chamber using a coupling that extends through the aperture, illustrated in the figures. The inlet and outlet conduits fluidly communicate with the interior of the separation compartment at apertures in vertical segments of the conduits.
Maintenance of separation devices such as that described in the '321 Patent is required on a periodic basis to prevent operation in a bypass condition, i,e., in a condition in which effective separation is prevented by accumulation of waste layers beyond acceptable levels.
However, current methodologies such as these may lead to unnecessarily frequent maintenance and/or increased incidents of bypass failures. There is thus a need for an improved apparatus and method for maintaining separation devices.
This background discussion is intended to provide information related to the present inventive concepts which is not necessarily prior art.
Embodiments of the present inventive concepts address one or more of the above-described and other problems and limitations by providing improved conduit structures for a flowable stream treatment system, or device.
According to one aspect of the present inventive concepts, a field-adjustable separation device is provided. The device has a base and a sidewall cooperatively defining a separation compartment. The device also includes an inlet conduit attached to a first portion of the sidewall and an, outlet conduit having a first segment including a distal end of the outlet conduit removably attached to a second portion of the sidewall substantially opposite the first portion. The outlet conduit also has a second segment fluidly interposed between the first segment and the separation compartment. The second segment includes a sectioned portion defining a plurality of pre-determined locations spaced along the second segment. The first segment is in fluid communication with an exterior of the separation compartment. The second segment is configured for adjustment to define an outlet orifice according to the plurality of pre-determined locations to provide fluid communication between the first segment and the separation compartment. The adjustment alternatively presents the outlet orifice at a different distance from the distal end for each of the plurality of pre-determined locations, as measured along a vertical axis.
A second aspect of the present inventive concepts concerns a method for field adjustment of a separation device. The device has a base and a sidewall cooperatively defining a separation compartment and an inlet conduit attached to a first portion of the sidewall. The method may include removing an outlet conduit of the device. The outlet conduit has a first segment including a distal end of the outlet conduit configured for removable attachment to a second portion of the sidewall substantially opposite the first portion. The outlet conduit also has a second, segment fluidly interposed between the first segment and the separation compartment. The second segment includes a sectioned portion defining a plurality of pre-determined locations spaced along the second segment. The second segment is configured for adjustment to define an outlet orifice according to the plurality of pre-determined locations to provide fluid communication between the first segment and the separation compartment. The method may also include adjusting the second segment to define the outlet orifice according to a first location of the plurality of pre-determined locations, the outlet orifice being thus defined at a first distance along a vertical axis from the distal end of the outlet conduit. The method may also include reattaching the distal end of the adjusted outlet conduit to the second portion of the sidewall.
A third aspect of the present inventive concepts concerns a field-adjustable outlet conduit for use with a separation device having a base and a sidewall cooperatively defining a separation compartment. The outlet conduit includes a first segment including a distal end of the outlet conduit configured to be removably attached to the sidewall. The outlet conduit also includes a second segment configured to be fluidly interposed between the first segment and the separation compartment. The second segment has a sectioned portion defining a plurality of pre-determined locations spaced along the second segment. The first segment is configured for fluid communication with an exterior of the separation compartment. The second segment is configured for adjustment to define an outlet orifice according to the plurality of pre-determined locations to provide fluid communication between the first segment and the separation compartment. The adjustment alternatively presents the outlet orifice at a different distance from the distal end for each of the plurality of pre-determined locations, as measured along a vertical axis in an assembled configuration of the separation device.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form. These concepts are further described below in the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.
This summary is not necessarily intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Various other aspects and advantages of the present inventive concepts will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
Preferred embodiments of the present inventive concepts are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
Figure (FIG.) 1 is a partial, cross-sectional side view of a disassembled separation device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of the present inventive concepts;
The drawing figures do not limit the present inventive concepts to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the preferred embodiments.
The present inventive concepts are susceptible of embodiment in many different forms. While the drawings illustrate, and the specification describes, certain preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that such disclosure is by way of example only. There is no intent to limit the principles of the present inventive concepts to the particular disclosed embodiments.
In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” mean that the feature or features referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the invention. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, or “embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are not mutually exclusive unless so stated. Specifically, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, particular implementations of the present inventive concepts can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein.
The separation device 10 is generally characterized as a container having a base 12, opposing ceiling portion 14, and a sidewall 16 that extends upwardly from the base 12 to the ceiling portion 14. The base 12, ceiling portion 14 and sidewall 16 cooperatively define a separation compartment 18 in the interior of the device 10. Sidewall 16 comprises a first sidewall portion 20 having an inlet aperture 22 extending therethrough to enable inlet fluid communication between the separation compartment 18 and its exterior. Sidewall 16 also comprises a substantially opposing second sidewall portion 24 that includes an outlet aperture 26 extending therethrough to enable outlet fluid communication between the exterior and the separation compartment 18. Device 10 also includes an inlet conduit (35, see
The device 10 is configured to be installed in a generally upright orientation, preferably below grade. The sidewall 16 extends upwardly from the base 12 to the ceiling portion 14 in a direction that, in a preferred embodiment, is generally parallel to a vertical (i.e., plumb) axis A. Following installation, the effluent stream flows from art effluent source (not shown), through the inlet aperture 22, across the separation compartment 18 and out through the outlet aperture 26, and is ultimately communicated to an effluent drain such as a sewer (not shown). A gravity separation process occurs during the effluent stream's progression across the separation compartment 18. In the separation process one or more light components of the effluent buoyantly migrate to a top layer near the water line as described in more detail below. One or more heavy components of the effluent sink to a bottom layer adjacent the base 12. (See
The device 10 offers several advantages over existing technology. Conventional separation containers are constructed according to pre-determined ratings and capacities which may be used to guide customers toward suitable models for their intended uses. These ratings and capacities are based, at least in part, on the average rates at which the aforementioned top and bottom layers are expected to accumulate according to various use categories. The typical consumer must therefore predict or obtain predictions for (or rely on published standards or parameters for) the average accumulation rates that are experienced in their category(ies) of intended use in order to choose an appropriate model. But the composition of effluent streams can vary greatly across sources—even within a single use category—and/or across time at a given source, making such predictions inherently unreliable. Nonetheless, contemporary technology fails to effectively address the shortcomings of relying exclusively on such prediction-based methods and systems.
Embodiments of the present inventive concept include field-adjustable conduits permitting customization of separation devices to, for example, conform top and/or bottom layer capacities of the compartment to the onsite conditions experienced at a customer location. The embodiments exemplified in
As shown in
Turning briefly to
Returning to description of the attachment between the outlet conduit 28 and the second sidewall portion 24, the distal end 34 of the outlet conduit 28 is removably or detachably coupled to a receiver fixed to the second sidewall portion 24. More specifically, the distal end 34 includes a snout 36 (see
When engaged with the sidewall, second segment 32 is fluidly interposed between first segment 30 and separation compartment 18, as shown in
In the embodiment of
As illustrated in
End piece 50 may be adjusted along the sectioned portion 42 and matched to a desired pre-determined location. Slot 58 may then be received by the corresponding tab 56 for removable attachment of the end piece 50 to the stem 40. Optionally, such attachment may be facilitated by cutting along one or more of the indentations 48, and removing the severed segment. For instance, attaching end piece 50 to the stem 40 at a pre-determined location defined by collar 54c and tab 56c, as shown in
It is foreseen that other seating and mating structures may be utilized for removably securing end pieces to stems without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts. For example, collars may doubly serve as seating structures, permitting omission of tabs or the like. The collars may substantially circumscribe the outer surface of the sectioned portion 42 as shown in the illustrated embodiments, or the collars may be discontinuous, without departing from the spirit of the present in concepts. Mating structures may comprise hollows and/or channels formed in the inner surface of the upper segment of the end piece that are configured to snap over and form an interference fit with the collars. The collars may also comprise gaskets such as o-rings or the like for sealingly mating with the end piece.
Other exemplary seating and mating structures may include, respectively, a hole extending through the stem that is matched to a hole extending through the end piece. The holes may be configured such that a fastener such as a screw or pin may be extended therethrough to fix the end piece to the stem. This embodiment preferably includes collars that define a plurality of pre-determined locations.
In still other embodiments, an outlet conduit may be provided including a stem having a substantially cylindrical sectioned portion with a helical or similar thread formed along an outer surface. An end piece having a substantially cylindrical upper segment may be formed with a corresponding thread along an inner surface of the upper segment. A plurality of indentations and/or projections in the outer surface of the sectioned portion of the stem may define the plurality of pre-determined locations. In this manner, the end piece may be rotated and continuously threaded along the sectioned portion of the stem until reaching a desired pre-determined location along the stem. Moreover, the plurality of indentations and/or projections preferably mate with corresponding indentations and/or projections in the inner surface of the upper segment of the end piece to fix the position of the end piece along the stem at the desired location. However, it is foreseen that other devices (such as the aforementioned fasteners) or surface conformations may be used to fix the location of the end piece along the stem without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Alternatively or in addition, the friction resulting from threading the end piece along the stem may be sufficient to prevent undesired movement of the end piece along the stem, particularly where thread seal tapes or the like are employed.
In this manner, the outlet conduit 28 may be adjusted in the field and customized to the needs of a specific customer based, for example, during live onsite testing to determine the output composition of a specific effluent source. For instance, the outlet conduit 28 may be adjusted to define an outlet orifice 44 and/or 52 according to the plurality of pre-determined locations spaced along sectioned portion 42 to provide fluid communication between the first segment 30 and the separation compartment 18. The adjustable outlet orifice 44 and/or 52 is thereby alternatively presented at a different distance, as measured along vertical axis A, from the distal end 34 for each of the plurality of pre-determined locations.
It should be reiterated here that the inlet conduit is preferably constructed according to the teachings set forth herein for constructing an outlet conduit. The inlet conduit would preferably be assembled in the device in a reverse horizontal orientation, as shown in
Turning to
The separation device 60 commonly operates in cycles including both dynamic cleaning/start-up and quasi-steady or steady-state operational periods. Of course, backup/failure and other states may also occur, as will be discussed in more detail below. During a typical startup process, the water line in the separation compartment 62 rises as effluent mixture is added via the inlet conduit 34, until the water line 78 substantially levels with a low surface 81 of the outlet 66. (See
Subsequently, during normal operational periods, top layer 76 and/or bottom layer 80 may thicken within the separation compartment 62 as light components and heavy components are respectively retained in, these layers.
A bypass condition leads to a failure to separate out light and/or heavy components from the effluent stream in the separation compartment 62.
Turning now to
Accordingly, the invention is also concerned with methods for field adjustment of a separation device. According to the principles described above, the exemplary device 10 of
The maintenance provider should observe the relative levels of accumulated top and bottom layers in relation to the location of outlet orifice 52 prior to cleaning out the waste layers for maintenance purposes. These observations over a number of operational/maintenance cycles may permit the maintenance provider to determine an average content for the bottom layer components (e.g., solids) per content top layer components (e.g., greases and the like).
The aforementioned calculated average ratio (or similar calculated properties of the effluent stream) may permit the maintenance provider to determine an optimal or near-optimal adjustment for the outlet orifice 52 to reduce the amount of unused separation compartment 18 space at the point during operational periods just prior to reaching a bypass condition. These values or parameters may be unique to the particular effluent source from which the device 10 receives the effluent mixture, and thus may be determined on a case-by-case basis through the observations described above.
It is foreseen that a maintenance provider may also have sufficient information on hand regarding the average composition of the effluent mixture to enable determination of optimized orifice positions without the need for experimental observation, without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts. It is foreseen that documentation may indicate useful pre-determined ratio values corresponding to the pre-determined locations along sectioned portion 42 of the outlet conduit (and, corresponding pre-determined locations along a sectioned portion of the inlet conduit) to help guide the maintenance provider. For instance, with reference to
To adjust the outlet orifice 52 of the outlet conduit 28 according to the selected pre-determined location, the maintenance provider may remove the lid 106. The maintenance provider may detach the outlet conduit 28 from the sidewall 16, for instance by using a lift rod 108 to engage the outlet conduit 28 and lift the outlet conduit 28 from a snap-fit with saddle 38.
In embodiments where end piece 50 is employed, the maintenance provider may remove the end piece(s) 50. The maintenance provider may then cut along the indentation 48 corresponding to the selected pre-determined location using an appropriate tool such as a hack saw or the like, and remove the severed segment from the outlet conduit 28. Where the end piece 50 is employed, the end piece may be reinstalled by engaging the stem 40 until matched and aligned to the tab 56 corresponding to the selected pre-determined location. The slot 58 may then be received by the selected tab 56 to detachably couple the end piece 50 to the stem 40. The outlet conduit 28 may be reattached at distal end 34 to the second portion of the side wall 20. It will be appreciated that the adjusted outlet conduit 28 now comprises an outlet orifice 44/52, wherein the initial distance as measured from the edge of the orifice 44/52 to the distal end 34 of the conduit 28 has been decreased. In other words, once re-positioned in the compartment 18, the position of the edge of the outlet orifice 44/52 will have been raised, relative to the solids level (not shown) in the compartment 18, for greater bottom layer capacity in the device.
As referenced above, the inlet conduit (not shown) is preferably adjusted in substantially the same way as the outlet conduit 28 such that the inlet orifice and the outlet orifice are positioned at substantially the same elevation along the vertical axis A once the device 10 is reassembled following adjustment.
It should be noted that the choice of orifice shape and/or number may result in varying design considerations for implementing the present inventive concepts. For example, the simplified inlets and outlets of
Although the above description presents features of preferred embodiments of the present inventive concepts, other preferred embodiments may also be created in keeping with the principles of the invention. Furthermore, these other preferred embodiments may in some instances be realized through a combination of features compatible for use together despite having been presented independently in the above description.
The general shapes of the components of the separation device, for instance its bottom, top and side wall and the shape of the pipes or other segments comprising the conduits, may vary without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts. The upper and second segments of the conduits described herein may be “joined” by being fixed to one another or by being formed in an integral piece without, departing from the spirit of the present inventive concept. Further, additional components commonly associated with such separation devices, such as baffles and additional flow control mechanisms, or other conduit sections for added flow redirection capabilities, may be incorporated and/or interposed between described segments, and/or omitted, without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts.
Still further, in some embodiments, the surfaces that define the separation compartment may be defined by walls other than those that also define the exterior of the device, without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts. For example, interior walls may be added to define the separation compartment that are spaced inwardly from exterior walls. Yet still further, the “exterior” of the device refers to all spaces outside of the separation compartment, and does not imply that the surrounding areas comprising the exterior are continuous, contiguous and/or similar to one another.
Furthermore, directional references (e.g., top, bottom, front, back, up, down, etc.) are used herein solely for the sake of convenience and should be understood only in relation to each other. For instance, a component might in practice be oriented such that faces referred to as “top” and “bottom” are sideways, angled, inverted, etc. relative to the chosen frame of reference.
It is also noted that, as used herein, the terms axial, axially, and variations thereof mean the defined element has at least some directional component along or parallel to the axis. These terms should not be limited to mean that the element extends only or purely along or parallel to the axis. For example, the element may be oriented at a forty-five degree (45° angle relative to the axis but, because the element extends at least in part along the axis, it should still be considered axial. Similarly, the terms radial, radially, and variations thereof shall be interpreted to mean the element has at least some directional component in the radial direction relative to the axis.
It is farther noted that the term annular shall be interpreted to mean that the referenced object extends around a central opening so as to be generally toroidal or ring-shaped. It is not necessary for the object to be circular, nor does the object have to be continuous. Similarly, the term toroidal shall not be interpreted to mean that the object must be circular or continuous.
It should still farther be noted that, in one construction, the separation device is molded from high density polyethylene to inhibit corrosion and leaking. In other constructions, the container can be formed from other suitable materials using any suitable method.
The preferred forms of the invention described above are to be used as illustration only and should not be utilized in a limiting sense in interpreting the scope of the present inventive concepts. Obvious modifications to the exemplary embodiments, as hereinabove set forth, could be readily made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present inventive concepts.
The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of the present inventive concepts as pertains to any apparatus not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention set forth in the following claims.
