Patents by Inventor William Kerfoot

William 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).

  • Publication number: 20080047905
    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: September 4, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20080011474
    Abstract: A method for treating contaminates includes emitting plural streams of a fluid into a soil formation with the streams having different radii of influences in different directions. A direction microporous diffuser includes a holder member having plural compartments and plural hollow, elongated members having porous sidewalls, the plural hollow, elongated members supported in the plural compartments of the holder member with each hollow, elongated member including a first cap with an inlet port at a first end of the elongated member and an end cap to seal a second end of the elongated member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: William Kerfoot, Richard Jones
  • Publication number: 20070108642
    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: November 7, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20070105492
    Abstract: Treatment of contaminates by an apparatus that includes a directional microporous diffuser, a distribution arrangement to receive a fluid, an air compressor having a first outlet to feed air to the distribution arrangement, an ozone generator coupled between a second outlet of the air compressor and the distribution arrangement, to convert a portion of the oxygen in the air feed into ozone and a control arrangement to control the distribution arrangement to effect discharge of fluid into selected ones of mutually isolated regions in the directional microporous diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Publication date: May 10, 2007
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20070023361
    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: November 24, 2004
    Publication date: February 1, 2007
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060198704
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for removal of contaminants from a formation are described. The apparatus and method introduces at a first location treatment materials at concentrations to effect removal of contaminants into a formation and withdraws fluid from a second location that is spaced from the first location feeding withdrawn fluid back to the first location.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2005
    Publication date: September 7, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060186060
    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: April 24, 2006
    Publication date: August 24, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060175720
    Abstract: A method for treating contaminates includes delivering a stream of a fluid to a directional microporous diffuser that has a sidewall with microscopic openings and has a partitioned interior region to effect discharge of microbubbles from less than the entire sidewall portion of the directional microporous diffuser at any particular interval of time. The directional microporous diffuser described include an elongated member providing the sidewall, the sidewall defining an interior portion of said member and coupled to the first inlet port and a partition member that divides the interior of the elongated member into plural, mutually isolated regions. End caps are disposed to seal ends of the directional microporous diffuser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060175265
    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 9, 2006
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060016763
    Abstract: Equipment and process by which an operator can set (or program) a time sequence of coatings of oxygen with increasing oxidation potential for in-situ treatment (chemical reaction) of organic compounds ranging from superoxidation (catalyzed ozone) to reduction conditions involving hydrogen sulfide gas is described. The equipment makes use of oxygen in a combination of gaseous and liquid forms to produce microbubbles of, e.g., different composition of oxygen forms possessing peroxides, superoxides, and hydroperoxides with increasing oxidative potential. The oxidative potential of the reactive mixture can be set to more cost-effectively degrade byproducts of contaminant decomposition without reformulation and reinjection. A secondary advantage comes with in-situ adjustment of pH or acidity/basicity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20060016766
    Abstract: Permanganate is delivered by a device that allows delivery of the permanganate and an air-ozone mixture to a soil formation. The permanganate can be delivered as a coating over microbubbles including the air/ozone gas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2005
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050242449
    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: June 7, 2005
    Publication date: November 3, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050194148
    Abstract: A diffuser useful for sparging to remove contaminant in situ is described. The diffuser includes a first elongated member having a sidewall with a first portion of the length of the sidewall being microporous, and a second portion of the length of the sidewall having well screen sized openings with the first elongated member defining an interior hollow portion of the diffuser, a second elongated member having a second sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, said second member being disposed through the hollow region of said first member and a third elongated member having a third sidewall having a plurality of microscopic openings, said third member being disposed coaxial with the first and second members. An end cap is disposed to seal a first end of the third elongated member, and being in contact with the second elongated member forms a chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Publication date: September 8, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050092691
    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 22, 2004
    Publication date: May 5, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050077249
    Abstract: Remediation for groundwater, soil, sediment bodies, bodies of water, tanks, pipes, and their surrounding areas are described. Remediation includes treating a site contaminated with toxic organic compounds by assessing for the presence or absence of suitable ozonphilic bacteria at the site and introducing ozone to the site. The ozonphilic bacteria are introduced to the site if the ozonphilic bacteria are not present or not present in sufficient quantities in the site. Ozone is introduced to the site in an amount sufficient to stimulate growth of the suitable ozonphilic bacteria. Other oxidants can also be used.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Publication date: April 14, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050046055
    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: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050045544
    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: October 12, 2004
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot
  • Publication number: 20050016935
    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 2, 2004
    Publication date: January 27, 2005
    Inventor: William Kerfoot