Patents by Inventor Bruce W. Kyles

Bruce W. Kyles 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: 7641805
    Abstract: A solids collector for collecting solids in waste water that are heavier than water includes a roto-molded plastic container having a cylindrical sidewall and a downwardly sloping bottom. An inlet and outlet are connected to the sidewall substantially above the sloping bottom so that solids that are heavier than water in the waste water coming into the container through the inlet have residence time in the container long enough to gravitationally separate towards the bottom. Waste water depleted of solids that are heavier than water discharge from the container through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20090320265
    Abstract: A container for receiving and holding effluent water containing oil/grease to be removed has sectional covers. A main sectional cover supports a partially immersed rotatable disk; a drive on the main sectional cover rotates the disk; a trough on the main sectional cover straddles the disk; and a blade on the trough scrapes a side of the disk, to direct oil and grease from the disk along the scraper blade along the trough for collection in a storage container. Efficiencies of construction of the sectional covers, disk and a sensor probe are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7596845
    Abstract: A container for receiving and holding effluent water containing oil/grease to be removed has sectional covers. A main sectional cover supports a partially immersed rotatable disk; a drive on the main sectional cover rotates the disk; a trough on the main sectional cover straddles the disk; and a blade on the trough scrapes a side of the disk, to direct oil and grease from the disk along the scraper blade along the trough for collection in a storage container. Efficiencies of construction of the sectional covers, disk and a sensor probe are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7540967
    Abstract: A grease trap for separating grease and solid waste from waste water. The grease trap includes a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom. An upwardly shaped divider divides the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hole near an upper part of the divider allows waste into the upper chamber. An inlet invert in the tank receives incoming waste water, while an outlet invert removes water from the tank. A lid covers the tank. A pipe extends through the lid, upper chamber, and lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20090107910
    Abstract: A solids collector for collecting solids in waste water that are heavier than water includes a roto-molded plastic container having a cylindrical sidewall and a downwardly sloping bottom. An inlet and outlet are connected to the sidewall substantially above the sloping bottom so that solids that are heavier than water in the waste water coming into the container through the inlet have residence time in the container long enough to gravitationally separate towards the bottom. Waste water depleted of solids that are heavier than water discharge from the container through the outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7504058
    Abstract: A low cost oil, grease removal assembly includes a rotomolded plastic container having an inlet and an outlet; a rotomolded plastic basket support located at the inlet inside the container; a rotomolded plastic outlet baffle located in the container at the outlet; a plurality of container cover sections including a first section to cover the basket support, a second container cover section having an oil, grease removal mechanism downstream of the basket support and upstream of the outlet baffle, and a third container cover section to cover the outlet baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7504024
    Abstract: An apparatus includes: a commercial kitchen sink having a drain; a trough below the sink for transporting effluent positioned such that there is an air gap between it and the drain; and a plurality of selectively positionable markers on the trough for indicating positions for strainers to collect solids in effluent discharging form the drain. A method of removing solids from an effluent flow from a kitchen sink having a drain hole is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7431852
    Abstract: A separator separates water and oil. An outer housing has an inner volume and an inner housing. One port in the inner housing receives influent mixed liquids. Another port from the inner housing discharges water outside the outer housing and defines a static liquid level. An outlet above the static level from the inner housing to the inner volume allows oil held in the inner housing to flow to the outlet. Surges of influent temporarily raise liquid levels, so oil passes the outlet to the inner volume. A supplemental separator in the outer housing removes oil from the inner volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20080203037
    Abstract: A grease trap for separating grease and solid waste from waste water. The grease trap includes a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom. An upwardly shaped divider divides the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hole near an upper part of the divider allows waste into the upper chamber. An inlet invert in the tank receives incoming waste water, while an outlet invert removes water from the tank. A lid covers the tank. A pipe extends through the lid, upper chamber, and lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20080179262
    Abstract: A separator separates water and oil. An outer housing has an inner volume and an inner housing. One port in the inner housing receives influent mixed liquids. Another port from the inner housing discharges water outside the outer housing and defines a static liquid level. An outlet above the static level from the inner housing to the inner volume allows oil held in the inner housing to flow to the outlet. Surges of influent temporarily raise liquid levels, so oil passes the outlet to the inner volume. A supplemental separator in the outer housing removes oil from the inner volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 31, 2008
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7367459
    Abstract: A grease trap for separating grease and solid waste from waste water. The grease trap includes a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom. An upwardly shaped divider divides the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hole near an upper part of the divider allows waste into the upper chamber. An inlet invert in the tank receives incoming waste water, while an outlet invert removes water from the tank. A lid covers the tank. A pipe extends through the lid, upper chamber, and lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7351385
    Abstract: An apparatus for conversion of kitchen waste grease to a landfill-acceptable solid includes a grease collection cartridge. A mixing baffle within the cartridge has a package with a reactant to convert grease and oil, and water into soap. The apparatus has means for delivering water, grease and oil to the cartridge for conversion to soap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Clearline Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7326338
    Abstract: A container for receiving and holding effluent water containing oil/grease to be removed has sectional covers. A main sectional cover supports a partially immersed rotatable disk; a drive on the main sectional cover rotates the disk; a trough on the main sectional cover straddles the disk; and a blade on the trough scrapes a side of the disk, to direct oil and grease from the disk along the scraper blade along the trough for collection in a storage container. Efficiencies of construction of the sectional covers, disk and a sensor probe are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7208080
    Abstract: A container for receiving and holding effluent water containing oil/grease to be removed has sectional covers. A main sectional cover supports a partially immersed rotatable disk; a drive on the main sectional cover rotates the disk; a trough on the main sectional cover straddles the disk; and a blade on the trough scrapes a side of the disk, to direct oil and grease from the disk along the scraper blade along the trough for collection in a storage container. Efficiencies of construction of the sectional covers, disk and a sensor probe are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7186346
    Abstract: An oil/grease removal assembly includes a container having an inlet to receive effluent from a kitchen sink. A drain connection spaced above the container bottom defines a static water level for contained liquid and connects to a sewer. A baffle extends downwardly below the static water level so water can flow below the baffle to the drain, while retaining floating oil/grease. Means intermittently raise the liquid level in the container above the static water level. Floating oil/grease can flow out through a port when the liquid level in the container is raised above the static water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Charles Kemp, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7134152
    Abstract: A kitchen sink installation includes a plurality of adjacent kitchen sinks having drain tailpieces, a manifold pipe mounted substantially horizontally under the sinks and having a length and a plurality of discrete openings along its length, each of the openings facing upward in alignment with and spaced by an air gap from one of the sink drain tailpieces, and an outlet at one end of the manifold pipe adapted to connect to a downstream flow direction of sink effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Clearline Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Charles Kemp, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7060179
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing sanitation in a kitchen equipped with an oil/grease separator includes a barrier made of two vertical portions connected by a horizontal portion to bound a volume between the oil/grease separator and a kitchen wall and prevent the ingress of debris. The vertical portions have lower flanges for affixation to a floor, edge flanges for affixation to the separator and the wall, and horizontal ears at upper ends. The horizontal portion has downward edge flanges for affixation to the separator and the kitchen wall and is readily cut to a length for the oil/grease separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 6878270
    Abstract: A low cost oil, grease removal assembly includes a rotomolded plastic container having an inlet and an outlet; a rotomolded plastic basket support located at the inlet inside the container; a rotomolded plastic outlet baffle located in the container at the outlet; a plurality of container cover sections including a first section to cover the basket support, a second container cover section having an oil, grease removal mechanism downstream of the basket support and upstream of the outlet baffle, and a third container cover section to cover the outlet baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 6800195
    Abstract: A low cost oil, grease removal assembly includes a rotomolded plastic container having an inlet and an outlet; a rotomolded plastic basket support located at the inlet inside the container; a rotomolded plastic outlet baffle located in the container at the outlet; a plurality of container cover sections including a first section to cover the basket support, a second container cover section having an oil, grease removal mechanism downstream of the basket support and upstream of the outlet baffle, and a third container cover section to cover the outlet baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 6582205
    Abstract: A grease/water pumping and separating system is provided with a pump mechanism that utilizes a motivating fluid to pump a grease/water mixture. The mixture is sucked into and discharged out of a pumping cavity. A movable biasing boundary, such as a piston, separates the motivating fluid from the grease/water mixture. The pump mechanism pumps the grease/water mixture to a separator unit which separates the grease and water components and directs the grease to a retaining tank and the gray water component of the grease/water mixture to an appropriate outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles