Patents by Inventor Keith G. Bircher

Keith G. Bircher has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8459861
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing at least one fluid flowing through a fluid system using ultraviolet light to control organisms. Ultraviolet lamps are positioned in the fluid flow and arrays of triangularly shaped mixing elements are arranged at spaced intervals along the length of each lamp, wherein the plurality of arrays of triangularly shaped mixing elements create four vortices surrounding each elongated member forming a square array of vortices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation
    Inventor: Keith G. Bircher
  • Publication number: 20100166601
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for mixing at least one fluid flowing through a fluid system using ultraviolet light to control organisms. Ultraviolet lamps are positioned in the fluid flow and arrays of triangularly shaped mixing elements are arranged at spaced intervals along the length of each lamp, wherein the plurality of arrays of triangularly shaped mixing elements create four vortices surrounding each elongated member forming a square array of vortices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Keith G. BIRCHER
  • Patent number: 7507973
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating fluids with UV comprises a housing for receiving a flow of fluid having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a reaction chamber; and an assembly of UV sources positioned substantially perpendicular to the fluid. The assembly includes at least first and second pairs of UV sources located in the reactor chamber. The first pair of UV sources has upper and lower UV sources that are positioned relative to each other at a span that is greater than the span between the upper and lower UV sources in the second pair. The second pair is positioned in either the upstream or downstream flow of fluid such that the plane created by the upper UV sources of each pair of UV sources intersects with the plane created by the lower UV sources of each pair of UV sources Subsequent UV sources or pairs of UV sources may be advantageously used. The apparatus may be combined with a baffle arrangement wherein the baffles are preferably positioned in such a way to direct the fluid now into the treatment area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Calgon Carbon Corporation
    Inventor: Keith G. Bircher
  • Publication number: 20080121812
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating fluids with UV comprises a housing for receiving a flow of fluid having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, a reaction chamber; and an assembly of UV sources positioned substantially perpendicular to the fluid. The assembly includes at least first and second pairs of UV sources located in the reactor chamber. The first pair of UV sources has upper and lower UV sources that are positioned relative to each other at a span that is greater than the span between the upper and lower UV sources in the second pair. The second pair is positioned in either the upstream or downstream flow of fluid such that the plane created by the upper UV sources of each pair of UV sources intersects with the plane created by the lower UV sources of each pair of UV sources Subsequent UV sources or pairs of UV sources may be advantageously used. The apparatus may be combined with a baffle arrangement wherein the baffles are preferably positioned in such a way to direct the fluid now into the treatment area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: Keith G. Bircher
  • Patent number: 5372781
    Abstract: A reactor assembly is provided for destroying contaminants in fluids by the application of UV radiation to promote the destruction of the contaminants. The reactor assembly has a vertically orientated reactor chamber with a centrally located lamp emitting UV radiation and operating at temperatures in excess of 700.degree. C. A protective sheath transparent to the UV radiation encloses the lamp and isolates the lamp from reactor interior to define thereby an annular reactor space through which fluids to be treated flow. The fluids flowing through the annular reactor space and along the sheath effect a cooling of the sheath due to lamp heating. The lamp has a terminal portion at each end thereof. Each terminal portion has a temperature sensitive component. The lamp is of a sufficient length to extend the terminals beyond the end portions of the reactor which has a length equal to or greater than the arc length of the lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Solarchem Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald C. Hallett, Stephen R. Cater, Keith G. Bircher, J. Adele Buckley, R. D. Samuel Stevens
  • Patent number: 5124051
    Abstract: A process is provided for treating aqueous waste or groundwater contaminated with nitro-containing organic chemicals to degrade the compound sufficiently to permit disposal of the waste or groundwater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: Solarchem Enterprises Inc.
    Inventors: Keith G. Bircher, Cuong V. Luong