Back to results
US 5,958,239 AGranted
Multi-level septic drainfields
OwnerPeter Singinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Multi-level drainfields for purifying septic tank liquid effluent have a plurality of vertically-stacked filtration medium layers with air space therebetween. The space-saving drainfield modules may be custom-fitted in size, number, type and thickness of layers to meet the requirements of a home, family and habits. Effluent may be percolated through each filtration layer, which may contain baffles, from top down or bottom up, in series or in parallel, and may be recirculated, if necessary, to render the effluent safe for discharge as clean ground water. Drainfield modules may be combined for high-capacity effluent handling, and may be installed underground or aboveground, where protective housing can permit light to reach the effluent therein.
Claims16
A multi-level drainfield for treating the liquid effluent from a home septic tank, said drainfield being positioned as an above-ground installation, which comprises:
- at least one drainfield module, each said drainfield module comprising:
- a plurality of filtration medium layers arranged in vertically stacked relationship, each of said plurality of filtration layers being spaced from the adjacent of said layers to allow the circulation of air therebetween;
- and
- structural means for supporting each of said plurality of filtration medium layers in said spaced vertically stacked relationship, said structural means comprising:
- a plurality of horizontal support floors, one said support floor holding each of said plurality of filtration medium layers, said floors being retentive of the particles of said filtration medium layer positioned thereon, each said floor being selected from the group consisting of:
- being permeable and porous to liquid effluent, and bring impervious to liquid effluent;
- and
- a plurality of sets of multiple parallel support beams, said sets of beams sustaining said plurality of floors, together with said plurality of filtration medium layers filled with liquid effluent, in fixed spaced relationship with each other and extending horizontally substantially along one full dimension of the drainfield model, and extending vertically from one said support floor to the adjacent said support floor, each said support beam set being alternately arranged at right angles to its adacent said support beam set, thus providing necessary strength to support the weighty combination of said floors and said filtration layers flooded with liquid effluent;
- a housing for covering and protecting said at least one drainfield module, which comprises:
- walls and roof of said having means for admitting light into the interior thereof, the energy from said light acting to enhance, assist in and accelerate the effluent chemical and biological purification processes occurring in the liquid effluent being treated in said drainfield module, the sunlight creating a greenhouse effect within said housing;
- and
- at least one inlet and at least one vent for providing air circulation through the multi-level drainfield;
- means for delivering and distributing the liquid effluent from the septic tank to at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers in said module for percolation therethrough;
- and
- means for transferring the percolated liquid effluent from said at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers to a destination selected from the group consisting of:
- a second of said plurality of filtration medium layers, said second layer being directly adjacent said at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers;
- means for delivering and distributing said percolated liquid effluent for recirculation and repercolation through at least one of said plurality of filtration layers;
- and means for discharging said percolated liquid effluent as clean water to the area surrounding said housing for said drainfield module.
15 more elements
A method for treating the liquid effluent from a home septic tank, which comprises:
- providing at least one multi-level drainfield module installed aboveground, each said drainfield module comprising:
- a plurality of filtration medium layers arranged in vertically stacked relationship, each of said plurality of filtration layers being held on a support floor and spaced from the adjacent said layers to allow the circulation of air therebetween;
- and
- structural means for supporting said plurality of filtration medium layers in said spaced vertically stacked relationship;
- a housing for covering and protecting said at least one drainfield module, which comprises:
- walls and roof of said housing having means for admitting light into the interior thereof, the energy from said light acting to enhance, assist and accerelate the chemical and biological processes occurring in the liquid effluent being treated in said drainfield module;
- and
- at least one inlet and at least one vent for providing air circulation throughout the multi-level drainfield;
- delivering and distributing the liquid effluent from the septic tank to at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers in said drainfield module for percolation therethrough, the percolation rate of the liquid effluent through each of said plurality of filtration medium layers being adjusted and controlled to an average rate approximating but not exceeding one inch per hour by at least one of the factors selected by the group consisting of:
- the filtration medium particle size in said plurality of layers, the thickness of each of said plurality of filtration medium layers, the presence of percolation-slowing baffles in said plurality of filtration medium layers, and the porosity to liquid effluent and thickness of each said support floor, each said floor supporting one of said plurality of filtration medium layers, said percolation rate of the liquid effluent being selected from the group consisting of:
- equal rate for each of said plurality of filtration medium layers;
- graduated rate from slowest to fastest down through said plurality of filtration medium layers;
- and graduated rate from fastest to slowest down through said plurality of filtration medium layers;
- and
- transferring the percolated liquid effluent from said at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers to a destination selected from the group consisting of:
- a second of said plurality of filtration medium layers, said second layer being directly adjacent said at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers;
- means for delivering and distributing said percolated liquid effluent for recirculation and repercolation through at least one of said plurality of filtration medium layers and means for discharging said percolated liquid effluent as clean water to the area surrounding said housing for said at least one drainfield module.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.