SEPTIC TANK MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20140008296A1
• Filed: 07/03/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Michael R. Mills, Mills, Laura
• Original Assignee: Michael R. Mills, Mills, Laura
• Inventors: Mills, Laura, Mills, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US13/540,614
• Publication Number:
  US 20140008296A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/614
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/42 Liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/006 Regulation methods for biological treatment
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/28 Anaerobic digestion processes
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/74 for sensing changes in level only at discrete points

Abstract

A septic tank monitoring system is disclosed. The system can include a septic tank gauge having a float disposed within a housing, the housing having a first magnetic switch and a second magnetic switch, the float having a magnet adapted to activate the first magnetic switch when the float is at a first level and to active the second magnetic switch when the float is at a second level. The system can also include a controller adapted to receive a signal from each of the first magnetic switch and the second magnetic switch, and to activate an auto-dialer in response to a signal from the first magnetic switch, and to activate a water supply shut off valve in response to a signal from the second magnetic switch.

Claims

1. A septic tank monitoring system comprising:

a septic tank gauge having a float disposed within a housing, the housing having a first magnetic switch and a second magnetic switch, the float having a magnet adapted to activate the first magnetic switch when the float is at a first level and to active the second magnetic switch when the float is at a second level; and

a controller coupled to the septic tank gauge and adapted to receive a signal from each of the first magnetic switch and the second magnetic switch, the controller further adapted to activate an auto-dialer when the signal from the first magnetic switch indicates the float as reached the first level, and to activate a water supply shut off valve when the signal from the second magnetic switch indicates that the float has reached the second level.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the septic tank gauge includes a filter coupled to a bottom end of the housing via a locking connector.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a removable cap disposed at a top end of the housing.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the septic tank gauge is adapted to be connected to an incoming sewage line of a septic tank.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second level is below a bottom edge of an incoming water line of the septic tank when the septic tank gauge is installed and the first level is below the second level.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto-dialer is adapted to be programmed to dial at least one phone number and deliver a message.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the auto-dialer is adapted to deliver a text message via one or more of a short message service and electronic mail.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the water supply shut off valve is an electrically activated solenoid valve.

9. A method for monitoring a septic tank, the method comprising:

monitoring, at a control module, a first signal and a second signal from a septic tank gauge;

activating an auto-dialer when the first signal indicates that a level of liquid in the septic tank being monitored has reached a first level; and

activating a water supply line shut off valve when the second signal indicates that a level of liquid in the septic tank has reached a second level.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first signal and second signal are supplied by a septic tank gauge having a float disposed within a housing, the housing having a first magnetic switch and a second magnetic switch, the float having a magnet adapted to activate the first magnetic switch when the float is at a first level and to active the second magnetic switch when the float is at a second level, the first magnetic switch supplying the first signal and the second magnetic switch supplying the second signal.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the septic tank gauge includes a filter coupled to a bottom end of the housing via a locking connector.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the housing includes a removable cap disposed at a top end of the housing.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the septic tank gauge is adapted to be connected to an incoming sewage line of a septic tank.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the second level is below a bottom edge of an incoming water line of the septic tank when the septic tank gauge is installed and the first level is below the second level.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the auto-dialer is adapted to be programmed to dial at least one phone number and deliver a message.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the auto-dialer is adapted to deliver an electronic message via one or more of a short message service and electronic mail.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the water supply shut off valve is an electrically activated solenoid valve.

18. A septic tank gauge comprising:

a float disposed within a housing, the housing having at least one proximity switch, the float having an actuating element adapted to activate the at least one proximity switch when the float is at a first level, wherein the at least one proximity switch includes a second proximity switch and wherein the second proximity switch is activated when the float is at a second level.

19. The septic tank gauge of claim 18, further comprising a filter coupled to a bottom end of the housing via a locking connector.

20. The septic tank gauge of claim 18, wherein the second level is below a bottom edge of an incoming water line of the septic tank when the septic tank gauge is installed and the first level is below the second level.