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Effluent-operated valves provide, in a septic system, distribution of effluent uniformly to a plurality of portions or fingers of a drain field. The installation of such valves in a tank that collects septic system effluent to be distributed to a plurality of fingers permits the uniform distribution

Effluent-operated valves provide, in a septic system, distribution of effluent uniformly to a plurality of portions or fingers of a drain field. The installation of such valves in a tank that collects septic system effluent to be distributed to a plurality of fingers permits the uniform distribution of effluent from within the tank to a plurality of portions of a drain field, either simultaneously, or to one portion at a time in sequence.

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What is claimed: 1. Means for distributing sewage effluent to a plurality of fingers of a drain field in a septic system, comprising a tank for the collection of effluent to be distributed to a plurality of fingers, and effluent-operated valve means within said tank for connection of effluent withi

What is claimed: 1. Means for distributing sewage effluent to a plurality of fingers of a drain field in a septic system, comprising a tank for the collection of effluent to be distributed to a plurality of fingers, and effluent-operated valve means within said tank for connection of effluent within said tank to at least one of the plurality of fingers, said effluent-operated valve means having a valve inlet that opens into said tank and a plurality of valve outlets, each of said plurality of valve outlets being connected with one of the plurality of fingers, wherein accumulated effluent in said tank operates said effluent-operated valve means to sequentially connect the valve inlet to at least one of the plurality of valve outlets, one after another, permitting effluent to flow from said tank sequentially to at least one of the plurality of said fingers, one finger at a time. 2. The means of claim 1 wherein said effluent-operated valve means comprises an outer outlet-forming cylinder having said valve inlet adjacent its bottom and said plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its side, an inner valving cylinder slidably and rotatably carried within said outer outlet-forming cylinder, said inner valving cylinder having an open bottom and a single opening formed in its side and having its upper end connected with a body of buoyant material, said outer outlet-forming cylinder and said inner valving cylinder forming a camming means for said inner valving cylinder whereby each accumulation of effluent in said tank operates said buoyant material connected with said inner valving cylinder, lifting said inner valving cylinder and rotating said inner valving cylinder through the action of said camming means to align said single opening of said inner valving cylinder with a different one of the plurality of outlets formed in said outer outlet-forming cylinder, thereby distributing effluent to the plurality of fingers one at a time in sequence. 3. The means of claim 2 wherein said camming means comprises a sawtooth groove formed in the outer surface of said inner valving cylinder and a camming element extending from the inner surface of the outer outlet-forming cylinder into the sawtooth groove, whereby up and down motion of the inner valving cylinder due to the accumulation in and depletion of effluent in said tank rotates said inner valving cylinder and locates said single opening of said inner valving cylinder in alignment with different ones of the plurality of outlets formed in the outer cylinder and permits effluent to be directed to said different ones of the plurality of outlets. 4. Means for distributing sewage effluent to a plurality of fingers of a drain field in a septic system, comprising a tank for the collection of effluent to be distributed to a plurality of fingers, and effluent-operated valve means within said tank for connection of the effluent within said tank to at least one of the plurality of fingers, said effluent-operated valve means having a valve inlet that opens into said tank and a distributor element with a closed bottom and with said valve inlet formed in its upper end by a flange and with a plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its closed bottom, and a valve closure connected with a buoyant element actuated by the accumulated effluent in said tank, said valve closure having a sealing portion at its bottom to engage said flange and seal the valve inlet when said buoyant member is not actuated by accumulated effluent in the tank, each of said plurality of valve outlets being connected with one of the plurality of fingers, wherein accumulated effluent in said tank operates said effluent-overated valve means connecting valve inlet to at least one of the plurality of valve outlets, permitting effluent to flow from said tank to at least one of said fingers. 5. The means of claim 4 wherein said effluent-operated valve means is operated by accumulated effluent in said tank to connect said valve inlet to the plurality of valve outlets, permitting effluent to flow to all of the plurality of fingers. 6. The means of claim 4 wherein said valve closure comprises a concave elastomeric member with said buoyant element above and connected to said concave elastomeric member, and wherein the distributor clement carries a guide rod extending upwardly from the center of the upper portion of the distributor element, said concave elastomeric member and buoyant member having an open central bore for slidable engagement with the guide rod. 7. In a septic system including a distribution tank for distribution of effluent to a plurality of fingers in a drain field, the improvement comprising an effluent-operated valve in said distribution tank for controlling the distribution of effluent from the distribution tank, including a distributing valve element having a closed bottom, a side wall with a plurality of spaced openings, and an inlet-forming open top with a valve-forming flange surface; and a valve closure element having a peripheral seal-forming surface adapted to engage the valve-forming flange surface of the distributing valve element and to close its inlet-forming open top, a buoyant member connected with the valve closure element, and means carried by the distributing valve element and forming a guide rod in sliding engagement with the valve closure element, wherein said buoyant member can move in reaction to effluent in the distribution tank to raise the valve closure element and open the inlet-forming top of the distributing valve element, allowing effluent to enter the inlet-forming open top and flow simultaneously from the plurality of spaced openings in the distributing valve element and to lower the valve closure element, as effluent flows from the distribution tank, into sealing engagement with the valve-forming flange surface of the distributing valve element, said valve closure element being guided in said movement by said guide rod. 8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said valve closure element is a concave elastomeric element forming with its lower edge said peripheral seal-forming surface. 9. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said distributing valve element has a cylindrical side wall and said valve-forming flange surface is annular and surrounds the inlet-forming open top of the distributing valve element. 10. The improvement of claim 7 wherein said float is formed from polyethylene foam in the shape of an inverted cone. 11. In a septic system including a distribution tank for distributing effluent to a plurality of fingers, the improvement comprising an effluent-operated valve in said distribution tank for controlling the distribution of effluent from said tank, comprising an outer outlet-forming element having an open inlet adjacent its bottom and a cylindrical sidewall with a plurality of spaced outlet openings; an inner valving element slidably and rotatably carried within said outer outlet-forming element, said inner valving element having an open bottom, a cylindrical side wall with a single opening, and a body of buoyant material connected with said inner valving element, the outside surface of the cylindrical side wall of the inner valving element having formed therein a sawtooth camming surface and the inside surface of the outer outlet-forming element carrying a camming protrusion engaged with the sawtooth camming surface of the inner valving element, wherein said buoyant material connected with said inner valving element can react to effluent in the distribution tank to raise the inner valving element and as a result of the engagement of the camming protrusion and sawtooth camming surface, rotate the inner valving element thereby locating the single opening of the inner valving element in alignment with one of the plurality of spaced outlet openings of the outer outlet-forming element to allow effluent to flow from the distribution tank through the open inlet of the outer outlet-forming element and the open bottom of the inner valving element and through said one of the plurality of spaced outlets, and wherein the flow of effluent from the distribution tank lowers the inner valving element while allowing effluent to flow from the distribution tank and positioning the sawtooth camming surface of the inner valving element with respect to the camming protrusion of the outer outlet-forming element so that subsequent upward motion of the inner-valving element in response effluent in the distribution tank will advance the single opening of the inner valve element into alignment with another one of the plurality of spaced outlet openings. 12. The improvement of claim 11 wherein said spaced outlet openings of said outer outlet-forming element are round and said single opening of said inner-valving element is elongated, with its major axis lying generally in the same direction as the surface of the sawtooth camming surface that is active as the inner valving element is falling. 13. A system for disiributing the effluent of a septic system to a plurality of fingers in a drain field, comprising a distribution tank for receiving effluent to be distributed to the plurality of fingers, a first effluent-operated valve in said distribution tank; said first effluent-operated valve having a valve body with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and a valve element connected with a buoyant element and operated by accumulated effluent in said distribution tank to allow effluent to flow through said inlet and outlet openings of said valve body, and upon the depletion of the effluent in said distribution tank to stop the flow of effluent through the inlet and outlet openings, and a second effluent-operated valve in said distribution tank having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings, said inlet opening of the second effluent-operated valve being connected with the outlet opening of the first effluent-operated valve, each of the plurality of outlet openings being connectible with a different one of the plurality of fingers, said second effluent-operated valve having a valving member with a single opening driven by connected buoyant material, said valving member being operated by effluent in said distribution tank to lift and rotate the valving member and align its single opening with different ones of the plurality of outlet openings, thereby allowing effluent to flow from the distribution tank to a finger that may be connected to said different ones of the plurality of outlet openings. 14. The system of claim 13 wherein said first effluent-operated valve comprises a cylindrical distributor element with a closed bottom and with said inlet opening being formed in its upper end by an annular flange and with the outlet opening being formed adjacent to or in the closed bottom, and said valve closure has an annular sealing portion at its bottom to engage said annular flange and seal the valve inlet when said buoyant member is not activated by accumulated effluent in said tank. 15. The system of claim 14 wherein said valve closure comprises a concave elastomeric member with said buoyant element above and connected to said concave elastomeric member, and wherein the cylindrical distributor element includes a guide rod extending upwardly from the center of the upper portion of the cylindrical distributor element, said concave elastomeric member and buoyant member having an open central bore for slidable engagement with the guide rod. 16. The system of claim 13 wherein said second effluent-operated valve means comprises an outer outlet-fanning cylinder having said valve inlet at its bottom and said plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its lower end, and said valving member comprises an inner valving cylinder slidably and rotatably carried within said outer outlet-forming cylinder, said inner valving cylinder having an open bottom and said single opening formed in its cylindrical side and having its upper end connected with a body of buoyant material, said outer outlet-forming cylinder and said inner valving cylinder combining to form a camming means for said inner valving cylinder whereby each accumulation of effluent in said distribution tank operates said buoyant material connected with said inner valving cylinder, lifting said inner valving cylinder and rotating said inner valving cylinder through the action of said camming means to align said single opening of said inner valving cylinder with a different one of the plurality of outlets fanned in said outer outlet-forming cylinder, permitting effluent to flow to said different one of the plurality of fingers and thereby distributing effluent to the plurality of fingers one at a time in sequence. 17. The system of claim 16 wherein said camming means comprises a sawtooth groove formed in the outer surface of said inner valving cylinder and a camming element extending from the inner surface of the outer outlet-forming cylinder into the sawtooth groove, whereby up and down motion of the inner valving cylinder due to the accumulation and depletion of effluent in said distribution tank rotates said inner valving cylinder and locates said single opening of said inner valving cylinder in alignment with said different ones of the plurality of outlets fanned in the outer cylinder. 18. The system of claim 13 wherein said second effluent-operated valve comprises an outer outlet-forming cylindrical member that slidably and rotatably carries said valving member, said outer outlet-forming member and valving member combining to provide a cammed rotation of said valving member as said valving member travels up and down in said outer outlet-forming member in response to the accumulation and depletion of effluent in the distribution tank. 19. Valve means for distributing sewage effluent to a plurality of fingers of a drain field in a septic system, comprising an effluent-operated valve means for distribution of the effluent to at least one of the plurality of fingers, said effluent-operated valve means having a valve inlet for admission of said effluent and a distributor element with a closed bottom and with said valve inlet formed in its upper end by a flange and with a plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its closed bottom, and further having a valve closure connected with a buoyant element for actuation by accumulated effluent said valve closure having a sealing portion at its bottom to engage said flange and seal the valve inlet when said buoyant member is not actuated by accumulated effluent, each of said plurality of valve outlets being connected with one of the plurality of fingers, wherein accumulated effluent operates said effluent-operated valve means connecting the valve inlet to at least one of the plurality of valve outlets, permitting effluent to flow to said at least one of said fingers. 20. The valve means of claim 19 wherein said effluent-operated valve means is operated by accumulated effluent to connect said valve inlet to the plurality of valve outlets, permitting effluent to flow to all of the plurality of fingers. 21. The valve means of claim 19 wherein said valve closure comprises a concave elastomeric member with said buoyant element above and connected to said concave elastomeric member, and wherein the distributor element carries a guide rod extending upwardly from the center of the upper portion of the distributor element, said concave elastomeric member and buoyant member having an open central bore for slidable engagement with the guide rod. 22. Valve means for distributing sewage effluent to a plurality of fingers of a drain field in a septic system, comprising an effluent-operated valve means for distribution of the effluent to at least one of the plurality of fingers, said effluent-operated valve means having a valve inlet for admission of said effluent and a plurality of valve outlets, each of said plurality of valve outlets being connected with one of the plurality of fingers, the said effluent-operated valve means being operated by accumulated effluent to sequentially connect the valve inlet to one of the plurality of valve outlets, one after another, permitting effluent to flow sequentially to the plurality of fingers, one finger at a time. 23. The valve means of claim 22 wherein said effluent-operated valve means comprises an outer outlet-forming cylinder having said valve inlet adjacent its bottom and said plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its side, an inner valving cylinder slidably and rotatably carried within said outer outlet-forming cylinder, said inner valving cylinder having an open bottom and a single opening formed in its side and having its upper end connected with a body of buoyant material, said outer outlet-forming cylinder and said inner valving cylinder forming a camming means for said inner valving cylinder whereby repeated accumulation and depletion of effluent operates said buoyant material connected with said inner valving cylinder, lifting and lowering said inner valving cylinder and rotating said inner valving cylinder through the action of said camming means to align said single opening of said inner valving cylinder with a different one of the plurality of outlets formed in said outer outlet-forming cylinder and distribute effluent to the plurality of fingers one at a time in sequence. 24. The valve means of claim 23 wherein said camming means comprises a sawtooth groove formed in the outer surface of said inner valving cylinder and a camming element extending from the inner surface of the outer outlet-forming cylinder into the sawtooth groove, whereby up and down motion of the inner valving cylinder due to the accumulation in and depletion of effluent adjacent said valve means rotates said inner valving cylinder and locates said single opening of said inner valving cylinder in alignment with different ones of the plurality of outlets formed in the outer cylinder and distributes effluent through said different ones of the plurality of outlets formed in the outer cylinder. 25. Valve means for distributing the effluent of a septic system to a plurality of fingers in a drain field, comprising a first effluent-operated valve having a valve body with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, and a valve element connected with a buoyant element and operated by accumulated effluent to allow effluent to flow through said inlet and outlet openings of said valve body, and upon the depletion of effluent to stop the flow of effluent through the inlet and outlet openings, and a second effluent-operated valve having an inlet opening and a plurality of outlet openings, said inlet opening of the second effluent-operated valve being connected with the outlet opening of the first effluent-operated valve, each of the plurality of outlet openings being connectible with a different one of the plurality of fingers, said second effluent-operated valve having a valving member with a single opening driven by connected buoyant material, said valving member being operated by effluent to lift and rotate the valving member and align its single opening with different ones of the plurality of outlet openings, thereby allowing effluent to flow to a portion of a drain field that may be connected to said different ones of the plurality of outlet openings. 26. The valve means of claim 25 wherein said first effluent-operated valve comprises a distributor element with a closed bottom and with said inlet opening being formed in its upper end by a flange and with outlet opening being formed adjacent to or in the closed bottom, and said valve closure has a sealing portion at its bottom to engage said flange and seal the valve inlet when said buoyant member is not activated by accumulated effluent. 27. The valve means of claim 26 wherein said valve closure comprises a concave elastomeric member with said buoyant element above and connected to said concave elastomeric member, and wherein the distributor element is cylindrical and includes a guide rod extending upwardly from the center of the upper portion of the cylindrical distributor element, said concave elastomeric member and buoyant member having an open central bore for slidable engagement with the guide rod. 28. The valve means of claim 25 wherein said second effluent-operated valve means comprises an outer outlet-forming cylinder having said valve inlet at its bottom and said plurality of valve outlets formed in and about its lower end, and said valving member comprises an inner valving cylinder slidably and rotatably carried within said outer outlet-forming cylinder, said inner valving cylinder having an open bottom and said single opening fanned in its cylindrical side and having its upper end connected with a body of buoyant material, said outer outlet-forming cylinder and said inner valving cylinder combining to form a camming means for said inner valving cylinder whereby each repeated accumulation and depletion of effluent operates said buoyant material connected with said inner valving cylinder, lifting and lowering said inner valving cylinder and rotating said inner valving cylinder through the action of said camming means to align said single opening of said inner valving cylinder with a different one of the plurality of outlets formed in said outer outlet-forming cylinder, permitting effluent to flow through different ones of the plurality of fingers and thereby distributing effluent to the plurality of portions of a drain field one at a time in sequence. 29. The system of claim 28 wherein said camming means comprises a sawtooth groove formed in the outer surface of said inner valving cylinder and a camming element extending from the inner surface of the outer outlet-forming cylinder into the sawtooth groove, whereby up and down motion of the inner valving cylinder due to the accumulation is and depletion of effluent lifts and rotates said inner valving cylinder and locates said single opening of said inner valving cylinder in alignment with different ones of the plurality of outfits formed in the outer cylinder. 30. The system of claim 25 wherein said second effluent-operated valve comprises an outer outlet-forming cylindrical member that slidably and rotatably carries said valving member, said outer outlet-forming member and valving member combining to provide a cammed rotation of said valving member as said valving member travels up and down in said outer outlet-forming member in response to the accumulation and depletion of effluent.