# US 12,110,675 B2 · Effluent elevator system and methods of using > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,110,675 B2 - Document ID: US12110675B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/829,433 - Filed: 2022-06-01 - Published: 2023-12-07 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2022-06-01 - Applicants: Johnny R. English - Inventors: Johnny R. English - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12110675B2 ## CPC - E03F 5/22: Adaptations of pumping plants for lifting sewage (wheeled apparatus for emptying sewers or cesspools E03F7/10; pumps, pumping plants, per se F04) - C02F 3/223: {using "air-lift"} - F04F 1/18: the fluid medium being mixed with, or generated from the liquid to be pumped - C02F 2103/005: {Black water originating from toilets} - C02F 2201/004: Seals, connections - C02F 2201/005: Valves - C02F 2203/006: details of construction, e.g. specially adapted seals, modules, connections - C02F 2209/42: Liquid level - E03F 5/14: Devices for separating liquid or solid substances from sewage, e.g. sand or sludge traps, rakes or grates (for use in sewage purification plants or both in sewage purification plants or in sewer systems B01D, C02F {; gullies with sediment traps E03F5/04}) - E03F: SEWERS; CESSPOOLS - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) - F04F: PUMPING OF FLUID BY DIRECT CONTACT OF ANOTHER FLUID OR BY USING INERTIA OF FLUID TO BE PUMPED {(evacuating by sorption F04B)}; SIPHONS {(conveying materials in bulk by flows of gas, liquid of foam B65G53/00)} ## Abstract The invention is a system of raising an effluent level of a septic system drainfield. The system includes an outer housing comprising an inlet in fluid communication with a septic tank. The housing further includes an outlet that enables the effluent to exit the system at a higher elevation. The housing interior includes a hollow insert that extends above a bottom surface of the housing. A baffle is positioned within the interior of the housing to surround the insert, dividing the housing interior into two compartments with insert passing therethrough. In use, wastewater effluent enters the housing interior from a septic tank and gravity falls into the bottom of the housing. An air pump can then be initiated to pump air into the system, which lifts the effluent into the housing upper compartment, where it will exit the system at a higher elevation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An effluent elevator system for raising the water level of effluent, the system comprising: a housing defined by: a closed bottom face and an opposed open top face; an interior; an inlet in communication with a source of effluent, the inlet positioned adjacent to bottom face of the housing; an outlet positioned adjacent to the top face of the housing; an insert positioned within the interior of the housing, the insert defined by open upper and lower faces and an interior passageway therebetween; a baffle defined by a body and a central aperture that fits around the insert, wherein the baffle is positioned within the housing interior, creating an upper compartment and a lower compartment; and an air injection port positioned on the insert in the lower compartment of the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the effluent source is an exit of a septic tank. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the outlet is a septic drainfield. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing top face includes a removable cap. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the distance between the inlet and outlet is about 4-50 inches. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the inlet, outlet, or both comprises a valve. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a length of about 1-10 feet. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing has an inner diameter of about 1-10 inches. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the housing and insert are constructed from PVC. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising an air source in fluid communication with the air injection port. ### Claim 11 A method of raising the effluent level of a septic system drainfield, the method comprising: connecting a pathway from a septic tank, allowing effluent to enter the inlet of an effluent elevator system, the effluent elevator system defined by: a housing defined by: a closed bottom face and an opposed open top face; an interior; an inlet in communication with a source of effluent, the inlet positioned adjacent to bottom face of the housing; an outlet positioned adjacent to the top face of the housing; an insert positioned within the interior of the housing, the insert defined by open upper and lower faces and an interior passageway therebetween; a baffle defined by a body and a central aperture that fits around the insert, wherein the baffle is positioned within the housing interior, creating an upper compartment and a lower compartment; and an air injection port positioned on the insert in the lower compartment of the housing; connecting an air source to the air injection port; wherein the effluent travels from the lower compartment into the interior of the insert to the upper compartment to exit the housing outlet, whereby the effluent level of the drainfield has been raised. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the flow rate of the effluent into the system is about 50-200 L/minute. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the air source is an aerator pump. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the aerator pump has a flow rate of about 100 L/minute. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the effluent level of the drainfield is raised about 4-50 inches. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the housing top face includes a removable cap. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the distance between the inlet and outlet is about inches. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the inlet, outlet, or both comprises a valve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the housing has an inner diameter of about 1-10 inches. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the housing and insert are constructed from PVC.