Embedded Influent Diffuser for Floating Media Filter

Abstract

A floating media filter including a filter housing having an influent inlet and an effluent outlet. A floating media is positioned in the housing and forms a static media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage. A diffuser trough is positioned in the filter housing such that the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below the upper edge of the diffuser trough. A backwashing mechanism causes dispersion of the media bed during the backwashing stage.

1 . A floating media filter comprising:
 a. a filter housing having a a wastewater influent inlet positioned below a a treated water effluent outlet;   b. a floating media positioned in the housing and forming a media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage, the media bed having a lower surface;   c. a diffuser trough including an upper edge, the diffuser trough positioned in the filter housing such that (i) the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below the upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) the wastewater influent inlet feeds directly into the diffuser trough, thereby directing inlet flow in a path substantially along an interior length of the diffuser trough; and   d. a backwashing mechanism, which during a backwashing stage, causes substantial lowering of the media bed in the filter housing and dispersion of the media bed.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein one end of the diffuser trough is positioned at a mouth of the influent inlet. 
     
     
         4 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein the media bed has a width and the diffuser trough extends through a majority of the width of the media bed. 
     
     
         5 . The media filter of  claim 4 , wherein the diffuser trough extends through substantially an entire width of the media bed. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein an influent pipe extends along a majority of a length of the diffuser trough. 
     
     
         8 . A floating media filter comprising:
 a. a filter housing having a wastewater influent inlet positioned below a treated water effluent outlet;   b. a floating media positioned in the housing and forming media bed when the filter is in a filtration stage, the media bed having a lower surface;   c. a diffuser trough including an upper edge, the diffuser trough positioned in the filter housing such that (i) the lower surface of the media bed, when the filter is in the filtration stage, is below the upper edge of the diffuser trough, and (ii) the wastewater influent inlet feeds directly into the diffuser trough, thereby directing inlet flow in a path substantially along an interior length of the diffuser trough;   d. wherein the diffuser trough has a shape which directs influent in a predominantly upward direction into the media bed, and   e. a backwashing mechanism, which during a backwashing stage, causes dispersion of the media bed.   
     
     
         9 . The media filter of  claim 8 , wherein the diffuser trough has a cross-sectional shape and the cross-sectional shape includes one from the group consisting of (i) V-shaped, (ii) U-shaped, (iii) rectangular-shaped, and (iv) circular-shaped. 
     
     
         10 . The media filter of  claim 9 , wherein the circular-shaped diffuser trough has apertures formed to direct influent in the predominantly upward direction. 
     
     
         11 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser trough has a height and a midpoint on the height, wherein the lower surface of the media bed is at or below the midpoint. 
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein the diffuser trough has a bottom point and the lower surface of the media bed is at or below the bottom point. 
     
     
         15 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The media filter of  claim 1 , wherein in flowing influent cause substantially no eddy currents below the media bed. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A floating media filter comprising:
 a. a filter housing having a wastewater influent inlet positioned below a treated water effluent outlet;   b. a filter chamber formed in the filter housing;   c. a diffuser trough including an upper edge positioned at least partially in the filter chamber, wherein the wastewater influent inlet feeds directly into the diffuser trough, thereby directing inlet flow in a path substantially along an interior length of the diffuser trough;   d. a volume of filter media sufficient, when the filter media forms a media bed during a filtration stage, to place a lower surface of the media bed below the upper edge of the diffuser trough; and   e. a backwashing mechanism, which during a backwashing stage, causes dispersion of the media bed.   
     
     
         21 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The floating media filter according to  claim 20 , wherein one end of the diffuser trough is positioned at a mouth of the influent inlet. 
     
     
         34 . The floating media filter according to  claim 33 , wherein the media bed has a width and the diffuser trough extends through a majority of the width of the media bed. 
     
     
         35 . The floating media filter according to  claim 34 , wherein the diffuser trough extends through substantially an entire width of the media bed. 
     
     
         36 . The floating media filter according to  claim 20 , wherein the backwashing mechanism includes a charge chamber accumulating air for a first period of time and a trigger releasing the accumulated air over a second period of time substantially shorter than the first period of time.