Septic Tank Outlet Filter Cleaner with Central Shaft
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wastewater treatment systems face challenges in cleaning outlet filters without removing the entire filter canister, which can lead to clogging and requires manual manipulation, potentially disturbing the filtered material and posing hazards with open covers.
Innovation Solution
A septic tank outlet filter cleaner device with a central shaft and cleaning discs that can be inserted through filter slots to dislodge debris, allowing for in-situ cleaning without removing the filter, and a riser cover with a hinged flap for safe access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the outlet filter canister is removed for cleaning, then the filter can be cleaned effectively, but the filtered material may be disturbed and the process becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning device extracts only the necessary cleaning function from the filter canister removal process. The shaft with cleaning elements can be inserted through the riser cover and into the filter canister to clean the outlet filter without removing the canister itself, thus maintaining filtering integrity while achieving cleaning effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning shaft acts as an intermediary tool that bridges the gap between the operator and the filter canister. It allows cleaning actions to be transmitted into the confined space of the filter canister through the riser cover opening, eliminating the need for direct canister removal while maintaining cleaning capability.
2Ease of operation
If the riser cover is completely removed for access, then the outlet filter can be cleaned, but safety hazards increase for children and animals
Solution Approach 1:
The riser cover is segmented into a main cover body and a removable flap portion. The flap can be opened to provide necessary access for inserting the cleaning shaft, while the main cover body remains in place to maintain safety and prevent unauthorized access by children and animals.
Solution Approach 2:
The flap portion of the riser cover provides localized access exactly where needed for cleaning operations. This localized opening maintains safety by keeping the majority of the cover in place, preventing general access hazards while enabling targeted maintenance access.
3Ease of manufacture
If manual manipulation is used to remove and clean the filter, then cleaning can be performed, but the filtered material is disturbed and the process is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning shaft with its cleaning elements is designed to clean the outlet filter automatically as it is inserted and manipulated through the filter canister. The cleaning action is inherent to the insertion process itself, eliminating the need for separate manual cleaning steps and reducing overall cleaning time.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning elements on the shaft are positioned and configured in advance to engage with the outlet filter screen during insertion. This preliminary arrangement ensures that cleaning action begins immediately upon insertion, without requiring additional manual manipulation steps to initiate the cleaning process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present development is a septic tank or wastewater treatment tank outlet filter cleaning device. More specifically, the device is an outlet filter cleaner for a slotted filter used to reduce solid waste transfer into a septic tank effluent. The device comprises a central shaft with at least one cleaning disc, wherein the cleaning disc comprises a body which is mounted on the shaft and wherein a plurality of fingers protrude from the body, preferably in locations substantially identical to the positions of the openings in the wall of the tube.