Controller for vacuum sewage system
AssigneeBilfinger Water Technologies, Inc.
InventorsTroy E. Blocher, John M. Grooms
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller for a vacuum sewage system includes a housing having multiple chambers. Certain chambers are maintained under atmospheric pressure or vacuum prior to activation of the controller. Ports, valves, orifices and air flow paths located in the housing control the rate of air flow between groups of the chambers during activation of the controller.
Claims44
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the system including a holding tank at substantially atmospheric pressure, a valve pit, a sensor pipe having a first end extending into the holding tank and a second end extending into the valve pit, a valve located in the valve pit, a discharge conduit for conveying sewage from the holding tank to a location exterior to the holding tank, the discharge conduit having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first end located in the holding tank and a second end in fluid communication with the valve, the second section having an end in fluid communication with the valve and a vacuum source for maintaining the second section of the discharge conduit under vacuum, the controller including:
- a housing;
- a first chamber located in the housing;
- a pressure sensor conduit having a first end in pressure communication with the sensor pipe and a second end in pressure communication with the first chamber;
- a second chamber located in the housing;
- a first port in communication with the second chamber and with a source of atmospheric pressure;
- a first flexible diaphragm located between the first and second chambers;
- a third chamber located in the housing;
- a second port extending between the second chamber and the third chamber;
- a first valve member located at least partially within the second chamber for selectively opening and closing the second port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the second and third chambers through the second port;
- a third port in communication with the third chamber;
- a fourth chamber located in the housing;
- a second flexible diaphragm located between the third and fourth chambers;
- a first air flow path through the housing between the third and the fourth chambers;
- a fifth chamber located in the housing;
- a fourth port in communication with the fifth chamber and with the second section of the discharge conduit;
- a second air flow path through the housing between the third, fourth and fifth chambers;
- a second valve member located at least partially in the second air flow path to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the second, third and fourth chambers;
- a sixth chamber located in the housing;
- a fifth port in communication with the fifth chamber and the sixth chamber;
- a sixth port in communication with the sixth chamber and with a source of substantially atmospheric pressure;
- a third valve member located at least partially in the sixth chamber for selectively opening and closing the fifth port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the fifth and sixth chambers through the fifth port and for selectively opening and closing the sixth port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the sixth chamber and the source of substantially atmospheric pressure through the sixth port;
- a seventh port in communication with the sixth chamber;
- a third air flow path through the housing between the second chamber and the seventh port;
- and
- a fourth valve member located at least partially in in the third air flow path.
The controller according to claim 34, wherein the controller may be activated by applying to the magnet a magnetic force having a second polarity opposite the first polarity.
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the controller including:
- a housing;
- a first chamber located in the housing and a second chamber located in the housing;
- an air flow path through the housing between the first and second chambers;
- and
- an adjustable orifice located at least partially within the air flow path for controlling the rate of air flow between the first and second chambers.
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the controller including:
- a housing;
- a first chamber located in the housing and a second chamber located in the housing;
- a flexible diaphragm located in the housing;
- a first port in communication with the first and second chambers;
- a second port in communication with the second chamber and with a source of substantially atmospheric pressure;
- a valve member located at least partially in the second chamber for selectively opening and closing the first port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the first and second chambers through the first port and for selectively opening and closing the second port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the second chamber and the source of substantially atmospheric pressure through the second port;
- and
- a rod extending through the first port, the rod having a first end connected to the flexible diaphragm and a second end connected to the valve member.
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the controller including:
- a housing;
- a first chamber located in the housing and a second chamber located in the housing;
- an air flow path through the housing between the first and second chambers;
- and
- a valve located at least partially in in the air flow path, the valve having a valve member having an open state and a closed state, the valve further including an opening permitting air at atmospheric pressure to flow from the first chamber to the second chamber when the valve member is in the closed state.
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the controller including:
- a housing;
- a first chamber located in the housing and a second chamber located in the housing;
- a port extending between the first and second chambers;
- a valve seat located adjacent the port;
- and
- a valve member for selectively opening and closing the port so as to selectively permit or prevent air flow between the first and second chambers, the valve member configured to disengage from the valve seat to open the port and to engage the valve seat to close the port, the valve seat and valve member configured such that the valve member is centered with respect to the valve seat when the valve member engages the valve seat.
A controller for a vacuum sewage system, the controller including:
- a housing having an upper region and a lower region;
- a chamber located in the housing;
- a first port extending between the upper region and the chamber;
- a second port located in the chamber;
- and
- wherein the first port is positioned above the second port such that liquid collecting in the upper region of the housing will flow through the first port to the lower region of the housing and exit the controller through the second port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.