Passive grease trap using separator technology

• US 20070251879A1
• Filed: 04/27/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
• Inventors: Batten, William, Kyles, Bruce
• Granted Patent: US 7,367,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/532.100
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 17/0214 with removal of one of the phases
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/02 Settling tanks with single outlets for the separated liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 21/2405 Feed mechanisms for settling tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 2221/02 Small separation devices for domestic application, e.g. for canteens, industrial kitchen, washing machines
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 5/16 Devices for separating oil, water or grease from sewage in drains leading to the main sewer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49906 Metal deforming with nonmetallic bonding

Abstract

A grease trap for separating grease and solid waste from waste water. The grease trap includes a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom. An upwardly shaped divider divides the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hole near an upper part of the divider allows waste into the upper chamber. An inlet invert in the tank receives incoming waste water, while an outlet invert removes water from the tank. A lid covers the tank. A pipe extends through the lid, upper chamber, and lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.

Claims

1. A grease trap for separating waste from waste water comprising

a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom;

an upwardly shaped divider dividing the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber, with a hole near or at an upper part of the divider, for allowing waste into the upper chamber;

an inlet invert in the tank for receiving incoming waste water;

an outlet invert for removing water from the tank;

a lid covering the tank; and

a pipe extending to the lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.

2. A grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the tank is roto-molded plastic.

3. The grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the upwardly shaped divider is positioned above an inlet invert opening and an outlet invert opening.

4. The grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the upwardly shaped divider and the downwardly shaped bottom of the outer tank diverge so waste water entering the lower chambers encounters an enlarging volume.

5. A grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the upwardly shaped divider includes a sidewall suspending the divider from an upper part of the tank, thereby forming an inner tank.

6. A grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the pipe extends through the hole in the divider and the diameter of the hole in the divider is significantly larger than the diameter of the pipe to allow lightweight grease to flow into the upper chamber from the lower chamber.

7. A grease trap according to claim 1 further including a support base for installing the grease trap on a floor.

8. The grease trap according to claim 7 wherein the support base is sized and configured to receive the downwardly shaped bottom of the outer tank.

9. The grease trap according to claim 7 wherein the support base includes support rods extending upwardly from the base for supporting the grease tank.

10. The grease trap according to claim 1 wherein the outlet invert includes a weir with a weep hole.

11. The grease trap according to claim 1 further including a vent for venting gases from the grease trap.

12. The grease trap according to claim 1 further including an anchor for anchoring the grease trap when installed in ground.

13. A grease trap for separating waste from waste water comprising

an outer tank having a downwardly shaped bottom;

an inlet invert for directing waste water into the tank;

an outlet invert for directing water from the tank;

an inner tank having an upwardly shaped bottom having a hole therein and located within the outer tank so the bottom of the inner tank divides the outer tank into an upper and lower chamber; and

a pipe extending through the upper chamber, the hole in the upwardly shaped bottom, and into the lower chamber,

whereby grease and solids may separate from the waste water such that heavy solids fall to the downwardly shaped bottom and grease rises to enter the upper chamber through the hole in the upwardly shaped bottom and is sequestered from currents flowing from the inlet invert to the outlet invert, thereby preventing later mixing of sequestered grease into the water exiting the grease tank.

14. A grease trap for separating waste from waste water comprising an outer tank having a bottom;

an inner tank having a bottom having a hole located therein;

an inlet invert for receiving waste water;

an outlet invert for removing water from the tank; and

a vertical pipe extending through the inner tank and extending into the outer tank for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.

15. The grease trap according to claim 14 wherein the bottom of the inner tank has an upwardly conical shape.

16. The grease trap according to claim 14 wherein the bottom of the inner tank has an upwardly pyramidal shape.

17. The grease trap according to claim 14 wherein the bottom of the inner tank divides the grease trap into an upper chamber and a lower chamber

18. The grease trap according to claim 14 wherein the inlet invert and outlet invert lead into and out of the lower chamber, respectively.

19. A method of separating lightweight grease and heavy solids from waste water comprising

assembling a grease trap having a horizontally positioned internal upwardly shaped divider for creating an upper chamber and a lower chamber;

passing waste water through the grease tank; and

pumping out lightweight grease and heavy solids from the two chambers.

20. A method of making a grease trap comprising

molding an outer tank unitary with an inlet invert, an outlet invert, and downwardly shaped bottom;

molding an inner tank with an upwardly shaped bottom having a hole and configured for insertion in the outer tank and around the inlet invert and outlet invert of the outer tank;

inserting the inner tank into the outer tank; and

inserting a pipe through the inner tank, the hole in the upwardly shaped bottom, and into the outer tank.

21. A method of making a grease trap comprising

molding an outer tank having a downwardly shaped bottom;

molding an upwardly shaped divider having a hole;

installing an inlet invert and an outlet invert in the outer tank;

inserting the upwardly shaped divider inside the outer tank to define an upper chamber above the divider and a lower chamber below the divider; and

inserting a pipe through the hole of the divider and into the lower chamber.

22. A method of separating lightweight grease and heavy solids from wastewater comprising

supplying the wastewater into a grease trap through an inlet invert opening into a lower chamber,

allowing grey water to exit the grease trap through the lower chamber to an outlet invert, thereby establishing at least intermittent currents from the inlet invert through the lower chamber to the outlet invert;

allowing grease in the waste water to rise by gravity from the lower chamber through a hole in a divider into an upper chamber so the grease is sequestered in the upper chamber and protected from entrainment in the currents of grey water;

allowing heavy solids in the waste water to fall by gravity to a sump in the lower chamber; and

removing collected grease and heavy solids from the grease trap.