Patents by Inventor William B. Kerfoot

William B. Kerfoot 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: 6817119
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for subsurface mining, and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for relocating (including dredging, mining, filling, reverse-layering, replenishment) subsurface strata.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6805798
    Abstract: This invention relates to remediation systems, and more particularly to remediation systems for water, soil, and sediment bodies using thin-layer coated microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6780329
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20040155371
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating contaminants on a site, especially a deep well site includes delivering a first stream of a first gas to a first port of a laminar microporous diffuser and delivering a second stream of a second gas to a second port of the laminar microporous diffuser to effect mixing of the first and second streams of gases within the laminar microporous diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20040045911
    Abstract: A method of treating a site containing contaminants and apparatus are described The method and apparatus sparges the site with an air/ozone gas stream delivered with a hydroperoxide, which is a substantial byproduct of a reaction of a contaminant present in the aquifer or soil formation with the ozone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20030155288
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20030137183
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for subsurface mining, and more particularly to apparatuses and methods for relocating (including dredging, mining, filling, reverse-layering, replenishment) subsurface strata.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6596161
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6582611
    Abstract: A method of treating a site containing contaminants and apparatus are described The method and apparatus sparges the site with an air/ozone gas stream delivered with a hydroperoxide, which is a substantial byproduct of a reaction of a contaminant present in the aquifer or soil formation with the ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20030047501
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20030029792
    Abstract: This invention relates to remediation systems, and more particularly to remediation systems for water, soil, and sediment bodies using thin-layer coated microbubbles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20020144953
    Abstract: A sparging system for in-situ groundwater remediation for removal of contamination including dissolved chlorinated hydrocarbons and dissolved hydrocarbon petroleum products including the use in injection wells of microfine bubble generators, matched to substrates of selected aquifer regions, for injection and distribution of said bubbles containing oxidizing gas through said aquifer and to selectively encapsulating gases including oxygen and ozone in duo-gas bubbles which, in the presence of co-reactant substrate material acting as a catalyst, are effective to encourage biodegradation of leachate plumes which contain biodegradable organics, or Criegee decomposition of leachate plumes containing dissolved chlorinated hydrocarbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20020134733
    Abstract: Apparatus for active in situ multi-element gas sparging for bioremediation or physico-chemical degration for removal of contaminants in a soil formation containing a subsurface groundwater aquifer or a substantially wet unsaturated zone, the multi-gas contained in bubbles, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of injection wells extending to a depth of a selected aquifer; introducing an oxidizing agent comprising ozone mixed with ambient air to provide a multi-element gas by means of microporous diffusers, without applying a vacuum for extraction of stripped products or biodegration by-products, wherein said diffusers form micro-fine bubbles containing said multi-element gas that oxidizes, by stripping and decomposition, chlorinated hydrocarbons from the aquifer and surrounding saturated soil formation into harmless by-products; also including a pump for agitating water in the well selecting microbubbles, injecting them into the aquifer and effective to alter the path of micro-fine bubbles through a poro
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6447676
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of contaminated water is described. The apparatus includes a container divided into at least two chambers by a wall that partially separates the two chambers, the containing having an inlet at a first one of the chambers and an outlet at a second one of the chambers. The apparatus has a first microporous diffuser disposed in a first one of the chambers of the container and arranged to receive a decontaminating gaseous agent and a second microporous diffuser disposed in a second one of the chambers and arranged to receive air. Additionally, special microporous diffusers are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6436285
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20020108895
    Abstract: A microporous diffuser includes a first elongated member including at least one sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings. The sidewall defines an interior hollow portion of the member. The diffuser has a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, the second member being disposed through the hollow region of the first member. The diffuser includes an end cap to seal a first end of the microporous diffuser and an inlet cap disposed at a second end of microporous diffuser for receiving inlet fittings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 1999
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Inventor: WILLIAM B. KERFOOT
  • Patent number: 6312605
    Abstract: A sparging system and process for in-situ removal of contaminants from soil and an associated subsurface groundwater aquifer of a site is disclosed. The sparge system is capable of extracting contaminant in the form of gas from groundwater in a gas/gas/water reaction. The system includes at least one microporous diffuser having a porosity matched to a soil porosity. The microdiffuser is in an injection well. Ozone or other oxidizing gas in the form of bubbles is injected into the site to extract volatile dissolved contaminants for in-situ decomposition. A pump and a pneumatic packer are disposed to alternate pumping and bubble injection into the well to maximize dispersal of bubbles within and outward from the well casing, and to provide uniform dispersion of the bubbles as they travel through the site formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6306296
    Abstract: An apparatus for injection of a gas into aquifer is described. The apparatus includes a gas generator that generates gas such as ozone for injection into the aquifer. The apparatus includes a casing and a packer disposed through the casing. An air injection passageway disposed through the packer and coupled to the gas generator. A pump is disposed within the casing and have an inlet above the packer and an outlet below the packer. The casing has an outlet screen that has a pore size less than about 200 microns. The apparatus has a microporous diffuser coupled to the gas generator, said microporous diffuser including a body having a porous portion with a pore size less than about 200 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6284143
    Abstract: Apparatus for active in situ multi-element gas sparging for bioremediation or physico-chemical degration for removal of contaminants in a soil formation containing a subsurface groundwater aquifer or a substantially wet unsaturated zone, the multi-gas contained in, bubbles, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of injection wells extending to a depth of a selected aquifer; introducing an oxidizing agent comprising ozone mixed with ambient air to provide a multi-element gas by means of microporous diffusers, without applying a vacuum for extraction of stripped products or biodegration by-products, wherein said diffusers form micro-fine bubbles containing said multi-element gas that oxidizes, by stripping and decomposition, chlorinated hydrocarbons from the aquifer and surrounding saturated soil formation into harmless by-products; also including a pump for agitating water in the well selecting microbubbles, injecting them into the aquifer and effective to alter the path of micro-fine bubbles through a por
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 6083407
    Abstract: Apparatus for active in situ multi-element gas sparging for bioremediation or physico-chemical degration for removal of contaminants in a soil formation containing a subsurface groundwater aquifer or a substantially wet unsaturated zone, the multi-gas contained in bubbles, wherein the apparatus includes a plurality of injection wells extending to a depth of a selected aquifer; introducing an oxidizing agent comprising ozone mixed with ambient air to provide a multi-element gas by means of microporous diffusers, without applying a vacuum for extraction of stripped products or biodegration by-products, wherein said diffusers form micro-fine bubbles containing said multi-element gas that oxidizes, by stripping and decomposition, chlorinated hydrocarbons from the aquifer and surrounding saturated soil formation into harmless by-products; also including a pump for agitating water in the well selecting microbubbles, injecting them into the aquifer and effective to alter the path of micro-fine bubbles through a poro
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot