Solids transfer pump with modular components

An F.O.G. separation apparatus comprising:

• a tank for receiving a liquid effluent flow containing water, F.O.G., and gross solids, the tank including a chamber, an inlet in an inlet module, a downstream section and an outlet in an outlet module,
• the inlet module having a strainer, an exit weir for the liquid effluent flow downstream of the strainer so gross solids are strained from the liquid effluent flow over the weir, a pump upstream of the strainer to pump water and gross solids that do not pass through the strainer, the pump being configured as a rotatable vertical shaft having a motor at an upper part of the shaft and an impeller at the bottom part of the shaft, wherein the pump includes a pump support housing a drive shaft for the pump impeller and the pump support has wings that nest in valleys in the inlet module,
• a pipe connected to the inlet module near the impeller to receive and convey solids and water when the pump is activated and to direct the solids and water to the outlet module, and
• an F.O.G. separator located in the downstream section for removing F.O.G. from water held in the downstream section,
• whereby the gross solids entering the tank settle in the inlet module for periodic removal by the pump and fine solids flow with F.O.G. and water entering the tank to the downstream section where the F.O.G. is removed from the water, and residual water exits the tank through the outlet module with fine solids.

An F.O.G. separation apparatus comprising:

• a tank for receiving a liquid effluent flow containing water, F.O.G., and gross solids, the tank including a chamber, an inlet in an inlet module, a downstream section and an outlet in an outlet module, the inlet module having stand-offs at a front side to space the inlet module from an inside face of the chamber,
• the inlet module having a removable cylindrical strainer, an exit weir for the liquid effluent flow downstream of the removable cylindrical strainer to strain gross solids from the liquid effluent flow, a pump upstream of the strainer to pump water and gross solids that do not pass through the strainer, the pump being configured as a rotatable vertical shaft having a motor at an upper end of the shaft and an impeller at the bottom end of the shaft, the pump including a pump support housing a drive shaft for the pump impeller, the pump support having wings that nest in valleys in the inlet module, the inlet module having a bottom which slopes downwardly to a well and the impeller of the pump being positioned within the well to discharge effluent and solids, wherein the inlet module is rotomolded with molded fittings for the weir, strainer and pump,
• a pipe connected to the inlet module near the impeller to receive and convey solids and water when the pump is activated and to direct the solids and water to the outlet module, wherein the outlet module has a depending wall to allow water and fine solids from a low part of the tank to exit the tank along with water that has been pumped by the pump in the inlet module, and
• an F.O.G. separator located in the downstream section for removing F.O.G. from water held in the downstream section,
• whereby the gross solids entering the tank settle in the strainer in the inlet module for periodic removal by the pump and fine solids are conveyed over the weir along with F.O.G. and water to pass to the downstream section where the F.O.G. is removed from the water, and the residual water and fine solids exit the tank through the outlet module.

An F.O.G. separation method comprising

• in a tank having an inlet module, a downstream section, and an outlet in an outlet module, mounting a pump in the inlet module by positioning the pump impeller in a well molded into the inlet module and positioning wings on a pump support of the pump in valleys molded into the inlet module,
• introducing a liquid flow containing water, F.O.G. and solids into a tank having an inlet module, a downstream section and an outlet in an outlet module,
• permitting the solids entering the inlet module to settle as water and F.O.G. to flow over a weir from the inlet module to the downstream section,
• periodically rotating a vertical drive shaft of a pump in the inlet module to propel the solids from the inlet module with some water through a pipe to the outlet module,
• removing F.O.G. from the water in the downstream section, and
• permitting the residual water to exit the tank through the outlet.