Patents by Inventor Earle Schaller

Earle Schaller 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: 20180036654
    Abstract: A clarifier tank launder channel cover closure mechanism having a magnet, located at the top of a mounting bracket for supporting one side of a cover panel member, opposite its hinge mount across a launder channel of a clarifier tank. A magnetic element is attached to the cover panel member, and is located in corresponding location to the magnet, such that when the cover panel member is closed over the launder channel, the magnetic element and the magnet are in a mating relationship.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Publication date: February 8, 2018
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 9873068
    Abstract: A cover arrangement is provided for a launder channel of a clarifier tank. The clarifier tank has an arcuate outer circumferential wall and a weir wall, with the launder channel disposed between the walls. The cover arrangement has a single mounting section configured to be coupled to the arcuate outer circumferential wall and a plurality of cover sections, each of which are coupled to the same single mounting section at different locations. The cover sections are configured to extend from the arcuate outer circumferential wall inwards towards the center of the clarifier tank covering the launder channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: NEFCO SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Publication number: 20160236116
    Abstract: A waste treatment tank cover arrangement is provided having at least one cover module having a cover section, a mounting section, and a hinge, where the cover section is pivotably mounted to the mounting section, movable between a dosed position and an open position. At least one cover module mounting bracket arrangement has a first L-shaped bracket connected to an inner side of a launder channel wall and a U-shaped mounting bracket conned to the first L-shaped bracket and extending upward, where the U-shaped mounting bracket connects to and supports the mounting section of the cover module. The position of the mounting bracket and connected hinge are such that the position of the hinge is inboard relative to the location of the weir such that when the cover section is in an open position, the weir is exposed and not hidden beneath the mounting section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 9339742
    Abstract: In this respect, the present arrangement provides a density current baffle that employs a baffle that is dimensioned to balance the fact that larger horizontal projections of density current baffles improve performance while simultaneously recognizing that an overly large baffle would simply not correctly function, be unnecessarily large and complex and may in fact have a negative impact on the otherwise ordinary operation of flows within the clarifier tank. Thus, the present arrangement provides a baffle that improves performance while satisfying the desire to remain conservative in defining an upper limit for the projection. The horizontal projection of the baffle is structured according to the following equation: HP=24?+0.4 inches/foot×(Diameter?30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Publication number: 20160016098
    Abstract: A cover arrangement is provided for a launder channel of a clarifier tank. The clarifier tank has an arcuate outer circumferential wall and a weir wall, with the launder channel disposed between the walls. The cover arrangement has a single mounting section configured to be coupled to the arcuate outer circumferential wall and a plurality of cover sections, each of which are coupled to the same single mounting section at different locations. The cover sections are configured to extend from the arcuate outer circumferential wall inwards towards the center of the clarifier tank covering the launder channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2015
    Publication date: January 21, 2016
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 9174148
    Abstract: A cover arrangement is provided for a launder channel of a clarifier tank. The cover arrangement includes at least one mounting section coupled to the clarifier tank near the launder channel. A plurality of cover panel members are provided, each panel member having a surface and two stiffening flanges located on opposing lateral edges of the surface, where each of the cover panel members further includes a light seal either one of attached to or attached near one of the stiffening flanges. The cover arrangement includes arranging the plurality of cover panels around the clarifier tank over the launder channel such that the light seal attached to or near the outer surface of the stiffening flange of a first panel member among the plurality of panel members abuts against a stiffening flange of an adjacent second panel member among the plurality of panel members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Publication number: 20130277301
    Abstract: A cover arrangement is provided for a launder channel of a clarifier tank. The cover arrangement includes at least one mounting section coupled to the clarifier tank near the launder channel. A plurality of cover panel members are provided, each panel member having a surface and two stiffening flanges located on opposing lateral edges of the surface, where each of the cover panel members further includes a light seal either one of attached to or attached near one of the stiffening flanges. The cover arrangement includes arranging the plurality of cover panels around the clarifier tank over the launder channel such that the light seal attached to or near the outer surface of the stiffening flange of a first panel member among the plurality of panel members abuts against a stiffening flange of an adjacent second panel member among the plurality of panel members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventor: EARLE SCHALLER
  • Publication number: 20130168313
    Abstract: A baffle system for a clarifier tank where the tank has a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel. The baffle system includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank, each baffle having a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the baffle surface is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of the baffle surface is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 8328025
    Abstract: A baffle system for use in a clarifier tank, having a tank bottom and a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, has a plurality of baffles mounted on the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank. each baffle has an upper baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the upper baffle portion is coupled to the side wall of the clarifier tank wall. The lower end of the upper baffle portion is disposed. at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the upper baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Publication number: 20120248036
    Abstract: In this respect, the present arrangement provides a density current baffle that employs a baffle that is dimensioned to balance the fact that larger horizontal projections of density current baffles improve performance while simultaneously recognizing that an overly large baffle would simply not correctly function, be unnecessarily large and complex and may in fact have a negative impact on the otherwise ordinary operation of flows within the clarifier tank. Thus, the present arrangement provides a baffle that improves performance while satisfying the desire to remain conservative in defining an upper limit for the projection. The horizontal projection of the baffle is structured according to the following equation: HP=24?+0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 8220644
    Abstract: A baffle system for a clarifier tank where the tank has a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel. The baffle system includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank, each baffle having a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the baffle surface is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of the baffle surface is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Publication number: 20120043276
    Abstract: A baffle system for use in a clarifier tank, having a tank bottom and a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, has a plurality of baffles mounted on the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank. each baffle has an upper baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the upper baffle portion is coupled to the side wall of the clarifier tank wall. The lower end of the upper baffle portion is disposed. at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the upper baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Patent number: 8083075
    Abstract: A density current baffle for use in a clarifier tank has a first baffle portion having a lower end, an upper end and an intermediate central portion. The lower end of the baffle portion is coupled to a side wall of the clarifier tank, the upper end of the baffle portion is disposed, at a predefined angle, away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the first baffle portion slopes upwardly and away from the side wall. The upper end is configured to receive a mounting bracket having a first end coupled to the end flange and a second end coupled to the side wall of the tank wall. The mounting bracket is a downwardly sloping panel member which together with the first baffle portion form a substantially closed baffle, so that solid materials may be prevented from building up behind the upwardly sloping central baffle portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Publication number: 20110233135
    Abstract: A baffle system for a clarifier tank where the tank has a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel. The baffle system includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank, each baffle having a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the baffle surface is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of the baffle surface is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventor: EARLE SCHALLER
  • Patent number: 7971731
    Abstract: A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery, a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank and an effluent channel includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank. Each baffle has a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank and the lower end is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Inventor: Earle Schaller
  • Patent number: 7963403
    Abstract: A baffle system for use in a clarifier tank, having a tank bottom and a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, has a plurality of baffles mounted on the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank, each baffle has an upper baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the upper baffle portion is coupled to the side wall of the clarifier tank wall. The lower end of the upper baffle portion is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the upper baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Publication number: 20100213120
    Abstract: A density current baffle for use in a clarifier tank has a first baffle portion having a lower end, an upper end and an intermediate central portion. The lower end of the baffle portion is coupled to a side wall of the clarifier tank, the upper end of the baffle portion is disposed, at a predefined angle, away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the first baffle portion slopes upwardly and away from the side wall. The upper end is configured to receive a mounting bracket having a first end coupled to the end flange and a second end coupled to the side wall of the tank wall. The mounting bracket is a downwardly sloping panel member which together with the first baffle portion form a substantially closed baffle, so that solid materials may be prevented from building up behind the upwardly sloping central baffle portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Publication number: 20100193423
    Abstract: A baffle system for use in a clarifier tank, having a tank bottom and a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, has a plurality of baffles mounted on the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank, each baffle has an upper baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end of the upper baffle portion is coupled to the side wall of the clarifier tank wall. The lower end of the upper baffle portion is disposed, at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the upper baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Patent number: 7726494
    Abstract: A density current baffle for use in a clarifier tank maintains a first baffle portion having a lower end, an upper end and an intermediate central portion. The lower end of the baffle portion is coupled to a side wall of the clarifier tank and the upper end of the baffle portion is disposed, at a predefined angle, away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the first baffle portion slopes upwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Publication number: 20100089821
    Abstract: A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery, a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank and an effluent channel includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank. Each baffle has a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank and the lower end is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Earle Schaller