Abstract:
A gas baffle for a waste water treatment plant filter housing that includes a first and second deflecting plate. The gas baffle has at least one flow-through opening defined by the first and second deflecting plates. The combination of the first and second deflecting plates deflects rising gas bubbles and any solid particulates so that the bubbles and particulates do not enter the filter housing. The gas baffle may include exterior apertures to dissipate the rising gas bubbles that travel on the bottom surface of each deflecting plate. The gas baffle may be integrally formed with the filter housing or created separately and subsequently connected.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION 
     This application is a continuation of and claims priority to, and benefit from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/559,188, filed on Sep. 14, 2009, which is a divisional application claiming priority to and benefit from, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/537,818, filed on Aug. 7, 2009, the contents of each application are herein incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to an effluent filter cartridge with progressive filtration. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a bottom perspective view of the integral filter housing and gas baffle apparatus according to one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view of the integral filter housing and gas baffle apparatus of  FIG. 1  taken along line  2 - 2 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom perspective view of the integral filter housing and gas baffle apparatus according to another embodiment of the invention with a filter disposed therein; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the integral filter housing and gas baffle apparatus of  FIG. 3  with a filter disposed therein taken along line  4 - 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a top perspective view of the filter of  FIG. 4  with each component exploded away from the others; 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the filter of  FIG. 5  with each component exploded away from the others. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Waste water treatment plants and particularly septic tanks are provided with effluent outlets which discharge the effluent from the septic tanks into leach fields. In order to obtain proper operation of the leach or drain fields, it is important to prevent solid particulates from leaving the tank with the effluent. However, in the fermentation process in a septic tank, upwardly rising gas bubbles created by this fermentation process may carry with them solid particulate material. As these gas bubbles rise within the multiple layers of sludge and liquid in the septic tank, particulate materials encapsulated with the gas bubbles rise to the top of the tank and therefore may be emitted into the leach field with the effluent. In order to minimize the amount of solid particulates entering the leach fields, the gas baffle embodiments of the invention prevent the influx of rising gas bubbles into the outlet discharge line. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-2 , the effluent outlet assembly  10  includes the outlet tee  12  which is provided with a vertical housing  14  having a fluid inlet end or bottom opening  16  and an outlet opening  18 . A gas baffle apparatus  20  is inserted or integrally formed with the fluid inlet end  16  of the housing  14  whereby the gas bubbles bubbling up through the septic tank are deflected annularly outward, and away from the inlet to the vertical housing portion  14 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the gas baffle  20  includes a housing  22  wall with a plurality of deflecting or baffle plates  24  and  26  deflecting the flow of gas bubbles outwardly, and away from the inlet to the housing  14 . Gas baffle  20  is provided with at least a first and second deflecting plate, respectively  24  and  26 , extending downwardly and inwardly away from the housing wall  22 . Thus, each deflecting plate is transversely angled from the vertical axis V of the housing wall  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the angle θ is preferably about 20 degrees from the horizontal axis H (horizontal axis H is perpendicular to the vertical axis V), but may be any acute angle. Although, it is shown that each deflecting plate has the same angle θ from the horizontal, it should be understood that the angle of either plate  24 ,  26  may be varied from the other. Respectively, each deflecting plate  24  and  26  has an outer peripheral edge  24   a  and  26   a  adjacent the housing wall  22  and a free edge  24   b  and  26   b  positioned at the downward termination end of each deflecting plate. The respective first and second deflecting plates  24  and  26  are positioned on opposing sides of the baffle housing  22 , with the first deflecting plate  24  being vertically spaced away from second deflecting plate  26 . The free edges  24   b  and  26   b  of the deflecting plates define a flow-though opening  28  of the gas baffle  20 . Flow-through opening  28  is shown as being substantially vertical, but can be a variety of other shapes, sizes, quantities, and construction. It can be seen from  FIG. 2 , the combination of the two deflecting plates extend across the cross-section of the housing  22  adjacent the inlet end  16  and act to deflect the flow of gas bubbles  1  away from opening  28 . Accordingly in operation, any solid particulate carried by the upwardly rising gas bubbles  1  is also deflected away from the opening  28  of the fluid inlet end  16 . Specifically, the upwardly rising gas bubbles will contact the bottom surface  24   c ,  26   c  of either deflecting plate  24 ,  26  and generally move along those surfaces to the outer peripheral edge  24   a ,  26   a  until the gas bubbles  1  can freely escape vertically adjacent the outside of the vertical housing  14 . In this manner, the gas bubbles  1  and any associated particulate are prevented from entering the fluid inlet end  16  of the outlet tee  12 . 
     Assembly  10  may be made from a variety of material not limited to plastic, metal, or combinations thereof. Although the gas baffle  20  is shown as being integrally formed with the outlet tee housing  14 , it should be understood that the gas baffle  20  and outlet tee  12  may be made as separate pieces and then suitably joined depending on what they are made of by a variety of mechanical attachments such as friction fit or chemical adhesives. Therefore, the integral gas baffle apparatus  20  and outlet tee  12  may be readily installed in a new septic tank, or alternatively the gas baffle apparatus could be used to retrofit an existing outlet tee already present in a septic tank. The gas baffle apparatus  20  itself may be of a unitary construction or fabricated from separate components. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , another embodiment of an effluent outlet assembly  110  includes a gas baffle  120  that may be used with a vertical housing  114  of an outlet tee  112 . The first and second deflecting plates  124  and  126  of baffle housing  122  are spaced from a distal end  122   a  of the gas baffle housing  122  or integral outlet tee housing  114 . Respectively, at least one aperture  125  and  127  is provided adjacent a bottom angled surface  124   c  and  126   c  respectively of the first deflecting plate  124  and the second deflecting plate  126 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the apertures  125  and  127  are respectively proximate the outer peripheral edge  124   a  and  126   a  of the transverse deflecting plates  124  and  126 . In operation as best shown in  FIG. 4 , the first and second deflecting plates  124  and  126  and distal end  122   a  of the gas baffle housing  122  cooperate to trap and deflect the rising air bubbles  1  with any particulates they may carry annularly outward along the bottom angled surface  124   c  and  126   c  of each deflecting plate until air bubbles reach the apertures  125  and  127 . There the gas bubbles  1  are free to pass through the apertures  125  and  127  and away from the baffle housing  122  or distal end  122   a , so that any particulates carried by the bubbles flow outside of the housing  122  and  114  walls. The gas bubbles  1  are thus directed away from the flow-through opening  128 , which is defined by deflecting plate free edges  124   b  and  126   b . The gas baffle  120  is in flow communication with the fluid inlet end  116  and outlet opening  118  of the outlet tee. The provision of the housing wall distal end  122   a  of the effluent outlet assembly  110  may be used to facilitate vertical stacking or orientation when handling, displaying, or packaging the assembly. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the vertical housing  114  of outlet tee  112  may also include a filter or filter cartridge  30  with a plurality of flow-through apertures for filtering out solids and particulates in the effluent passing through the outlet tee. The size of the apertures will define the smallest particles of solids or particulates that may pass through the filter. It should be understood that a variety of filters may be used in combination with the apparatus embodiments of the present invention, but one embodiment of the filter  30  can be seen in  FIGS. 3-6 . The filter  30  is received within outlet tee  112  and is provided generally with a plurality of vertical plates, such as plates  40 ,  50 , and  60 , interconnected in a horizontal stacking relationship. Although the vertical plates may be arranged in any combination of two or more vertical plates, the embodiment shown in the Figures is provided with three vertical plates: a front plate  40 , a middle plate  50 , and a back plate  60 . In operation, an effluent flow enters through the gas baffle  120  into the fluid inlet end  116  of the outlet tee  112 , and flows through the filter  30  such that only an effluent having a predefined solid or particulate characteristic moves through the filter and out the outlet opening  118  of the outlet tee  112 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , the vertical plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  are horizontally separated at a predefined distance due to one or more lateral projections engaging adjacent vertical plates. However, vertical plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  may be separated at a predefined distance without the use of lateral projections. For example, end plates  48  and  68  may position the vertical plates relative to each other. In the embodiment shown, front plate projections  42  extend to and engage the middle plate  50  and back plate projections  62  extend to and engage the middle plate  50 . Adjacent lateral projections of a single plate, such as projections  42  of front plate  40 , are spaced at a predefined vertical distance and define a substantially horizontal tier  44  though which effluent passes. In the same manner, projections  62  of back plate  60  creates substantially horizontal tiers  64 . Therefore, between adjacent vertical plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  there may exist a single tier, or multiple horizontal tiers as shown in the figures. A pair of adjacent substantially horizontal tiers  44  and  64  is in fluid communication with the one or more apertures  41 ,  51 , and  61  of each vertical plate allowing effluent flow to pass consecutively through adjacent areas of the front, middle and back plates and thereby through the filter  30 . Alternatively, a single horizontal tier can exist between a pair of adjacent vertical plates of a two vertical plate filter. It is further shown in the embodiment of  FIGS. 4 and 6  that the lateral projections  42  and  62  are transverse to the vertical axis of their respective plate  40  and  60 . Adjacent horizontal tiers  44  and  64  are specifically shown in  FIG. 4  as being angled upwardly at a transverse angle to the vertical axis of the vertical plates and unaligned as a result of the angled and unaligned projections  42  and  62 , however they may be orthogonal or aligned. As such, the tiers  44  and  64  are each transversely positioned relative to the vertically extending filter and vertically offset relative to each other. Although the lateral projections are specifically shown to extend from their respective vertical plates, the lateral projections may be a variety of different sizes, quantities, construction, and positions such as extending from any one or multiple vertical plates, or extend through adjacent plates, and still provide for a substantially horizontal tier. As shown in  FIGS. 4-6 , a vertical plate or multiple vertical plates such as  40 ,  50 , and  60  may be serpentine in shape. In such a case, the lateral projections  42  and  62  may have serpentine edges  46  and  66  to contour to the adjacent faces of center plate  50 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4-6  and described above, the apertures  41 ,  51 , and  61  of each vertical plate allow effluent to flow laterally through each respective vertical plate  40 ,  50 , and  60  and out the filter  30 . Preferably, the dimension of the one or more apertures of the adjacent areas of each vertical plate becomes progressively smaller, such that the filtration becomes greater as liquid passes through each successive vertical plate. This allows for particles larger than the respective aperture to become trapped and allow fluid to continue through the filter and ultimately exit the filter. For instance, the one or more apertures  41  of front plate  40  are positioned proximate each horizontal tier  44  and may be about 3/16 inches in size. The one or more apertures  51  of the middle plate  50  may be ⅛ inches in size. The one or more apertures  61  of the back plate  60  may be 1/16 inches in size. As such, a two vertical plate filter may be successively sized for a ⅛ inch to a 1/16 inch aperture progression. However, the one or more apertures of each vertical plate  40 ,  50 , and  60  may be provided in a variety of sizes, including the same size, and in a variety of quantities, construction, and shapes and still filter the effluent. Although it is not shown, the lateral projections  42  and  62  of the vertical plates, alone or in combination with the apertures described above, may have apertures as well, or create gaps when combined with additional vertical plates, to filter particles vertically through the filter. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , filter  30  may have a filter end cap or end plate  48  and  68  positioned on the vertical distal ends of the filter. The top end cap  48  may project from the front plate  40  and extend across the middle plate  50  and back plate  60 . The top end cap  48  may be provided with a pair of dovetail slots  49  to receive the dovetail projections  58  and  67  from each of the middle and back plates  50  and  60 . The top end cap  48  may also have a handle  43 . In the same manner, the bottom end cap  68  projects from the bottom distal end of the back plate  60  and substantially extends over the middle plate  50  and front plate  40 . The bottom end cap  68  includes dovetail slots  69  to receive the dovetail projections  59  and  47  of each of the middle and front plates  50  and  40 . Therefore, the top and bottom end caps  48  and  68  may be used to substantially close the distal ends of the filter  30 . Also, the bottom end cap  68  and top end cap  48  are shown as being substantially transverse relative to the substantially vertical axis of the vertical plates. The bottom end cap  68  may mate with and back up the first deflecting plate  124  of the gas baffle  120  as shown in  FIG. 4 . Alternatively the bottom end cap  68  of the filter could be used in place of the deflecting plate  124  to deflect the gas bubbles or used in combination with the deflecting plates of the gas baffle to deflect the gas bubbles. Additionally, the end cap  68  may be releasably secured to the first deflecting plate  124  or outlet tee by a variety of mechanical attachments or adhesives to position the filter within the outlet tee. It should be understood that the vertical plates  40 ,  50 , and  60  of the filter  30  may be combined by means of a variety of mechanical attachments or chemical adhesives and still be either fixedly or releasably secured to each other. For example, the middle plate could be held in place only by compression between the outer opposing vertical plates. 
     It is understood that while certain embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.