Waste water vessels with multiple valved chambers, and associated systems and methods

• US 9,195,238 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2013
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/15/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sapphire Scientific Inc. (RPM International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Sapphire Scientific Inc. (RPM International Incorporated)
• Inventors: Roden, Michael James, Richardson, Bill Elmer
• Primary Examiner(s): Schneider, Craig
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trinidad-Borges, Josephine
• Application Number:
  US13/830,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20130333760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 137/312, 137/572, 137/575, 137/576, 153/20, 153/47, 155/35
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 11/30 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 9/28 Installation of the electric equipment, e.g. adaptation or attachment to the suction cleaner; Controlling suction cleaners by electric means
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 3/00 Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam B08B9/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/00 Treatment of water, waste water, or sewage C02F3/00 - C02F9/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2103/001 Runoff or storm water
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/003 Coaxial constructions, e.g. a cartridge located coaxially within another
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/004 Seals, connections
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/005 Valves
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/005 Processes using a programmable logic controller [PLC]
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/026 Spiral, helicoidal, radial
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/063 Underpressure, vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2301/08 Multistage treatments, e.g. repetition of the same process step under different conditions
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/08 Pneumatically dislodging or taking-up undesirable matter or small objectsE01H1/006 and E01H1/005 take precedence; suction cleaners in general A47L5/00 - A47L9/00; sucking-off liquids or semi-liquids E01H1/108; Drying by heat only or by streams of gas permanently-installed heating or blowing devices E01C11/26; heating or drying for road- building or repairing E01C23/14; devices for melting snow or ice in situ E01H5/10, E01H8/08; for scorching undesirable vegetation E01H11/00; Cleaning by projecting abrasive particles sand-blasting in general B24C; roughening of road surfaces E01C23/08; cleaning of road joints E01C23/0906
• CPC Class Codes: E03F 1/006 Pneumatic sewage disposal systems; accessories specially adapted therefore
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/00 Level control, e.g. controlling quantity of material stored in vessel
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 9/12 characterised by the use of electric means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0318 Processes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7287 Liquid level responsive or maintaining systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86035 Combined with fluid receiver
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86196 Separable with valved-connecting passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8622 : Plural top-to-bottom connected tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86228 : With communicating opening in common walls of tanks or compartments

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed generally to waste water vessels with multiple valved chambers, and associated systems and methods. A method in accordance with a particular embodiment includes drawing waste water into a first chamber under vacuum while the first chamber and a second chamber have at least approximately the same internal pressure. The method further includes allowing the waste water to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber while the first chamber and a second chamber have at least approximately the same internal pressure, releasably sealing the first chamber from fluid communication with the second chamber, and simultaneously adding waste water to the first chamber and removing wastewater from the second chamber while the first chamber is sealed from fluid communication with the second chamber.

Claims

1. A waste water handling system, comprising:

a vessel having a first chamber and a second chamber below the first chamber, the first chamber having a waste intake port coupleable to a source of waste fluid, and a vacuum outlet port coupleable to a vacuum source, the second chamber having a pressure port coupleable to at least one of ambient pressure or a pressure source;

a chamber divider sealably positioned between the first and second chambers;

a chamber connecting passage connected in fluid communication with the first and second chambers;

a connecting passage valve positioned in the chamber connecting passage, the connecting passage valve having an open state and a closed state;

a first chamber valve coupled between the first and second chambers, the first chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure in the first chamber meets or exceeds a pressure in the second chamber, and a closed state when a pressure in the second chamber exceeds a pressure in the first chamber; and

a second chamber valve coupled to the second chamber, the second chamber valve having an entrance in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second chamber valve further having an exit, the second chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure at the entrance meets or exceeds a pressure at the exit, and a closed state when a pressure at the exit exceeds a pressure at the entrance.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a liquid quantity detector positioned to detect a quantity of liquid in the second chamber;

a liquid outlet valve coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber, the liquid outlet valve having a closed state and an open state; and

a controller coupled to the liquid quantity detector, the liquid outlet valve, and the connecting valve, the controller being programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive an input from the liquid quantity detector corresponding to a liquid level in the second chamber exceeding a threshold value; and

in response to the input, direct the connecting valve to close and direct the liquid outlet valve to open.

3. A waste water handling system, comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being positioned above the second chamber, the first chamber having a waste intake port coupleable to a source of waste fluid, and a vacuum outlet port coupleable to a vacuum source, the second chamber having a pressure port coupleable to at least one of ambient pressure or a pressure source;

a connecting valve coupled in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the connecting valve having an open state and a closed state;

a first chamber valve coupled between the first and second chambers, the first chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure in the first chamber meets or exceeds a pressure in the second chamber, and a closed state when a pressure in the second chamber exceeds a pressure in the first chamber; and

a second chamber valve coupled to the second chamber, the second chamber valve having an entrance in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second chamber valve further having an exit, the second chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure at the entrance meets or exceeds a pressure at the exit, and a closed state when a pressure at the exit exceeds a pressure at the entrance.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising a chamber connecting passage connected in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, and wherein the connecting valve is positioned at least partially in the chamber connecting passage.

5. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

a liquid quantity detector positioned to detect a quantity of liquid in the second chamber, the liquid quantity detector being operatively coupled to the connecting valve to place the connecting valve in the open state when a first detected quantity of liquid is below a threshold value and place the connecting valve in the closed state when a second detected quantity of liquid is above a threshold value.

6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising a controller coupled to the liquid quantity detector and the connecting valve, the controller being programmed with instructions that, when executed:

receive an input from the liquid quantity detector corresponding to a liquid level in the second chamber exceeding a threshold value; and

in response to the input, direct the connecting valve to close.

7. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a liquid outlet valve coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber, the liquid outlet valve having a closed state and an open state; and

a controller coupled to the liquid quantity detector, the liquid outlet valve, and the connecting valve, the controller being programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive an input from the liquid quantity detector corresponding to a liquid level in the second chamber exceeding a threshold value; and

in response to the input, direct the connecting valve to close and direct the liquid outlet valve to open.

8. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

the vacuum source, and wherein the vacuum source is coupled to the vacuum outlet port; and

the pressure source, and wherein the pressure source is coupled to the second chamber, with the second chamber valve positioned between the pressure source and an interior region of the second chamber.

9. The system of claim 3 wherein the vacuum source remains coupled to the vacuum outlet port and the pressure source remains coupled to the second chamber with any of the connecting valve, the first chamber valve or the second chamber valve being in either of the open state or the closed state.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein only a single wall is positioned between the first and second chambers, and wherein the first chamber valve is positioned to regulate fluid communication between the first and second chambers through the single wall.

11. The system of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first and second chamber valves includes a duck bill valve having two flexible portions that are positioned in surface-to-surface contact with each other when the duck bill valve is in the closed state and are spaced apart from each other when the duck bill valve is in the open state.

12. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second chamber valves includes a duck bill valve having two flexible portions that are positioned in surface-to-surface contact with each other when the duck bill valve is in the closed state and are spaced apart from each other when the duck bill valve is in the open state.

13. The system of claim 3, further comprising:

the vacuum source, and wherein the vacuum source is coupled to the vacuum outlet port; and

the pressure source, and wherein the pressure source is coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber, with the second chamber valve positioned between pressure source and an interior region of the second chamber.

14. The system of claim 3, further comprising the vacuum source and wherein the vacuum source has a vacuum inlet port and a pressure outlet port, and wherein the vacuum inlet port of the vacuum source is coupled to the vacuum outlet port of the first chamber, and wherein the pressure outlet port of the vacuum source is coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a baffle positioned between the vacuum outlet port and the pressure port.

16. The system of claim 3 wherein the waste intake port has an opening directed generally tangential to an inner wall of the first chamber.

17. The system of claim 3 wherein the first and second chambers are fixed relative to each other.

18. The system of claim 3 wherein at least one of the first and second chambers includes a plurality of circumferentially extending ribs.

19. The system of claim 3 wherein each of the first and second chambers includes an access port.

20. The system of claim 3 wherein the first and second chambers are generally cylindrical and co-axial.

21. A method for handling waste water, comprising:

drawing or instructing drawing of waste water into a first chamber under vacuum while the first chamber and a second chamber have at least approximately the same internal pressure, the first chamber being above the second chamber;

allowing or instructing allowance of the waste water to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber while the first chamber has an internal pressure equal to or above an internal pressure in a second chamber;

releasably sealing or instructing sealing of the first chamber from fluid communication with the second chamber; and

while the first chamber is sealed from fluid communication with the second chamber, simultaneously adding or instructing adding of waste water to the first chamber and removing wastewater from the second chamber.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising detecting a quantity of liquid in the second chamber, and wherein releasably sealing or instructing sealing is performed in response to detecting the quantity of liquid in the second chamber.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein detecting and releasably sealing or instructing sealing are performed automatically by controller-based instructions.

24. The method of claim 21 wherein removing wastewater from the second chamber includes exposing an interior volume of the second chamber to atmospheric pressure.

25. The method of claim 21 wherein removing wastewater from the second chamber includes exposing an interior volume of the second chamber to a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

26. The method of claim 21 wherein drawing or instructing drawing includes drawing or instructing drawing of the wastewater into the first chamber via a hand-operated floor tool.

27. A waste water handling system, comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a waste intake port coupleable to a source of waste fluid, and a vacuum outlet port coupleable to a vacuum source, the second chamber having a pressure port coupleable to at least one of ambient pressure or a pressure source;

a connecting valve coupled in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the connecting valve having an open state and a closed state;

a first chamber valve coupled between the first and second chambers, the first chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure in the first chamber meets or exceeds a pressure in the second chamber, and a closed state when a pressure in the second chamber exceeds a pressure in the first chamber;

a second chamber valve coupled to the second chamber, the second chamber valve having an entrance in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second chamber valve further having an exit, the second chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure at the entrance meets or exceeds a pressure at the exit, and a closed state when a pressure at the exit exceeds a pressure at the entrance;

a liquid quantity detector positioned to detect a quantity of liquid in the second chamber, the liquid quantity detector being operatively coupled to the connecting valve to place the connecting valve in the open state when a first detected quantity of liquid is below a threshold value and place the connecting valve in the closed state when a second detected quantity of liquid is above a threshold value;

a liquid outlet valve coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber, the liquid outlet valve having a closed state and an open state; and

a controller coupled to the liquid quantity detector, the liquid outlet valve, and the connecting valve, the controller being programmed with instructions that, when executed;

receive an input from the liquid quantity detector corresponding to a liquid level in the second chamber exceeding a threshold value; and

in response to the input, direct the connecting valve to close and direct the liquid outlet valve to open.

28. A waste water handling system, comprising:

a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber having a waste intake port coupleable to a source of waste fluid, and a vacuum outlet port, the second chamber having a pressure port;

a connecting valve coupled in fluid communication with the first and second chambers, the connecting valve having an open state and a closed state;

a first chamber valve coupled between the first and second chambers, the first chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure in the first chamber meets or exceeds a pressure in the second chamber, and a closed state when a pressure in the second chamber exceeds a pressure in the first chamber;

a second chamber valve coupled to the second chamber, the second chamber valve having an entrance in fluid communication with the second chamber, the second chamber valve further having an exit, the second chamber valve being changeable between an open state when a pressure at the entrance meets or exceeds a pressure at the exit, and a closed state when a pressure at the exit exceeds a pressure at the entrance; and

a vacuum source having a vacuum inlet port and a pressure outlet port, and wherein the vacuum inlet port of the vacuum source is coupled to the vacuum outlet port of the first chamber, and wherein the pressure outlet port of the vacuum source is coupled to the pressure port of the second chamber.

29. A method for handling waste water, comprising:

drawing or instructing drawing of waste water into a first chamber under vacuum while the first chamber and a second chamber have at least approximately the same internal pressure;

allowing or instructing allowance of the waste water to pass from the first chamber to the second chamber while the first chamber has an internal pressure equal to or above an internal pressure in a second chamber;

releasably sealing or instructing sealing of the first chamber from fluid communication with the second chamber;

while the first chamber is sealed from fluid communication with the second chamber, simultaneously adding or instructing adding of waste water to the first chamber and removing wastewater from the second chamber; and

detecting a quantity of liquid in the second chamber, and wherein releasably sealing or instructing sealing is performed in response to detecting the quantity of liquid in the second chamber, wherein removing wastewater from the second chamber includes exposing an interior volume of the second chamber to a pressure above atmospheric pressure.