Cascade Patents (Class 210/255)
  • Publication number: 20040200786
    Abstract: A liquid/solid separator system mounted on a mobile cart and connected to a process tank for reducing the rate at which fluids are consumed in manufacturing processes. The system may include automation and also may include a shear stepped screen including tilted wire wedge wires arranged at varying cant angles. The system may include a fine screen basket received in a settling box.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Publication date: October 14, 2004
    Inventor: William O. Irvine
  • Publication number: 20040094490
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for recycling a wash solution used in powder coating which uses filters. The invention also relates to methods and apparatuses for recycling wash solutions used in spray washing, steam cleaning or car washes using filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Publication date: May 20, 2004
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 6706173
    Abstract: A filtration system for cleaning the fluid in a wash tank. The filtration system includes a process tank from which fluid is pumped to a filter element located in the wash tank. The filter element is formed of hollow porous tubes. The fluid is pumped from the process tank through the hollow porous tubes and back to the process tank. The fluid in the hollow porous tubes is at a greater pressure than that of the fluid in the wash tank in which it is submerged, such that fluid, but not particulate matter, with flow through the pores in the tubes to the wash tank. Cleaned fluid is thereby provided to the wash tank and fluid with a higher concentration of contaminants is returned to the process tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Heumann
  • Patent number: 6695891
    Abstract: Embodiments of a key system for filters and their connecting heads/holders are shown. The filter cartridge and its holder each have a keyed surface, one being a protruding “key” and one being a recessed “lock”. Cooperation of these keyed surfaces is required in order for the filter cartridge to be installed in the holder, so that mismatched cartridges cannot be installed into the holder, for example, to prevent a particular type of cartridge from being placed in a filtration or other process where it would be inappropriate, or undesired. The keyed surfaces are selectively locate-able preferably at different circumferential locations on a perimeter of the filter and a corresponding location on a perimeter of the head/holder. The perimeter may be, for example, on an outer shoulder surface of a filter and an inner surface of a valve head, or on outer and inner surfaces of connectors that provide a liquid seal between the filter and the head/holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Inventor: Roger P. Reid
  • Publication number: 20030217960
    Abstract: A method of separating a liquid from a liquid-laden solid material includes providing a trough having a deck defining a support surface with passages extending through the support surface. The liquid-laden solid material is deposited onto the support surface so that the liquid-laden solid material is supported by the support surface. A vibratory force is applied to the deck to separate a substantial portion of the liquid from the liquid-laden solid material. The liquid separated from the liquid-laden solid material is directed under gravity force through the passages extending through the support surface. The solid material is conveyed along the support surface by the vibratory force to a solids discharge point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2003
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Dwight P. Casey, Tobin L. Imes, Oscar L. Mathis
  • Publication number: 20030192819
    Abstract: A vibratory apparatus for separating a liquid from a liquid-laden solid material. The apparatus includes an inclined trough having a base with a first end and a second elevated with respect to the first end. A deck is attached to the trough base, the deck defining support points positioned above the base spaced from one another by a distance sufficient to support the solid material above the deck, and passages located between the support points to allow liquid to flow to the deck. A vibratory drive is attached to the trough and oriented impart a conveying motion toward the trough second end. Solid material deposited onto the deck is advanced toward the second end by the conveying motion while the liquid flows along the trough base toward the first end under gravity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventors: Dwight Paul Casey, Tobin Lane Imes, Oscar Lee Mathis
  • Patent number: 6592753
    Abstract: An oil recovery system, designed to recover oil from oil-contaminated water of a river, lake or sea due to a difference in specific gravity of the liquids. The system includes a 4-stage separation tank 15 having four chambers 51-54. The first chamber 51 includes a hopper-shaped oil floating unit 59 in communication with a piston pump 68 (FIG. 5) and having porous filters 61, 62 therein. The second and third chambers 52, 53 include a plurality of horizontal diaphragms 63 for reducing the processing time for separating oil from water. The system can be continuously operated without being stopped during an oil recovering operation. The oil recovered from discharged pipe 67 is usable so that the system preferably conserves natural resources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Bo-Young Lee
  • Patent number: 6579456
    Abstract: A device and a method are described, which are used for precipitating beverage sediment from the rinsing mixture of beverage production machines and which comprise a rinsing conduit, a sediment receptacle and a filtering means. In order to design a device of this type in a structurally simple manner such that it can be serviced more easily, it is suggested that the filtering means should comprise a first and a second filter which are arranged one after the other when seen in the direction of flow of the rinsing mixture and which are each provided with filtrate discharge means and that a flow connection for the rinsing mixture discharged from the rinsing conduit and for the filter cake precipitated on the first filter should be provided, said flow connection bypassing said first filter and leading into the sediment receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: WMF Wuerttemergische Metallwarenfabrik AG
    Inventors: Rolf Frey, Frank Göltenboth, Martin Grupp, Günther Nagel, Armin Startz, Gerhard Wittlinger
  • Patent number: 6555011
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for disinfecting and purifying liquids and gasses comprising; a) passing said liquids or gasses through a reactor or a combination of reactors, having a truncated compounded concentrator geometry; and b) simultaneously delivering and concentrating diversified electromagnetic and acoustic energies into a specific predetermined inner space of said compounded concentrator reactor, forming a high energy density zone in said reactor or reactors over a predetermined period of time. The reactor according to the present invention is preferably a compounded parabolic concentrator or a compounded ellipsoidal concentrator. The electromagnetic energy delivered and concentrated into and inside the reactor can be of any range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as ultra-violet, visible, infra-red, microwave etc., or combination thereof. The acoustic energy is of any suitable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignee: Atlantium Ltd.
    Inventors: Zamir Tribelsky, Michael Ende
  • Patent number: 6495033
    Abstract: Device for separating two non-mixable liquids with different specific gravities such as oil and water, which device contains a first separation tank (2) with an overflow (11, 12) for each of the liquids to be separated, a coalescence filter (3) whose inlet (14) is connected via a pipe (13) to the overflow (12) of the first separation tank (2) for the liquid with the highest specific gravity and a second separation tank (4) which is connected to the outlet (19) of the coalescence filter (3), characterized in that the overflow (12) onto which the coalescence filter (3) is connected is situated higher than the inlet (14) of the coalescence filter (3) with a difference in height H1 which is such that the liquid mass in the pipe between the first separation tank (2) and the coalescence filter (3) provides for the necessary pressure to bridge the pressure drop in the coalescence filter (3) and the counterpressure of the liquid in the second separation tank (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2002
    Assignee: Atlas Copco Airpower, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Bart Anton Lode Talboom
  • Patent number: 6488851
    Abstract: The present invention provides a reactor and process for the biological treatment of sewage, being transferred, by gravitational forces with a substantially constant flow rate (Q), through an array of successively alternating aerobic and anaerobic compartments (14, 16) for, respectively, aerobic and anaerobic degradation of biodegradable substances in said sewage, the compartments, which form part of the reactor of the invention, are separated by partition walls (50) and each has a top area (S), the passage of the sewage from an aerobic compartment (16) to its adjacent succeeding anaerobic compartment (14) is provided at the bottom of their common partition wall, while the transfer of sewage from an anaerobic compartment to its adjacent aerobic compartment is performed by means of gravity-caused flow over their common partition wall, whereby oxygen required for the aerobic treatment is dissolved into the sewage via an air-sewage interface at the top area of the anaerobic and aerobic compartments forming there
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Projects, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ehud Almog
  • Patent number: 6489132
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for qualitatively or quantitatively determining one or more analytes in matrices such as foods, biological fluids, etc. An embodiment for determination of a single analyte comprises a sample receiving vessel, a first membrane and a reagent-containing well. The prepared sample passes through the first membrane whereby extraneous matter is removed, and a filtrate enters the reagent-containing well to provide a filtrate-reagent admixture from which the analyte may be determined. An embodiment for determination for multiple analytes includes one or more additional membranes in series with the first membrane, each such additional membrane being operative to capture one or more analytes. Each of the additional analytes may then be eluted from the membrane upon which it has been captured, into a separate reagent-containing well to provide eluant-reagent admixture from which each desired analyte may be determined. Formulations for preparation additives are also included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Safety Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Virginia C. Gordon, John T. Sorensen, Soheila Mirhashemi, Michael Mittelstein, John F. Elias
  • Patent number: 6478965
    Abstract: Dilute solutions of fermentation sales may be concentrated by extracting water using low-miscibility, low-molecular-weight secondary and tertiary amines, e.g. triethylamine (TEA), diisopropyl amine (DIA), N,N-diethylmethylamine (DEMA), and mixtures thereof. At 30° C.-55° C., which corresponds to typical fermentation temperatures, these low-molecular-weight amines or their mixtures, can extract large amounts of water from dilute aqueous solutions containing fermentation salts. Thus, dilute fermentation salt solutions can be concentrated by selectively removing water. At these low temperatures, the amine phase contains 20-35% water and a much reduced quantity of fermentation salt. When the temperature is raised, water phases out of the amine, allowing the amine to be recycled and reused to extract additional water. Using this approach, about 82.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: The Texas A&M University System
    Inventors: Mark T. Holtzapple, Richard R. Davison, Torsten Luettich
  • Patent number: 6427848
    Abstract: An improved dual fabrication liquid circulatory system for an electric discharge fabrication machine, having an oily-water separation system of single, dual, or triple-tank types. The single-tank oily-water separation system utilizes a water level sensor to control the switch of an electric magnetic valve and the discharge of oily-water fabrication liquid from an oil discharge pipe and a water discharge pipe. The dual-tank oily-water separation system directs fabrication liquid into a filtration tank such that fabrication liquid enters a water storage tank through a water discharge pipe and the floating oil flows into an oil storage tank from an oil discharge pipe. The triple-tank oily-water separation system includes a water filtration tank and an oil filtration tank with the water filtration tank divided into two tanks by a separation board. The floating oil in the upper oil layer enters an oil filtration tank through a flow pipe and enters the oil storage tank through an oil discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Chiao-Chin Shih
  • Patent number: 6391195
    Abstract: Apparatus and a process are provided for treating used drilling mud, particularly that produced during clearwater drilling. A structural and highway transportable skid comprises two or more settling tanks connected in succession. Flocculation aids settling of solids to the bottom and clarified liquid forms at the surface. Clarified liquid flows from one tank to the next successive tank. Clarified liquid is produced from the last of the successive settling tanks. The tanks have flat bottoms. Passageways extend between each successive tank for gravity-flowing liquid from one tank to successive settling tank. A solids tank or centrifuge is also mounted within the skid. The solids and settling tanks are located for weight-balancing. A rotational suction is positioned in the bottom of each settling tank and having one or more radially extending conduits which rotate about an axis and have inlets at their distal ends which traverse an inscribed circular path about the periphery of the tank's bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Layton
  • Patent number: 6315899
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating a lighter liquid and a heavier liquid may comprise a settling tank sized to receive a mixture of the lighter liquid and the heavier liquid. The settling tank permits the formation of a first upper liquid fraction and a first lower liquid fraction. A weir positioned adjacent the settling tank allows the first upper liquid fraction to flow over the weir. A trough positioned adjacent the weir receives the first upper liquid fraction and effects a secondary separation of the lighter and heavier liquids by allowing the first upper liquid fraction to form a second upper liquid fraction and a second lower liquid fraction. A first drain having an elevated inlet end is positioned in the trough so that the first drain removes the second upper liquid fraction from said trough. A second drain positioned in the trough has an inlet end that is positioned below the inlet end of the first drain so that the second drain removes the second lower liquid fraction from said trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Cyprus Amax Minerals Company
    Inventor: Ramon A. Hernandez
  • Patent number: 6245228
    Abstract: A water treatment device for purifying small quantities of non-potable water for drinking purposes. The device includes: a primary container, a secondary product container, and a cylindrical filter cartridge. The primary container is filled with untreated water, and brought into contact with a disinfecting agent. The filter cartridge is then attached to the primary container and the secondary container is attached to an outlet port of the filter cartridge, the entire arrangement is then inverted to allow water to flow from the primary container into the inlet port of the filter cartridge. A physicochemical time switch is installed near the inlet port of the filter cartridge and blocks the flow of water from the primary container into the filtering elements until an appropriate amount of time has lapsed for the disinfecting agent to effectively disinfect the water. The physicochemical time switch is either a water dissolvable barrier or an expandable compartment filled with hydrophilic polymeric crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Maher I. Kelada
  • Patent number: 6224273
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of photopolymer printing blocks, which are utilizable for producing printed matter by flexography, typography or dry offset, of the type including a stage for polymerizing areas by exposure to ultraviolet rays; a stage for engraving non-polymerized areas by immersion and brushing in an engraving bath contained in an engraving tank, the bath becoming loaded with dissolved particles or particles in suspension during the engraving stage; and a separation of the constituents of the engraving bath, with the liquid obtained at the time of separation being injected back into the engraving tank, characterized in that the separation consists of filtration, during which the particles are progressively eliminated. The invention also relates to an engraving device for carrying out the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Inventor: Mario Ferrante
  • Patent number: 6214242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for stripping a volatile compound from waste water comprises creating a high velocity spray of air and stream of water at a first inlet to a first expansion chamber to volatize the compound, recombining the water and air flow through a second and successive expansion chambers and recreating a spray at each such chamber, whereby additional volatile compounds are released from the water at each stage to steadily reduce the contamination of the water. The decontaminated water and volatile compound-laden air are separately collected after exiting the last expansion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Inventor: Frederick B. Swensen
  • Patent number: 6180004
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having a treatment tank with an inlet and an outlet, a pump tank having an inlet in fluid communication with the outlet of the treatment tank, and a connector affixed to a wall of the treatment tank and to a wall of the pump tank so as to maintain the treatment tank and the pump tank in fixed spaced relationship to each other. A pretreatment tank has an outlet in fluid communication with the inlet of the treatment tank. The connector is affixed to the wall of the pretreatment tank so as to maintain the pretreatment tank and the treatment tank in fixed spaced relationship to each other. The bottoms of the treatment tank, the pump tank and the pretreatment tank are arranged in coplanar relationship. The connector is in the form of a band extending around a portion of a circumference of the walls of the treatment tank, the pump tank and the pretreatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Aqua Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: T. Gig Drewery
  • Patent number: 6139745
    Abstract: A purification apparatus and method for enabling the purification of the lake and pond waters, is installed as a fluidized bed sewage system directly on the raw water area. The apparatus takes in the raw waters in the lake and pond and purifies the water. The purified water is fed back to the raw water area by the pump.With this purification apparatus, the salt materials such as phosphate in the lakes, and the overall area of the waters can be purified while preventing the generation of phytoplanktons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Mizumori, Koichi Tsuzuki, Junichi Kobayashi, Takeo Takagi, Hiroaki Yoda, Kazuo Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6129841
    Abstract: A portable water treatment assembly and water treatment method are disclosed in which the water to be purified is placed in an upper container together with a suitable bactericide, and is held in that container until the bactericidal action is complete. At that time, an elongate dowel is manually manipulated to open a passage between the upper container and a lower container to drain the purified water through a sediment cartridge in the upper container to remove sediment from the water, and through a cartridge in the lower container containing a medium to remove the bactericide and/or other potentially distasteful ingredients from the water, and the purified water is collected in the lower container for subsequent dispensing and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Eagle Spring Filtration, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Dann
  • Patent number: 6126336
    Abstract: An etching device for preparing flexible blocks which can be used for printing in flexography, typography or dry offset generally includes an etching tank containing a bath (22) and brushes (3), a stirring and heating device, and an overfill system (20) for discharging the solution from the etching tank through an outlet duct (21) to a separation device. The separation device includes a reception vat (14) having an upper part which is equipped with a device (10) for separating the water and the polymer, and at least one filtering membrane (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Photomeca/Egg
    Inventor: Mario Ferrante
  • Patent number: 6042724
    Abstract: In a water treating apparatus the water is passed over a plurality of stages to a lower plane, each stage having a water trough, a section for the free fall of the water, and a catch. This makes possible the intensive mixing of the water with components of the air, especially oxygen and amino acids, as well as the action of natural light radiation onto the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Herzberger Backerei GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Gutberlet, Eckhard Schlinzig, Walter Maier
  • Patent number: 6024870
    Abstract: A sewage filtration system for efficiently filtering sewage waste material from smaller residential areas without the use of expensive sewage treatment plants. The inventive device includes a conventional septic tank connected to each building structure's sewage system, a pair of fluidly connected two compartment tanks connected to the conventional septic tanks, and a final phase filtering tank fluidly connected to the pair of two compartment tanks. The final phase filtering tank comprises a tank, a cover, an inlet tube, an outlet tube, a first tube connected to the outlet tube, a second tube fluidly connected to the first tube wherein the second tube is water permeable, at least one sand or gravel layer above the second tube, a layered filter structure above the sand or gravel layer that receives the filtered liquid from the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventor: Eugene R. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6013180
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mineral filtering apparatus in which the raw water is passed through a plurality of filtering processes, such as automatically filtrating without pressure, multiply filtering, ions exchange, sterilization, deodorizing, and releasing mineral substance. The filtering apparatus generally comprises a cover, an inlet water box, a first filtering unit, a filtering box, a second filtering unit, a storing reservoir, a mineral substance barrel that is disposed within the reservoir, an outlet filtering core that is disposed within the reservoir, a spout, a bottom bracket, and a water pan. The storing reservoir is provided with a mineral stone barrel with which the water soluble mineral substance is released. When the raw water flows from top to bottom, it can be treated with filtrating, deodorizing, ions exchange, sterilizing, magnetizing processes such that the treated water is clean and suitable for direct drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Inventor: Wei-Renn Wang
  • Patent number: 6008040
    Abstract: A process and device are provided for achieving cascade flow to achieve rapid separations of target components from fluid mixtures is provided. The devices of the invention have a cascading flow channel. The separation processes of the invention may include singly or in combination, the step of adjusting the total voids volume in all elements employed in the devices of the invention to be equal to or less than 6% of the total volume of fluid that is to be processed. A single separation process or a combination of separation processes may be used where the fluid mixture is whole blood, whole blood that is diluted or is in some other way treated, concentrated, divided into two or more streams, or augmented with blood or blood components, cellular materials such as proteins, antibodies, enzymes and fractions thereof, and nuclear materials such as DNA, RNA and their fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Synosys, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajiv V. Datar
  • Patent number: 6004456
    Abstract: This invention is a single stage or a multi-stage apparatus for chemical, physical-chemical, and biological treatment and equalization of variable flows of influent material, wherein said influent material is processed in at least a single reactor or in a plurality of sequential reactors containing liquid and having influent, and having reactor connecting and effluent lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Boris Mikhallovich Khudenko
  • Patent number: 5996604
    Abstract: An apparatus providing process water used for making or processing a fiber suspension includes a multi-compartment tank with a top, a bottom wall, and a plurality of exterior sidewalls. Each compartment has an inlet positioned near the top, an outlet positioned near the bottom wall, and at least one intervening wall common with an adjacent compartment. Each intervening wall has a height defining an overflow weir whereby the compartments are arranged with sequentially decreasing maximum fluid levels. Each intervening wall also has a backflow device positioned near the bottom wall. The backflow device is selectively openable to allow flow from one compartment to an adjacent compartment in a direction opposite to a flow direction over the corresponding overflow weir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Voith Sulzer Paper Technology North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Klaus Doelle, Kurt William Lorenz, Oliver U. Heise, Werner Witek, Robert J. Matz
  • Patent number: 5888388
    Abstract: A filtration unit e.g. for ponds comprises a housing divided into a radiation chamber (18) with a water inlet (20) and a filtration chamber (19) with water outlets (21,22). A weir (23) in the partition wall (17) between the chambers controls the water level in the radiation chamber (18). One or more UV tubes (25,26) are mounted in the radiation chamber (18) above the water level therein controlled by the weir (23). Preferably the housing has a cover which is in two parts a first (33) of which extends over the radiation chamber (18) and is secured by screws or the like so that it cannot be removed inadvertently, and the second (34) of which extends over the filtration chamber (19) and is hinged to give ready access to the filtration chamber (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Pet Mate Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Peter Kirk
  • Patent number: 5871647
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment unit is operable under high intermittent flow rate variations. It comprises a first clarifier in which is carried out a gravitational settling of solids and a second clarifier comprising a network of parallel plates inclined with respect to the vertical and a portion defining a collecting pit. Each plate has an upper edge positioned at a height lower than the filling level of the first clarifier to define an overflow giving access to the collecting pit. The network of plates allows to carry out a further settling of solids to create a counterflow of settled matter toward the first clarifier and a flow of clarified wastewater falling in the collecting pit. A filtering chamber is positioned above the first clarifier and comprises a filtering media supporting a biomass for digesting the organic content of the wastewater coming from the second clarifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventor: Yves Lord
  • Patent number: 5858218
    Abstract: A coolant reclamation device for use in conjunction with a conveyor of a first width wherein the conveyor receives solid contaminants and coolant from a machine tool operation. The conveyor transports the solid contaminants and coolant to the coolant reclamation device. The coolant reclamation device includes an elongate body which defines a chamber and contains an elongate opening which provides direct access to the chamber. The device also includes an elongate screen located over the opening. The coolant reclamation device is positioned relative to the conveyor so that the solid contaminants and coolant discharged from the conveyor impinge the screen whereby the solid contaminants remain on the surface of the screen and the coolant passes through the screen into the chamber. The elongate body contains a return port through which the chamber is in fluid communication with the coolant reservoir via a conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Kennametal Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew T. Setlock, Richard B. Reffner
  • Patent number: 5820762
    Abstract: An insert for a storm drain or sanitary sewer inlet such as are found in factory or warehouse floors, parking lots and car washes in which the insert holds one or more bags of filter media. The bags have a very open structure such as coarse weave cotton permitting water entering the drain to pass through each bag and the filter media inside the bag. The entire bag may be conveniently withdrawn from the insert and replaced as the filter media becomes saturated. Preferably, a first bag contains an absorbant cellulose particulate media which absorbs oils and greases and post non-volatile hydrocarbons and a second bag contains specially textured activated carbon which absorbs organically bound heavy metals and volatile hydrocarbons as well other VOCs (volatile organic compounds). Various types of filter media and configurations of these media also allows for the removal of dissolved heavy metals, and even the removal of pathogenic microbes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Inventors: Jonathan Michael Bamer, Gregory Stevens Conrad
  • Patent number: 5772877
    Abstract: A system for extracting oil from aqueous solutions or for extracting aqueous solutions from oil. The system imparts magnetic properties to the medium being extracted, using a multi-layer surfactant magnetic colloid. The system uses magnetic traps designed to efficiently extract the magnetic medium and remove it to a storage area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Simon Dvorchik, Igor Dvorchik
  • Patent number: 5770069
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterile separation of a fluid into components, for washing of a material, and for preparing a washed, separated material for refrigerated storage includes rotating the fluid or material in a multi-chambered container to accomplish a centrifuging operation. An apparatus embodying the invention may include an elongated, collapsible container having plural chambers connected in series by necks. The multi-chambered container may be formed of a single flexible bag having plural chambers. Alternately, the container may comprise plural flexible bags, each of which comprises one or more of the chambers of the container. A chamber of the container may be separated into plural sections by partition walls, each of the sections of the chamber being connected to an adjacent chamber by a separate branch of a neck between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Organ, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold T. Meryman
  • Patent number: 5766465
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to provide a water treatment technology able to perform advanced purification treatment by efficiently removing synthetic organic compounds such as surface activators for use in cleaners and agricultural chemicals present in polluted water having a relatively low load of pollutants such as BOD. In order to accomplish this objective, water to be treated is brought in contact with a assimilable filter medium under aerobic conditions, said assimilable filter medium being composed by adhering a material to be assimilated that has specific assimilability for the target microorganisms to a porous base material such as charcoal. As a result of using this type of assimilable filter medium, specific microorganisms which are highly efficient for removing the synthetic organic pollutants to be removed can be utilized selectively, thereby enabling efficient removal of synthetic organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Toyo Denka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinpei Yamamoto, Kazuhiro Takagi, Etutami Kiyotani, Iwane Kagimoto, Shinichi Kariya, Satoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 5725770
    Abstract: A waste treatment process including the steps of: (i) passing waste material which may comprise animal or human faeces comprising an insoluble component such as lignocellulose through a bioreactor system including a plurality of bioreactors in series and maintaining said insoluble component as a suspension in said waste material; and (ii) separating suitably by filtration the insoluble component from the waste material. A waste treatment plant including: (i) a bioreactor system including a plurality of bioreactors in series for treatment of waste material; (ii) means such as filtration for separating an insoluble component from said waste material after passage through the bioreactor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Fungi-Gulp Pty. Ltd.
    Inventor: Dick P. Henry
  • Patent number: 5656154
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for sterile separation of a fluid into components, for washing of a material, and for preparing a washed, separated material for refrigerated storage includes rotating the fluid or material in a multi-chambered container to accomplish a centrifuging operation. An apparatus embodying the invention may include an elongated, collapsible container having plural chambers connected in series by necks. The multi-chambered container may be formed of a single flexible bag having plural chambers. Alternately, the container may comprise plural flexible bags, each of which comprises one or more of the chambers of the container. A chamber of the container may be separated into plural sections by partition walls, each of the sections of the chamber being connected to an adjacent chamber by a separate branch of a neck between the chambers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Organ, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold T. Meryman
  • Patent number: 5587067
    Abstract: Headworks for preliminary treatment of wastewater in a sewage treatment plant provides for primary filtration of grit and other coarse debris, de-ragging in a flume which carries the water away from the filter, chemical addition in a chemical mixing tank and scum removal in a scum removal tank provided with a scum skimmer. The scum removal tank may also be provided with means for pre-aerating the wastewater, secondary grit removal means, secondary de-ragging means and a partial flume for flow measurement. A debris collection device in the form of a flexible fabric sock is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Sydlo Inc.
    Inventor: Leonard S. Love
  • Patent number: 5571409
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an aquarium waterfall assembly which may be placed on top of a single aquarium tank and used to move water from the tank, over a decorative waterfall and back to the tank. If desired, the aquarium water also may be filtered using the assembly. The invention also is directed to an aquarium and waterfall system, a decorative cover for an aquarium water heater and a method of transporting water in an aquarium system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: Jerry L. Scarborough
  • Patent number: 5565098
    Abstract: A reactor for the biological treatment of water comprises a reactor vessel (1), a fermentation chamber (3) bounded in the vessel, inlets (10) for introducing influent into the fermentation chamber, a settling chamber (4) above the top boundary (2) of the fermentation chamber (3), for separating out sludge from treated water, a downer (5) extending downwards from the settling chamber through the fermentation chamber, for returning separated-out sludge to the fermentation chamber (3), and an outlet (11) for discharging effluent from the settling chamber. In order to improve and accelerate the separation of sludge from effluent in a simple manner, at least one supply line (8a, 9a, 17) opens out tangentially into the settling chamber. A whirlpool is produced in the settling chamber by the supply line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Paques B.V.
    Inventor: Sjoerd H. J. Vellinga
  • Patent number: 5556538
    Abstract: A denitrification apparatus, for use in a wastewater treatment system having a mixed liquor source, is disclosed. The apparatus has at least two non-aerated continuous channels, connected in series. Wastewater flows from the mixed liquor source into the series of channels and then flows back into the mixed liquor source. In a preferred embodiment the inlets and outlets for each channel are arranged so that the flow into the channel is into the lower portion of the channel, and the flow from the channel is from the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Inventors: Gary J. Beard, Harold J. Beard
  • Patent number: 5547569
    Abstract: A sloped plate water clarifier is provided with multiple clarifying stages. Slurry enters a feeding and mixing passageway that contains chemical flocculant in the form of polymer gel logs. Agitating drums in the passageway provide controlled mixing of the slurry with the flocculant. At the end of the passageway the slurry flows over a static screen that separates the useable process product from solid refuse. The slurry passing through the screen flows into a settling tank containing sloped plates arranged in three ascending stages, with the plates in the uppermost stage being angularly adjustable. As the slurry rises inside the tank, the sloped plates allow the suspended solids in the slurry to settle and eventually accumulate on the tank bottom for periodic removal, including as an alternative by a venturi pump. The clarified water exits a spillway at the top of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignee: Hinkle Contracting Corporation
    Inventor: Donald R. Spencer
  • Patent number: 5474673
    Abstract: A wet/dry filter system that is mounted on the top of an aquarium allows flexible flow control to and between the wet section and the dry section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: David J. Ludlow
  • Patent number: 5462657
    Abstract: New techniques and means for their utilization are described for substantially improving gas to liquid transfer including aeration of hydroelectric project tailwaters and treatment of sewage sludge and sewage treatment effluent or other wastewaters. Liquid flow is directed over an infuser device to separate the liquid into a plurality of free-falling curtains disposed to impinge upon a collection pool therebeneath wherein a substantial number of gas bubbles entrained by any particular curtain are acted upon by successive impingements of downstream curtains to effect turbulent interaction, shearing, and reentrainment of such bubbles and substantially increase the residence time thereof in the resulting recombined flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: Tennessee Valley Authority
    Inventors: Tony A. Rizk, Gary E. Hauser
  • Patent number: 5435914
    Abstract: A clarifying device for waste water has a plurality of containers for receiving waste water, and a device for aerating or gasifying waste water in at least one of the containers. The containers are formed as treatment cells which are combinable with one another to provide a waste water throughflow and which are small when compared with conventional clarifying reservoirs. The treatment cells are closed from outside. A negative pressure source is connected with the treatment cells for producing negative pressure in the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: IEG Industrie-Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Bruno Bernhardt
  • Patent number: 5413709
    Abstract: A solid/liquid separation apparatus in which a downwardly-inclined separator screen is supported across the open front face of a liquid collection chamber. The screen and chamber are mounted in an outer frame having spaced side walls. The screen has separate upper and lower sections and is adjustably mounted on at least one of the side walls at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the screen so that it can be moved inwardly and outwardly in a direction transverse to the plane of the screen to adjust the relative vertical angles of screen sections. In one version, the upper and lower screen sections are separate screens and are adjustable via separate adjustment mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: T. H. Creears Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Webb, Thomas M. Webb
  • Patent number: 5409603
    Abstract: An additional trough for an aquarium filter container comprising a rectangular body having an open top and consisting of a bottom panel, two long-side panels and two short-side panels, said bottom panel being formed with a plurality of equidistant longitudinal and transverse grooves making a plurality of intersecting points, a perforation being formed on alternate one of said intersecting points and equally distant from each other, said bottom panel further having at the outer side a protruded portion which is smaller than the open top of said rectangular body in area and extends outwardly to a flange and downwardly to form four elongated projections, said bottom panel having an outer side formed with a plurality of annular portions concentric with corresponding perforations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Chiang M. Tsung
  • Patent number: 5330643
    Abstract: A solid/liquid separation apparatus in which a downwardly-inclined separator screen is supported across the open front face of a liquid collection chamber. The screen and chamber are mounted in an outer frame having spaced side walls. The screen has separate upper and lower sections and is adjustably mounted on at least one of the side walls at a position intermediate the upper and lower ends of the screen so that it can be moved inwardly and outwardly in a direction transverse to the plane of the screen to adjust the relative vertical angles of screen sections. In one version, the upper and lower screen sections are separate screens and are adjustable via separate adjustment mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: T. H. Creears Corporation
    Inventors: Robert M. Webb, Thomas M. Webb
  • Patent number: 5234583
    Abstract: A nanofiltration and/or reverse osmosis system for filtering swimming pool water which system and apparatus eliminates dissolved organic and inorganic matter that is not removed by conventional swimming pool water treatment filtering systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1993
    Inventor: C. Brent Cluff