Grease trap

A grease trap having an inlet member, a discharge member, a plurality inner walls defining chambers within, and a relief member for flushing accumulated waste matter. In general order of fluid flow, the chambers include an inlet chamber, a preliminary chamber, an outlet chamber, a discharge chamber, and a reservoir chamber. A first orifice on one inner wall permits passage of fluid from the inlet chamber to the preliminary chamber, a second orifice on another inner wall permits passage of fluid from the preliminary chamber to the outlet chamber, and a third orifice on another inner wall permits passage of fluid from the outlet chamber to the discharge chamber. The relief member has a cap and is coupled to the reservoir chamber. The inner walls defining the chambers are of a height approximately between 70 Length % to 95 Length % of the height of the outer walls of the device to permit for a waste accumulation layer. A gauge member adjacent to the reservoir chamber is adapted to view waste accumulation which, when necessary, is flushed through the relief member via the reservoir chamber.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
Not applicable. 
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
Not applicable. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
This present invention relates to an improvement in grease traps, and more 
particularly to a device for collecting, separating, and simply and easily 
removing grease from effluent streams emanating from restaurants, various 
food processing facilities, and other similar facilities. 
Grease traps of varying configurations are well known in the prior art. 
Some are of simple design while others are complex and/or fully automated. 
These include U.S. Pat. No. 2,763,335 issued to Janssen on Sept. 18, 1956 
(a simple grease trap design to catch for later manual disposition of 
grease, the trap having a plurality of removable partitions with staggered 
openings creating a tortuous effluent flow path); U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,860 
issued to Sager on Apr. 9, 1996 (also of relatively simple design 
structured to separate and retain grease apart from clean water flow for 
later manual removal of the retained grease); and U.S. Pat. No. 5,705,055 
issued to Holloway on Jan. 6, 1998 (a more complex separator and automated 
grease removal apparatus). 
While these prior art devices are suited for their intended purpose none is 
as simple in construction and operation as is the present invention which 
captures and separates grease from water and permits removal of grease 
therefrom in a cleaner, faster, and less costly manner without 
interrupting facility operations. 
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of my invention are to: 
a. provide a grease trap which is easy to use; 
b. provide a grease trap which is easy to install and which is compatible 
with virtually most existing effluent discharge systems; 
c. provide a grease trap which is simple in structure; 
d. provide a grease trap which is inexpensive to operate; 
e. provide a grease trap which is virtually maintenance-free; and 
f. provide a grease trap which is inexpensive to manufacture and, 
consequently, to purchase. 
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the 
present invention. These objects should be construed to be merely 
illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of 
the intended invention. Many other beneficial results can be attained by 
applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or by modifying the 
invention within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other objects 
and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the 
summary of the invention and the detailed description of the preferred 
embodiments in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the 
claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The above-noted problems, among others, are overcome by the present 
invention. Briefly stated, the present invention contemplates a grease 
trap having an inlet member, a discharge member, a plurality of chambers 
within, a relief member, and a cap for the relief member. Effluent enters 
via the inlet member and exits via the discharge member. Accumulated waste 
matter is flushed via the relief member. The chambers within include, in 
order of effluent flow, an inlet chamber, a preliminary chamber, an outlet 
chamber, a discharge chamber, and a reservoir chamber. A first orifice is 
structured to permit passage of effluent from the inlet chamber to the 
preliminary chamber, a second orifice is structured to permit passage of 
effluent from the preliminary chamber to the outlet chamber, and a third 
orifice is structured to permit passage of effluent from the outlet 
chamber to the discharge chamber. The relief member is coupled to the 
reservoir chamber and permits passage of waste matter out from the device. 
The inner walls defining the chambers are of a height approximately 
between 70 Length % to 95 Length % of the height of the outer walls of the 
device. A gauge member adjacent to the reservoir chamber permits viewing 
the accumulation and depth of the waste matter which is flushed from the 
device through the relief member via the reservoir chamber when necessary. 
Flushing is accomplished without shutting down operations or removing the 
grease trap cover. 
The foregoing has outlined the more pertinent and important features of the 
present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention 
that follows may be better understood so the present contributions to the 
art may be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the present 
invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the 
claims. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the 
conception and the disclosed specific embodiment may be readily utilized 
as a basis for modifying or designing other structures and methods for 
carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It also should be 
realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions 
and methods do not depart from the spirit and scope of the inventions as 
set forth in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIG. 1, 
reference character 10 generally designates the improved grease trap 
device constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the 
present invention (the cover 12 of the device 10 has been and is not 
illustrated in this figure but is shown in FIG. 6). For clarity and 
reference purposes only and not by way of limitation, the outer walls of 
the device 10 are referred to as front wall 13, rear wall 15, first end 
wall 17 (or first end), and second end wall 19 (or second end). This view 
illustrates the internal structure of the device 10. The device 10 has a 
plurality of inner walls 14, 24, 34 further defining a plurality of 
chambers 20, 30, 40, 50 therein as well as another chamber 60 external to 
the second end 19. 
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first inner wall 14 near to the first end 17 
connects to the inside bottom of the device 10 from its front wall 13 to 
its rear wall 15. This first inner wall 14 defines the inlet chamber 20. 
An inlet member 25 which permits entry of fluids into the device from 
without is positioned on the first end 17. 
A second inner wall 24, on the opposite end of the inlet member 25 and near 
to the second end 19, also connects to the inside bottom of the device 10 
from its front wall 13 to its rear wall 15. This second inner wall 24 
defines the outlet chamber 50. A third inner wall 34 connects between the 
first inner wall 14 and the second inner wall 24 to thereby define a 
preliminary chamber 30 and a reservoir chamber 40. A self-containing 
discharge chamber 60 is connected on the outer side of the left side 17 of 
the device. The height of the discharge chamber 60 is approximately equal 
to the height of the outer walls of the device 10. A discharge member 65, 
attached to the discharge chamber 60 permits passage of fluids out from 
the device 10. A cover 12 (shown in FIG. 6) covers and seals the device 10 
and each of its chambers. 
The third inner wall 34 may connect to the bottom of the device 10 thereby 
defining a preliminary chamber 30 and a reservoir chamber 40 having common 
floors or, as illustrated in FIG. 4, it may extend downward but not 
connect to the bottom of the device 10. In the latter case, a fourth inner 
wall 44, beginning at the bottom end of the third inner wall 34, is 
connected to the third inner wall 34. The fourth inner wall 44 extends 
rearward to the rear wall 15 of the device 10 and connects thereat 
defining a floor to the reservoir chamber 40. With this configuration, the 
preliminary chamber 30 becomes somewhat L-shaped. This is the preferred 
embodiment of my invention. 
In addition to the inlet member 25 and the discharge member 65, a relief 
member 45 within the reservoir chamber 40 provides for fluid communication 
between outside the device 10 and the device 10. In the preferred 
embodiment (as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6), the relief member 45 is 
connected to an outer wall (in this illustration the rear wall 15) at a 
point adjacent to the floor or fourth inner wall 44. It is preferred that 
the relief member 45 be approximately centered in the reservoir chamber 
40. A removable cap 46 permits fluid retention within the reservoir 
chamber 40 when capped to the relief member 45 or permits fluid release 
from the reservoir chamber 40 when uncapped from the relief member 45. 
An alternate embodiment for release from the reservoir chamber 40 is 
illustrated in FIG. 4. Here the relief member 145 is positioned in the 
center of the floor 44 of the reservoir chamber 40. A conduit 147 is 
connected to the relief member and to the rear wall 15. A removable cap 
146 is removably connected to the conduit 147. When connected, the 
reservoir chamber 40 retains fluid and when removed, the reservoir chamber 
40 releases fluid therefrom. The floor 44 may be downwardly angled toward 
the relief member 145 to thereby facilitate the fluid flow when the cap 
146 is removed. 
Reference is now made to FIGS. 2 through 5. Fluid or effluent enters the 
device through the inlet member 25 in the general direction of Arrow A and 
into the inlet chamber 20. A first orifice or passage 35 on the first 
inner wall 14 permits passage of fluid in the general direction of Arrow B 
from the inlet chamber 20 to the preliminary chamber 30. Fluid continues 
in the general direction of Arrow C beneath the floor 44 and through a 
second orifice, which is on the second inner wall 24, and into the outlet 
chamber 50. 
As fluid enters and begins to fill in the outlet chamber 50 it will pass in 
the general direction of Arrow D into the discharge chamber 60 via the 
third orifice or passage 55 located between and communicating with the 
discharge chamber 60 and the outlet chamber 50. FIG. 5 illustrates the 
general placement of the third orifice 55. Generally, the third orifice 55 
should be proximal to the bottom of the device 10 but may be located 
further upward and closer in height to the discharge member 65. The 
further away the third orifice 55 is from the discharge member 65 the 
better the operation of the device 10. As the device fills to the top of 
its walls 14, 24, and 34, fluid will spill over the walls and into the 
reservoir chamber 40. With the cap 46 secured to the relief member 45, the 
reservoir chamber 40 also will fill. 
Reference is now turned to FIGS. 2 and 6. As the fluid level in the device 
10 rises and passes into the discharge chamber 60, it will rise within the 
discharge chamber 60 in the general direction of Arrow E. When the fluid 
level reaches the lower end of the discharge member 65, the fluid will 
exit the device 10 following the general direction of Arrow F. 
All of the inner walls 14, 24, 34 of the chambers 20, 30, 40, 50 are 
generally shorter in height than the height of the outer walls of the 
device 10. The purpose behind this configuration is to keep the effluent 
level below that of the cover 12 and to permit grease, or similar waste 
matter having a lower specific gravity than water, to accumulate and form 
a layer at or near the top of the effluent level. Because of this 
principle, the inner walls, and through the direction of flow the device 
10 forces the fluid stream to flow, grease and similar waste matter 
remains on the top and relatively clean water is discharged from the 
discharge member 65. 
As the waste matter accumulates, its layer thickens and increases in size 
extending further downward thereby decreasing the amount of relatively 
clear water. If this layer were permitted to accumulate unabated the 
device 10 would clog with waste matter accumulation. My invention is 
fitted with a gauge member 42 which discerns for a user the amount of 
waste accumulation within the device 10. 
In the preferred embodiment, the gauge member 42 is a vertical strip on the 
rear wall 15 which permits viewing the fluid contained within the 
reservoir chamber 40 to determine the depth of the waste layer. The strip 
may be made of any transparent or translucent material. The top of such a 
gauge member 42 should be at a height which is at or near the height or 
top of the defining walls 14, 24, 34 of the reservoir chamber 40. As the 
waste accumulates, one can see the thickness of depth of the waste layer 
within the reservoir chamber 40. This accumulation is generally 
representative of the overall depth of accumulation within the device 10. 
Although a vertical strip of a transparent or translucent quality is 
preferred for the gauge member 42, any suitable mechanical or electrical 
detection device, suited for the intended purpose, may be utilized. 
To clear the device 10 of this waste accumulation, the cap 46 from the 
relief member 45 is removed. The pressure and force created after the 
relief member 45 is opened causes the effluent within the reservoir 
chamber 40 to pass through the relief member 45 and out of the device 10. 
The force also attracts and pulls the entire waste layer in the general 
direction of Arrows G, into the reservoir chamber 40, and out the device 
10 through the relief member 45 flushing the device 10 of this waste. This 
cleansing process can be performed without shutting down the fluid stream 
into the device 10 thereby permitting continued operations. The same 
flushing operation occurs with the alternate embodiment relief member 145, 
cap 146, and conduit 147 as illustrated in FIG. 4. 
When too much grease has accumulated within the reservoir chamber 40 such 
that flushing via the relief member 45 is impractical or difficult, the 
cover 12 may be removed from the device 10 and the device cleaned 
manually. Another cleaning option entails a removable insert 48 housed 
within the reservoir chamber 40 (illustrated in FIG. 1). With this 
embodiment, the cover 12 must be removed. Once removed, the insert 48 may 
likewise be removed from the reservoir chamber 40 and with it a 
significant portion of the accumulated waste matter. Cleaning waste from 
this embodiment, however, generally entails shutting down the operation of 
the device 10 until it has been cleaned. This embodiment is best suited 
for subterranean grease traps. It may, but need not have, a relief member 
45 and/or a gauge member 42. In either case, and with either embodiment, 
the cleaning operation is simplified. 
I have also found that this device 10 operates more efficiently when the 
centers 70 of the inlet member 25 and the discharge member 65 are in 
planar alignment with one another as illustrated in FIG. 6. In addition, 
the height of the inner walls 14, 24, 34 should be approximately between 
70 Length % and 95 Length % of the wall height of the outer walls of the 
device 10. With these respective height configurations I have found that 
waste accumulation and its elimination process are facilitated. The 
accumulation and elimination process functions better when the top 
surfaces of the inner walls 14, 24, 34 are in approximate alignment with 
the centers 70 of the inlet member 25 and the discharge member 65. Best 
results, however, have been achieved when the top surfaces of the inner 
walls 14, 24, 34 are approximately equidistant between the centers 70 of 
the inlet member 25 and the discharge member 65 and the lower sections of 
these members. 
The present disclosure includes that contained in the present claims as 
well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has 
been described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of 
particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the 
preferred forms has been made only by way of example and numerous changes 
in the details of construction and combination and arrangement of parts 
may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the 
invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined 
not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their 
legal equivalents.