Patents by Inventor Donald D. Ricketts

Donald D. Ricketts 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: 20110031177
    Abstract: A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7820062
    Abstract: A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Grouse Mountain, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20100206823
    Abstract: A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7678284
    Abstract: A filter cloth of long pile fiber bundles is used as a tertiary filter in a wastewater processing method. The filter may be backwashed by a rotating suction head which does not touch the filter cloth. A combination of countercurrent and horizontal flow dislodges entrained solids from the filter cloth. Mounting of the filter media as modular components permits increased capacity within a single tank while avoiding down time in changeover of filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Grouse Mountain, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7537689
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering suspended solids from a liquid having a group of filters mounted inside a filter chamber. The filters divide the chamber into dirty liquid chambers and clean liquid chambers. A wash assembly is disposed within the chamber having vacuum/pump heads in contact with the filters rotates within the chamber. The vacuum/pump heads are connected to a pump and vacuum source located either within or without the apparatus. The vacuum/pump heads either vacuum material up or spray material therefrom in order to clean the filters. As the wash assembly rotates, the vacuum heads are able to contact and clean the entire surface of the filters. The filters are reasonably mounted in the chamber such that they may be removed from the chamber for servicing/replacement without the need to drain the chamber or enter the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Grouse Mountain, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 7276155
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification (anoxic) chamber for denitrifying wastewater, an aeration basin with Bio-Wheel for aerating the wastewater, and a membrane device in which sludge particles are separated out of the wastewater, leaving clean discharge water and reusable sludge. Sludge from the membrane chamber floor is sent back to the aeration basin or denitrification chamber or both. Excess sludge is wasted or held for further processing. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Wastewater Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20040134842
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering suspended solids from a liquid having a group of filters mounted inside a filter chamber. The filters divide the chamber into dirty liquid chambers and clean liquid chambers. A wash assembly is disposed within the chamber having vacuum/pump heads in contact with the filters rotates within the chamber. The vacuum/pump heads are connected to a pump and vacuum source located either within or without the apparatus. The vacuum/pump heads either vacuum material up or spray material therefrom in order to clean the filters. As the wash assembly rotates, the vacuum heads are able to contact and clean the entire surface of the filters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 6613229
    Abstract: A waste treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification chamber for denitrifying waste, an aeration basin for aerating the waste, and a clarifying device in which sludge particles separate out of the waste, leaving discharge and reusable sludge. Sludge from the clarifying device is sent back to the denitrification chamber or aeration basin or both. Sludge on the aeration basin floor is sent back to the denitrification chamber. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes. Most preferably, the clarifying device comprises a constant flow backwash filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2003
    Assignee: Wastewater Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: 6572774
    Abstract: A waste treatment method and apparatus including an aeration basin for holding waste, an aerating device for aerating the waste and an integral clarifier in which sludge particles separate out of the waste, leaving discharge water and recycled sludge. Between the clarifier and the aeration basin there is at least one opening or conduit through which either or both waste from the aeration basin may flow into the clarifier or recycled sludge from the clarifier may flow into the aeration basin. Preferably, the apparatus facilitates both activated sludge and fixed film processes in a single main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Wastewater Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20020113011
    Abstract: A waste treatment method and apparatus including a denitrification chamber for denitrifying waste, an aeration basin for aerating the waste, and a clarifying device in which sludge particles separate out of the waste, leaving discharge and reusable sludge. Sludge from the clarifying device is sent back to the denitrification chamber or aeration basin or both. Sludge on the aeration basin floor is sent back to the denitrification chamber. Preferably, the method and apparatus facilitate both activated sludge and fixed film processes. Most preferably, the clarifying device comprises a constant flow backwash filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Publication number: 20020113010
    Abstract: A waste treatment method and apparatus including an aeration basin for holding waste, an aerating device for aerating the waste and an integral clarifier in which sludge particles separate out of the waste, leaving discharge water and recycled sludge. Between the clarifier and the aeration basin there is at least one opening or conduit through which either or both waste from the aeration basin may flow into the clarifier or recycled sludge from the clarifier may flow into the aeration basin. Preferably, the apparatus facilitates both activated sludge and fixed film processes in a single main tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2001
    Publication date: August 22, 2002
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts
  • Patent number: D452295
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2001
    Assignee: Wastewater Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald D. Ricketts