Patents by Inventor Douglas P. Walter
Douglas P. Walter 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).
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Publication number: 20180305224Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating potable water in municipal and similar tanks to reduce and remove undesirable disinfectant byproducts such as trihalomethanes from the water by providing a water circulation system to create circulation patterns in the tank water and an air flow system for creating an air flow pattern in the headspace region of the enclosed tank above the water surface. In operation, a portion of the tank water is drawn-up a draft tube from the tank floor to above the water surface and sprayed through a nozzle outwardly about a vertical axis and slightly downwardly toward the surface of remaining tank water. The air flow system creates and directs a high volume of air through the tank above the water surface to volatize undesirable trihalomethanes in the drawn-up water portion to gaseous state to enter the air flow pattern and exit the tank into ambient air.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2018Publication date: October 25, 2018Inventors: Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent, Willard R. Tormaschy, Joel J. Bleth, Gary A. Kudrna, Douglas P. Walter
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Patent number: 10054124Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, upwardly facing, elongated slot and creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that is directed upwardly toward the surface of the body of water. The substantially planar discharge presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the outside of the shell of the driving unit to move upwardly with it toward the surface of the body of water.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 21, 2018Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Patent number: 10029924Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating potable water in municipal and similar tanks to reduce and remove undesirable disinfectant byproducts such as trihalomethanes from the water by providing a water circulation system to create circulation patterns in the tank water and an air flow system for creating an air flow pattern in the headspace region of the enclosed tank above the water surface. In operation, a portion of the tank water is drawn-up a draft tube from the tank floor to above the water surface and sprayed through a nozzle outwardly about a vertical axis and slightly downwardly toward the surface of remaining tank water. The air flow system creates and directs a high volume of air through the tank above the water surface to volatize undesirable trihalomethanes in the drawn-up water portion to gaseous state to enter the air flow pattern and exit the tank into ambient air.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2013Date of Patent: July 24, 2018Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent, Willard R. Tormaschy, Joel J. Bleth, Gary A. Kudrna, Douglas P. Walter
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Publication number: 20170321669Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, upwardly facing, elongated slot and creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that is directed upwardly toward the surface of the body of water. The substantially planar discharge presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the outside of the shell of the driving unit to move upwardly with it toward the surface of the body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 25, 2017Publication date: November 9, 2017Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Patent number: 9726162Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, upwardly facing, elongated slot and creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that is directed upwardly toward the surface of the body of water. The substantially planar discharge presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the outside of the shell of the driving unit to move upwardly with it toward the surface of the body of water.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2014Date of Patent: August 8, 2017Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Patent number: 9586184Abstract: An air-powered water circulation system for ponds, lakes, municipal water tanks, and other bodies of water having a draft tube extending along and about a vertical axis between upper and lower end portions and supported by a flotation arrangement with the upper end portion slightly below the water surface. A pneumatic, air flow arrangement is then provided to supply pressurized air from an aft pump to a plurality of submerged air pipes positioned within the draft tube below the upper end portion thereof and extending inwardly from a submerged manifold toward the interior of the draft tube. In operation, pressurized air is supplied from the air pump through an air delivery conduit to the submerged air manifold and into the submerged air pipes where it is discharged as air bubbles through series of discharge holes extending along the pipes to create an overall circulation pattern in the body of water.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Joel J. Bleth, Douglas P. Walter, Jonathan L. Zent, Corey M. Simnioniw, Willard R. Tormaschy
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Publication number: 20150108054Abstract: An air-powered water circulation system for ponds, lakes, municipal water tanks, and other bodies of water having a draft tube extending along and about a vertical axis between upper and lower end portions and supported by a flotation arrangement with the upper end portion slightly below the water surface. A pneumatic, air flow arrangement is then provided to supply pressurized air from an aft pump to a plurality of submerged air pipes positioned within the draft tube below the upper end portion thereof and extending inwardly from a submerged manifold toward the interior of the draft tube. In operation, pressurized air is supplied from the air pump through an air delivery conduit to the submerged air manifold and into the submerged air pipes where it is discharged as air bubbles through series of discharge holes extending along the pipes to create an overall circulation pattern in the body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2014Publication date: April 23, 2015Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Joel J. Bleth, Douglas P. Walter, Jonathan L. Zent, Corey M. Simnioniw, Willard R. Tormaschy
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Publication number: 20150101691Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, upwardly facing, elongated slot and creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that is directed upwardly toward the surface of the body of water. The substantially planar discharge presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the outside of the shell of the driving unit to move upwardly with it toward the surface of the body of water.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 15, 2014Publication date: April 16, 2015Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Patent number: 8911219Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. In operation, the pump continuously draws an incoming flow of water from outside of the driving unit adjacent the tank floor through the inlet of the driving unit and preferably drives all of the continuously incoming flow out through the upwardly facing outlet. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, elongated slot that creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the shell to move upwardly with it.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 16, 2014Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Publication number: 20140224747Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating potable water in municipal and similar tanks to reduce and remove undesirable disinfectant byproducts such as trihalomethanes from the water by providing a water circulation system to create circulation patterns in the tank water and an air flow system for creating an air flow pattern in the headspace region of the enclosed tank above the water surface. In operation, a portion of the tank water is drawn-up a draft tube from the tank floor to above the water surface and sprayed through a nozzle outwardly about a vertical axis and slightly downwardly toward the surface of remaining tank water. The air flow system creates and directs a high volume of air through the tank above the water surface to volatize undesirable trihalomethanes in the drawn-up water portion to gaseous state to enter the air flow pattern and exit the tank into ambient air.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2013Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent, Willard R. Tormaschy, Joel J. Bleth, Gary A. Kudrna, Douglas P. Walter
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Patent number: 8523984Abstract: Water circulation systems with air stripping arrangements to treat and remove undesirable disinfectant byproducts from potable water in municipal water tanks, ponds, and other bodies of water. The systems include a flotation platform, dish, draft tube, and an impeller to draw water from the depths of the tank up through the draft tube to be discharged outwardly of the dish to create a primary circulation pattern and an induced, inner or secondary circulation pattern. Each system additionally includes an air stripping arrangement positioned adjacent and about the upper portion of the draft tube and adjacent an upper portion of the secondary flow. The air stripping arrangement includes a plurality of submerged sets of air manifolds wherein pressurized air is supplied to the air manifolds and driven out of them in bubbles to create a treatment zone immediately above each set of manifolds.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2011Date of Patent: September 3, 2013Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent, Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy
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Publication number: 20130068326Abstract: A submersible, water circulation system for enclosed tanks such as used by municipalities, fire districts, and industries. The system includes a driving unit having a shell extending along an axis with a pump supported within the shell. The shell has at least one inlet and at least one outlet and is positionable on the floor of the tank with the outlet facing upwardly. In operation, the pump continuously draws an incoming flow of water from outside of the driving unit adjacent the tank floor through the inlet of the driving unit and preferably drives all of the continuously incoming flow out through the upwardly facing outlet. The upwardly facing outlet is preferably a thin, elongated slot that creates a thin, substantially planar discharge of water therethrough that presents a very large surface area for its volume and induces water adjacent the shell to move upwardly with it.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2011Publication date: March 21, 2013Applicant: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy, Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent
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Patent number: 8226292Abstract: A submersible, circulation system for small and shallow bodies of water such as a small pond. The system includes a driving unit with a tubular shell member and a base member and has a submersed motor and pump supported therein. The shell member extends along and about a vertical axis and has upper and lower openings with the base member spaced below and extending across the lower opening to create inlets therebetween. The pump draws water horizontally through the inlets into the unit where a relatively small first portion of the incoming water enters the pump and is driven downwardly and out upwardly directed discharge nozzles. The discharged flow passes through the remaining portion of the incoming flow to induce the larger, remaining portion to move upwardly with it toward the pond surface in a non-turbulent manner to raise the pond surface into a slightly convex mound.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2009Date of Patent: July 24, 2012Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.Inventors: Douglas P. Walter, Willard R. Tormaschy, Joel J. Bleth, Corey M. Simnioniw, Allan V. Tuhy, Gary A. Kudrna, Jonathan L. Zent
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Publication number: 20120067799Abstract: Water circulation systems with air stripping arrangements to treat and remove undesirable disinfectant byproducts from potable water in municipal water tanks, ponds, and other bodies of water. The systems include a flotation platform, dish, draft tube, and an impeller to draw water from the depths of the tank up through the draft tube to be discharged outwardly of the dish to create a primary circulation pattern and an induced, inner or secondary circulation pattern. Each system additionally includes an air stripping arrangement positioned adjacent and about the upper portion of the draft tube and adjacent an upper portion of the secondary flow. The air stripping arrangement includes a plurality of submerged sets of air manifolds wherein pressurized air is supplied to the air manifolds and driven out of them in bubbles to create a treatment zone immediately above each set of manifolds.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2011Publication date: March 22, 2012Applicant: MEDORA ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.Inventors: Corey M. Simnioniw, Jonathan L. Zent, Douglas P. Walter, Joel J. Bleth, Willard R. Tormaschy
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Patent number: 5861563Abstract: An apparatus for transporting racks of sealed sample tubes, mixing a sample material contained within the tubes, and aspirating samples from the tubes. The apparatus includes a car which runs along a rail. The car drives racks containing the sample tubes into a mixer channel disposed above and running parallel to the rail. The mixer channel is mounted to rotate about an axis parallel to the rail to mix samples and position the tubes to be aspirated. A push pin mounted adjacent to the mixer channel extends into the mixer channel and urges individual tubes against an aspirator assembly mounted on the opposite side of the mixer channel. An input queue is disposed proximate the input side of the rail and an output queue disposed proximate the output side of rail. The input queue supports the racks and feeds them into position to be driven by the car mechanism into the mixer channel.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 1997Date of Patent: January 19, 1999Assignee: Bayer CorporationInventors: Robert R. Boyd, Brad W. Filkins, Gregory Hunt Gates, Mark E. Holubar, Steven R. Zimmerman, Mark R. Montognese, Douglas P. Walter, Lindsay Wert