Abstract:
A wastewater treatment system is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the wastewater treatment system includes a drain surface having a drain opening; a main drain conduit disposed in fluid communication with the drain opening; a first diversion conduit and a second diversion conduit disposed in fluid communication with the main drain conduit; and a rotatable diverting device having a diverter opening provided in the main drain conduit. The diverter opening is adapted for fluid communication with a selected one of the first diversion conduit and the second diversion conduit responsive to rotation of the diverting device in the main drain conduit.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to wastewater distribution systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a wastewater diverting system which is capable of diverting wastewater to a selected one of multiple destinations. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Conventional plumbing drains for sinks, bathtubs, showers and the like include a drain conduit which drains the wastewater to a sewage system. Some of the wastewater (also known as “grey water”) is relatively clean and capable of further use in garden or toilet flushing applications, for example. Therefore, wastewater diverting systems are known which can be used to selectively divert wastewater from a plumbing drain to either a sewage system or a grey water collection system. However, conventional wastewater diverting systems are typically fitted along the pipeline, requiring access of the pipeline to activate the diversion. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present invention is generally directed to a wastewater treatment system. An illustrative embodiment of the wastewater treatment system includes a drain surface having a drain opening; a main drain conduit disposed in fluid communication with the drain opening; a first diversion conduit and a second diversion conduit disposed in fluid communication with the main drain conduit; and a rotatable diverting device having a diverter opening provided in the main drain conduit. The diverter opening is adapted for fluid communication with a selected one of the first diversion conduit and the second diversion conduit responsive to rotation of the diverting device in the main drain conduit. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]    The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0005]      FIG. 1  is a sectional view of a first illustrative embodiment of the wastewater diverting system; 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a second illustrative embodiment of the wastewater diverting system; 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a third illustrative embodiment of the wastewater diverting system; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  5 - 5  in  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 4  of the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the wastewater diverting system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The system  1  includes a drain surface  2  which may be any surface that receives wastewater such as a bottom of a bathtub or sink (not shown) or a floor of a shower (not shown), for example. A drain opening  2   a  extends through the drain surface  2 . A main drain conduit  3  is disposed in fluid communication with the drain opening  2   a . The main drain conduit  3  typically includes a main drain conduit flange  4  which is seated in the drain opening  2   a . An o-ring  6  typically seals the interface between the main drain flange  4  and the drain opening  2   a . A diverter conduit opening  5  is provided in the main drain conduit  3 , in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the main drain conduit flange  4 . A gray water diverter conduit nipple  8  is disposed in fluid communication with the diverter conduit opening  5  and angles downwardly from the main drain conduit  3 . A gray water diversion conduit  12  is disposed in fluid communication with the gray water diversion conduit  8 . 
         [0011]    An “S” trap connects the sewer conduit  20  in fluid communication with the main drain conduit  3 . The “S” trap includes a curved trap conduit  14  which is connected to the outlet of the main drain conduit  3 . An axial proximal connecting conduit  22  is connected to the outlet of the trap conduit  14 . A curved return conduit  23  is connected to the outlet of the proximal connecting conduit  22 . A distal connecting conduit  24  connects the outlet of the return conduit  23  to the inlet of the sewer conduit  20 . Conduit clamps  15  typically connect the conduits to each other. Accordingly, a low water mark  32  is located between the main drain conduit  3  and the proximal connecting conduit  22 , whereas a high water mark  33  is located between the proximal connecting conduit  22  and the distal connecting conduit  24 . The sewer conduit  20  is connected to a sewage system (not shown), whereas the grey water diversion conduit  12  is connected to a system for re-using wastewater in any of a variety of applications. 
         [0012]    A diverting device  36  is mounted for rotation in the main drain conduit  3 . The diverting device  36  includes a diverting conduit  37  having a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. A diverting plate  38 , having multiple drain perforations  39 , closes one end of the diverting conduit  37 . A typically circular or annular plate flange  40  extends from the diverting plate  38 . At least one tab  41  is provided on the plate flange  40 . As shown in the top portion of  FIG. 1 , a pair of spaced-apart tabs  41  is typically provided on the plate flange  40 . A diverter opening  42  extends through the diverting conduit  37  in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the diverting plate  38 . A blocking portion  43  extends from the diverting conduit  37 , opposite or in diametrically-opposed relationship with respect to the diverter opening  42 . Accordingly, the diverting device  36  can be selectively rotated in the main drain conduit  3  by gripping the tabs  41  and rotating the plate flange  40  and diverting plate  38 , and therefore, the diverting conduit  37  in the main drain conduit  3 . 
         [0013]    In typical use, wastewater  44  is drained from the drain surface  2 , through the drain perforations  39  and into the diverting conduit  37 , respectively. Prior to drainage of the wastewater  44 , the diverting device  36  is rotated in the main device conduit  3  to position the diverter opening  42  in fluid communication with the diverter conduit opening  5 , gray water diverter conduit nipple  8  and gray water diversion conduit  12 , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , to divert at least a portion of the wastewater  44  to the gray water diversion conduit  12  for continued use of the wastewater  44  in any of a variety of applications such as garden or toilet flushing applications, for example. Some of the wastewater  44  is diverted through the “S” trap to the sewer conduit  20  and is discharged to a sewer system (not shown). Alternatively, the diverting device  36  can be selectively positioned such that the blocking portion  43  of the diverting device  36  closes or blocks the diverter conduit opening  5  and flow of the wastewater  44  to the gray water diversion conduit  12 . In that case, all of the wastewater  44  which is drained through the drain perforations  39  is diverted to the sewer conduit  20 . 
         [0014]    Referring next to  FIGS. 2 and 5  of the drawings, an alternative illustrative embodiment of the fluid diverting system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1   a . The system  1   a  includes a main drain conduit  46  having a main drain conduit flange  47  which is seated in the drain opening  2   a  in the drain surface  2 . A sewer diversion conduit  48  and a gray water diversion conduit  56  diverge from the main drain conduit  46 . An “S” trap connects the sewer diversion conduit  48  to a sewer conduit  49 . The “S” trap includes an axial proximal connecting conduit  50  which is connected to the outlet of the sewer diversion conduit  48 , a curved trap conduit  51  which is connected to the outlet of the proximal connecting conduit  50  and a curved return conduit  52  which connects the outlet of the trap conduit  51  to the inlet of the sewer conduit  49 . Conduit clamps  53  typically connect the conduits to each other. 
         [0015]    A connecting conduit  58  connects the outlet of the gray water diversion conduit  56  to the inlet of a gray water conduit  57 . A conduit clamp  59  typically connects the connecting conduit  58  to the gray water diversion conduit  56 . The sewer conduit  49  is connected to a sewage system (not shown), whereas the grey water conduit  57  is connected to a system for re-using wastewater in any of a variety of applications. 
         [0016]    A diverting device  66  is mounted for rotation in the main drain conduit  46 . The diverting device  66  includes a diverting conduit  67  having a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. A diverting plate  68 , having multiple drain perforations  69 , closes one end of the diverting conduit  67 . A typically circular or annular plate flange  70  extends from the diverting plate  68 . At least one tab  71  is provided on the plate flange  70 . As shown in the top portion of  FIG. 2 , a pair of spaced-apart tabs  71  is typically provided on the plate flange  70 . A diverter opening  72  extends through the diverting conduit  67  in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the diverting plate  68 . A generally curved blocking portion  73  extends from the diverting conduit  67 , opposite or in diametrically-opposed relationship with respect to the diverter opening  72 . Accordingly, the diverting device  66  can be selectively rotated in the main drain conduit  46  by gripping the tabs  71  and rotating the plate flange  70  and diverting plate  68 , and therefore, the diverting conduit  67  in the main drain conduit  46 . 
         [0017]    In typical use, the diverting device  66  is rotated in the main drain conduit  46  to selectively align the diverter opening  72  with the sewer diversion conduit  48 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 5 , or the gray water diversion conduit  56 . When the diverter opening  72  is aligned with the sewer diversion conduit  48 , as shown, wastewater  44  flows to the sewer diversion conduit  49 , which distributes the wastewater  44  to the sewage system (not shown). Simultaneously, the blocking portion  73  blocks communication between the diverting conduit  67  and the gray water conduit  57 . When the diverter opening  72  is aligned with the gray water diversion conduit  56 , wastewater  44  flows to the gray water conduit  57 , which distributes the wastewater  44  for continued use of the wastewater  44  in any of a variety of applications. The blocking portion  73  prevents flow of wastewater  44  to the sewer conduit  49 . 
         [0018]    Referring next to  FIG. 3  of the drawings, still another illustrative embodiment of the fluid diverting system, hereinafter system, is generally indicated by reference numeral  1   b . The system  1   b  includes a main drain conduit  76  having a main drain conduit flange  77  which is seated in the drain opening  2   a  in the drain surface  2 . A sewer diversion conduit  78  and a gray water diversion conduit  79  diverge from the main drain conduit  46  and are disposed substantially in axially-aligned relationship with respect to each other. A conduit connecting plate  82  is provided between the sewer diversion conduit  78  and the gray water diversion conduit  79 . A circular conduit seat  83  is defined between the sewer diversion conduit  78 , the gray water diversion conduit  79  and the conduit connecting plate  82 . 
         [0019]    A diverting device  86  is mounted for rotation in the main drain conduit  76 . The diverting device  86  includes a diverting conduit  87  having a generally elongated, cylindrical shape. A diverting plate  88 , having multiple drain perforations  89 , closes one end of the diverting conduit  87 . A typically circular or annular plate flange  90  extends from the diverting plate  88 . At least one tab  91  is provided on the plate flange  90 . As shown in the top portion of  FIG. 3 , a pair of spaced-apart tabs  91  is typically provided on the plate flange  90 . A diverter opening  92  extends through the diverting conduit  87  in spaced-apart relationship with respect to the diverting plate  88 . A generally straight blocking portion  93  extends from the diverting conduit  87 , opposite or in diametrically-opposed relationship with respect to the diverter opening  92 . The blocking portion  93  is seated in the conduit seat  83 . Accordingly, the diverting device  86  can be selectively rotated in the main drain conduit  76  by gripping the tabs  91  and rotating the plate flange  90  and diverting plate  88 , and therefore, the diverting conduit  87  in the main drain conduit  76 . 
         [0020]    In typical use, the diverting device  86  is rotated in the main drain conduit  76  to selectively align the diverter opening  92  with either the sewer diversion conduit  78 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , or the gray water diversion conduit  79 . When the diverter opening  92  is aligned with the sewer diversion conduit  78 , as shown, wastewater (not shown) flows to the sewer diversion conduit  78 , which distributes the wastewater to the sewage system (not shown). Simultaneously, the blocking portion  93  blocks communication between the diverting conduit  87  and the gray water diversion conduit  79 . When the diverter opening  92  is aligned with the gray water diversion conduit  79 , wastewater flows into the gray water diversion conduit  79 , which distributes the wastewater for continued use of the wastewater in any of a variety of applications. The blocking portion  93  prevents flow of wastewater into the sewer diversion conduit  78 . 
         [0021]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.