Replaceable grease trap system for a wastewater system and method of using the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grease trap system for wastewater systems, having an inlet pipe with a shut off valve, an outlet pipe with a shut off valve and a grease interceptor comprising a replaceable container body including means to trap fats, oils and grease within the body. The body has inlet and outlet slide couplers in opposed walls, and each coupler has an associated connecting means to sealingly fluidly connect the slide couplers to the inlet and outlet pipes. When the container body is disconnected from the pipes the slide couplers may also be sealed by a removable plug for transport. The slide couplers displace inwardly and outwardly relative to the container to give clearance between the pipes to remove the container. A method of replacing full containers with empty containers is also comprehended.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A grease trap system for wastewater systems, said grease trap system comprising:
 a ground engaging frame into which a replaceable container body may be inserted,   an inlet pipe connector with shut off valve on an inlet side of said frame;   an outlet pipe connector with a shut off valve on an outlet side of said frame;   a grease interceptor comprising a replaceable container body including means to trap fats, oils and grease within said replaceable container body and further being sized and shaped to be positioned within said frame and connected to said inlet and outlet pipe connectors, said container body including inlet and outlet slide couplers through opposed walls of said body, said inlet and outlet slide couplers having associated connecting means to sealingly fluidly connect said inlet and outlet connectors to said container body, said inlet and outlet slide couplers being further configured to be sealed for transport of said container body by a closure member;   wherein said slide couplers laterally displace away from said inlet and outlet connectors when said container body is being replaced.   
     
     
         2 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein said slide couplers may be moved by hand. 
     
     
         3 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein each of said slide couplers include a threaded collar and said slide couplers may be extended and retracted by said threaded collar as the threaded collar engages and disengages said inlet and outlet connectors. 
     
     
         4 . The grease trap system of  claim 2  further including a coupling assembly at each of said inlet and outlet having a manually actuable handle for coupling and decoupling said container body to said inlet and outlet couplers. 
     
     
         5 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 4  wherein closure member comprise a container shut off valve and said manually actuable handle simultaneously actuates said container shut off valve to open and close said container to liquid flow through said inlet and outlet slide couplers during said coupling and decoupling. 
     
     
         6 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 4  wherein said manually actuable handle also actuates said slide coupler to cause said slide coupler to seal and unseal against said respective inlet and outlet couplers. 
     
     
         7 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 4  wherein said manually actuable handle also actuates a pair of diametrically opposed locking elements for locking and unlocking said inlet and outlet slide couplers to said inlet and outlet couplers. 
     
     
         8 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 7  further including two handles and wherein each of said handles extends between an upper and a lower actuator plate. 
     
     
         9 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 8  wherein said manually actuable handle can be positioned at a convenient angle relative to said container body for actuating said actuator plates. 
     
     
         10 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 8  wherein said upper and lower actuator plates are guided during actuation by said handle by guide pins fixed to said container. 
     
     
         11 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein the container body includes inlet and outlet sleeves in which said slide couplers are housed. 
     
     
         12 . The grease trap system of  claim 11  wherein at least one o-ring is mounted on said slide couplers to form a sliding seal between said couplers and said sleeves. 
     
     
         13 . The grease trap system of  claim 12  wherein said slide couplers include an internal stop lip to prevent said slide couplers from extending out too far from said container. 
     
     
         14 . The grease trap system of  claim 13  wherein said collar is rotatably retained within a channel to limit axial movement of said collar relative to said slide coupler while allowing the rotation of said collar to cause the lateral displacement of the slide coupler. 
     
     
         15 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein said frame positions said inlet and outlet connectors in position relative to said container. 
     
     
         16 . The grease trap system of  claim 12  wherein said slide couplers include a sealing face and each of said threaded pipes include an o-ring mounted to seal against said sealing surfaces when said collars are fully engaged with said threaded pipes. 
     
     
         17 . The grease trap system of  claim 16  wherein said frame includes an orientation tab to prevent said container from being mounted within said frame in a reverse position. 
     
     
         18 . The grease trap system of  claim 17  wherein said container includes a recess for receiving said orientation tab. 
     
     
         19 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein the container body is made from molded plastic. 
     
     
         20 . The grease trap system of  claim 11  wherein the inlet and outlet sleeves are molded in place. 
     
     
         21 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein said frame further includes support elements to provide enough space beneath the container above a surface to position lifting forks under said container. 
     
     
         22 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 21  wherein said space is sized and shaped to provide a toe space under said container body. 
     
     
         23 . The grease trap system of  claim 1  wherein said inlet and outlet sleeves are positioned on opposite sides of said container to permit said container body to be lifted up without tilting the container side to side to permit said plugs to be installed without spilling. 
     
     
         24 . The grease trap assembly of  claim 1  wherein said container body further includes a toe space molded into at least one of said sides of said container body. 
     
     
         25 . A method of collecting grease from a wastewater stream comprising the steps of:
 positioning a replaceable container body between a pair of inlet and outlet connectors mounted on a frame, wherein said connectors are connected to a wastewater drain and fluidly connecting inlet and outlet slide couplers on said body to said connectors so wastewater flows through said container body;   capturing fats, oils and grease in said container body over time;   shutting inflow and outflow pipe valves to stop the flow of wastewater through said body,   displacing one or both of said inlet and outlet pipe connections and said inlet and outlet couplers towards said container body to permit said container to be removed from between said connectors without interference at said connectors;   sealing said inlet and outlet slide couplers on said container to ready said container body for transport; and   transporting said sealed container to a remote location to be emptied and cleaned.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further including the step of placing a clean empty container between said inlet and outlet pipes, while said slide couplers are displaced inwardly towards said container body, sealing slide couplers to said connectors and opening said valves to permit wastewater to flow into through and the out of said clean empty container. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25  further including the step of simultaneously sealing the inlet and outlet of said container as said container is decoupled from said connectors.