Patents Examined by Betsey Morrison Hoey
  • 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
  • Patent number: 6582595
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a water conditioning apparatus that is compact and easily recharged without removal from the installation location. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a water conditioning apparatus that is generally rectangular in shape and is configured to fit into rectangularly shaped spaces of limited size. In another embodiment, the water conditioning apparatus is configured to fit in a corner location. In still another embodiment, the water conditioning apparatus is of modular configuration and includes a self-contained selector valve system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Inventor: Alex S. Peabody
  • Patent number: 6576144
    Abstract: Spent caustic and other wastewater streams are pretreated by continuous chemical oxidation. According to one aspect, a wastewater stream is pretreated by continuous chemical oxidation in a plug flow reactor. According to another aspect, a catalyst and an oxidizer are fed into a wastewater stream at first and second predetermined points of addition. Compounds in the wastewater stream susceptible to chemical oxidation are reacted with the chemical oxidizer. A modular, optionally fully automated apparatus is provided for pretreating spent caustic and other wastewater streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: MPR Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark K. Vineyard
  • Patent number: 6576142
    Abstract: Methods for treating manure treatment systems in confined animal feeding operations to maintain the agricultural equipment, alleys and lagoons in a safer and more effective and useable condition though the use of a sulfuric acid composition. Sulfuric acid mixed with urea is controllably released from a storage tank, through an injection pump and into the fluid line transporting recirculation water from the lagoon to flush livestock alleys with the composition and maintain the pH of the lagoon fluid at approximately 6.5 to 7.0. The composition can also be placed into the fluid line transporting flush water from the livestock alleys to clean the manure separator. The composition can also be sprayed onto the manure separator screens to clean the screens. The composition can be placed directly onto the floor of the concrete alley and allowed to soak thereon to remove accumulated manure, algae and other materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventors: Russell J. Verdegaal, George F. Verdegaal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6576143
    Abstract: A method for removing sulfide from a liquid sample such as water in a test for arsenic. The method involves adding a strong oxidizing agent to the sample to oxidize the sulfide to sulfate, and then adding an organic amine to the sample to react with any remaining oxidizing agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Hach Company
    Inventor: Dan J. Kroll
  • Patent number: 6572777
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for purifying the cooling circuit of an alternator stator, characterized in that part of the water of the closed cooling circuit is derived upstream of the alternator towards the deionization circuit supplying the recovery tank, said deionization circuit comprising a mixed bed demineralization circuit and a treament circuit placed parallel to the demineralization circuit, and when the inflow rate into the deionization circuit is fixed at a value less than 10%, preferably less than about 20% of the nominal flow passing through the stator, the treatment circute consists in a cation-exchanging resin; when the inflow rate into the deionization circuit is fixed at a value higher than 10%, preferably higher than about 20% of the nominal flow passing through the stator, either the treatment circuit is interrupted, or the treatment circuit consists of a cation-exchanging resin or a mixed bed resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Electricite de France Service National
    Inventor: Didier Vermeeren
  • Patent number: 6562242
    Abstract: A water purification device, method and system with the water purification device having a container for holding a water purification material therein with the water purification device including a shroud extending in a direction generally normal to a flow of debris laden water with the shroud inhibiting direct flow of debris into a water inlet in the water purification device by directing water and debris over the shroud and around the water purification device while a portion of the water can be directed laterally into the water purification material within the water purification device to thereby purify the water that flows over the water purification materials with the water purification device including multiple spaced and positioned water inlets so that the likelihood of the water inlet being completely obstructed is remote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6562244
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for disinfecting drainage are provided. A bromine-based or iodine-based disinfectant is added to water to obtain disinfecting water, and the disinfecting water is added to predetermined drainage. The apparatus has a device for producing disinfecting water from a disinfectant and drainage, a sand basin, and a channel for introducing the disinfecting water into the sand basin, and the drainage is disinfected while the drainage is dwelling in the sand basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Ebara Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshiharu Yasuhara, Kazuhiro Hasegawa, Kazunari Tanaka, Yuichi Fuchu, Yutaka Niida, Hideyuki Yoshida, Hiromasa Kaihatsu, Hiroshi Toriumi, Hiroshi Takasu, Tadashi Nagawa, Sumio Komine
  • Patent number: 6562243
    Abstract: A water purification system and method suitable for use in swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, water storage tanks, wells and water cooling towers adds (i) an oxidizing agent, preferably granulated or caked chlorine, (ii) metal ions, preferably silver from a galvanic cell having a silver anode electrically connected to a cathode made from a metal of still higher electrochemical potential, normally platinum, and, optionally (iii) an algaecide, preferably chelated copper and/or phosphate-removing compound, and/or (iv) a phosphate-reducing compound, all in synergistic combination. The galvanic cell is preferably some tens of square centimeters in size and some tens of grams in weight, thereby liberating sufficient silver or copper ions so as to aid in treating a multi-thousand liter body of water, such as a swimming pool, for, typically under normal contamination, some weeks to months until the anode is consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Inventor: Jonathan Sherman
  • Patent number: 6558556
    Abstract: A method of oxidizing an inorganic species in an aqueous solution of pH 5 or greater, comprises the steps of (i) supplying an oxidizable form of a sulfur compound, and oxygen to the solution; and (ii) adding a source of iron to the solution and allowing oxidation to take place. The method finds particular application in the treatment of manganese and other species in potable water, industrial waste waters and process liquors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignees: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, CRC for Waste Management & Pollution Control, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ging Hauw Khoe, Myint Zaw
  • Patent number: 6558537
    Abstract: A portable hydration system comprising water disinfection, filtration and pump features. The system comprises an electrolytic oxidant generating cell which utilizes a salt to create oxidants for disinfecting liquids such as water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Miox Corporation
    Inventors: Rodney E. Herrington, Wesley L. Bradford, Kevin Schwartz, Allen D. Clement, Curtis M. Mitchke, John K. Hickerson, Timothy A. Cushman, John F. White
  • Patent number: 6558555
    Abstract: A process and system for enhanced phosphorus removal in a wetlands wastewater treatment facility is disclosed. A portion of the effluent is recycled back through a media which is capable of removing phosphorus from water through sorptive processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: David A. Flowers
  • 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: 6551519
    Abstract: A method for the treatment of pool water with ozone at concentrations less than previously employed. Ozonation, as described herein, provides several distinct advantages including but not limited to inactivation of Cryptosporidium and other water borne microorganisms, reduction of combined chlorine concentrations and oxidation of chloramines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Neuman Pools, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfram Hartwig
  • Patent number: 6544427
    Abstract: A method of producing Clean Water for Dental Delivery Units is described using colloidal silver to sanitize the water supply of dental water delivery units. The silver compound is generated by means of a proprietary process contained in a U.S. patent application. The Clean Water for Dental Delivery Units method is capable of delivering sterile water to dental patients from existing equipment with complete safety for patients and dental office staff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Inventor: Grant H. Layton
  • Patent number: 6540921
    Abstract: Process for the on-site purification of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution, in which the solution is made to pass through a resin bed capable, at least partially, of adsorbing or absorbing the impurities present in the solution. The hydrogen peroxide solution is injected into the resin bed and passes through the latter at an approximately linear velocity preferably of between 10 m/h and 50 m/h and more preferably between 10 m/h and 20 m/h, while the resin bed is kept substantially compacted for at least 50% of the time during which the solution is being purified by coming into contact with the said resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christine Devos, Didier Demay, Hervé Dulphy
  • Patent number: 6537457
    Abstract: Polyaspartic acid and, optionally a non-ionic surfactant, are used to treat circulating water from a paint shop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Aware Chemicals L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dirk Bohnes, Johannes Lindemann, Karl Manderscheid
  • Patent number: 6533946
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for recycling drilling mud contaminated with particulates, consists of channelling a stream of contaminated slurry onto a screen deck, with the partly cleansed liquid entering a mixing tank. Liquid within the tank is continually mixed. An exit conduit removes liquid from the tank on a continuous basis, where it is given an additional purification with a cyclonic separator. The heavier fraction is further screened, with the resulting purified liquid re-entering the tank. The lighter fraction exists the cyclonic separator, and a portion of the lighter liquid is withdrawn for use as a substantially cleansed liquid. Another portion of the lighter fraction is re-circulated back into the tank, thus providing multi passes through the system to provide enhanced purification. The cleansed liquid may be directed into a separate mixing apparatus, in which additional slurry-forming powder such as Bentonite is added for forming a new slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Roger H. Woods Limited
    Inventor: Doug Pullman
  • Patent number: 6533945
    Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to handling the wastewater, or condensate, from a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor. More particularly, the present invention provides a process wherein the wastewater of a hydrocarbon synthesis reactor, such as a Fischer-Tropsch reactor, is sent to a gasifier and subsequently reacted with steam and oxygen at high temperatures and pressures so as to produce synthesis gas. The wastewater may also be recycled back to a slurry preparation stage, where solid combustible organic materials are pulverized and mixed with process water and the wastewater to form a slurry, after which the slurry fed to a gasifier where it is reacted with steam and oxygen at high temperatures and pressures so as to produce synthesis gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventor: Lalit S. Shah
  • Patent number: 6527960
    Abstract: A process for separating oily films from sand particles carried in a solvent free water stream includes the use of a jet pump scrubber in a density classification tank to treat such oily coated particles at controlled operating temperatures above 65° C. whereby, at such controlled temperature, enhanced cavitation in the jet pump separates the oily film from the sand particles to form slop oil, the tank providing for recirculation of the particles through the jet pump before discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Canadian Environmental Equipment & Engineering Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Diana L. Bacon, Patrick J. Cochrane, Wade R Bozak, Roderick M. Facey