Patents by Inventor Roderick M. Willis

Roderick M. Willis 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: 4179368
    Abstract: A hydraulic flocculation system having a first stage tank receiving a liquid through an elbow conduit having an upwardly directed outlet. Liquid from the first stage tank flows into a pair of second stage tanks through respective elbow conduits also having upwardly directed outlets. Liquid is discharged from each of the second stage tanks into a third stage tank through respective elbow conduits having an upwardly directed outlet. Each outlet of the conduits is covered by a plate which slidably receives a plurality of upstanding rods secured to the conduits so that the plate can move toward and away from the outlet as the flow through the conduit varies. The plate acts as a constant pressure-loss valve to produce a head loss which is proportional to the weight of the plate in order to maintain the G-factor of the system relatively constant as the flow rate of liquid through each of the conduits varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Inventor: Roderick M. Willis
  • Patent number: 3991781
    Abstract: Waste water containing particulate matter is saturated with air or other gas by a dynamic mixer and ejected into a gravity filter system at a point above the filter media but below the water surface level. Upon entering the filter tank, the dissolved gas is released, forming small bubbles on filterable particles to float these particles to the surface for removal. The system further includes a back pressure valve at the sewage inlet port which, if obstructed, is automatically flushed. During the backwash cycle, the water level above the filter bed may be lowered to the level of a wash-through zone, and filtered water then pumped upward through the filter media, thereby carrying particles from the filter media out through the wash-through zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1975
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1976
    Inventors: Roderick M. Willis, Charles L. Oldfather
  • Patent number: 3977970
    Abstract: Waste water containing particulate matter is saturated with air or other gas by a dynamic mixer and ejected into a gravity filter system at a point above the filter media but below the water surface level. Upon entering the filter tank, the dissolved gas is released, forming small bubbles on filterable particles to float these particles to the surface for removal. The system further includes a back pressure valve at the sewage inlet port which, if obstructed, is automatically flushed. During the backwash cycle, the water level above the filter bed may be lowered to the level of a wash-through zone, and filtered water then pumped upward through the filter media, thereby carrying particles from the filter media out through the wash-through zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1974
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1976
    Assignee: Keystone Engineering & Products Co. Inc.
    Inventors: Roderick M. Willis, Charles L. Oldfather