US3760837A

US3760837A - Apparatus for controlling flow of waste liquid into a pneumatic liquid disposal system

Info

Publication number: US3760837A
Application number: US00200018A
Authority: US
Inventors: J Amren
Original assignee: Electrolux AB
Current assignee: Wartsila Oy AB; Electrolux AB
Priority date: 1971-11-18
Filing date: 1971-11-18
Publication date: 1973-09-25
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-25

Abstract

Waste liquid is discharged pneumatically into a liquid sewage or disposal system through a discharge conduit from the outlet of a vessel which receives such liquid from sanitary conveniences. A body in the vessel, which is capable of floating in the liquid therein, is drawn by suction toward the outlet when the liquid falls to a first low liquid level above the outlet, so that flow of air from the vessel into the system will be prevented. The floating body is removed from the outlet by mechanism in the vessel when the liquid therein rises to a second higher level, so that liquid will be withdrawn pneumatically from the vessel.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 [111 3,760,837 Amren Sept. 25, 1973 [541 APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING FLOW 3,055,387 9/1962 Eagar 137/423 x 01: WASTE LIQUID INTO A PNEUMATIC 3,181,553 5/1965 Liljendahl... 137/236 X 3,381,706 5/1968 Hendey 137/423 LIQUKD DISPOSAL SYSTEI 3,633,610 l/l972 Hellqvist 137/398 [75] Inventor: Jan Vilhelm Amren, Sollentuna,

Sweden Primary ExaminerMartin P. Schwadron [73] Assignee: Aktiebolaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Assistant EXami'1erDaVid Matthews S d Altorney-Edmund A. Fenander 22] Filed: Nov. 18, 1971 Appl. No.: 200,018

[57] ABSTRACT Waste liquid is discharged pneumatically into a liquid sewage or disposal system through a discharge conduit from the outlet of a vessel which receives such liquid from sanitary conveniences. A body in the vessel, which is capable of floating in the liquid therein, is drawn by suction toward the outlet when the liquid falls to a first low liquid level above the outlet, so that flow of air from the vessel into the system will be prevented. The floating body is removed from the outlet by mechanism in the vessel when the liquid therein rises to a second higher level, so that liquid will be withdrawn pneumatically from the vessel.

10 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention In pneumatic liquid disposal systems sewage liquid and waste liquid flows from sanitary conveniences to a vessel which may be referred to as a septic or receiving tank. Since such liquid is discharged pneumatically from the outlet of the vessel, a valve is required at the outlet for controlling the flow of liquid therefrom.

2. Description of the Prior Art It is not possible to use conventional float valves to control flow of waste liquid into pneumatic liquid disposal systems from the outlets of receiving tanks due to clogging problems that arise and always are encountered. For this reason it has generally been the practice to employ specially constructed valves which are located outside the vessel and controlled by mechanism within the vessel which functions in accordance with rise and fall of liquid therein. Since it is of utmost im- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention relates to valve structure which is disposed entirely within the receiving tank or vessel and includes a floating body that functions as a valve member and is drawn by suction toward the outlet of the vessel when the liquid falls to a first low level which is above the outlet and subsequently is removed from the outlet when the liquid rises to a second higher level.

The floating body moves into airtight sealing relation with the outlet at a time when the liquid level is above the outlet, so that flow of unwanted air into the pneumatic liquid disposal system will be prevented. In this way the partial vacuum developed and maintained in the system to propel waste liquid therethrough from the receiving tanks will not be impaired. Mechanism in the vessel, which is operatively associated with the floating body, functions to remove the floating body from the outlet when the liquid rises to a second higher level. When this occurs liquid again will be withdrawn pneumatically from the vessel until the liquid falls to the first low level. i

I have found that clogging problems are prevented when the floating body is drawn by suction to its closed position at the outlet of the vessel and then pulled from its closed position by a force which acts against such suction and is developed by the rise of liquid in the vessel to a second higher level. In the preferred embodiment illustrated and described hereinafter I employ structure for producing the aforementioned force which includes a part capable of floating in the liquid in the vessel and an elongated flexible member respectively connected at its opposite ends to the floating body and to a member which forms a component of said structure and to which movement is imparted by the floating part thereof with rise of liquid toward the second higher level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING In the drawing FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view more or less diagrammatically illustrating structure which controls the flow of waste liquid into a pneumatic liquid disposal system and embodies my invention to prevent flow of unwanted air into the system; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In FIG. 1 I have shown my invention in connection with a pneumatic sewage or liquid disposal system for controlling the flow of liquid into the system through a discharge conduit 10 having its inner end connected to an outlet 11 of a liquid receiving vessel 12 which may be referred to as a septic tank. The pneumatic sewage or liquid disposal system is maintained under partial vacuum which may be one-half of atmospheric pressure, for example, in any suitable manner.

The vessel 12 receives waste liquid from a plurality of sanitary conveniences located, for example, in a kitchen, laundry and bathroom. Liquid flows through a conduit 14 to an inlet 15 of the vessel 12 from the outlets of such sanitary conveniences, one of which is diagrammatically illustrated at 16.

A body 17 is provided in the vessel 12 which is capable of floating in the body of liquid 18 therein. The floating body 17 in a broad sense serves as a valve member. When the liquid surface in the vessel 12 falls the floating body 17, due to the fact that it floats in the body of liquid 18, also will fall at the same rate that the liquid surface falls. Since the liquid withdrawn by suction from the vessel 12 through the discharge conduit 10 moves toward the outlet 11, such movement of the liquid induces the floating body 17 to move toward the discharge conduit 10 and the bottom part of the floating body, which is in the form of a sphere, will be near the outlet 11 as the liquid level approaches a first low liquid level 19.

With a partial vacuum prevailing in the discharge conduit 10 when it is connected to a pneumatic sewage or liquid disposal system, the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 will be drawn by suction against the outlet 11 in airtight sealing relation therewith. In this way the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 will be held fast to the outlet 11 when the liquid in the vessel 12 falls to the first low liquid level 19 and before any air in the vessel 12 can flow therefrom into the discharge conduit 10 and pass into the pneumatic sewage or liquid disposal system.

In accordance with my invention I provide means operable to remove the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 from the outlet 11 responsive to rise of liquid in the vessel 12 to a second higher liquid level 20. When this occurs liquid again will be drawn pneumatically from the vessel 12 through the discharge conduit 10. Such means comprises structure 21 which includes a part 22 capable of floating in the same body of liquid 18 as the floating body 17. The floating part 22 is carried at the outer free end of a lever 23, the inner end of which is pivotally connected at 24 to an upright channel member 25 which is fixed to the side wall of the vessel 12 in any suitable manner and U-shaped in horizontal section, as shown in FIG. 2.

The opposing sides of the channel member 25 are provided with vertical rows of aligned openings 26 to receive a threaded bolt 27 which passes through an opening at the inner end of the lever 23 and receives a tightening nut 28 to provide the pivotal connection 24. The lever 23 has an upturned inner section 23a with the bolt 27 passing through the opening formed in the upper end thereof. With this construction the inner section 23a of the lever 23 functions as a stop to limit clockwise movement of the lever 23 and downward movement of the floating part 22 at the outer end thereof. An angle member 29, which is fixed to the upper end of the channel member 25 and vertically adjustable thereon in any suitable manner (not shown), is in the path of movement of the lever 23 and serves as a stop to limit counterclockwise movement thereof.

Upward movement of the lever 23 effected by the floating part 22 is transmitted to the floating body 17 by an elongated flexible member 30, such as a rope, for example, having its lower end connected to the floating body and its upper end connected to the lever 23 at one of a series of openings 31 therein. By employing the flexible member 30 as a connecting means the floating body 17 and floating part 22 are relatively movable with respect to one another.

In view of the foregoing, it will now be understood that the structure 21 is provided with a number of adjustments. First, the lever 23 can be pivotally mounted at 24 to the channel member 25 at different levels thereon and hence is vertically adjustable within the vessel 12. Second, the upper end of the flexible elongated member 30 can be fixed to the lever 23 at different distances from the pivotal connection 24 depending upon the particular opening 31 on the lever to which the upper end of the elongated member is fixed. Third,

the effective vertical length of the elongated member 30 can be adjusted by pulling more or less of the member through an opening 31 in the lever 23 before it is fixed thereto. Fourth, the angle member 29, which serves as a stop, can be adjusted vertically on the channel member 25 to determine the upper angular position of the lever 23 and in this way prevent it from moving counterclockwise to such an extent that it tends to remain in a vertical position.

The floating body 17 comprises the bottom part 170 in the form of a sphere and an elongated top part 17b of cylindrical form having a cover 170 fixed thereto which is removable. The bottom part 17a desirably is formed of an elastomeric material like rubber or plastic, for example, which is resilient and hence enhances its ability to form an airtight sea] at the outlet 11 when it is drawn thereto by the suction in the discharge conduit 10.

By removing the cover 170 the top part 17b of the floating body can be loaded with additional weight to increase the weight of the floating body and make it sink deeper into the liquid 18, thus increasing the volume of liquid it displaces. In this way the floating body 17 can assume different vertical positions in the liquid 18 which can be regulated by varying the overall weight of the body and the quantity of liquid it displaces.

Since the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 is in airtight sealing relation with the outlet 11 when the liquid 18 falls to the first low level 19 in the vessel 12, it will be evident that the level 19 can be adjusted by 1 varying the overall weight of the body and the vertical position it assumes in the liquid 18. The floating body 17 desirably is elongated and its vertical length substantially exceeds the diameter of the discharge conduit 10. The second higher liquid level 20 can be adjusted readily by raising or lowering the pivotal connection 24 of the lever 23 on the vertical channel member 25.

In FIG. 1 the first lower liquid level 19 is represented by a solid line and the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 is in airtight sealing relation with the outlet 11 of the vessel 12. Under these conditions the lever 23 is in its lowest position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 and the elongated flexible member 30 is not taut. With waste liquid being received by the vessel 12 through the conduit 14 the liquid level in the vessel gradually becomes higher and higher until it reaches the floating part 22. When this occurs the floating part 22 gradually displaces more and more liquid and will rise to impart upward movement to the lever 23.

The elongated flexible member 30 is of such length that it will almost immediately become taut or tight when initial upward movement is imparted to the lever 23. When this condition is produced with the lever 23 in such position that the elongated flexible member 30 becomes taut or tight, the bottom part 17b of the floating body 17 is held fast to the discharge conduit 10 by suction due to the partial vacuum prevailing in the discharge conduit. As further upward movement of the floating part 22 and lever 23 occur with rise of liquid level in the vessel 12, the force holding the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 at the discharge conduit 10 will be counteracted by the pulling force developed in the elongated flexible member 30.

When this pulling force overcomes the force holding the bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 at the discharge conduit, the bottom part 17a thereof will be released from the inlet end of the discharge conduit 10 and the floating body 17 will move rapidly upward to the liquid surface 20. In this way the distance or gap between the discharge conduit 10 and the floating body 17 increases quickly when the discharge conduit 10 becomes open at the outlet 11 of the vessel 12. Under these conditions the danger of the discharge conduit 10 becoming clogged is avoided. When the floating body 17 ascends to the liquid surface in the body of liquid 18, the lever 23 moves counterclockwise toward the stop 29 and then returns to its dotted line position in FIG. 1 with the floating part 22 buoyed up by the liquid at the second higher liquid surface 20.

With liquid flowing through the discharge conduit 10 from the vessel 12 the liquid level therein will fall so that the floating part 22 and lever 23 to which it is fixed will assume their solid line positions in FIG. 1. Subsequently, the floating body 17 will move toward the outlet 1] of the vessel 12. During such movement of the floating body 17 it is constantly rotating. Due to such rotation of the floating body fresh surfaces of the bottom part thereof will always coact with the outlet 11 of the vessel 12 and be brought into airtight sealing relation with the outlet when the liquid surface falls to the first low liquid level 19. Since the bottom part 17a of the floating body is held fast to the outlet 1 l by the suction prevailing in the conduit 10 when the liquid reaches the first low liquid level 19, which is above the outlet 11, unwanted air in the vessel 12 cannot flow into the discharge conduit 10.

If desired, the inner end of the discharge conduit 10 can be provided with a sleeve formed of a resilient material like rubber, for example, which serves as guiding means to guide the spherical bottom part 17a of the floating body 17 toward the outlet 12 and coact therewith to provide an airtight connection therebetween.

The valve structure embodying my invention possesses the advantage that the floating body 17 thereof, that is, the part that seals the inlet end of the conduit 10, is very light. Hence, the forces which are produced when the inlet end of the discharge conduit is closed by the floating body 17 and directed toward a side wall of the vessel 12 cannot cause any damage. This is not true of convenit'onal valves which not only are complex but also unduly heavy which tends to restrict their use in many installations in the field.

I claim:

1. The combination with a liquid disposal system which is adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum, of

a. a vessel for holding a body of liquid, said vessel having an inlet to receive liquid and an outlet adapted to be connected to the system for withdrawing liquid pneumatically from said vessel,

b. a body in said vessel which is capable of floating in the body of liquid-therein,

c. said floating body being so constructed and formed that, when the liquid in said vessel falls to a first low liquid level, said floating body will be drawn by suction toward the outlet in airtight sealing relation therewith, so that flow of air from said vessel into the system will be prevented,

d. a part in said vessel which is capable of floating in the same body of liquid as said floating body,

e. means connecting said floating body and said part, said connecting means being so constructed and arranged that said floating body and said part are relatively movable with respect to one another, and

f. structure comprising said part and said connecting means for removing said floating body from said outlet responsive to rise of liquid in said vessel to a second higher liquid level whereby liquid will be drawn pneumatically from said vessel.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said connecting means comprises an elongated flexible member,

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 in which said structure includes a lever, said lever being vertically movable within said vessel by means providing a pivotal support at one end thereof, said floating part being carried by said lever at the other outer end thereof, and the upper end of said elongated flexible member being connected to said lever.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 in which said lever is so constructed and formed that the upper end of said elongated member can be connected to said lever at different regions thereof between said floating part and said means providing the pivotal support therefor.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 which includes stop means limiting downward pivotal movement of said lever.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 which includes means whereby said means providing the pivotal support at one end of said lever can be shifted vertically in said vessel.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which at least a part of said floating body is in the form of a sphere.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 in which at least the part of said floating body in the form of a sphere is formed of elastomeric material.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said floating body is hollow, said floating body holding material which can be introduced therein and removed therefrom and serves to weight said floating body and regulate the quantity of liquid in said vessel displaced by said floating body.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 in which said floating body is of elongated form and has a major axis and a minor axis, said major axis being longer than the diameter of the outlet of said vessel.

UNKTED STATES PATENT @FFKCE CERTEFEQATE @F @QRRECTEQN Patent No, 3,760,837 dSeptember 25, 1973 lnventofls) Jan IVilhelm Am-r It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

On the cover sheet insert [30] Foreign Application Priority Data November 26, 1970 Sweden 16005/70 Signed and sealed this 26th day of February 1974.

(SEAL) Attest: I

EDWARD M.PLETCHER',JR. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer missioner of Patents FORM PO-105O (10-69) UscoMM-Dc mafia-P69 n u.s. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE I969 o-ass-su,

Claims

1. The combination with a liquid disposal system which is adapted to be maintained at a partial vacuum, of a. a vessel for holding a body of liquid, said vessel having an inlet to receive liquid and an outlet adapted to be connectEd to the system for withdrawing liquid pneumatically from said vessel, b. a body in said vessel which is capable of floating in the body of liquid therein, c. said floating body being so constructed and formed that, when the liquid in said vessel falls to a first low liquid level, said floating body will be drawn by suction toward the outlet in airtight sealing relation therewith, so that flow of air from said vessel into the system will be prevented, d. a part in said vessel which is capable of floating in the same body of liquid as said floating body, e. means connecting said floating body and said part, said connecting means being so constructed and arranged that said floating body and said part are relatively movable with respect to one another, and f. structure comprising said part and said connecting means for removing said floating body from said outlet responsive to rise of liquid in said vessel to a second higher liquid level whereby liquid will be drawn pneumatically from said vessel.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said connecting means comprises an elongated flexible member.