Abstract:
A waste distribution device controllable by a user. Waste distributor device may be mechanically actuated, such as via a cable tension system or otherwise, and may allow a user to determine the channel in which waste will be deposited. Waste distribution device may be paired with a wastewater treatment system such as an anaerobic digester, and may be used in order to control how much waste is deposited in the wastewater treatment device and what contents are deposited. This may allow a user to avoid disrupting their wastewater treatment system by adding harmful chemicals or by preventing harmful byproducts or harmful concentrations thereof from being produced.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Anaerobic digesters are a feature of many wastewater treatment facilities throughout the United States. They are generally used to break down sewage and, increasingly, food waste; this reduces the amount of material that must be treated and disposed of by other means, and produces potentially useful biogas in the process. Because anaerobic digesters tend to reduce ecological impact, produce renewable energy, and reduce costs for wastewater treatment facilities, they have seen increasing popularity and use in recent years. 
         [0002]    However, some obstacles to their broader use remain. The first is that many of the potential byproducts of anaerobic digestion processes, such as hydrogen sulfide gas, can be toxic to people or corrosive to digester equipment. The second is that the digester bacteria themselves are environmentally sensitive; a digester environment must be kept within a certain narrow pH range near pH neutral (generally a range between about 6.8 to 7.2 is desirable) and kept free of harmful chemicals, including oxygen and toxic byproducts of the anaerobic digestion process itself, to avoid killing the bacteria driving the digestion process. These problems with anaerobic digesters—their potential hazards, and the need to closely regulate their internal environment—have limited the extent to which typical consumers have been able to make use of them, and in turn limited the extent to which typical consumers can reap their benefits. A system by which consumers and others may control the disposition of their wastewater, and thereby better regulate the disposition of that wastewater into sensitive subsystems like anaerobic digesters, offers numerous advantages. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    According to one exemplary embodiment, a waste distribution device may be described. The waste distribution device may consist of a distributor and a control, and may be paired with a wastewater treatment system and a waste disposal channel. A user may be able to operate the control to select between the two, feeding wastewater into the treatment system or funneling it away from the device. The waste distribution device may be mechanically actuated, such as via a cable tension system or otherwise. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is an exemplary diagram showing a cable-operated actuator and waste distribution device. 
           [0005]      FIG. 1A  is an expanded view of an exemplary diagram of an anaerobic digester system used in an exemplary waste distribution device. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is an exemplary diagram of a cable-actuated waste distributor. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is an exemplary diagram of a cable-actuating dial control mechanism for a waste distributor. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is an exemplary diagram of a cable-actuating lever control mechanism for a waste distributor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
         [0010]    As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
         [0011]    Referring now to exemplary  FIG. 1 , a cable-actuated waste distribution system  100  may be described. A sewage or wastewater source  102 , such as a toilet, sink, dishwasher, or other household fixture, may be connected to a sewer pipe having an upper portion  104  and a lower portion  106 . Sewer pipe  104 ,  106  may also have or be connected to a ventilator pipe  108 , or alternatively may be connected to another ventilation or aeration device or several such devices. According to one exemplary embodiment, ventilator pipe  108  may be operationally connected to the upper portion  104  of the sewer pipe and may lead directly outside. 
         [0012]    A cable-actuated waste distributor (hereinafter “distributor”)  110  may be placed in series with the upper  104  and lower  106  portions of the sewer pipe, joining the two to each other. The distributor  110  may be controlled by a user via a control cable  112 . According to an exemplary embodiment, control cable  112  may be constructed from steel wire, and may allow a user to exercise control over the distributor  110  by way of a tensile force. According to other exemplary embodiments, control cable  112  may be constructed from another material or combination of materials, such as another metal or metal alloy or a polymer. According to still other exemplary embodiments, control cable  112  may allow a user to exercise control over the distributor  110  in an alternative manner other than by application of a tensile force, such as pneumatically, hydrostatically, via an electrical signal, or in any other manner desired. 
         [0013]    A user may be able to exercise control over the control cable  112  via a control mechanism  114 . Control mechanism  114  may be located for easy user access; according to an exemplary embodiment, control mechanism  114  may be mounted on the wall of a bathroom or near another sewage or wastewater source  102 . Alternatively, control mechanism  114  may be located elsewhere, as desired. According to an alternative embodiment, multiple control mechanisms  114  or a distributed control mechanism  114  having multiple control cables  112  may also be envisioned. Control mechanism  114  may employ a dial, switch, lever, or another mechanical or non-mechanical device or devices compatible with the control cable  112 ; for example, a pneumatic control mechanism  114  may be employed in conjunction with a pneumatic control cable  112 . For example, a mechanical control mechanism  114  such as a dial or lever may be employed, and may allow a user to control the position of the distributor  110  by applying varying levels of mechanical tension to the control cable  112 . 
         [0014]    According to some exemplary embodiments, control mechanism  114  may be paired with a display indicating certain diagnostic or sensor information from within the remainder of the system, for example sensor information displaying the remaining empty volume in the system, its pH, the concentrations of particular products of the treatment process, or any other desirable information. This may aid a user&#39;s decision-making process; for example, if the system pH is too far away from neutral, a user may flush additional water into the system to prevent damage or harm to pH-sensitive components, organisms, or other elements of the system. According to other embodiments, such information may be available on another part of the device, may be available remotely, or as desired. 
         [0015]    Distributor  110  may divide or fork into two or more outlets  116 ,  118 , each connected to a different outflow pathway. According to an exemplary embodiment, a first outlet  116  may be connected to and may disgorge its contents into a wastewater treatment or retention system  120  (hereinafter “wastewater treatment system”), such as an anaerobic digester system, septic tank, or similar system. A second outlet  118  may be connected to a sewer pipe or other waste disposal channel (“sewer pipe”)  106 , which may allow a user to disgorge the contents of a wastewater source  102  directly into the sewer, allowing them to bypass the wastewater treatment system  120  entirely. This may allow a user to disgorge inorganic toxic cleaning agents or other potentially harmful or contaminating contents directly into the sewer instead of into the wastewater treatment system  120 , and in doing so avoid contaminating or damaging the wastewater treatment system  120  via the introduction of said contents. 
         [0016]    Turning now to exemplary  FIG. 1A , an expanded view of an exemplary wastewater treatment system  120  that may be paired with a distributor  110  may be shown and described. In an exemplary embodiment, the wastewater treatment system  120  may be an anaerobic digester. Distributor outlet  116  may be connected to a digester pipe  122  that can lead downward into the digester. In an exemplary embodiment, digester pipe  122  may be vertical or substantially vertical, but may be sloped, inclined, or even horizontal and may be connected with a pump or pumping apparatus, as desired. Digester pipe  122  may be connected with a first tank  124 , for example a waste dissolver and/or dispenser tank (“water dissolver tank”); the first tank  124  may be kept filled with water, with a pre-treatment bath, with a quantity of wastewater, or with other contents, as desired. According to an exemplary embodiment, the first tank  124  may be located above ground for ease of access, maintenance, and replacement, but may also be placed at ground level or below ground depending on factors like the size or weight of the first tank  124  and the requirements of the customer. 
         [0017]    The first tank  124  may have an overflow pipe  126  that connects the first tank  124  to an adjoining sewer pipe or an alternative storage or disposal system  106  (hereinafter “sewer pipe”). The overflow pipe  126  may have a siphon such that excess material above a certain height in the first tank  124  may be drawn into the adjoining sewer pipe  106 . The overflow pipe  126  may employ filtering, for example to ensure that solid waste remains within the first tank  124  or that treatment chemicals are not expelled to the environment, or may be directly open to the sewer pipe  106 . 
         [0018]    The first tank  124  may also have a dispenser pipe  128  that leads into a second tank  130 . According to one exemplary embodiment, second tank  130  may be a treatment tank, and may, for example, contain anaerobic bacteria for use in an anaerobic digestion wastewater treatment process. Alternatively, second tank  130  may be used for chemical treatment of wastewater and may contain, for example, a chemical treatment solution. According to an exemplary embodiment, dispenser pipe  128  may be used to control the dispensation of wastewater or of specific constituents of the wastewater, such as solid or organic waste, into the second tank  130 . This may prevent excessive dispensation or “over-feeding” of solid or organic waste into the second tank  130 , which may allow control over the rate at which it is broken down and may prevent the buildup of toxic chemical byproducts of the anaerobic digestion process. 
         [0019]    The combination of the dispenser pipe  128  and the first tank  124  may also be used in order to avoid or reduce clogging or debris buildup between distributor outlet  116  and the second tank  130 . According to an exemplary embodiment, solid waste may be dissolved or pre-treated in the first tank  124 , for example by dissolving it in water, and gradually dispersed into the second tank  130  in liquid or slurry form via the dispenser pipe  128 . According to such an embodiment, this may dilute the solid waste and de-congest the flow of solid waste into the second tank  130 , thereby reducing the potential for the inlet to the second tank  130  to be blocked by a clog. Dispersal or the rate of dispersal of solid waste from the dispenser pipe  128  may be controllable; for example, a mesh filter may be placed in series with the dispenser pipe  128  to prevent solid waste of above a certain size from entering into the second tank  130 , or the aperture size of the dispenser pipe  128  may be restricted or widened in order to allow less or more material through. Other alternative flow controllers may also be envisioned. 
         [0020]    In the event that the inlet to the second tank  130  becomes restricted or clogged, the overflow pipe  126  may act as a temporary channel for solid waste and any other contents of the first tank  124  to flow into the sewer pipe  106 . Under such a condition, distributor  110  may be configured to divert all incoming waste through its sewer-adjoining outlet  118  and into the sewer pipe  106 . According to some exemplary embodiments, distributor  110  and/or control mechanism  114  may be configured to do this automatically; according to other embodiments, diverting the flow may require user intervention. According to the second set of embodiments, the presence of a clog or other flow restriction within the wastewater treatment system  120  may be indicated by diagnostic and/or sensor information. 
         [0021]    A user may be able to clear a restriction or clog by operation of internal mechanisms, such as a manual rotor mechanism or a similar tool, by operation of a pressurized air or water supply, or by another desired means. Alternatively, such internal mechanisms as exist may be autonomously operable by the action of the wastewater treatment system itself  120 , for example by the operation of a processor and/or memory operationally connected to any diagnostic devices and/or sensors. According to other embodiments, a user may be required to manually clear the clog, for example by partially disassembling the wastewater treatment system  120  and using an appropriate plumbing tool to clear the clogged component. 
         [0022]    According to some exemplary embodiments, the first tank  124  may contain additional mechanisms to facilitate the dissolution of solid waste. Such mechanisms may include, for example, a mechanical incinerator, an agitating device such as a rotor or rotor-pulse device, a crusher, grinder, or shredder, or another desired mechanical decomposition device. Such mechanisms may be separately controllable or may operate periodically or constantly, as desired. Mechanical decomposition device may be motorized; alternatively, it may be wholly or partially manually operable, for example being a manually-turned crank, rotor, or screw, or may be operated as desired. A chemical treatment or an electrical treatment (such as catalytic ionic-impact decomposition) may be used instead of or as a supplement to a mechanical decomposition system, as desired. According to an exemplary embodiment, a multiple-stage decomposition process may be used; for example, the waste may be broken down by a chemical means, and then further treated to prepare the waste for dispersal into the second tank  130 . 
         [0023]    Second tank  130  may also dispense excess material to an adjoining sewer pipe  106 . In this case, dispensation may take place via an overflow pipe configured to pass slurry (“slurry pipe”)  132  or through another manner, for example via another form of pipe or via a direct connection. According to an exemplary embodiment, slurry pipe  132  may be substantially thicker than the overflow pipe  126  used to remove excess material from the first tank  124 , may be unobstructed with no intermediate filtering, and may have an internal composition suited to resist abrasion and corrosion from any solid matter exiting the second tank  130  via the slurry pipe  132 . According to an exemplary embodiment, a polymer such as poly-vinyl chloride or high-density polyethylene may be used to construct or line the slurry pipe. However, it may be appreciated that, in alternative exemplary embodiments, any suitable material may be used instead. 
         [0024]    Second tank  130  may also allow for removal of and capture of any products of the treatment process, for example any biogas produced by an anaerobic digester. Removal of said products may take place through a dedicated outlet, such as a biogas outlet  134 , or may take place through another channel or as desired. Biogas outlet  134  may be operationally connected to a storage tank or other storage mechanism, to a power generation system, to one or more household appliances (e.g. a gas range or stove), or to any other system desired. Alternatively, if desired, biogas may be directly output to the environment. 
         [0025]    Referring to exemplary  FIG. 2 , a cable-actuated waste distributor  200  may be described. According to an exemplary embodiment, distributor  200  may be constructed from poly-vinyl chloride, but may also be constructed from any other suitable material, such as the same material used to construct any adjoining pipes. Distributor  200  may have an inlet pathway  220 , a multiplicity of outlet pathways  216 ,  218 , connection sites  222  at which the distributor  200  may be connected to other pipes or components, and may have a valve, stopper, or other flow obstructer or combination of flow obstructers  202  (which may generally be referred to by the term “valve”) sized to obstruct one of the outlet pathways  216 ,  218  when fully closed or fully open. According to an exemplary embodiment, a flap-style selector valve (“flap valve”)  202  may be used. Flap valve  202  may rotate on a bolt pivot  206 , and may be linked to a pulley rotor  204  that also rotates about the bolt pivot  206 . Pulley rotor may be connected to a control cable  212 , which may supply rotary motion to the pulley rotor  204  and thus the flap valve  202  by the application of a tensile force on the control cable  212 , or, alternatively, by the reduction of an existing tensile force on the control cable  212 . 
         [0026]    According to one exemplary embodiment, distributor  200  may have irregular internal geometry  208  suited to create a better seal between the flap valve  202  and the internal wall of the distributor  200  when the flap valve  202  is in position to seal either the digester supply pathway  216  or the sewer outlet pathway  218 ; this irregular internal geometry  208  may include a recess into which the flap valve  202  may fit, an elastic seal held in place on the inner wall of the distributor  200 , another manner of securing a seal or a combination of multiple devices, or other geometry, as desired. According to an alternative exemplary embodiment, irregular internal geometry  208  may be optional, and the flap valve  202  may be lipped with an elastic seal or composed of an elastic material to seal the outlet pathways  216 ,  218 . According to another exemplary embodiment, a different form of valve, such as a butterfly valve, or a different stopper or other flow obstructer may be used instead. 
         [0027]    Still referring to exemplary  FIG. 2 , the pulley rotor  204  may be linked to a spring release  210  that may apply a force to the pulley rotor  204  tending to rotate it in a certain direction. This may be paired with the control cable  212  such that if a tensile force is applied to the control cable  212 , the pulley rotor  204  may be caused to rotate in one direction, whereas if no tensile force is applied to the control cable  212 , the pulley rotor  204  may be caused by the force applied by the spring release  210  to rotate in the other direction. According to an exemplary embodiment, the force applied on the pulley rotor  204  by the spring release  210  may be sufficient to tightly or securely seal one of the outlet pathways  216 ,  218 . Spring release  210  may be connected to the pulley rotor  204  by a linking connector. For example, a cable fastener clip may be directly connected to the pulley rotor  204 , or may be connected as desired. 
         [0028]    Referring now to exemplary  FIG. 3 , an embodiment of a cable-actuating dial control mechanism  300  may be described. A dial selector  302  may control the position of a spring release and locking mechanism  310  (“spring release”), which may in turn affect the amount of tension that is applied to a control cable  312  extending from the dial control mechanism  300 . Turning the dial selector  302  one way may increase the amount of tension applied to the control cable  312 , which in turn may change the position of a pulley rotor operationally linked to the control cable  312 . Turning the dial selector  302  the other way may decrease the amount of tension applied, which in turn may cause the linked control cable  312  to slacken, decreasing the force applied to an operationally linked pulley rotor and causing a spring release operationally linked to the same pulley rotor to tend to pull it in the other direction. 
         [0029]    Referring now to exemplary  FIG. 4 , an embodiment of a cable-actuating lever control mechanism  400  may be described. The lever control  400  may be operated with or by control knob  402 , which may sit in a slot  404  and have a locking groove  406  on one end. The lever control mechanism  400  may also have a lever return spring  408  that may apply a force to the control knob  402  in the direction of the slot  404  opposite the locking groove  406 . According to other exemplary embodiments, an alternative restoring mechanism other than a spring  408  may be used, or the lever control  400  may have a multiplicity of locking grooves  406  corresponding to appropriate positions, or another configuration may be adopted as desired. 
         [0030]    A cable tensioner  410  may be operationally linked to both the control knob  402  and a control cable  412 . Operation of the control knob  402  may cause the cable tensioner  410  to exert lesser or greater amounts of force on the control cable  412 , which may in turn cause the control cable  412  to exert lesser or greater amounts of force on an operationally linked pulley rotor. 
         [0031]    An exemplary method for using a cable actuated waste distributor system may also be described. A user may first examine the wastewater to be treated, and may identify whether or not any of the constituent parts of the wastewater are harmful to at least one of a wastewater treatment system, structures or persons when processed by the wastewater treatment system. The user may then select, based on the composition of the wastewater to be treated, whether the wastewater should be dispensed into a channel leading to a wastewater treatment system, or should be dispensed into another channel not leading to a wastewater treatment system. 
         [0032]    For example, if the wastewater treatment system makes use of an anaerobic digester, the user may select whether or not to dispense wastewater based on such information as the toxicity of the wastewater to the anaerobic bacteria, the potential hazardousness of the products of anaerobic digestion of the wastewater, the current state of the internal environment of the anaerobic digester, or any other information, as desired. A user may also select whether or not to dispense wastewater into an anaerobic digester system based on information like its size, capacity, anaerobic digestion rate, the amount of wastewater to be dispensed, or other such information, as desired. According to one exemplary embodiment, a user may opt to turn the valve to load or feed the digester only at designated times, such as on every alternate day or according to another timeframe. More limited dispersal of the wastewater may reduce the risk of the system developing a clog or a related problem and may ensure that the system operates optimally. 
         [0033]    The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art (for example, features associated with certain configurations of the invention may instead be associated with any other configurations of the invention, as desired). 
         [0034]    Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.