Abstract:
The present invention relates to a wastewater valve arrangement. The valve arrangement includes a first receptacle for receiving a filter to filter wastewater. A second receptacle receives the filtered wastewater. A valve is provided for impeding the egress of filtered wastewater from the second receptacle. In one embodiment, the valve is configured to be normally open, and is configured to permit the release and ingress of air relative to the second receptacle. The valve may include a float that defines a recess.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a wastewater valve arrangement. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge. 
         [0003]    Wastewater systems, including sewage systems, are inherently affected by the presence of unwanted pressurized air in pipelines that can result in operational problems such as broken pumps, valves and pipes. In order to minimise these problems, air release valves (ARVs) are located at the highpoints of pressurised pipelines to de-aerate the pipelines and relieve any excess pressure. 
         [0004]    An ARV typically includes a receptacle engaged with the pipeline to receive pressurized air and wastewater. A float valve is fitted to the receptacle and releases air in the receptacle as pipeline pressure increases. The float valve also permits the ingress of air into the receptacle as pipeline pressure decreases. The float valve further includes a float which rises with the wastewater level in the receptacle, to close the valve and thereby prevent wastewater from exiting the ARV. 
         [0005]    In practice, wastewater flotsam builds up within the receptacle over time and can have a detrimental effect on the operation of the ARV. Accordingly, it is often necessary to periodically clean the interior of the receptacle from flotsam which can be an arduous task. Furthermore, wastewater flotsam can clog up the float valve and thereby render the ARV ineffectual. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, the float is often in the form of a sealed ball which can implode or burst in the event of excess pressure in the receptacle, thereby also hindering the performance of the ARV. 
         [0007]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a wastewater valve arrangement for impeding clogging of the valve with flotsam. 
         [0008]    Embodiments of the present invention provide a wastewater valve arrangement having an implosion resistant float. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wastewater valve arrangement including:
       a first receptacle for receiving a filter to filter wastewater;   a second receptacle for receiving the filtered wastewater; and   valve means for impeding the egress of filtered wastewater from the second receptacle.       
 
         [0013]    Preferably, the valve means is configured to permit the release and ingress of air relative to the second receptacle. Typically, the valve means is configured to be normally open. The valve means may include a float that defines a recess. 
         [0014]    The valve arrangement may further include the filter which, in turn, includes an endless mesh wall. The filter may further include an inlet tube which extends from the mesh wall. The inlet tube may have a lesser cross sectional area than a portion of the mesh wall. The filter may further include a handle mounted to the mesh wall. 
         [0015]    Preferably, the first receptacle includes a container to which a lid can be fitted in air tight engagement. The lid may be fitted to the first receptacle in air tight engagement using an O-ring. 
         [0016]    The upper end of the first receptacle may form a compression chamber in which air can be compressed. 
         [0017]    Preferably, the second receptacle includes a container to which a lid can be fitted in air tight engagement. The lid may define an aperture through which the valve means extends when fitted. 
         [0018]    The receptacles may be interconnected by a pair of connection tubes. The tubes may be spaced apart and parallel. Alternatively, the tubes may divergently extend from the first receptacle. 
         [0019]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wastewater valve arrangement including:
       a filter for filtering wastewater;   a receptacle for receiving the filtered wastewater; and   valve means for impeding the egress of filtered wastewater from the receptacle.       
 
         [0023]    According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wastewater valve arrangement including:
       a first receptacle for receiving wastewater, and defining a compression chamber at an upper end in which air can be compressed;   a second receptacle for receiving the wastewater from the first receptacle; and   valve means for impeding the egress of wastewater from the second receptacle.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]    Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to the drawing as follows: 
           [0028]      FIG. 1  is a side sectional view of a wastewater air release valve (ARV) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a wastewater air release valve (ARV) in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0030]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a wastewater air release valve ARV  2  shown in  FIG. 1  which is suitable for fitting to the pipeline  4  of a sewage system. The ARV  2  includes a filtration receptacle  6  for receiving a removable filter  8  to filter wastewater. A valve receptacle  10  is provided for receiving the filtered wastewater from the filtration receptacle  6 . The ARV  2  further includes a float valve  12  which is fitted to the valve receptacle  10 . The float valve  12  permits the release and ingress of air relative to the valve receptacle  10 , and impedes the egress of filtered wastewater from the valve receptacle  10 . A detailed description of the ARV  2  is provided in detail below. 
         [0031]    The filtration receptacle  6  includes a container  14  to which a lid  16  can be fitted in air tight engagement using an O-ring (not shown). The lid  16  is releasably fastened to the container  14  using fasteners  18  that take the form of nut and bolt arrangements. A handle  20  is mounted to the lid  16  to facilitate hand separation of the lid  16  from the container  14 . The base of the container  14  defines a throat from which a flange extends. The flange can be mounted to the pipeline  4  using fasteners  22  so that the throat of the container  14  is in register with an aperture  24  defined in the pipeline  4 . 
         [0032]    The ARV  2  further includes the filter  8  which, in turn, includes an endless mesh wall  26 . The filter  8  further includes a solid inlet tube  28  which extends from the base of the mesh wall  26 . The base of the mesh wall  26  also defines a throat so that the inlet tube  28  has a lesser cross sectional area than the upper end of the mesh wall  26 . The filter  8  further includes a handle  30  mounted to the top of the mesh wall  26  to facilitate hand removal of the filter  8  from the container  14 . 
         [0033]    A pair of open connection tubes  32   a,b  interconnect the receptacles  6 , 10  so that fluid can freely pass between them. These two spaced tubes  32  provide for a structurally stable ARV  2 . 
         [0034]    The valve receptacle  10  includes a container  34  to which a lid  36  can be fitted in air tight engagement using an O-ring (not shown). The lid  36  is releasably fastened to the container  34  using fasteners  37  that take the form of complementary nut and bolt arrangements. The lid  36  defines a central aperture through which the float valve  12  extends when fitted. 
         [0035]    The float valve  12  includes a float  38  at its base that defines an underside recess. In use, wastewater filling the container  34  lifts the float  38  and thereby traps air in the underside recess. The float is not prone to implosion as there is no significant pressure differential between the air in the underside recess and the air in the container  34 . 
         [0036]    The float valve  12  further includes a bent housing  40  in which an annular seat  42  is fitted. An arm, extending from the float  38 , terminates in an upper stopper that engages with the seat to close the valve  12 . The float valve  12  is configured to be normally open and closes as the wastewater level rises in the valve receptacle  10 . 
         [0037]    In use when the pipeline pressure increases, wastewater (i.e. sewage) including flotsam and other debris exits the pipeline  4  and enters the filtration receptacle  6 . In turn air in the filtration receptacle  6  passes through the connection tubes  32   a,b,  the valve receptacle  10  and out through the float valve  12 . As the wastewater level in the filtration receptacle  6  increases, wastewater passes into the valve receptacle  10  via the filter  8  and connection tubes  32   a,b  respectively. Accordingly, flotsam is impeded from entering the valve receptacle  10  and remains within the filter  8 . 
         [0038]    Compressed air is trapped at the top the filtration receptacle  6  as the wastewater level rises therein above the connection tube  32   a.  This compressed air cannot escape as the lid  16  is fitted in air tight engagement with the container  14 , and facilitates flushing of flotsam back into the pipeline  4  when the wastewater level (and pipeline pressure) drops. The wastewater fills the ARV  2  at a controlled rate and thereby prevents a shock or water hammer condition from occurring that might otherwise damage the ARV  2  or pipeline  4 . 
         [0039]    As the filtered wastewater level increases above a predetermined threshold within the valve receptacle  10 , the valve  12  closes as previously described to thereby impede the egress of wastewater from the valve  12 . As the pipeline pressure drops with decreasing wastewater level, the valve  12  opens once more to permit the ingress of fresh air into the ARV  2 . 
         [0040]    Periodically, the user can clean the ARV  2  of collected wastewater flotsam. The lid  16  is unfastened from the container  14  and removed using the lid handle  20 . In turn, the user can readily remove the filter  8  from within the container  14  using the filter handle  30 . In practice, the filter  8  holds accumulated flotsam which is prevented from reaching and otherwise clogging the valve  12 . Much of the heavier filtered flotsam rests in or upon the base tube  28  and can be extricated using a pipe cleaner. The mesh wall  26  of the filter  8  can be subsequently cleaned using a high pressure hose, and the filter  8  can then be returned to the cleaned container  14 . The high pressure hose can also be used to clean the interior of the container  34  and float valve  12  upon removal of the lid  36 . 
         [0041]    A person skilled in the art will appreciate that many embodiments and variations can be made without departing from the ambit of the present invention. 
         [0042]    For example, in one embodiment, compressible hollow rubber balls may be provided within the underside recess of the float  38 . 
         [0043]    In another embodiment, the throat at the base of the container  14  may be fitted with a drain tap through which any excess wastewater in the container  14  can be drained during cleaning. 
         [0044]    In another embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the connection tubes  32   a,    32   b  divergently extend from the filtration receptacle  6 . Once again, compressed air is trapped at the top the filtration receptacle  6  as the wastewater level  100  rises therein above the mouth of connection tube  32   a.  Compression of the air within receptacle  6  in the embodiment of  FIG. 2  occurs sooner than the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         [0045]    In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.