Apparatus for automatically recovering grease from a grease separator

An automatic draw-off grease interceptor for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water, comprising:

• a separation tank defining a separation chamber and a trap leg defining a water chamber;
• an effluent inlet connected with said separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into the separation chamber;
• a water outlet connected with said trap leg for permitting flow of water from the water chamber;
• an intermediate passage extending between said separation chamber and said water chamber at a level below said effluent inlet and said water outlet, for passing water from said separation chamber into said water chamber;
• a pump for pumping grease from said separation chamber, said pump having a pump inlet in said separation chamber at a level below said effluent inlet and above said intermediate passage;
• a sensor operative for sensing the presence of a thickened layer of grease at a predetermined level above said intermediate passage;
• and
• means responsive to said sensor for actuating said pump to pump grease out of the separation chamber to block the formation of a layer of grease at a level below the predetermined level, said intermediate passage having an upper edge disposed below said predetermined level thereby to block flow of grease from said separation chamber into said water chamber.