Patents Examined by Chester Barry
  • Patent number: 9944549
    Abstract: A dewatering device comprised of a multiple drum and conveyor system, the device has two or more roller drums about which an endless supporting belt is located to provide a movable supporting area between the rollers. The belt supports a filter medium which also passes about the rollers. The belt has a number of apertures allowing passage of liquid through the filter medium and below the belt. The belt is also formed with a series of transverse troughs which help guide the mixture toward the apertures situated in the troughs. A vacuum chamber (i.e. a “suction box”) is placed under the belt between the rollers and forms a pressure gradient through the cloth and belt to suck the liquid from the mixture via the cloth and apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Jonathan Rowland
  • Patent number: 9873623
    Abstract: A self-contained water polishing system includes at least a first containment basin that has an inlet for inflow of water from a collection source and contains calcium carbonate for treatment of water flowing through the system; at least a first polishing basin in communication with the containment basin and that contains at least a first pollutant collection substrate for treatment of water flowing through the system; and a vacuum pumping system in fluid communication with the containment and polishing basins that draws water through the polishing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: WASSERWERK, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks
  • Patent number: 9868658
    Abstract: A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste. The method includes mixing enzymes into the fluid waste material, compressing the fluid waste material with the compressor, injecting air into the compressed fluid waste material, and determining whether the fluid waste material is at a desired cleanliness, and if not, recirculating the fluid waste material through the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Kistner, Carolyn R. Kistner
  • Patent number: 9862629
    Abstract: A system is provided for treating contaminated water. The system includes a bioreactor having an outlet for treated water and a filter coupled to receive treated water from the outlet of the bioreactor. The filter is configured to operate in an anoxic mode. The filter has: (a) a vessel configured to receive the treated water, (b) a membrane associated with the vessel and positioned to extract permeate from the received water, (c) a fluid outlet positioned to direct fluid toward the membrane to inhibit film build up on the membrane, (d) a fluid recirculator positioned to recirculate fluid between the vessel and the fluid outlet, and (e) an oxidant supply positioned to introduce an oxidant into the vessel, the oxidant supply being adjustable to control the oxidation-reduction potential of the received water in the vessel within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Envirogen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Samuel Frisch
  • Patent number: 9828268
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe an apparatus, method, and system of wastewater treatment using modular membrane bioreactor (MBR) cartridges. In one embodiment, said method of wastewater treatment includes adjusting the number of activated modular MBR cartridges in a container and adjusting the wastewater processing rate of the container to dynamically change the throughput of a fixed-size wastewater processing container. According to one embodiment, said method can include utilizing modular MBR cartridges to provide for a fault-tolerant wastewater treatment container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Liberty Evans, LLC
    Inventors: James Philip Reilly, Victoria Ann Jelderks
  • Patent number: 9815027
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are aspects and embodiments of an apparatus for providing gas slugs in a liquid. In one example, the apparatus comprises a housing defining a chamber, a bell tube including a wall and an open upper end disposed within the chamber, a riser tube including a wall, an open lower end, and a flared open upper end disposed within the bell tube, and a conduit defined between the wall of the bell tube and the wall of the riser tube and in fluid communication with an internal volume of the riser tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Roger Phelps, Joan-Amanda Lenting, William E. Davis
  • Patent number: 9815716
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing the barium and strontium salts in water that flows back to the well head after hydrofracturing in gas well drilling. Trace levels of iron salts may also be removed from the waste frac water, followed by removal of the calcium and magnesium salts, where applicable. The barium and strontium salts are precipitated in the inert sulfate form, which renders the resulting solids mass suitable for conventional landfill or on-site disposal, and more significantly, for potential reuse and as an additive to certain well drilling processes. The calcium and magnesium salts are similarly inert and suitable for conventional disposal. The process may be managed to selectively remove barium and strontium salts to desired levels, depending upon the intended reuse or disposition. The apparatus may be provided in a highly compact portable configuration that is transportable by a highway vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Lake Country Fracwater Specialists, LLC
    Inventor: Francis C. Miller
  • Patent number: 9808749
    Abstract: A device for the suction filtration of fluids, such as urea solutions for exhaust gas after-treatment systems, has a tank (2) storing the fluid, and a filter element (34) arranged in the tank and provided with a filter medium (32) separating the tank contents from a clean-side inner filter cavity (20). The filter cavity extends from the bottom (10) of the tank (2) to a filling level height (28) and corresponds to a part of the filling volume of the tank (2). On the filter cavity (20), a suction connection (22) discharges the cleaned fluid by a suction pressure corresponding to a system operating pressure. The filter element (34) is provided with a filter medium (32), which is air-impermeable if suction pressures are within the range of a low system operating pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sann, Viktor Josef Lauer, Stefan Hennes, Michael Sakraschinsky, Alexander Wohlers, Paul Seibold
  • Patent number: 9809480
    Abstract: A process and system for treating wastewater is described. The invention degrades sludge produced by treatment of the wastewater to reduce or eliminate the need for sludge dewatering and disposal. The invention also reduces the amount of nutrient additives required to sustain the aerobic wastewater treatment process. In one embodiment the invention includes the steps of (a) providing an aerobic treatment system receiving a supply of the wastewater; (b) treating a supply of the sludge to rupture microbial cells present therein to produce treated sludge having an increased liquid:solid ratio and an increased degradation potential in comparison to untreated sludge; (c) conveying a supply of the treated sludge to the aerobic treatment system; and (d) substantially degrading the supply of treated sludge in the aerobic treatment system. The treated sludge may optionally be subjected to anaerobic digestion prior to delivery to the aerobic treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: Cypress Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Robert John Stephenson, Scott Christopher Laliberte, Preston Yee Ming Hoy, Patrick William George Neill
  • Patent number: 9802849
    Abstract: A desalination system (100) having an intake unit (110) providing seawater to a pre-treatment unit (120) connected to a reverse osmosis (RO) desalination unit (130) and a post treatment unit (150). The desalination system (100) is configured to operate without any external addition of chemicals to simplify logistics and regulation concerns. The units of the system are configured to prevent biofouling, scaling and corrosion by mechanical and biological means including high flow speeds, biological flocculation of colloids, and making the water entering the RO units inhospitable to bacteria and other organisms that cause biofouling, hence preventing their settlement and removing them with the brine. Recovery rate is lowered and energy is recovered to increase the energetic efficiency and minerals that are added to the product water are taken from the brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: I.D.E. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventors: Amnon Levy, Boris Liberman, Gal Greenberg
  • Patent number: 9802847
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for selecting and retaining solids in an activated sludge process for the improving wastewater treatment using screens. The screens can be used to separate and retain solids based on size or compressibility. The screens are used to separate and select for slow growing organisms, faster settling organisms, or materials added to absorb, treat or remove constituents in the activated sludge process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority
    Inventors: Sudhir N. Murthy, Eugenio Giraldo, Norman D. Dockett, Walter F. Bailey
  • Patent number: 9796614
    Abstract: Described herein is a device for the treatment of water and wastewater that provides a biological or chemical reactor a means to enhance performance by initiating a unique flow pattern between the reactive and solids/liquid separation zones. Said device circulates water between the two zones by forcibly directing water that enters the settling zone back toward the reaction zone via an opening in a partition. The fluid motion scours the bottom of the settling chamber to prevent the accumulation of biologically active solids while maximizing the time those solids spend in the reaction zone; thereby increasing the treatment efficiency of the overall process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Austin Atkinson, Timothy Harrison Canter
  • Patent number: 9790105
    Abstract: Described herein is a filtration medium comprising a carbon substrate having a surface of COxEy, wherein E is selected from at least one of S, Se, and Te; and wherein x is no more than 0.1 and y is 0.005 to 0.3; a filtration device comprising the filtration medium; and methods of removing chloramines from aqueous solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Allen R. Siedle, Mark R. Stouffer
  • Patent number: 9783443
    Abstract: A system for providing an acidic ionized ozonated liquid. The system includes a liquid inlet arranged to accept a liquid into the system; an acid-based cation-exchange resin in fluid communication with the liquid inlet, the resin adapted to exchange cations in the accepted liquid with H+ ions on the resin; an ozone dissolving apparatus in fluid communication with the liquid inlet and the acid-based cation-exchange resin; and a liquid outlet in fluid communication with the liquid inlet, the acid-based cation-exchange resin and the ozone dissolving apparatus. The ozone dissolving apparatus and the acid-based cation-exchange resin cooperating to produce the acidic ionized ozonated liquid for dispensation out of the system via the liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: TERSANO INC.
    Inventors: Steve L. Hengsperger, Justin L. Namespetra, Jamie O'Neil
  • Patent number: 9782696
    Abstract: A screen decanter for decanting liquid from a reservoir, comprising at least one rack comprising screens and baffles forming the sides of a cavity; a frame attached to the screens and baffles and providing a barrier so that liquid cannot pass from outside into the cavity without passing through the screens; a patterned perforated drain pipe inside the cavity and leading to an opening through which liquids may drain out from the cavity. The pattern of the openings counteracts the hydrostatic head within the rack such that flow through the screens is uniform at all depths of immersion in the liquid reservoir. Preferably, the screens have a porosity of about 50 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ClearCove Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Qausarali Goriawala, Alfred Bertoni, Jonathan M. Jacobs, Michael A. Butler, Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 9775938
    Abstract: A device for conveying a fluid to a filter unit of a medical treatment apparatus, in particular for conveying a dialyzing fluid to a filter unit, in particular a blood treatment unit of an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus. The device includes one or more devices for measuring pressure in the fluid system. Moreover, a method for measuring the pressure in the fluid system of such a supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kreber, Manfred Weis, Christoph Wiktor, Arne Peters
  • Patent number: 9771292
    Abstract: A waste stream is treated by anaerobic digestion. A process is described involves a step of separating solids from digestate, and returning separated solids to a digester. Optionally, there may be a step of solids separation in which larger solids are removed from the digester. A process and apparatus are described for treating waste sludge from a wastewater treatment plant in an anaerobic digester. Feed sludge is thickened or solids are separated from digestate and returned to the digester. Additional co-digestion waste may be added to the digester. The process and apparatus may be used in a retrofit of an existing wastewater treatment plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: ANAERGIA INC.
    Inventors: Juan Carlos Josse, Andrew Benedek
  • Patent number: 9771632
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for adsorption/desorption of lithium ions from brine, which employs a counter current decantation process in adsorption/desorption of lithium ions, thereby achieving an adsorption rate of 65±5% and a desorption rate of 95±3%. The method includes supplying brine into one of a plurality of adsorption reactors, adsorbing lithium ions to an adsorbent by supplying the adsorbent to the adsorption reactor to which the brine is supplied and forcing the brine and the adsorbent to sequentially flow backwards inside the respective adsorption reactors, and desorbing the lithium ions from the brine by forcing the adsorbent to which the lithium ions are adsorbed to sequentially flow backwards inside a plurality of desorption reactors. Here, the brine and the adsorbent are stirred by a stirrer to maintain the adsorbent in an intermediate state instead of settling or floating inside the respective adsorption reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Joon-Soo Kim, Jin-Young Lee, Kyeong-Woo Chung, Hoo-In Lee
  • Patent number: 9772139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing oxygen from liquid argon using a TSA (temperature swing adsorption) cyclical process that includes cooling an adsorbent bed to sustain argon in a liquid phase; supplying the adsorbent bed with a liquid argon feed that is contaminated with oxygen and purifying the liquid argon thereby producing an argon product with less oxygen contaminant than is in the initial liquid argon feed; draining the purified residual liquid argon product and sending purified argon out of the adsorbent bed. Regeneration of specially prepared adsorbent allows the adsorbent bed to warm up to temperatures that preclude the use of requiring either vacuum or evacuation of adsorbent from the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Persefoni E. Kechagia, Neil A. Stephenson, Philip A. Barrett, Hai Du, Steven J. Pontonio
  • Patent number: 9771710
    Abstract: A system and method for treating contaminated water are provided. The system can include one or more collecting basins for collecting water, such as rain water, runoff water, etc. The system can further include one or more containment basins, one or more polishing basins, and a pumping system for moving water through the system. The containment basins and polishing basins can utilize techniques for reducing a contaminant concentration in the water. The system can further include a source for adding process water to the system and combining it with the collected water to form a system water in order to reduce a contaminant concentration in the system water and accommodate higher volumes of collected water and/or higher pollutant concentrations therein. The system can also include an ultraviolet emitting device and/or a heating device for reducing the level of living bacteria in the system water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: WASSERWERK, INC.
    Inventor: Wayne R. Hawks