Patent ID: 6423213
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: B01D,C02F,G01F,G05D

Abstract:
An automatic draw-off grease interceptor for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water, comprising:a grease/water separation tank defining a separation chamber; an effluent inlet connected with said separation tank for permitting flow of the effluent stream into said separation chamber to form a body of effluent in said separation chamber, the body of effluent having an upper surface; a pump adapted to pump grease from the body of effluent in said separation chamber upon a thickened layer of grease in said tank reaching a predetermined level; a grease depth level sensor comprising an elongated conductive probe extending generally vertically in said separation tank from a location above the upper surface of the body of effluent to a location below said predetermined level; a measuring means adapted to continuously measure the amount of water in the body of effluent by measuring the capacitance between the probe and a wall of the separation tank as the thickness of a layer of grease in the tank varies; and control means adapted to actuate the pump in response to said measuring means measuring a capacitance corresponding to an amount of water in said tank when said thickened layer of grease reaches said predetermined level.