Patent Publication Number: US-2022213995-A1

Title: Fluidly connecting end cap

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present patent application claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application No. 62/845,734, entitled “PIEZOVENT” and filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on May 9, 2019, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to effluent pipelines such as wastewater pipelines and wastewater treatment systems in rows. More particularly, the present invention concerns a single-piece piping end cap allowing fluid communication with other pipes and conduits. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In the field of wastewater treatment, end caps are typically used to limit the flow of effluent beyond a distal end of a conduit while still allowing fluid communication with other pipes and conduits such as piping for connecting a piezometer or an aeration vent. 
     Various conduit end caps have been proposed for allowing fluid connection to other forms of piping. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,792,977 discloses an end cap comprising two off-axis openings configured to be fitted with separate adapters or fittings allowing for the connection of additional piping. 
     The use of the aforementioned end cap presents certain drawbacks, namely the requirement of additional installation parts and processes. These increase installation time and costs while introducing additional failure points within the system. There is therefore a need for an end cap comprising the necessary fittings allowing for a secure and cost-effective attachment of additional piping. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to an end cap for a conduit comprising an open portion configured to mate with the conduit, an enclosure in fluid communication with the skirt portion, the enclosure comprising at least two apertures, and an inner conduit comprising at least two ends, each of the at least two ends being adapted to be received by the at least two apertures, and the inner conduit being in fluid communication with the enclosure. 
     The inner conduit may further comprise an opening, the bottom opening being in fluid communication with the enclosure. One of the at least two apertures may be configured to receive a piezometer while the other aperture may be configured to receive a vent conduit. The first aperture may be adapted to receive a piezometer while the second aperture may be adapted to receive a vent conduit. Each of the ends of the inner conduit may be inserted in each of the first and second apertures of the enclosure. To that end, the inner conduit may be L-shaped. 
     The enclosure may comprise three apertures, a first aperture being adapted to receive a piezometer, and second and third apertures being each adapted to receive a vent conduit. The inner conduit may comprise three arms, each of the arms being inserted in each of the first, second and third apertures. The inner conduit may be T-shaped. The open portion may be a skirt portion configured to mate with the conduit and the enclosure and the inner conduit may be unitary. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the end cap for a conduit may comprise an open portion configured to mate with the conduit, an enclosure in fluid communication with the open portion, the enclosure comprising two side walls and a top portion, a first of the side walls comprising a first aperture, a second of the side walls comprising a second aperture and the top portion comprising a third aperture. The end cap may further comprise an inner conduit comprising three arms, each of the three arms being received by each of the three apertures, the inner conduit being in fluid communication with the enclosure, the first and second arms being configured to each receive a vent conduit, the third arm being adapted to receive a piezometer. 
     The inner conduit may be T-shaped, the inner conduit may further comprise an opening, the opening being in fluid communication with the enclosure, and the open portion may be a skirt portion configured to mate with the conduit. 
     In yet another aspect of the invention, a method of venting multiple drainage conduits within a wastewater treatment system is provided. The method comprises fluidly connecting an end cap to each of the drainage conduits, the end cap comprising an inner conduit in fluid communication with the end cap and fluidly connecting a venting conduit to each arm of the inner conduit of each end cap to form a continuous venting conduit. 
     The method may further comprise fluidly connecting each of the vent conduits to side arms of each of the inner conduits, fluidly connecting a piezometer to an unconnected arm of each of the inner conduits, fluidly connecting each of the piezometers to a top arm of each of the inner conduits. The inner conduit may be in fluid communication with an enclosure of the end cap. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric perspective view of an exemplary end cap in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a front elevation view of the end cap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a side elevation view of the end cap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top plan view of the end cap of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side elevation view of an exemplary drainage field using an end cap in accordance with the principles of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the drainage field of  FIG. 5 . 
         FIG. 7  is a front elevation view of the drainage field of  FIG. 5 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A novel fluidly connecting end cap will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby. More specifically, the present invention will be described in relation to a wastewater treatment system. It is to be understood however that the present invention may be used in relation to a number of other systems utilizing fluids. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an end cap  600  for fluidly connecting various piping elements is illustrated. The end cap  600  typically comprises an aperture  620  (also referred to as the conduit aperture  620 ) adapted to be connected to a drainage conduit  240  for a wastewater treatment system. The wastewater treatment system may be embodied similarly to the system described in International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2020/050597 entitled “LOW-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD”. Understandably, the end cap  600  may be used with any other wastewater treatment system, drainage system or piping system. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the wastewater treatment system typically comprises an input source, such as a drainage pipe (not shown), a septic tank (not shown) and a drainage field  200 . In some embodiments, the drainage field  200  is configured to receive and treat an effluent from the septic tank into treated wastewater. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 5 , the drainage field  200  may comprise a leach system  220  disposed between a plurality of ground layers. In such embodiments, the drainage field  200  comprises a surface  410 , a covering layer  420  immediately below the surface  410 , a filtering medium  430 , a permeable soil  440  and a bedrock  450 . In some embodiments, one or more of the layers may overlap and combine thereby removing any clear delineation between them. 
     Now referring to  FIG. 6 , in some embodiments, the end caps  600  may be connected to multiple drainage passages or conduits  240  configured to fluidly receive and treat the effluent. The drainage conduits  240  may comprise pipes configured to carry and distribute the effluent across the drainage field  200 . In some embodiments, the pipes may be perforated pipes. The effluent flowing in the drainage conduits  240  may be conveyed by gravitational forces in tandem with the geometry of the drainage conduits  240  towards the end caps  600 . The end cap  600  is fluidly connected to the drainage conduits  240 . In some embodiments, the end cap  600  is detachably affixed to the drainage conduits  240 . The end cap  600  may be adapted to partially or entirely limit the flow of the effluent  130  outside of the downstream ends  252  of the drainage conduits  240 . 
     The drainage conduits  240  may have any cross-sectional shape adapted to accommodate the volume of water to be disposed supplied by the wastewater treatment system and/or to accommodate the topographic requirements of the installation site. For example, in the present embodiment, the drainage conduits  240  are circular. It may be appreciated that the drainage conduits  240  may have any other cross-sectional shape known in the art. In some embodiments, the drainage conduits  240  may have a cross-sectional area of 175 cm 2  to 2,000 cm 2 . 
     The drainage conduits  240  may be made of any semi rigid material. Examples of possible construction materials include, but are not limited to, plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene or flexible metal. Other polymers, fibrous material, metal, rubber or rubber-like materials may also be used. 
     In some further embodiments, the drainage conduits  240  may be configured in parallel, in series or of combination thereof, such as with some drainage conduits  240  being positioned in parallel and other drainage conduits  240  being positioned in series. When configured in series, the drainage conduits  240  may be interconnected by means of couplers  244  configured to allow a fluid communication between two or more drainage conduits  240 . When configured in parallel, the drainage conduits  240  may be interconnected at their upstream ends  251  by means of a distribution device  248  configured to distribute the effluent across the two or more interconnected drainage conduits  240 . 
     Still referring to  FIG. 6 , the flow of the effluent within the drainage conduits  240  further defines a stream direction  250  wherein the beginnings of the drainage conduits  240  in the direction of the stream direction  250  are defined by the upstream ends  251  and the ends of the drainage conduits  240  in the direction of the stream direction  250  are defined as downstream ends  252 . 
     The effluent released from the leach system  220  may be absorbed by the filtering medium  430  enveloping the leach system  220 . In some embodiments, the filtering medium  430  may be adapted to neutralize pollutants disposed within the effluent percolating throughout the filtering medium  430 , thereby providing a third treatment of the wastewater. These pollutants may include, but are not limited to, pathogens, nitrogen, phosphorous or any other contaminants. The filtering medium  430  may further comprise sand, organic matter (i.e. peat, sawdust) or any other suitable medium or combination known in the art capable of removing or neutralizing pollutants. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the end cap  600  comprises an enclosure  640  in fluid communication with the conduit aperture  620 . The enclosure  640  comprises at least two apertures, a first aperture  630  adapted to receive a vent conduit and a second aperture  650  adapted to receive a piezometer conduit. The first aperture  630  is typically located on side walls  642  of the enclosure and the second aperture  650  is typically located on a top portion  644  of the enclosure  640 . In some embodiments, the end cap  600  may further comprise an inner conduit  700  comprising two ends, a first end  730  adapted to be received by the first aperture  630  and a second end  750  adapted to be received by the second aperture  650 . The inner conduit  700  further comprises a bottom opening  720  adapted to be in fluid communication with the end cap  600 , typically in fluid communication with the enclosure  640 . In such embodiments, the inner conduit  700  may be shaped as an L-shaped connector. 
     In further embodiments, the enclosure  640  comprises a third aperture  635 , generally located on the side wall  642  opposed to the first aperture  630 . In such embodiments, the inner conduit  700  may be shaped as a T-shaped connector, each extremity of the inner conduit  700  being received by the first, second and third apertures  630 ,  635 ,  650  of the enclosure  640 . The extremities received by the first and third apertures  630 ,  635  are adapted to be each connected to a vent conduit  670 , each vent conduit  670  going in opposite directions and connecting to other end caps  600 . 
     In some embodiments, the end cap  600  comprises a cross-sectional area adapted to receive the drainage conduit  240 . In further embodiments, the conduit aperture  620  is adapted to sealingly receive the drainage conduit  240 . The end cap  600  is typically fluidly connected to the drainage conduit  240  near the downstream end  252  and affixed thereto. 
     In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the end cap  600  comprises a skirt portion or female portion  624  having an end  626  proximal to the drainage conduit  240 . Understandably, in some embodiments, the female portion  624  may be replaced with a male portion adapted to fit in the cross-section of the drainage conduit  240 . As such, in typical embodiments, the cross-sectional area  628  of the conduit aperture  620  may be slightly larger than the cross-sectional area  246  of the drainage conduit  240 . The difference of size of the cross-sectional areas  246 ,  628  generally aims at allowing the drainage conduits  240  to be inserted within the end cap  600 . In other embodiments, the cross-sectional area  628  of the conduit aperture  620  may be slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area  246  of the drainage conduit  240 . The difference of size of the cross-sectional areas  246 ,  628  generally aims at allowing the drainage conduits  240  to slide over the end cap  600 . In a preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional geometry and area of the conduit aperture  620  may be similar such as to allow an interference fit or press fit between the end cap  600  and drainage conduit  240 . In other embodiments, the end cap  600  may be affixed to the drainage conduit  240  using fasteners, threading or any other know method affixing two pieces of piping. 
     In certain embodiments, the drainage conduit  240  and the end cap  600  may be sealingly affixed to one another thereby preventing undesired leaks or release of the effluent  130  at the junction between the drainage conduit  240  and the end cap  600 . The fluid seal between the drainage conduit  240  and end cap  600  may occur as a consequence of the interference fit or may be obtained by applying a radial force on the drainage conduit  240  and end cap  600  thereby forcing them together. The radial force may be exerted by a cylindrical fastener, cable tie or any other known means of radially compressing objects. 
     The end cap  600  may further comprise an enclosure  640  at the distal end of the end cap  600  and configured to either partially or entirely limit the flow of the effluent  130 . In certain embodiments, the female portion  624  and enclosure  640  may be unitary. To that end, the female portion  624  and the enclosure  640  may form a single piece. In yet other embodiments, the female portion  624  and enclosure  640  may define a continuous surface. 
     In some embodiments, the end caps  600  are made of any semi rigid material. Examples of possible construction materials include, but are not limited to, plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene or flexible metal. Other polymers, fibrous material, metal, rubber or rubber-like materials may also be used. Understandably, the end cap  600  may be manufactured using any known manufacturing process known in the art, such as but not limited to machining, extrusion, 3D printed or any other known method of manufacturing pipe fittings. 
     The leach system  220  may additionally comprise one or more vents  680  configured to allow the circulation of air within the drainage conduits  240 . The vents  680  may comprise a substantially vertical shaft extending from a lower end  682  in fluid communication with the drainage conduits  240  to an upper end  684  disposed above the surface  410  allowing access to the outside air or atmosphere. The upper end  684  may comprise a vent cap  686  configured to prevent any substance, such as rainwater, debris or any other contaminant, from entering the vent  680 . 
     The end cap  600  is adapted to be fluidly connected to one or more vent conduits  670 , typically through the enclosure  640 . The vent conduits  670  are thus interconnecting each of the one or more drainage conduits  240 . In the event of multiple drainage conduits  240  it may additionally be desirable to fluidly interconnect the drainage conduits  240  to a single vent  680  thereby potentially reducing installation time and costs. 
     In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , adjacent end caps  600  are fluidly interconnected along with vent  680  by means of several vent conduits  670 . The inner vent conduits  670  may comprise any shape and length necessary to interconnect adjacent end caps  600 . The vent conduits  670  may additionally be made of any semi rigid or rigid material. Examples of possible construction materials include, but are not limited to, plastics such as polypropylene and polyethylene or flexible metal. Other polymers, fibrous material, metal, rubber or rubber-like materials may also be used. The vent conduits  670  may be shaped as any cross-sectional geometry and area necessary to ensure an unobstructed aeration of the drainage conduits  240 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , the leach system  220  may comprise a vent junction  688  configured to allow a fluid communication between the lower end  682  of the vent  680  and one or more vent conduits  670 . 
     Referring back to  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the vent conduits  670  may be fluidly connected to the end caps  600  by means of the first and third apertures  630 ,  635 . In this example embodiment, the first and third apertures  630 ,  635  are disposed in the side walls  642  of the end cap  600 . In other embodiments however, the first and third apertures  630 ,  635  may be disposed in any other surface of the enclosure  640  or of the end cap  600 . The first and third apertures  630 ,  635  may have any cross-sectional geometry and area necessary to receive the vent conduits  670 . 
     The leach system  220  may further comprise one or more piezometers  690  configured to measure and indicate the volume of the effluent  130  disposed within the drainage conduits  240 . It may be appreciated that a high volume of the effluent  130  within the drainage conduits  240  may represent a malfunctioning of the wastewater treatment system. In such embodiments, the leach system  220  comprises a piezometer  690  connected to the end cap  600  with a gauge located above the surface  410 . The location of the piezometer  690  generally aims at easing inspection by a user, such as a trained individual. 
     To that end, the end caps  600  may comprise a piezometer aperture  650  configured to allow fluid access to a piezometer  690 . In this example embodiment, the piezometer aperture  650  is disposed on the enclosure  640  of the end cap  600 . In other embodiments however, the piezometer aperture  650  may be disposed on the female portion  624  or any other location on the end caps  600 . The piezometer aperture  650  may have any cross-sectional geometry and area necessary to receive the piezometer  690 . In other embodiments still, the piezometer aperture  650  may be disposed on a distal surface  642  of the end cap  600 . 
     In certain embodiments, the inner conduit  700  may be configured to interconnect or pass through one or more of the apertures  630 ,  635 ,  640  of the end caps  600 . The inner conduit  700  may comprise any shape suitable for interconnecting or passing through the apertures of the end caps  600 . In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4 , the inner conduit  700  comprises a T-shape. To that end, the inner conduit  700  comprises junction arms or pipes  730  and piezometer arm or pipe  750 . In such embodiment, the radially distal ends of the junction arms  730  and piezometer arm  750  define the junction apertures  630  and piezometer aperture  650 , respectively. 
     The inner conduit  700  typically comprises an opening  720  configured to allow fluid access between the interior volume of the end caps  600  and the interior of the inner conduit  700 . In a preferred embodiment, the opening  720  is positioned at an elevation above the free surface of the resting effluent  130  within the drainage conduits  240  during regular operation thereby preventing the effluent  130  from entering the junction pipes  670  and piezometer  690 . 
     In some embodiments, the female portion  624 , the enclosure  640 , the inner conduit  700  or any combination thereof may be unitary. To that end, the female portion  624 , the enclosure  640 , the inner conduit  700  or any combination thereof may form a single piece. 
     It may be appreciated that the topographical arrangement or soil composition of a particular drainage field  200  may not be suitable for the proper functioning of a wastewater treatment system. In particular and as illustrated in  FIG. 5 , certain drainage fields  200  may comprise denivelations which require the installation of a leach system  220  comprising drainage conduits  240  located at varying heights. Such exemplary arrangement may prevent the effective conveyance of the effluent across the leach system  220  due solely to gravitational forces. Similarly, certain drainage fields  200  may comprise a filtering medium  430  or permeable soil  440  incapable of absorbing a continuous supply of the effluent or treated wastewater. It may therefore be beneficial to allow dosing of the effluent  130  into the leach system  220 . 
     In some embodiments, the wastewater treatment system comprises a low-pressure distribution system  500  capable of providing a pressurized flow of the effluent across the leach system  220 . The low-pressure distribution  500  system may be embodied similarly to the system described in International Patent Application No. PCT/CA2020/050597 entitled “LOW-PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND METHOD”. The low-pressure distribution system  500  typically comprises a pumping system (not shown). The pumping system may be in fluid communication with the septic tank and with the leach system  220 . Understandably, the pumping system may be installed at any other suitable location known in the art. 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 5 to 7 , the low-pressure distribution system  500  may further comprise one or more pressure conduits  550  configured to distribute the effluent along the drainage conduits  240 . The pressure conduits  550  may be configured to be installed within the drainage conduits  240 . The pressure conduits  550  may have any cross-sectional shape adapted to fit within the drainage conduits  240  and a cross-sectional area smaller than that of the drainage conduits  240 . For example, in the present embodiment, the pressure conduits  550  are circular with a diameter which is less than that of the drainage conduits  240 . It may be appreciated that the pressure conduits  550  may have any other cross-sectional shape known in the art. In certain embodiments, the pressure conduits  550  comprise a cross-sectional geometry suitable to ensure a pressurized flow of the effluent  130  along a substantial length or an entirety of the drainage conduits  240 . In a preferred embodiment, the pressure conduits  550  may have a cross-sectional area of 6 cm 2  to 60 cm 2 . 
     In certain embodiments, the pressure conduits  550  may be disposed along the bottom of the drainage conduits  240  and resting on the inner surfaces of the drainage conduits  240 . In other embodiments, the pressure conduits  550  may be suspended or supported by support structures (not shown) such that they are partially or entirely disjoined from the drainage conduits  240 . In yet other embodiments, the pressure conduits  550  may be affixed at any position along the inner circumference of the drainage pipes  240  using cables, straps, tie wraps or any other known means of attaching a pipe to a surface. 
     In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the low-pressure distribution system  500  may further comprise a pressurized cleansing system  590  configured to allow a cleansing of the low-pressure distribution system  500 . To that end, the pressurized cleansing system  590  may allow a user to introduce pressurized fluid into the low-pressure distribution system  500  in the event that a pressure conduit  550  becomes clogged or as part of general maintenance. In certain embodiments, the pressurized cleansing system  590  may comprise an inlet  592  allowing pressurized fluid to be introduced into the low-pressure distribution system  500 . The inlet  592  may comprise a valve for attaching a pressurized hose or any other pressurized fluid attachment system known in the art. The pressurized cleansing system  590  may further comprise a release valve  594  configured to release pressurized fluid from the low-pressure distribution system such as to avoid a flooding of the drainage field  200 . In certain embodiments, the release valve  594  may be located above the surface  410  and in fluid communication with a fluid collection device (not shown) configured to collect the pressurized fluid. The release valve  594  may be manually operated or automatically opened upon detection of a predetermined pressure level within the low-pressure distribution system  500 . 
     The end caps  600  may further be configured to receive a pressure conduit  550 . Configured in this manner, the low-pressure distribution system  500  may further comprise a vertical conduit  552  extending substantially vertically through the opening  720  and into the fitting  700 . In the example embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the release valve  594  is disposed along the vertical conduit  552  thereby allowing a release of pressurized fluid within the piezometer  690 . 
     In certain embodiments, it may be undesirable to connect an additional piping to the junction apertures  630  and piezometer aperture  650 . In such an embodiment, the one or more unused apertures may be partially or entirely covered by an aperture cap (not shown) thereby limiting access to said apertures. In other embodiments, the one or more unused apertures may be partially or entirely filled by an aperture filling (not shown). 
     Although the invention is described in relation to a wastewater treatment system, it is to be understood that the end cap  600  may be employed in various other applications requiring the connection of various pipes and fittings including water, gas and bulk solid distribution, irrigation, compressed air systems, manufacturing processes and any other application requiring piping and fitting connections wherein a reduced number of pieces may be advantageous. 
     While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are intended to be construed to include such variations except insofar as limited by the prior art.