Controlling a vacuum sewer system

Abstract

An example system includes a sewage pit; a suction pipe extending into the sewage pit; and a valve between the sewage pit and a vacuum pipe having a vacuum pressure. The valve is controllable to close or to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, to the vacuum pipe. A sensor tube extends into the sewage pit to sense a fill level of the sewage pit. The suction pipe is configured as a back-up to the sensor tube for sensing the fill level of the sewage pit. The valve is controllable based on a pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding a predefined level.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a sewage pit;   a suction pipe extending into the sewage pit;   a valve between the sewage pit and a vacuum pipe having a vacuum pressure, the valve being controllable to close or to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, to the vacuum pipe; and   a sensor tube extending into the sewage pit to sense a fill level of the sewage pit;   wherein the suction pipe is configured as a back-up to the sensor tube for sensing the fill level of the sewage pit; and   wherein the valve is controllable based on a pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding a predefined level.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding the predefined level, the valve is controllable to open and thereby allow content to flow from the sewage pit to the vacuum pipe. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in response to the pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding the predefined level, the valve is controllable to remain open for a period of time to evacuate at least part of the content from the sewage pit, the period of time being user-settable. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the valve is controllable to close following the predetermined period of time after the valve is open. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to close in response to the pressure meeting or exceeding the predefined level, wherein opening of the valve is based on closing of the switch.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a servo-motor configured for activation in response to closure of the switch, the servo-motor being configured to control opening the valve following activation.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the predefined level is indicative of a fill level of the sewage pit. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is controlled based on the pressure in the suction pipe only. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the valve is controlled based on the pressure in the sensor tube only. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein, in a case that there is an error associated with the pressure in the sensor tube, the valve is controllable based on the pressure in the suction pipe only. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the suction pipe has a serrated end that extends into the sewage pit. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a remote computing system configured to process information relating to multiple sewage pits, including the sewage pit, to identify at least one of an operational characteristic of a sewer system comprised of the sewage pits or a problem associated with the sewer system.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the problem comprises at least one of breakage in a sewage line, a leak in the sewage line, or a blockage in the sewage line. 
     
     
         14 . A system comprising:
 a sewage pit;   a suction pipe extending into the sewage pit;   a valve between the sewage pit and a vacuum pipe having a vacuum pressure, the valve being controllable to close or to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, to the vacuum pipe; and   wherein the valve is controllable to open for a predefined period of time.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined period of time is settable by an administrator of the system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined period of time is between one (1) second (s) and three (3) seconds. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined period of time is at least one (1) second. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a switch configured to close in response to a pressure associated with the sewage pit meeting or exceeding a predefined level, wherein opening of the valve is based on closing of the switch.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a servo-motor configured for activation in response to closure of the switch, the servo-motor being configured to control opening the valve following activation.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a stepper motor configured for activation in response to closure of the switch, the stepper motor being configured to control opening the valve following activation.   
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a sensor tube extending into the sewage pit;   wherein a pressure associated with the sensor tube is indicative of a fill level of the sewage pit; and   wherein opening of the valve is based on the pressure.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the predefined period of time is independent of air, liquid, or both passing through the valve.