Controlling a vacuum valve in a sewage pit

Abstract

An example system includes a valve between a suction pipe extending into a sewage pit and a vacuum pipe connected to a sewer system. The vacuum pipe has vacuum pressure. The valve is controllable to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe. A sensor is configured to detect the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe. The valve is controllable to open for a duration that is based, at least in part, on the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a valve between a suction pipe extending into a sewage pit and a vacuum pipe connected to a sewer system, the vacuum pipe having vacuum pressure, the valve being controllable to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe; and   a sensor to detect the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe;   wherein the valve is controllable to open for a duration that is based, at least in part, on the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller to compare the vacuum pressure to a predefined pressure and to control the valve based on comparison of the vacuum pressure to the predefined pressure, wherein the sensor is part of the controller.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller to determine whether the vacuum pressure is within a range of pressures and to control the valve based on whether the vacuum pressure is within the range of pressures, wherein the sensor is part of the controller.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the valve comprises selecting the duration for the valve to be open and controlling the valve to be open for the duration. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the duration is based on a range of pressures into which the vacuum pressure falls. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether the vacuum pressure is within a first range of pressures or within a second range of pressures, the first range of pressures being associated with a first duration and the second range of pressures being associated with a second duration; and 
 controlling the valve to open for the first duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the first range or for the second duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the second range. 
   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the first range includes pressures that are greater than pressures in the second range. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 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 system further comprises a controller configured control the valve to open based also on a pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding one or more predefined levels.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein, in response to the pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube meeting or exceeding the one or more predefined levels, the controller is configured to control the valve to open for a first duration or a second duration based on the vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe, the first duration being different from the second duration. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the pressure in at least one of the suction pipe or the sensor tube comprises at least one of a first pressure in the sensor tube, a second pressure in the suction pipe, or a third pressure in the suction pipe, where the first pressure, the second pressure, and the third pressure are different. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the valve is controllable to close after the valve is open. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising
 a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether the vacuum pressure is within the first range of pressures, within a second range of pressures, or within a third range of pressures, the first range of pressures being associated with a first duration, the second range of pressures being associated with a second duration, and the third range of pressures being associated with a third duration; and 
 controlling the valve to open for the first duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the first range, for the second duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the second range, or for the third duration if vacuum level falls within the third range. 
   
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water meter to detect water usage in a residence serviced by the sewage pit; and   a controller to detect water infiltration into the sewage pit based on water usage from the residence.   
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for use in a system comprised of a sewage pit, a suction pipe in the sewage pit, and a valve between the suction pipe and a vacuum pipe that connects to a sewer system, the apparatus comprising:
 a controller configured to perform operations comprising:
 determining whether a vacuum pressure in the vacuum pipe is within a first range of pressures or within a second range of pressures, the first range of pressures being associated with a first duration and the second range of pressures being associated with a second duration; and 
 controlling the valve to open for the first duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the first range or for the second duration if the vacuum pressure falls within the second range; 
 wherein controlling the valve to open causes vacuum pressure from the vacuum pipe to extract content from the sewage pit through the suction pipe, past the valve, and into the vacuum pipe. 
   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising:
 detecting a fill level of the sewage pit by monitoring the suction pipe, a sensor tube that extends into the sewage pit, or both the suction pipe and the sensor tube; and   controlling the valve to open based also on the fill level of the sewage pit.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein monitoring comprises monitoring the suction pipe for a first pressure and monitoring the sensor tube for a second pressure;
 wherein, if a pressure in the suction pipe exceeds a first pressure, controlling the valve to open, the first pressure being greater than the second pressure.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to perform operations comprising:
 detecting a fill level of the sewage pit by monitoring the suction pipe; and   controlling the valve to open based also on the fill level of the sewage pit.   
     
     
         20 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A system comprising;
 a controller to detect a pressure in a suction pipe extending into a sewage pit, the suction pipe being connected to a vacuum pipe of a sewer system by a valve; and   a tube assembly connected to the controller through which the controller detects the pressure in the suction pipe, the tube assembly comprising:
 a first part having a first diameter, the first part being connected to a point where the pressure in the suction pipe is detectable; 
 a second part having a second diameter, the second diameter being greater than the first diameter, the second part being connected to the first part; and 
 a third part having a third diameter, the third diameter being less than the second diameter, the third part being connected between the second part and the controller. 
   
     
     
         25 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein the point where the pressure in the suction pipe is detectable is in the suction pipe. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein at least part of the tube assembly receives content from the sewage pit when the valve is controlled to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe; and
 wherein the system comprises:
 a surge suppressor connected between the second part and the controller, the surge suppressor to inhibit movement of the content into the third part. 
   
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein at least part of the tube assembly receives content from the sewage pit when the valve is controlled to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe;
 wherein the tube assembly comprises a sensor within the second part to detect content from the sewage pit in the second part; and   wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the controller, the signal indicating a presence of the content in the second part.   
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein at least part of the tube assembly receives content from the sewage pit when the valve is controlled to open to allow content to flow from the sewage pit, through the suction pipe, and into the vacuum pipe;
 wherein the tube assembly comprises a sensor within the second part to detect that content from the sewage pit has been in the second part for a predefined duration; and   wherein the sensor is configured to send a signal to the controller, the signal indicating a presence of the content in the second part for the predefined duration.   
     
     
         33 - 59 . (canceled)