Patents by Inventor Charles J. Gantzer

Charles J. Gantzer 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: 6773595
    Abstract: Compartmentalization of contents of a facultative lagoon into two separate zones improves the economic efficiency of the lagoon for emission control by eliminating macroscopic mixing between the zones, while allowing odor-causing compounds from the anaerobic zone to pass into the aerobic zone. A physical barrier compartmentalizes or divides the lagoon contents into an upper aerobic zone and a lower anaerobic zone. Odor-causing compounds biologically convert within the aerobic zone into olfactorily inoffensive compounds that release into the atmosphere. An aeration device aerates the aerobic layer. Emission of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, volatile acids, phenols and other odorous gases from anaerobic wastewater and manure lagoons or basins is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 6514410
    Abstract: An odor control apparatus for a facultative lagoon, and a facultative lagoon created and maintained thereby. The apparatus includes an aerator and a cover. The aerator can include a body with an inlet and an outlet and a support such as a float. The inlet and outlet are submerged slightly beneath the surface of the material in the lagoon. Air supplied under pressure to the aerator diffuses oxygen into the aerobic layer of the lagoon. The dissolved oxygen is used in the biodegradation of the hazardous and odorous gases of the waste material that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere. The cover is either porous or non-porous and covers some or substantially all of the lagoon surface. The cover promotes accumulation and concentration of desirable odor degrading bacteria in the lagoon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Publication number: 20020139747
    Abstract: Compartmentalization of contents of a facultative lagoon into two separate zones improves the economic efficiency of the lagoon for emission control by eliminating macroscopic mixing between the zones, while allowing odor-causing compounds from the anaerobic zone to pass into the aerobic zone. A physical barrier compartmentalizes or divides the lagoon contents into an upper aerobic zone and a lower anaerobic zone. Odor-causing compounds biologically convert within the aerobic zone into olfactorily inoffensive compounds that release into the atmosphere. An aeration device aerates the aerobic layer. Emission of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, volatile acids, phenols and other odorous gases from anaerobic wastewater and manure lagoons or basins is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 6103123
    Abstract: A facultative lagoon, an airlift aerator for such a lagoon, and a method of operating such a lagoon. The aerator includes a U-shaped body with a down flow leg and an airlift leg and a float. The float sustains the U-shaped body with respect to the surface of polluted material contained in the lagoon. The upper ends of the legs are submerged slightly beneath the surface of the material in the lagoon. The down flow leg has a water inlet and the airlift leg has the water outlet. A bubble generator is connected to a lower portion of the airlift leg. Air supplied under pressure to the bubble generator introduces bubbles into the airlift leg which establishes a water circulation through the U-shaped body. Bubbles transfer oxygen to the passing water which is disbursed through the water outlet. The dissolved oxygen is used in the biodegradation of the hazardous and odorous gases of the waste material that would otherwise be emitted into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 5674433
    Abstract: An aeration device disperses microbubbles into a liquid and maintains efficient transfer of gas to the liquid. The aeration device uses a number of sealed end, hollow fiber membranes that are hydrophobic and provided with pores in the walls of the tubular fibers that range from about 0.01 to 1.0 microns, so that very small bubbles are formed on the outside surface of the hollow fiber membranes. Gas pressures above the bubble point of the fiber membranes are used, and a cloud of microbubbles is expelled into the liquid as it is forced to flow past the fibers. These microbubbles provide a large surface area for the effective dissolution of gases into the liquid. The length of the hollow fiber membranes is controlled in order to obtain efficient small bubble formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Regents of the University of Minnesota
    Inventors: Michael J. Semmens, Charles J. Gantzer, Michael J. Bonnette
  • Patent number: 5406995
    Abstract: A container assembly includes an outer container and at least one inner container whose internal volume has the same ratio to the remaining internal volume of the outer container as the desired ratio of liquids to be mixed. An orifice in the inner container establishes communication between the lower end portions of the two containers so that a previously mixed liquid mixture of a predetermined ratio resides at the same level in both containers. The container assembly may be filled with additional mixture of the same ratio by filling the inner container with one liquid and by flushing that liquid from the inner container and into the outer container with a second liquid until the outer container is full.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Viking Industrial Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 5085127
    Abstract: A problem with hydraulic displacement units of the axial piston type is the cavitation which occurs at the porting face of the cylinder block due to the conventional use of a bearing material which, because of its very nature, has a tendency to erode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1992
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 5064456
    Abstract: A self-contained liquid vapor purging system for use in such electromotive apparatus as integrated drive generators, or the like, which include a casing and a rotatable shaft extending into the casing. A charge pump circuit communicates with the casing for circulating liquid from the casing and charging liquid back to the casing. An aspirator is located in the charge pump circuit between a charge pump and a inlet to the casing for mixing fresh air with the liquid to deliver an air-liquid mixture to the casing. A centrifugal separator and check valve are incorporated in the rotatable shaft for separating liquid and vapor. The separator includes a vapor-liquid inlet from the casing, a liquid outlet to the casing, and a vapor outlet draining outside the casing. The centifrugal separator includes a valve in communication with the vapor outlet. One form of valve opens only at a predetermined rotary speed of the shaft, and another form of valve opens at a predetermined absolute pressure value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1991
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer
  • Patent number: 4913695
    Abstract: A self-contained liquid vapor purging system for use in such electromotive apparatus as integrated drive generators, or the like, which include a casing and a rotatable shaft extending into the casing. A charge pump circuit communicates with the casing for circulating liquid from the casing and charging liquid back to the casing. An aspirator is located in the charge pump circuit between a charge pump and an inlet to the casing for mixing fresh air with the liquid to deliver an air-liquid mixture to the casing. A centrifugal separator and check valve are incorporated in the rotatable shaft for separating liquid and vapor. The separator includes a vapor-liquid inlet from the casing, a liquid outlet to the casing, and a vapor outlet draining outside the casing. The centrifugal separator includes a centrifugal valve in communication with the vapor outlet for opening only at a predetermined rotary speed of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Charles J. Gantzer