Sewer Connection Trap Assembly for Capturing Improper Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Flushable disposable products such as diapers and wipes often fail to disintegrate in sewer systems, causing blockages and stressing wastewater treatment systems, despite regulatory efforts to define 'flushable' products, and there is a need for a method to capture and assign responsibility for improper disposal at the source.
Innovation Solution
A trap assembly installed at the outlet end of sewer pipes captures prohibited materials using hooks, barbs, or screens, with an alarm to indicate imminent clogging, requiring the originator to contact the municipality for debris removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If long fibers are used in flushable moist wipes to achieve acceptable wet strength, then the product maintains sufficient strength in water, but the long fibers collect on screens in waste water systems and cause obstructions and blockages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful long fibers from the wastewater stream using a screen filter installed at the outlet of the sewer lateral. The screen captures and removes these fibers before they can enter the municipal sewer system, thereby eliminating the blockage problem while allowing the flushable wipe product to maintain its wet strength functionality.
2Reliability
If a screen is installed in sewage receptacles to filter large foreign matter, then blockages are prevented, but maintenance is required to remove foreign substance from the screen and install it again, placing burden on the municipality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the waste management system by installing the screen filter at the property owner's location (outlet of sewer lateral) rather than at the municipal sewer receptacle. This segmentation transfers the maintenance responsibility from the municipality to the property owner, who can easily access and clean the screen at their own location without municipal intervention.
3Ease of operation
If consumers flush non-flushable products such as cloths, non-flushable wipes, diapers, lighters, ballpoint pens, wooden chopsticks, towels, mops, sanitary napkins, food waste, plastic bags, cleaning wipes, then these materials exit the sewer connection and build up causing blockages and stress on wastewater treatment systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary device (the screen filter with trap assembly) between the household sewer lateral and the municipal sewer system. This intermediary captures and retains non-flushable materials before they can enter the municipal system, thereby maintaining the convenience of flushing while preventing the harmful effects of system stress and blockages.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Prevents blockages by capturing improper disposals before entering the municipal sewer system, assigning responsibility to the originator, and reducing maintenance burdens on municipalities.
Implementation Method 1
The trap assembly includes a capture mechanism therein to capture and retain prohibited materials
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system that operates to capture improper disposal materials prior to their entry to the municipal sewer system in order to the burdens of such improper disposals on the originator of the waste. A trap assembly captures improper disposal materials at their source so as to provide notice to the generator of such waste that such activity is prohibited and to provide a mechanism by which responsibility for such improper waste disposal can be correctly identified and assigned.