Patents by Inventor Thomas H. Happel

Thomas H. Happel 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: 11499305
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: OLDCASTLE INFRASTRUCTURE, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20210254325
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2020
    Publication date: August 19, 2021
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 10794051
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SUNTREE TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 10287768
    Abstract: A stormwater vault and a process for servicing the stormwater vault speeds the process of cleaning the stormwater vault. The stormwater vault has a built in liquefaction system for liquefying settled debris in the vault which works together with a sloped or angled floor in the vault and vertical debris cutting spray nozzles. The settled debris is flushed toward the inlet to a vacuum removal line inserted into the vault through an access opening for removing the settled debris from the vault while compacted debris is collapsed by vertically extending water nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Suntree Technologies Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H Happel
  • Patent number: 10260222
    Abstract: A liquid treatment system is provided having a vault that contains a treatment chamber and an outflow chamber. The treatment chamber may have a filtration media layer containing media that treats liquid as it descends through the filtration media layer, where it will accumulate in a porous layer or open space. The liquid will then be directed through the plurality of pipes to the outflow chamber, where the treated liquid is further directed to outside the system. Accumulated debris settled at the bottom of the treatment chamber may be flushed out by a spray bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: SUNTREE TECHNOLOGIES HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 10166577
    Abstract: A stormwater vault and a process for servicing the stormwater vault speeds the process of cleaning a stormwater vault. The stormwater vault has a built in liquefaction system for liquefying settled debris in the vault which works together with a sloped or angled floor in the vault. The settled debris is flushed toward the inlet to a vacuum removal line inserted into the vault through an access opening for removing the settled debris from the vault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Thomas H Happel
  • Publication number: 20170136509
    Abstract: A stormwater vault and a process for servicing the stormwater vault speeds the process of cleaning a stormwater vault. The stormwater vault has a built in liquefaction system for liquefying settled debris in the vault which works together with a sloped or angled floor in the vault. The settled debris is flushed toward the inlet to a vacuum removal line inserted into the vault through an access opening for removing the settled debris from the vault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 9340965
    Abstract: A storm water nutrient separating vault has a floatable filter basket therein for collecting debris entering the storm water filter vault which basket rises and falls with the water level in the vault. The floatable filter basket has a pair of swiveling trucks attached thereto. Each truck is supported on a generally vertical track mounted to a wall of the vault on one side of the vault's inlet and has a plurality of rollers riding in the track. The floatable filter basket can therefore swivel or tilt while rising or falling with the water level in the vault to maintain an opening in the nutrient collecting basket in front of the vault's inlet for capturing floating debris in the storm water entering the vault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Thomas H Happel
  • Publication number: 20140352729
    Abstract: A stormwater vault and a process for servicing the stormwater vault speeds the process of cleaning a stormwater vault. The stormwater vault has a built in liquefaction system for liquefying settled debris in the vault which works together with a sloped or angled floor in the vault. The settled debris is flushed toward the inlet to a vacuum removal line inserted into the vault through an access opening for removing the settled debris from the vault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2014
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20140158598
    Abstract: A storm water nutrient separating vault has a floatable filter basket therein for collecting debris entering the storm water filter vault which basket rises and falls with the water level in the vault. The floatable filter basket has a pair of swiveling trucks attached thereto. Each truck is supported on a generally vertical track mounted to a wall of the vault on one side of the vault's inlet and has a plurality of rollers riding in the track. The floatable filter basket can therefore swivel or tilt while rising or falling with the water level in the vault to maintain an opening in the nutrient collecting basket in front of the vault's inlet for capturing floating debris in the storm water entering the vault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8231780
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm, water passing through a storm water drain system vault. The storm water filtering system has a vault having chamber having a floating skimmer panel between the inlet thereto and the outlet therefrom. The skimmer panel has a filter passageway therethrough for filtering the storm water while the floatable skimmer panel captures floatable debris and trash from the storm water. Storm water entering the vault inlet passes through a filter element in the skimmer panel and out the vault outlet and also can pass under the floating skimmer panel when the floatable skimmer panel is floated to a raised position to thereby prevent storm water from accumulating on the inlet side of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8216453
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Inventors: Gary L. Moody, Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20120043266
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Gary L. Moody, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8083937
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm water passing through a storm water drain system vault. The storm water filtering system has a vault having chamber having a wall between the inlet thereto and the outlet therefrom. The wall has a filter passageway therethrough for filtering the storm water and a floatable baffle panel covering a second passageway therethrough for capturing floatable debris and trash from the storm water. Storm water entering the vault inlet passes through a filter element and out the outlet and also can pass under the floating baffle panel when the floatable baffle panel is floated to a raised position to thereby prevent storm water from accumulating on the inlet side of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8051568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a temporary grate cover apparatus for placement over a storm water grate to filter sediment and trash from entering the storm drain during a construction project and to a method of making and attaching a storm water grate cover to a storm water grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Inventors: Gary L. Moody, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8034237
    Abstract: The present invention is for a self-cleaning filter basket for an overflow structure for a retention pond or storm water system. The filter basket is attached to the overflow structure over the outlet weir so that floating debris, such as trash, leaves, glass clippings, tree stems, and the like, is captured by the filter basket while sand, gravel and non-floating materials pass through the filter screen. The self-cleaning filter basket screens are cleaned by water, such as rain water, being directed through openings in the top of the filter basket to impinge against the angled screen sides in the filter basket to flush accumulated debris therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Dolores J. Happel, legal representative, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8034236
    Abstract: A floatable skimmer apparatus is movably attached in a storm water filter box with a pair of tracks attached in the housing chamber of the filter box. A floatable skimmer has a skimmer panel having floatation members attached to the inlet side of the storm water filter box for raising and lowering the skimmer panel responsive to the rise and fall of storm water in the housing chamber. Storm water is forced under the bottom of the floatable skimmer panel while blocking floatable debris from entering the housing chamber outlet. A floatable hydrocarbon absorbing boom is attached to the skimmer panel and floated independent thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 8034234
    Abstract: The present invention is a storm water filter system for filtering floatable debris and non-floating pollutants from storm water passing through a storm water drain system. The storm water filtering system has a floatable skimmer therein for capturing floatable debris and trash from the storm water and a separate filtration system to filter non-floatable pollutants from water passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Publication number: 20110168612
    Abstract: The present invention is a nutrient separating baffle box having a screened filter basket therein for a storm water drain system and especially to a screened filter basket having floating bypass panels to allow the capture of floating debris in the filter basket and when the basket cannot pass enough water flow therethrough to thereby allow bypass of storm water while retaining floating debris in the filter basket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 7959799
    Abstract: A street curb filter apparatus can be attached to a street curb side adjacent a manhole to collect storm water runoff from the curbside and direct the collected storm water through a filter basket. The street curb filter has a street curb shelf with a water channel on the surface thereof and filter basket supporting arms. The filter basket supporting arms are positioned to receive collected storm water runoff from the water channels in the street curb shelf. The filter basket is shaped to fit into a storm water manhole opening and is removably attached to the street curb shelf filter basket arms to receive storm water runoff from the water channeling surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2011
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel