The present disclosure relates generally to the field of subsoil fluid drainage, absorption and treatment systems, and more particularly to embodiments of a connector for securing a module to a support pipe. An inventive connector is internal to a module within a system of multiple modules.
Conventional subsoil fluid absorption systems are comprised of trenches or excavations filled with small rock aggregate and overlaid with a perforated pipe. The pipe may be overlaid with a geotextile fabric and/or more rock aggregate. Soil is placed over the aggregate and perforated pipe to fill the trench to the adjoining ground level. In use, fluid flows through the pipe and out the perforations. Fluid is held within cavities in the aggregate until it can be absorbed into the soil. Other conventional systems use hollow plastic chambers placed beneath ground level to hold fluid until the fluid can flow through slits or apertures in the chamber and can be absorbed into the soil.
In a particularly effective wastewater treatment system manufactured and sold by Eljen Corporation under the name Mantis®, individual modules are spaced apart from one another along a support pipe that passes through the center of each module. Each of the modules includes a support structure with a treatment fabric wrapped around the support structure. In the Mantis® wastewater system, the support pipe doubles as a wastewater delivery conduit with holes that are aligned with the modules to deliver wastewater to the interior of the modules. An ongoing consideration is maintaining the individual modules in their respective position along the pipe without shifting or sliding. Units have been developed that mechanically connect modules to the pipe and/or to adjacent modules that are positioned on the exterior of the modules, typically in contact with a portion of the overlaid fabric.
A set of multiple spaced apart modules along a fluid distribution pipe is placed within an excavated section of property, typically in a substantially flat alignment, and then the excavation is backfilled with soil or sand. In such treatment systems, a key consideration is the surface contact between the outer fabric of the modules and the surrounding soil. Over time, organic deposits develop on the surface of the fabric (the interface between the fabric and surrounding soil), commonly referred to as a biomat layer. The biomat layer is a significant contributor for naturally treating bio-related fluid, such as septic fluid or drainage, in the soil. Thus, it is highly advantageous to maximize the fabric-soil interface contact area and minimize encroachment and disruption of the surrounding soil environment.
As such, it would be useful to have a connector for mechanically holding each module in place along the length of the pipe that does not impede or otherwise enter into the external environment outside the module and is maintained beneath the fabric.
Concepts relevant to the Mantis® wastewater system and other related spaced modular fluid treatment systems are disclosed and claimed in Eljen Corporation's U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,104,994, 8,777,515, 9,809,941, which are incorporated herein by reference for background of the types of systems and modules within which the inventive connectors are configured to be used.
In one embodiment, a connecting element for axially fixing a support for a drainage module to an axially extending pipe has a partially cylindrical central web extending longitudinally between a rear edge and a front edge. A rear flange extends radially out from the rear edge and a front flange extending radially out from the front edge. The partially cylindrical web is sized and shaped to mate with an outer surface of a cylindrical pipe. An axial spacing between the rear flange and front flange is sized to receive a support module with opposing faces such that the rear flange abuts the one module face and the front flange abuts the other module face to maintain the module in an axial position along the pipe when the connecting element is fixed to the pipe.
In another embodiment, a fluid treatment unit comprises an elongated pipe, a plurality of drainage modules and a plurality of connecting elements. extending in an axial direction and having a cylindrical outer wall. The modules are spaced from one another axially along the pipe and each comprises an internal support with opposite front and rear faces with each face having a hole through which the pipe extends. Each connecting element has a partially tubular central web extending longitudinally between a rear edge and a front edge, a rear flange extending radially out from the rear edge and a front flange extending radially out from the front edge. A connecting element is fixed to the pipe with the partially tubular web mounted on the cylindrical outer wall extending through the hole in the front face and hole in the rear face of a support, the rear flange abutting the rear face of the support and the front flange abutting the front face of the support, thereby maintaining the module in an axial position along the pipe.
In yet another embodiment, a fluid treatment unit has an elongated pipe, plurality of drainage modules, plurality of connecting elements and a sheet of fluid permeable fabric. The elongated pipe extends in an axial direction and has a flow channel defined by a substantially cylindrical outer wall. The modules are spaced from one another axially along the pipe with the pipe extending through each module, each drainage module comprising an internal support with opposite front and rear faces. Each of the connecting elements is associated with a module and has a central web extending through the module between the pipe wall and support, and a flange extending radially out from at least the front edge abutting a front face of the support to maintain the module in an axial position along the pipe. A sheet of fluid permeable fabric is wrapped around the support and connecting element of at least one module concealing the connector flange.
Aspects of the preferred embodiments will be described in reference to the Drawings, where like numerals reflect like elements:
Among the benefits and improvements disclosed herein, other objects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the following wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures. Detailed embodiments of an internal connector for a modular fluid treatment system are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention which are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.
Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrase “in some embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), though it may. The phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.
In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.
Further, the terms “substantial,” “substantially,” “similar,” “similarly,” “analogous,” “analogously,” “approximate,” “approximately,” and any combination thereof mean that differences between compared features or characteristics is less than 25% of the respective values/magnitudes in which the compared features or characteristics are measured and/or defined.
As background to the inventive connectors disclosed herein, the connectors are configured to be used in cooperation with elements in a modular treatment system 50 similar to that shown in
A system 50 is placed within a subsoil excavation and then backfilled with soil, sand, aggregate or similar backfill that fills the space between adjacent modules, essentially enveloping each module. In such systems, the fabric/soil interfacial area, as it has been found that a layer with a high concentration of bacteria forms at this interface which is particularly effective at treating wastewater. Thus, it is desirable to maximize surface area of the fabric/soil interface in any way possible. It is also desirable to minimize disruption of the soil environment.
The embodiment of the connector 100′ shown in
The connectors 10, 10′, 100 and 100′ are configured to attach directly to a pipe 54 to hold a respective module 52 in place along the pipe without encroaching on the module's fabric/soil surface area whatsoever. That is, when installed, the connectors lie internal to each module with a fabric layer 58 outside the connector.
Installation of a connector and assembly of a treatment system 50 will be described with reference to the first connector embodiment 10, however it is substantially the same with each of the embodiments of
The connector 10 is fit to the pipe 54 with the web 12 extending longitudinally within the support member 56 and one flange 14 on the outside of the front support member surface and the other flange 16 on the outside of the rear support member surface. In this manner, the opposite flanges 14 and 16 longitudinally “sandwich” the front and rear surfaces of the support member. The connector 10 can be secured to the pipe via screws or otherwise mechanically connected by techniques known in the art, such as adhesive, tabs received within a slot, lock and groove, for example. The support member 56 with connector 10 are thereafter wrapped with at least one layer of treatment fabric. Thus, the connector 10 does not lie to the outside of any portion of the fabric to encroach on the fabric/soil interface.
Preferably, the connector 10 is attached to the pipe angularly positioned with the flanges 14 and 16 extending upward. This is to add structural integrity to the upper portion of the modules, as the lower portion of the modules is naturally reinforced by abutting the excavation floor during installation. Additionally, the notches 18 allow increased air flow throughout the system.
Successive modules 52 can be assembled in a similar manner along the pipe 54 at preferred intervals and locked in place via another internal spacer 10.
As shown in the photographs of
The most preferred inner support is a plurality of cuspated core sheets arranged in face to face orientation, as depicted in
A typical installation of a modular treatment system like that depicted generally in
As discussed above, all of the embodiments of the drainage unit have a fluid-permeable geotextile fabric wrapping around the front and rear faces, top and bottom faces, and/or side faces of the support module. The connectors are concealed by the fabric layer 58 such that they do not encroach into the surrounding soil environment and do not cover any of the fabric layer. The internal spacers thus help maximize the area of the fabric/soil interface—and resulting biomat layer—of each module to improve fluid treatment efficiency and quality. The bottoms may be wrapped or may be left uncovered to contact the excavation floor and facilitate fluid transfer to the soil. The fabric can be sewn into a formed cover and fitted over the support module. The cover, or separate fabric sections, can also be fastened to the support module by any other suitable method, for example by adhesive bonding, heat welding, stapling or banding. In these embodiments, the disclosed internal spacer is covered by the fabric layer (i.e., the flanges are sandwiched between the fabric and the underlying face of the support).
While preferred embodiments of the foregoing invention have been set forth for purposes of illustration, the foregoing description should not be deemed a limitation of the invention herein. Accordingly, various modifications, adaptations and alternatives may occur to one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/787,408 for “Internal Connector for Modular Fluid Treatment System,” filed Jan. 2, 2019, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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2052020 | Black | Aug 1935 | A |
4824287 | Tracy | Apr 1989 | A |
4898494 | Ellis | Feb 1990 | A |
5597264 | Laak | Jan 1997 | A |
5951203 | Laak | Sep 1999 | A |
7374670 | Potts | May 2008 | B2 |
8104994 | Donlin | Jan 2012 | B1 |
20100101045 | Van Walraven | Apr 2010 | A1 |
20200062197 | Nakaizumi | Feb 2020 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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1772313 | Oct 1992 | SU |
WO-2018168398 | Sep 2018 | WO |
Entry |
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“Eljen® In-Drain, A Cost-Effective Replacement For Septic Leach Field Materials,” Eljen Corporation, prior to Jan. 2, 2019. |
“In-Drains,” Ruck Systems, Inc., Storrs, Connecticut, 1992. |
Laak, R., “Ruck A Fins—R1032C. Manual Design and Installation,” RUCK Systems, 2009. |
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Number | Date | Country | |
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62787408 | Jan 2019 | US |