Patent ID: 8409437

Claim:
An apparatus for use in a filter system for filtering water or wastewater, said apparatus comprising: (a) an underdrain lateral having at least one underdrain block for supporting at least a portion of a filter bed, said underdrain block having a plurality of exterior walls forming a substantially hollow interior; said underdrain block having a plurality of openings through which a fluid passes between said substantially hollow interior of said underdrain block and the filter bed during operation of the filter system; (b) a first anchor spaced from a second anchor, said first anchor and said second anchor each having a longitudinal axis that extends substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said underdrain lateral; (c) an elongated member having a longitudinal axis extending substantially parallel to said longitudinal axis of said underdrain lateral, said elongated member having a height greater than its width, said elongated member having a first opening and a second opening, said first anchor extends through said first opening of said elongated member and said second anchor extends through said second opening of said elongated member, at least a portion of said elongated member extends from said first anchor to said second anchor, said first opening and said second opening permit adjustment of the position of said elongated member along said longitudinal axis of said first anchor and said longitudinal axis of said second anchor to locate said elongated member in a desired position relative to said underdrain lateral; (d) said first opening and said second opening having a fixed size that does not vary during a process of operably connecting said elongated member to said first anchor and said second anchor; and, (e) at least one hold down member engaging said underdrain block and said elongated member for holding said underdrain block down against a floor of said filter system.