Abstract:
A simplified method of utilizing used vehicle tires in the construction of a waste fluid treatment system, and an apparatus for carrying out the same method, are disclosed. The apparatus according to the invention comprises tires cemented with industrial glue to form sewage sedimentation and disposal chambers. A minimum of new materials and labor are required in the method and apparatus, resulting in additional environmental and economic savings.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIOS  
       [0001]     US Patent Documents  
                                               US-2002/0179511   December 2002   WOFFORD   210/151       US-2002/0179510   December 2002   WOFFORD   210/151       U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,238   August 1999   TRACY   126/641       U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,287   April 1989   TRACY   405/36                   
 
     
    
     FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS  
       [0002]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
                 2221479 
                 February 1990 
                 TRACY 
                 GREAT BRITAIN 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
         [0004]     Reference to a Microfiche Appendix  
         [0005]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0007]     This invention relates generally to sewage treatment systems, specifically to a system composed primarily of used vehicle tires.  
         [0008]     2. Description of the Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37CFR 1.97 and 1.98  
         [0009]     Lawrence Tracy disclosed a sewage treatment system in Great Britain patent 2221479 utilizing discarded vehicle tires. Similar systems, termed “chamber” or “infiltrator” units are legally permitted and installed in Virginia and other United States for home construction. These systems, and the invention described herein, differ from the Tracy invention in that neither require a distribution pipe or gravel, as required in the Tracy configuration. Gravel is a major expense, and gravel placement is a major labor requirement in septic systems utilizing gravel. The use of a distribution pipe in the Tracy design requires cutting large holes in both sides of the tire, and threading the distribution pipe through said holes. This contrasts with the invention disclosed herein, which requires only glue and a small drill for assembly of the body of the drain-field chamber.  
         [0010]     The Tracy invention utilizes staples and other mechanical fasteners, in contrast to the following Disclosed invention, which seals the tires with chemical cement. Fastening tires with staples may allow the Wastewater to leak disproportionately from the anterior of the tire chamber, particularly in climates experiencing freeze-thaw soil conditions.  
         [0011]     The invention described herein utilizes a waste product, resulting in economic and environmental benefits relative to new molded plastic components.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     An object of the invention is to provide a simplified method for utilizing discarded vehicle tires in the construction of waste fluid treatment systems.  
         [0013]     Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to be used for the method noted above.  
         [0014]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for construction of drain field tanks and chambers, which comprise the steps of gluing the tires together and fitting the resulting tank and chamber openings with appropriate covers.  
         [0015]     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a waste fluid treatment apparatus, which comprises tires glued together to form a settling tank prior to drain field chambers.  
         [0016]     These and other advantages, features and objects of the invention will be appreciated upon review of the following description of the invention when comprehended in conjunction with the attached drawings with the understanding that modifications, variations and alterations may be accomplished by those skilled in the art of the field of the disclosed invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims appended hereto. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]      FIG. 1  is a side view of the first step in the construction process of the invention-gluing two used tires together.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a side view of a completed component-in this case many used tires glued together.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of a used tire prepared for drainage of treated sewage by addition of an aperture.  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  is a side view of one example of a completed sewage treatment system primarily of used tires.  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  is a top view of a plastic plate used to seal a tire except for pipe entry apertures.  
         [0022]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a plastic plate used to seal a used tire.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7  is a side view of a septic tank or pump tank unit constructed of used tires and plastic plates. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0024]     To attain the objects as noted above the inventor analyzed established and innovative sewage treatment systems with a view to replacing new manufactured components with waste materials, while identifying the minimum components required for an operational unit. It was found that used vehicle tires could replace new molded plastic chamber components as well as concrete septic tanks with a minimum of modification. The invention is predicated in this finding.  
         [0025]     More particularly, the present invention features the method of gluing used tires together to instantly construct a tank or chamber for use in sewage treatment.  
         [0026]     Further, the invention features an apparatus, which comprises a settling tank manufactured from used tires connected by a pipe to a sewage treatment chamber or chambers constructed of used tires.  
         [0027]     Briefly, according to the invention used tires are glued together with industrial glue to form components of as sewage treatment system. To form a septic tank the section of glued tires is capped with a plastic plate with pipe apertures and a plastic plate without apertures is glued to the bottom of said tank. The section of tires glued together to form a chamber is capped at the anterior end with a glued-on plastic plate with a pipe aperture. The tires are further enhanced by the addition of apertures in the bottom edge of the tires to allow drainage of the treated sewage.  
         [0028]     Now, preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing an embodiment of the present invention. More specifically, the Figure shows an apparatus, which comprises a used tire A cemented to used tire C with industrial glue B. This is the building block unit of the invention. The process of gluing used tires together is continued as necessary to produce an apparatus of the desired dimensions.  
         [0030]     This process results in a component, as in  FIG. 2 , in this illustration many tires glued together to the desired dimension as referenced above. This component in the illustrated horizontal orientation would be utilized as a sewage storage and treatment chamber in the preferred embodiment of the current invention  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of used tire A prepared for drainage of sewage effluent by the cutting of aperture D. The size of aperture D can be adjusted to varying soil conditions, desired wastewater residence times, and other variables. For example, in sandy soils the apertures could be larger as the soil is able to absorb the fluid more rapidly than in clay soils.  
         [0032]      FIG. 4  is a side view of one example of the preferred embodiment, a completed sewage treatment system composed primarily of used tires. In this example, unit Z, a sedimentation basin resulting from a vertical orientation of the process of repeatedly cementing tires together as described above, receives sewage from pipe X. Pipe X passes through plastic lid E which is glued onto tire A. The sewage is contained within the cemented tires by bottom cap H. The clarified effluent passes through pipe Y up through cover plate E and into the drain field chamber through another plate E with a single pipe aperture. Used tire A is glued to used tire C with industrial glue B, and this process is repeated with successive tires and glue until the desired component dimensions are achieved. Sewage flows from pipe Y, through end plate E, into the horizontally oriented sewage disposal chamber Y 1 . The treated sewage effluent flows down the length of the chamber Y 1 , draining through apertures D into the soil.  
         [0033]     Now, the plates covering the ends of the chambers are detailed. In  FIG. 5 , plastic plate E of sufficient size to cover the original tire hole of the first tire A in  FIG. 4  is outfitted with holes F and G to allow passage of sewage influent and effluent pipes X and Y in  FIG. 4 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 6  is atop view of plastic plate H in  FIG. 4  which serves to seal the bottom of the sedimentation basin Z in  FIG. 4 . Plastic plate H is of sufficient size to cover the end of the last tire of component Z in  FIG. 4  designed to contain wastewater for sufficient time to allow proper sedimentation. This is further illustrated in  FIG. 7  in which the used tire assembly labeled sedimentation basin Z in  FIG. 4  is sealed with impermeable plate H on the bottom and covered with permeable plate E on top as shown in  FIG. 4 . Component Z in  FIG. 7  may be considered a generic component for wastewater treatment, and utilized in either a horizontal or vertical orientation and with or without watertight seal plate H or permeable cover E.  
         [0035]     The specifics contained in the above description should not be construed as limits on the scope of the invention. Many variations are possible within the teachings of the invention. For example, the basic sealed multiple tire chamber could be utilized as a clear well, wetland cell, distribution box, or other sewage treatment unit. In addition, liquid wastes other than sewage can be processed with this invention.  
         [0036]     Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents: