Abstract: A cover for a structure may include a plate including upper and lower surfaces. A rim portion of the lower surface may be configured to contact an edge of the structure. The cover may include a spider including a center portion, a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion, and a plurality of coupling elements. Each leg may be coupled to the lower surface of the plate with a corresponding coupling element. The center portion of the spider may be movable away from the lower surface of the plate to move the spider from a locked position in which a distal end of each leg extends outward to a first radial position to engage the structure to an open position in which the distal end of each leg is withdrawn to a second radial position radially inward of the first radial position to disengage the structure.

Abstract: A cover for a structure may include a plate including upper and lower surfaces. A rim portion of the lower surface may be configured to contact an edge of the structure. The cover may include a spider including a center portion, a plurality of legs extending radially outward from the center portion, and a plurality of coupling elements. Each leg may be coupled to the lower surface of the plate with a corresponding coupling element. The center portion of the spider may be movable away from the lower surface of the plate to move the spider from a locked position in which a distal end of each leg extends outward to a first radial position to engage the structure to an open position in which the distal end of each leg is withdrawn to a second radial position radially inward of the first radial position to disengage the structure.

Abstract: A device and method for sampling a fluid, especially a fluid of varying densities, are provided. The device includes a retention tube configured to receive a sample of the fluid, and can include a support jacket to support the retention tube. A control member is positioned within the retention tube with a plug attached to the distal end. The plug is movable away from the opening to facilitate laminar flow of the fluid into the retention tube. The plug can sealably engage the retention tube by affixing a portion of the control member. The device can be jolted to cause the control member to stretch, which disengages the plug temporarily, thereby releasing a lab sample portion from the retention tube. The rest of the sample of fluid can be released by completely releasing the plug from sealing contact.

Abstract: A riser formed from a plurality of curved cylindrical segments with vertical side edges having mating vertically tapered projections and slots brought into interlocking engagement to pull confronting surfaces together as the tapered elements become increasingly mechanically engaged. The segments are assembled by a sliding engagement of the protruding mating element of one segment into the vertically tapered slot of an adjacent segment. When sufficient segments are joined together horizontally to complete a ring except for a last adjacent pair of vertical side edges, the ring is warped to align the protruding mating element of the last adjacent pair of vertical side edges with an opposite end of the adjacent tapered slot. Thus aligned, the final protruding mating element and tapered slot are then slipped together while un-warping the joined segments forming the remainder of the ring until the top and bottom ends of all the segments are aligned.

Abstract: A riser formed from a plurality of curved cylindrical segments with vertical side edges having mating vertically tapered projections and slots brought into interlocking engagement to pull confronting surfaces together as the tapered elements become increasingly mechanically engaged. The segments are assembled by a sliding engagement of the protruding mating element of one segment into the vertically tapered slot of an adjacent segment. When sufficient segments are joined together horizontally to complete a ring except for a last adjacent pair of vertical side edges, the ring is warped to align the protruding mating element of the last adjacent pair of vertical side edges with an opposite end of the adjacent tapered slot. Thus aligned, the final protruding mating element and tapered slot are then slipped together while un-warping the joined segments forming the remainder of the ring until the top and bottom ends of all the segments are aligned.

Abstract: A riser formed from a plurality of curved cylindrical segments with vertical side edges having mating vertically tapered projections and slots brought into interlocking engagement to pull confronting surfaces together as the tapered elements become increasingly mechanically engaged. The segments are assembled by a sliding engagement of the protruding mating element of one segment into the vertically tapered slot of an adjacent segment. When sufficient segments are joined together horizontally to complete a ring except for a last adjacent pair of vertical side edges, the ring is warped to align the protruding mating element of the last adjacent pair of vertical side edges with an opposite end of the adjacent tapered slot. Thus aligned, the final protruding mating element and tapered slot are then slipped together while un-warping the joined segments forming the remainder of the ring until the top and bottom ends of all the segments are aligned.

Abstract: A device and method for sampling a fluid, especially a fluid of varying densities, are provided. The device includes a retention tube configured to receive a sample of the fluid, and can include a support jacket to support the retention tube. A control member is positioned within the retention tube with a plug attached to the distal end. The plug is movable away from the opening to facilitate laminar flow of the fluid into the retention tube. The plug can sealably engage the retention tube by affixing a portion of the control member. The device can be jolted to cause the control member to stretch, which disengages the plug temporarily, thereby releasing a lab sample portion from the retention tube. The rest of the sample of fluid can be released by completely releasing the plug from sealing contact.

Abstract: A filter system includes a plurality of filter assemblies coupled to a common receiving chamber. Each filter assembly is arranged so that filtered water can flow into the receiving chamber under the influence of gravity and pressure from the difference in water level on the outside of the filter assemblies and the water level within the receiving chamber as maintained by a drain or pump within the chamber. Each filter assembly includes an upright intake tube having inlet openings spaced vertically along the intake tube. A filter housing surrounds each intake tube and is spaced from the intake tube by a distance sufficient to receive a filter element between the intake tube and the housing. A cap secures the top of the filter assembly so that all water passing into one of the inlet tube openings must have first passed through the housing and the filter element. Blocking devices are used to change one filter element while the filter system continues to operate via the other filter assemblies.

Abstract: A riser formed from a plurality of curved cylindrical segments with vertical side edges having mating vertically tapered projections and slots brought into interlocking engagement to pull confronting surfaces together as the tapered elements become increasingly mechanically engaged. The segments are assembled by a sliding engagement of the protruding mating element of one segment into the vertically tapered slot of an adjacent segment. When sufficient segments are joined together horizontally to complete a ring except for a last adjacent pair of vertical side edges, the ring is warped to align the protruding mating element of the last adjacent pair of vertical side edges with an opposite end of the adjacent tapered slot. Thus aligned, the final protruding mating element and tapered slot are then slipped together while un-warping the joined segments forming the remainder of the ring until the top and bottom edges of all the segments are aligned.

Abstract: A filter for use in a waste water discharge system including a first channel defining a receptacle for a filter and a second channel connected generally orthogonally to the first channel providing an outlet from the filter receptacle. The filter has an axial support of a pre-selected length, a plurality of bristles fixed to the axial support extending radially outward to define an outer margin. The outer margin of the bristles, at some portions along the pre-selected length, are at least equal to an inside dimension of the channel defining the receptacle. A handle is fixed to the axial support facilitating the placement and withdrawal of the filter element in the filter receptacle. A shield member is provided that is generally conformable to the inside surface of the filter receptacle. The shield member has a length dimension sufficient to cover the outlet leading to the second channel for blocking any flow of waste water into the second channel during replacement of the filter element.

Abstract: A filter for use in a waste water discharge system including a first channel defining a receptacle for a filter and a second channel connected generally orthogonally to the first channel providing an outlet from the filter receptacle. The filter has an axial support of a pre-selected length, a plurality of bristles fixed to the axial support extending radially outward to define an outer margin. The outer margin of the bristles, at some portions along the pre-selected length, are at least equal to an inside dimension of the channel defining the receptacle. A handle is fixed to the axial support facilitating the placement and withdrawal of the filter element in the filter receptacle. A shield member is provided that is generally conformable to the inside surface of the filter receptacle. The shield member has a length dimension sufficient to cover the outlet leading to the second channel for blocking any flow of waste water into the second channel during replacement of the filter element.

Abstract: An orifice protector for use in subterranean fluid dispensing systems defined by at least one conduit for disposing of wastewater. The orifice protector includes a body in the form of partial cylinder having two ends. The partial cylinder is formed a wall of substantially constant thickness having a C-shaped cross section having an outer and an inner surface. A central portion of the wall includes a plurality of openings such as slits extending between the outer and inner surfaces to allow the outward flow of wastewater from orifices existing in the conduit. The slits are situated about parallel to the ends and extending through about a 90° arc length. The wall also has two longitudinal, linear, parallel edges of equal length separated by a slot adapted to receive the conduit.

Abstract: An effluent filtering apparatus including an effluent filter fluidly connected to the output of an effluent pump disposed in an effluent tank, for providing filtered effluent to a drain field having a plurality of finger pipes defining a plurality of finger apertures. The effluent filter includes a tubular member defining a plurality of filtering orifices through a cylindrical wall. Effluent flows into the tubular member through an open first end and flows out of the tubular member through the filtering orifices, with turbulence within the tubular member preventing at least a portion of solid material present in the effluent from lodging within the filtering orifices. Effluent containing solid material smaller in size than the filtering orifices flows from the effluent tank to the drain field, but larger solid material present in effluent is filtered by the filtering orifices, with the filtering orifices remaining unobstructed for an extended period of time due to turbulent flow within the tubular member.