{
  "patent_number": "US 12734467",
  "country": "US",
  "title": "How a Septic Tank Filter Cleans Wastewater and Removes Solids",
  "original_title": "Septic tank effluent filters",
  "summary": "This patent describes a filter system for septic tanks, featuring a submersible housing with filter elements designed to catch solids from wastewater and then allow those collected solids to be removed.",
  "what_it_does": "The patent describes a filter vault for septic tank effluent. This vault includes a filter housing that is at least partially waterproof and can be submerged. The housing has an inlet opening that lets dirty wastewater, containing suspended solids, flow in. Inside the housing is a filter assembly with one or more filter elements. Each filter element has an upper and lower end and a filtering surface that touches the wastewater. A key feature is that the inlet opening also allows accumulated solids from the filtering surface to exit the housing, which helps with cleaning and maintenance.",
  "what_it_does_not_cover": [
    "Does not cover filtration systems that are not at least partially submersible.",
    "Does not cover filter housings made entirely of permeable materials.",
    "Does not cover filtration methods that do not use distinct filter elements with exposed filtering surfaces.",
    "Does not cover systems where accumulated solids cannot exit the housing via the inlet opening.",
    "Does not cover filtering wastewater from sources other than septic tanks.",
    "Does not cover filters that do not allow solids to exit through the *same* inlet opening used for wastewater entry."
  ],
  "filed": "2023-12-01",
  "granted": "2026-09-15",
  "expires": null,
  "status": "active",
  "holder": null,
  "holder_url": null,
  "inventors": [],
  "times_cited": 0,
  "tags": [
    "wastewater_treatment",
    "environmental",
    "mechanical",
    "construction"
  ],
  "abstract": "Filter vaults are shown and disclosed. In some embodiments, the filter vault includes an at least partially impervious and at least partially submersible filter housing. The housing includes an inlet opening that permits unfiltered wastewater having suspended solids to enter the housing. The filter vault further includes a filter assembly. The filter assembly includes one or more filter elements positioned within the housing. Each of the filter elements includes an upper end and a lower end. Each of the filter elements includes a filtering surface that is exposed to the unfiltered wastewater. The inlet opening allows accumulated solids from said filtering surface to exit said housing.",
  "url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734467/septic-tank-effluent-filters",
  "markdown_url": "https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734467/septic-tank-effluent-filters/md",
  "google_patents_url": "https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734467",
  "relatedPatents": []
}