Septic tank sludge gauge

• US 6,274,033 B1
• Filed: 12/27/1999
• Issued: 08/14/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Glen Hudgin
• Original Assignee: Glen Hudgin
• Inventors: Hudgin, Glen
• Primary Examiner(s): Drodge, Joseph W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cecil, Terry K.
• Application Number:
  US09/472,030
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 210/86, 210/91, 210/532.2, 116/227, 116/228, 116/109, 116/215, 733/19, 733/22, 733/20, 733/21, 733/05, 732/90.R
• US Class Current: 210/86
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/0023 with a probe suspended by a wire or thread with floats G01F23/40

Abstract

A sludge gauge for measuring the depth of a sludge layer covering a bottom of a septic tank. The sludge gauge has a guide sleeve mountable through a septic tank cover and a probe, at least an upper end of which is slidably received in the guide sleeve. The probe has a base end distal an upper end. The density and base end configuration of the probe are selected to cause the probe to sink through a liquid layer in the septic tank until the base end settles on the sludge layer when the probe is released from a raised position. A cap is securable over an upper end of the guide sleeve and a collapsible connector extends between the cap and the probe for raising the probe into the raised position. An indicator is attached to the cap for indicating a height of the base end of the probe above the bottom of the septic tank thereby indicating sludge depth in the tank.

Claims

1. A sludge gauge for measuring the depth of a sludge layer covering a bottom of a septic tank, said sludge gauge comprising:

a guide sleeve for mounting through a septic tank cover;

a probe having an upper end slidably received in said guide sleeve and a base end distal said upper end;

said probe having a density and a configuration of said base end selected to cause said probe to sink through a liquid layer in said septic tank with said base end settling on said sludge layer when said probe is released from a raised position;

a cap securable over an upper end of said guide sleeve;

a collapsible connector extending between said cap and said probe for raising said probe into said raised position; and

,

an indicator attached to said cap for indicating a height of said base end above said bottom of said septic tank.

2. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a releasable retainer acting between said probe and said sleeve for maintaining said probe in said raised position.

3. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said releasable retainer connects said upper end of said probe to said cap.

4. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 3 wherein said releasable retainer includes a threaded portion on said cap which engages a corresponding threaded portion on said upper end of said probe.

5. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 2 wherein:

said collapsible connector is a member selected from the group consisting of rope and chain which are substantially non-reactive in a septic tank environment.

6. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said collapsible connector is storable in a space defined between said cap and said upper end of said probe when said cap is secured to said probe.

7. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said cap includes a metal component rendering said cap detectable with a metal detector.

8. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 5 wherein:

said indicator is one of markings and tags on said collapsible connector.

9. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 6 wherein said indicator is one of markings and tags on said collapsible connector.

10. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 7 wherein said indicator is one of markings and tags on said collapsible connector.

11. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said guide sleeve is a plastic tube;

said probe is a plastic tube sealed and weighted at said base end;

said cap is of a plastics materials and has a metal disc embedded therein;

said collapsible connector is of polypropylene rope; and

,

said indicator is one of markings and tags on said polypropylene rope.

12. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 9 further including a mounting sleeve for mounting through a septic tank cover, said mounting sleeve slidably receiving said guide sleeve therethrough and said guide sleeve having a flange extending radially therefrom for abutting against a top of said mounting sleeve.

13. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 10 further including a mounting sleeve for mounting through a septic tank cover, said mounting sleeve slidably receiving said guide sleeve therethrough and said guide sleeve having a flange extending radially therefrom for abutting against a top of said mounting sleeve.

14. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 11 further including a mounting sleeve for mounting through a septic tank cover, said mounting sleeve slidably receiving said guide sleeve therethrough and said guide sleeve having a flange extending radially therefrom for abutting against a top of said mounting sleeve.

15. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 3 wherein:

said collapsible connector is a member selected from the group consisting of rope and chain which are substantially non-reactive in a septic tank environment.

16. A sludge gauge as claimed in claim 4 wherein:

said collapsible connector is a member selected from the group consisting of rope and chain which are substantially non-reactive in a septic tank environment.