Water reclamation apparatus

A water reclamation apparatus for recycling water in a system including a reclamation tank for holding water to be recycled, a first conduit for conveying water to the reclamation tank, a second conduit for conveying water from the reclamation tank, an outlet hose extending from the second conduit to a point beneath the level of the water in the reclamation tank, the outlet hose including two check valves operatively connected in series to allow water to flow through the outlet hose from the reclamation tank, and to prevent water from flowing into the reclamation tank from the outlet hose under conditions where one of the check valves is held in an open position. The outlet hose is flexible and can be extended through an access portion of the reclamation tank to allow the check valves to be serviced.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates to an apparatus for filtering water. More 
specifically, this invention relates to an apparatus for filtering out 
bristles and other foreign matter from the used water of a car wash, said 
apparatus comprising a series of water settling tanks and an outlet hose 
assembly for delivering the recycled water back to the car wash. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The typical car wash water reclamation apparatus comprises a series of 
settling tanks located beneath the car wash and an outlet hose assembly. 
The used water from the car wash enters the settling tanks, where it is 
subject to a natural gravitational filtration process, and is then 
delivered back to the car wash through the outlet hose assembly. The used 
water, having been used for washing dirty automobiles and draining 
generally from the floor of the car wash, contains bristles from the car 
wash brushes, dirt, stones and other foreign matter. The basic objective 
of any car wash water reclamation apparatus, therefore, is to remove this 
foreign matter from the water so that clean water can be recycled and used 
again in the car wash, thus conserving water and reducing the expenses 
associated with operating a car wash. 
In the typical car wash water reclamation apparatus, used water enters the 
first of several settling tanks through a drain in the car wash floor. A 
large percentage of the foreign matter filters out of the used water in 
this first settling tank. The water then flows, via a connecting pipe, to 
a second or intermediate settling tank, where the force of gravity acts to 
separate out finer particles from the used water. The water then flows, 
via a connecting pipe, to a reclamation tank, from where it is pumped back 
to the car wash through an outlet hose assembly. 
The typical outlet hose assembly consists of a rigid pipe extending 
vertically from the top of the reclamation tank down into the water. A 
standard foot valve is attached to the intake end of the rigid vertical 
pipe. A pump is connected to the outlet hose assembly, and the foot valve 
operates to close off the inlet of the outlet hose assembly when the pump 
is not in operation. The foot valve also operates to prime or retain water 
in the outlet hose assembly when the water level in the reclamation tank 
drops below the end of the outlet hose assembly, thus maintaining a primed 
pump. 
Unfortunately, bristles and other foreign matter occasionally find their 
way into the reclamation tank and are drawn into the foot valve, keeping 
the valve constantly open, allowing water in the outlet hose assembly to 
drop back into the reclamation tank by virtue of a back-siphon, thus 
emptying or depriming the outlet hose assembly. This allows undesirable 
air to enter the supply line to the water pump, which could damage the 
pumps. When this happens, the supply of recycled water is also greatly 
diminished. Thus, to retain the benefit of the car wash water reclamation 
apparatus, the foot valve must be cleared of foreign debris. 
In order to clear the foot valve in the typical car wash water reclamation 
apparatus, the car wash must be shut down and an attendant must gain 
access to the foot valve in the reclamation tank through an opening in the 
top of the tank. The attendant may either first drain the tank, enter the 
tank, and manually clear the foot valve, or enter the full tank and 
manually clear the foot valve while submerged in the water. The 
inconveniences associated with either method are obvious. 
Furthermore, if the attendant decides to drain the tank and the foreign 
debris in the foot valve has caused the foot valve to remain open, the 
water in the outlet hose assembly will discharge into the reclamation 
tank, further requiring the attendant to refill the outlet hose assembly, 
or prime the pump, before reactivating the pump. 
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an outlet hose 
assembly that allows the foot valve to be cleared without entering the 
reclamation tank. The present invention achieves this object by providing 
a flexible outlet hose assembly that allows an attendant to lift the foot 
valve to the opening at the top of the reclamation tank for clearing from 
outside the reclamation tank. The flexible outlet hose assembly thus 
eliminates the need to enter the reclamation tank to clear the foot valve. 
When the foot valve is raised above the water level, however, if foreign 
debris causes the foot valve to remain open, the water in the outlet hose 
assembly will discharge into the reclamation tank, therefore requiring an 
attendant to prime the pump before the pump can be reactivated. Therefore, 
a second object of the present invention is to provide means to prevent 
the water in the outlet hose assembly from discharging into the 
reclamation tank when the foot valve is being cleared. The present 
invention achieves this object by placing a springloaded, one-way check 
valve in the outlet hose in combination with the foot valve. The check 
valve remains closed when the pump is turned off and thus keeps the outlet 
hose assembly primed at all times, regardless of whether the foot valve is 
open or closed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention contemplates a water reclamation apparatus which 
employs an outlet hose assembly which is easy clear of foreign debris and 
which remains primed during the clearing operation. 
Referring to FIG. 1, used water from a car wash, or other source, enters a 
reclamation apparatus 1 through an indicated generally at 2. The water 
enters a first settling tank 3, where larger debris is separated out from 
the water. The water then flows into a second or intermediate settling 
tank 4, where the force of gravity acts to separate out the finer 
particles from the water. After passing through intermediate settling tank 
4, the water flows into a reclamation tank 15 through inlet conduit 20. 
The water in reclamation tank 15 is substantially free of debris and is 
ready to be re-cycled back to the car wash. 
As seen in FIG. 2, a pump 40 draws the water in reclamation tank 15 through 
outlet hose assembly 16 for delivered to the car wash, as indicated by the 
arrow A. 
The outlet hose assembly 16 comprises inlet valve means 25, flexible hose 
30 and a length of rigid conduit or pipe 45 to which hose 30 is attached. 
The pump 40 operates to draw the water through the inlet valve means 25, 
hose 30, and rigid pipe 45. The length of outlet hose assembly 16 is 
defined by the lengths of the inlet valve means 25 and flexible hose 30, 
and should be sufficient to maintain inlet valve means 25 at a distance 
from the bottom of reclamation tank 15 to prevent debris at the bottom of 
reclamation tank 15 from being readily drawn into inlet valve means 25. 
A chain or rope 60 is connected to intermediate portion 78 of valve 
assembly 25 by means of a collar 62. The opposite end of chain or rope 60 
is connected to cover 50, which removably fits in the opening 52 of 
reclamation tank 15. 
An advantage of the present invention is appreciated by reference to FIG. 
2. Should inlet valve means 25 of outlet hose assembly 16 become clogged, 
an attendant need simply remove cover 50 of reclamation tank 15 and raise 
the inlet valve means 25 to opening 52 by way of chain or rope 60. The 
inlet valve means 25 is allowed to move relative to rigid pipe 45 due to 
the flexibility of hose 30. Flexible hose 30 is constructed of a lithe, 
non-collapsible tubing, which maintains a substantially circular 
cross-section during bending. The flexible hose 30 should be of sufficient 
length to allow the inlet valve means 25 to be raised to opening 52 of 
reclamation tank 15. Thus, the need for an attendant to enter the tank to 
perform the clearing function is eliminated. 
As depicted in FIG. 3, inlet valve means 25 comprises a spring-loaded, 
one-way foot valve 70 and a spring-loaded, one way check valve 80, 
connected by a short length of pipe 78. The foot valve 70 and check valve 
80 are of the type generally known. 
Foot valve 72 comprises a conical end piece 72 having holes or perforations 
73 and a poppet valve 74 connected to a spring 76. The force of spring 76 
retains the valve element 75 of poppet valve 74 in a closed position 
against valve seat 77. 
The short length of pipe 78 connects foot valve 70 to check valve 80. Pipe 
78 also provides a location for connecting chain or rope 60 to the inlet 
valve means 25. Chain or rope 60 is connected to collar 62 which extends 
around and is attached to pipe 78. 
Check valve 80 comprises a poppet valve 84 having a valve element 85 
connected to a spring 86. The force of spring 86 retains the valve element 
85 of poppet valve 84 in a closed position against valve seat 87. 
Hose 30 is connected at one end to check valve 80 by means of a hose clamp 
90 or any other suitable means. The opposite end of hose 30 is similarly 
connected to pipe 45 by means of a hose clamp or any other suitable means. 
When pump 40 is in operation, the resulting decrease in pressure upstream 
of the inlet valve means 25 causes valve element 85 of poppet valve 84 to 
overcome the force of spring 86 and displace from valve seat 87, thereby 
allowing water to flow through check valve 80. The resulting decrease in 
pressure immediately upstream of foot valve 70 causes valve element 75 of 
poppet valve 74 to overcome the force of spring 76 and displace from valve 
seat 87, thereby allowing water to flow through foot valve 70. 
Consequently, water in reclamation tank 15 is drawn through the outlet 
hose assembly 16 and is delivered by pump 40 back to the car wash. 
An advantage of the present invention can be appreciated by reference to 
FIG. 3. For pump 40 to be readily operational, outlet hose assembly 16 
must be fully primed with water. In the typical outlet hose assembly, if 
the presence of bristles or other foreign matter causes the poppet valve 
74 of foot valve 70 to remain open, the raising of foot valve 70 by way of 
chain or rope 60 would cause the water to discharge from the outlet hose 
assembly when foot valve 70 reaches the level of water in reclamation tank 
15. Since the inlet valve means 25 of the present invention comprises a 
check valve 80 in combination with foot valve 70, however, the water will 
remain in the outlet hose assembly 16 at all times, regardless of whether 
foot valve 70 is open or closed. Therefore, the need to prime pump 40 
after clearing in those situations where foot valve 70 is held open by 
bristles or foreign mater is eliminated, since water remains in the outlet 
hose assembly 16 during the clearing operation. 
The foregoing description is for purposes of illustration rather than 
limitation of the scope of protection accorded this invention. The latter 
is to be measured as broadly as the invention permits.