Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
GREASE INTERCEPTOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INSTALLING A GREASE
INTERCEPTOR SYS IBM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates generally to the field of plumbing, and
more particularly to
a system for installing a grease interceptor in a drain line.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] Commercial food service establishments, such as restaurants, produce
considerable
amounts of organic material in their waste or drainage water which often
includes high levels of
grease or oil. Such materials can clog or adversely affect public wastewater
and sewer systems.
Most jurisdictions therefore require that such grease and oil be removed from
the wastewater at
the commercial establishment before it is permitted to enter the wastewater
system.
[0004] To effect such removal, the commercial establishment will typically
install a grease
interceptor on its wastewater outlet line from its food preparation area, such
as its kitchen. The
purpose of the grease interceptor is to permit the free flow of wastewater,
while capturing any
grease or oils contained in the water. The process of grease interception
involves the separating
and retaining of globules of grease, fats and oils from wastewater as it
passes through the grease
interceptor. Typically the oily wastewater passes into the grease
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interceptor at one end and as the water flows through the interceptor it is
slowed down, allowing
the lighter than water components, such as grease and oil, lo rise within the
water accumulating
in an upper layer in the interceptor. A fluid outlet from the grease
interceptor is positioned below
the level of the grease layer to permit substantially grease free wastewater
to pass through the
interceptor. In this way, the grease is collected in the grease interceptor
and it may be periodically
removed from the top of the grease interceptor. The grease is then disposed of
as solid waste in
accordance with local regulations, for example, by removal to landfill sites.
[0005] Grease interceptors are typically installed below grade and in line
with wastewater outlet
or effluent pipes. The distance between the finished grade and the top of the
grease interceptor
will typically vary depending on the distance of the grease interceptor from
the building, the slope
of the land, and other factors. Accordingly, the distance between the top of
the grease interceptor
and the finished grade may vary widely between installations. As a result,
there is a need for an
adjustable height lid.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] With parenthetical reference to the corresponding parts, portions or
surfaces of the
disclosed embodiment, merely for the purposes of illustration and not by way
of limitation, the
present invention meets the above described need by providing a grease
interceptor system with
a grease interceptor having an inlet, an outlet, a bottom wall, at least one
sidewall, a top wall, and
at least one opening in the top wall. The top wall has a recessed portion
surrounding the at least
one opening in the top wall. The recessed portion has a recessed portion
bottom wall disposed
adjacent to the at least one opening, A pipe stub has a first end and a second
end disposed opposite
from the first end. The first end is supported on
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the recessed portion bottom wall. A lid is supported on the second end of the
pipe stub. The lid
may be provided with a removable cover.
[0007] The system may further comprise a pipe stub that is corrugated.
[0008] The system may further comprise a lid attached to the pipe stub by
fastening means.
[0009] In another aspect, the top wall has at least one recessed portion
sidewall surrounding and
disposed in spaced apart relation to the pipe stub. A gasket may be disposed
between the recessed
portion sidewall and the pipe stub.
[0010] In another aspect, the invention comprises a method of installing a
grease interceptor
below a surface having a finished grade. The method includes providing a
grease interceptor
system with a grease interceptor having an inlet, an outlet, a bottom wall, at
least one sidewall, a
top wall, and at least one opening in the top wall. The top wall has a
recessed portion surrounding
the at least one opening in the top wall. The recessed portion has a recessed
portion bottom wall
disposed adjacent to the at least one opening. A pipe stub has a first end and
a second end
disposed opposite from the first end. The first end is supported on the
recessed portion bottom
wall.
[0011] The method also includes providing a lid sized to cover the at least
one opening in the top
wall.
[0012] The method also includes cutting a tube stub to length in the field.
The tube stub is
supported at a first end by the recessed portion bottom wall. The tube stub
has a second end
configured to support the lid such that a top surface of the lid is
substantially even with the
finished grade.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing a typical installation for a
grease interceptor;
and,
[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a grease interceptor of the present
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[00151 At the outset, it should be clearly understood that like reference
numerals are intended
to identify the same structural elements, portions or surfaces consistently
throughout the several
drawing figures, as such elements, portions or surfaces may be further
described or explained
by the entire written specification, of which this detailed description Is an
integral part. Unless
otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read (e.g., cross-
hatching, arrangement of
parts, proportion, debris, etc.) together with the specification, and are to
be considered a portion
of the entire written description of this invention. As used in the following
description, the terms
"horizontal", "vertical", "left", "right", "up" and "down", as well as
adjectival and adverbial
derivatives thereof, (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", etc.),
simply refer to the
orientation of the illustrated structure as the particular drawing figure
faces the reader.
Similarly, the terms "inwardly" and "outwardly" generally refer to the
orientation of a surface
relative to its axis of elongation, or of rotation, as appropriate.
[00161 Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1 thereof,
a typical
installation provides for locating the grease interceptor 10 away from a
building 13 such as a
restaurant in an area that is accessibly by a truck. The grease interceptor 10
has a top opening 16
that provides access to equipment on the truck for removing the waste.
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[0017] A drain pipe 19 located at the outlet of a drain or basin 22 exits the
building 13 and extends
a distance away from the building 13 where the grease interceptor 10 is
located. The drain pipe
19 connects to an inlet 23 of the grease interceptor 10. At the opposite side
of the grease
interceptor 10 an outlet 25 is located. The waste water minus the grease and
oil flows from the
outlet 25 and continues into the public wastewater system in the direction of
arrow 26. The top
of the grease interceptor 10 has at least one removable lid 27 that provides
access for the removal
of the waste. The removable lid 27 is typically located in a portion of a
paved area 30 surrounding
the building 13 and is made level with the finished grade 31 of the paved area
30. The lid 27 is
made level with the finished grade 31 so that it does not become damaged or
pose an obstacle.
[0018] The distance between the finished grade 31 and the top of the grease
interceptor 10 will
typically vary depending on the distance of the grease interceptor 10 from the
building 13, the
slope of the land, and other factors. Accordingly, the distance between the
top of the grease
interceptor 10 and the finished grade 31 may vary widely between
installations. As discussed in
detail below, the present invention is designed to utilize readily available
materials that may be
cut to length in the field to fit the required envelope.
[0019] Turning to Fig. 2, a grease interceptor 10 has a body 50 formed by a
bottom wall 53, side
walls 56, 57 and a top wall 59. The top wall 59 has at least one opening 16
formed therein. The
top wall 59 extends inward from sidewall 56 along a lateral portion 58. From
lateral portion 58,
the top wall 59 extends upward along a substantially vertical portion 60.
Portion 60 extends to
the uppermost surface 61 that is disposed adjacent to and extends to a
recessed portion 62. The
opening 16 is surrounded on the outside by the recessed portion 62 having a
recessed portion side
wall 63 and a recessed portion bottom wall 64 that forms a "shelf' around the
opening 16. The
recessed portion bottom wall 64 provides support for a
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corrugated pipe stub 65. A first end 68 of the pipe stub 65 engages with the
recessed portion
bottom wall 64 around the opening 16 when it is installed. The opposite second
end 71 of the
pipe stub 65 supports the lid 27. The lid 27 which may be plastic or cast iron
has a collar 74 that
may be attached to the corrugated pipe 65 by means of a screw 75 or other
fastener, including
but not limited to, mechanical fasteners such as nails, bolts, or the like or
adhesives. The lid 27
has a cover 28 that is removably attached to the collar 74 by means of
fastener 78 or the like to
provide secure access to the opening 16 for clean out and removal of the waste
for disposal by
qualified personnel.
[0020] The system described above may be designed to receive a standard size
corrugated pipe
65 such as a corrugated plastic pipe having an eighteen inch diameter. The
corrugated pipe 65
may be obtained at any plumbing, hardware or contractor supply store such as
Home Depot,
Lowe's, or the like. The corn 'gated pipe 65 may be cut to the proper length
in the field to fit the
specific envelope for the system. The top of the lid 27 is typically located
in a portion of a paved
area 30 surrounding the building 13 and is made level with the finished grade
31 of the paved
area 30. The lid 27 is made level with the finished grade 31 so that it does
not become damaged
or pose an obstacle. Accordingly, the corrugated pipe 65 may be measured and
cut in the field
after the grease interceptor 10 is installed. The corrugated pipe 65 is sized
such that the top
surface of the lid 27 is flush with the finished grade 31 surrounding it. A
gasket 90 may be
provided to seal the space between the corrugated pipe 65 and the side wall 63
of the recessed
portion 62.
[0021] As will be evident based on this disclosure, many changes and
modifications may be
made. Therefore, while the presently-preferred form of the grease interceptor
system has been
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shown and described, and several modifications and alternatives discussed,
persons skilled in this
art will readily appreciate that various additional changes and modifications
may be made without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
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