Diffuser mounting arrangement for waste water aeration systems

Aeration apparatus for a waste water treatment system having a submerged pipe presenting an air outlet port, said aeration apparatus comprising:

• a pair of saddle sections applicable to the pipe in surrounding relationship thereto, one of said saddle sections having an internally threaded outlet spout;
• means for clamping said saddle sections on the pipe with said outlet spout communicating with said port to receive air therefrom and with the saddle sections surrounding the pipe to provide structural reinforcement therefor;
• means for sealing said spout to the pipe;
• an externally threaded pipe nipple threaded into said outlet spout;
• a diffuser fitting connected to said nipple to receive air therefrom;
• and
• at least one elongate tubular diffuser connected to said diffuser fitting to receive air therefrom and discharge the air in bubbles into the waste water for aeration thereof, said diffuser extending generally horizontally from the diffuser fitting and applying vibrational loads to the fitting and pipe when air is discharged from the diffuser into the waste water.

In a waste water treatment system having a plurality of air lateral pipes submerged in waste water in a basin and a plurality of elongate tubular diffusers for discharging air bubbles into the basin, an improved diffuser mounting arrangement comprising;

• a pair of complementary saddle sections applicable to each air lateral pipe in surrounding relationship thereto;
• a threaded plastic outlet spout on one of said saddle sections;
• an air outlet port in one of the air lateral pipes;
• means for clamping said saddle sections on said one pipe with said spout in communication with said port to receive air therefrom and with said saddle sections surrounding said one pipe to structurally reinforce it;
• a plastic diffuser fitting having a threaded conduit which may be threaded to said outlet spout to receive air therefrom, said diffuser fitting having a body presenting a flow passage communicating with said conduit to receive air therefrom;
• and
• means for connecting at least one of the diffusers with said diffuser fitting to mount the diffuser thereon in communication with said flow passage with the diffuser extending generally horizontally from the diffuser fitting, said connecting means comprising a plastic tube connected with said one diffuser and having a solvent weld connection with said diffuser fitting.