Abstract: An aerobic bacteria waste digester uses a rocking paddle to mix a waste fluid. A pair of spaced-apart inflatables engaged with the paddle and alternately inflated provide buoyancy forces to drive the rocking action. The paddle has two decks and a peripheral skirt. The paddle is of a trestle-type construction with light weight planks forming the decks. The position and motion of paddle surfaces and air bubbled through the fluid from below, is able to enhance bacteria colony growth and thus the rate of bio-mass digestion.

Abstract: An aerobic bacteria waste digester uses a rocking paddle to mix a waste fluid. A pair of spaced-apart inflatables engaged with the paddle and alternately inflated provide buoyancy forces to drive the rocking action. The paddle has two decks and a peripheral skirt. The paddle is of a trestle-type construction with light weight planks forming the decks. The position and motion of paddle surfaces and air bubbled through the fluid from below, is able to enhance bacteria colony growth and thus the rate of bio-mass digestion.

Abstract: A method of mixing liquid waste material in a digester tank by extending a supporting beam between opposing walls of the tank, securing a paddle to the supporting beam, fixturing the paddle for rotation about the supporting beam, securing a pair of inflatable air sacks to the paddle at opposing ends, and selectively inflating and deflating the sacks to force the paddle to tilt in cyclic motion thereby mixing the liquid waste containing bacteria, waste material, and oxygen uniformly throughout the digester tank.

Abstract: A method for the disposal of sludge and collection of byproduct gases of decomposition uses a crisscross trenching pattern, excavated, filled and covered in a sequential and cyclic manner. Once the crisscrossing trenches have been completely filled with sludge, evolving gases are captured under an impermeable sheeting placed over the disposal site and then drawn off for use.

Abstract: A method for the disposal of sludge and collection of byproduct gases of decomposition uses a crisscross trenching pattern, excavated, filled and covered in a sequential and cyclic manner. Once the crisscrossing trenches have been completely filled with sludge, evolving gases are captured under an impermeable sheeting placed over the disposal site and then drawn off for use.

Abstract: A beam is pivotally supported at a fixed pivot support, the beam movable in cyclic tilting motion such that ends of the beam move vertically in mutually opposing directions. The ends of the beam are pivotally engaged with vertical arms extending downwardly. The arms terminate with mixing plates immersed within the fluid so that the mixing plates cause fluid mixing as the tilts. A fixed film biomass is engaged with the surfaces of the plates for improved bio-processing within the tanks.

Abstract: A beam is pivotally supported at a fixed pivot support, the beam movable in cyclic tilting motion such that ends of the beam move vertically in mutually opposing directions. The ends of the beam are pivotally engaged with vertical arms extending downwardly. The arms terminate with mixing plates immersed within the fluid so that the mixing plates cause fluid mixing as the tilts. A fixed film biomass is engaged with the surfaces of the plates for improved bio-processing within the tanks.

Abstract: A beam is supported at a balance point by a pivot attached at a fixed pivot support. The beam is movable in cyclic tilting motion about the pivot such that ends of the beam move vertically in mutually opposing directions. The ends of the beam pivotally engage vertical arms depending downwardly where each of the arms terminates at a mixing plate. The mixing plates cause fluid mixing as the beam tilts back and forth. Mechanical advantage is obtained by the use of gravity through an unbalancing weight which is moved from one side of the beam to the other mechanically or hydraulically or the beam is pushed to cause the tilting. Automatic position sensed switching enables the apparatus to move in automated motion.

Abstract: A beam is supported at a balance point by a pivot attached at a fixed pivot support. The beam is movable in cyclic tilting motion about the pivot such that ends of the beam move vertically in mutually opposing directions. The ends of the beam pivotally engage vertical arms depending downwardly where each of the arms terminates at a mixing plate. the mixing plates cause fluid mixing as the beam tilts back and forth. Mechanical advantage is obtained by the use of gravity through an unbalancing weight which is moved from one side of the beam to the other mechanically or hydraulically or the beam is pushed to cause the tilting. Automatic position sensed switching enables the apparatus to move in automated motion.

Abstract: A sludge digesting method uses a mixing tank providing an integral ceiling, interior wall surface and a floor surface. A vertical beam supports a mixing device engaged for movement along the vertical beam. A plurality of sparger jets protrudes from the wall surface for delivering an oxygen gas flow directly into the interior of the sludge. A second plurality of sparger jets terminates at the mixing tank floor surface for delivering oxygen gas into the mixing tank and a plurality of bubbling diffusers in a circle ⅔ of the diameter of the tank protrudes upwardly from the floor surface for delivering further oxygen gas flow into the mixing tank. The method provides for mixing and entraining oxygen into a process sludge, in an amount of between 4-45 ppm, to accelerate digestion as a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: A sludge digester comprises a mixing tank providing an integral ceiling, interior wall surface and a floor surface. A vertical beam supports a mixing device engaged for movement along the vertical beam. A plurality of sparger jets protrudes from the wall surface for delivering an oxygen gas flow directly into the interior of the sludge. A second plurality of sparger jets terminates at the mixing tank floor surface for delivering oxygen gas into the mixing tank and a plurality of bubbling diffusers protrudes upwardly from the floor surface for delivering further oxygen gas flow into the mixing tank.

Abstract: A sludge digesting method uses a mixing tank providing an integral ceiling, interior wall surface and a floor surface. A vertical beam supports a mixing device engaged for movement along the vertical beam. A plurality of sparger jets protrudes from the wall surface for delivering an oxygen gas flow directly into the interior of the sludge. A second plurality of sparger jets terminates at the mixing tank floor surface for delivering oxygen gas into the mixing tank and a plurality of bubbling diffusers in a circle 2/3 of the diameter of the tank protrudes upwardly from the floor surface for delivering further oxygen gas flow into the mixing tank. The method provides for mixing and entraining oxygen into a process sludge, in an amount of between 4-45 ppm, to accelerate digestion as a batch or continuous process.

Abstract: A sludge digester comprises a mixing tank providing an integral ceiling, interior wall surface and a floor surface. A vertical beam supports a mixing device engaged for movement along the vertical beam. A plurality of sparger jets protrudes from the wall surface for delivering an oxygen gas flow directly into the interior of the sludge. A second plurality of sparger jets terminates at the mixing tank floor surface for delivering oxygen gas into the mixing tank and a plurality of bubbling diffusers protrudes upwardly from the floor surface for delivering further oxygen gas flow into the mixing tank.

Abstract: A process is supported in a mixing tank providing a partition dividing the mixing tank into two separate side-by-side cells, the mixing tank further providing a fixed ceiling. A vertical beam engages with and extends upwardly from the mixing tank above the fixed ceiling of the tank and terminates at a pivotal coupling. A supporting beam is joined medially with the pivotal coupling of the vertical beam, for see-saw type tilting motion about the vertical beam, the supporting beam providing a further pivotal coupling at each terminal end. A pair of vertical linear struts, each is pivotally coupled at an upper end with one of the pivotal couplings at the terminal ends of the supporting beam, and each rigidly is joined at a lower end to a buoyancy shell within one of the cells. Each of the linear struts passes through an aperture in the fixed ceiling of the mixing tank, so as to accommodate lateral motion of the linear struts as the support beam moves in a see-saw type tilting motion.

Abstract: A counterbalanced, dual submarine-type liquid mixer provides a pair of counterbalanced mixing devices that move at opposing ends of a balance bar suspended above the surface of a liquid to be mixed. The bar is able to pivot so as to vertically move its ends alternately between a raised and a lowered position in such a manner that when one of the mixing devices is in a raised position in the liquid, the other of the mixing devices is in the lowered position and each of the two mixing devices tends to counterbalance the other. Each mixing device is buoyed upwardly in the liquid by the buoyant force of a gas captured below a concave surface of the mixing device and also by the negative buoyant force of the other mixing device when it has exhausted its buoyant gas. Alternately, each of the mixing devices, on its downward stroke is moved downwardly by its own weight (negative buoyancy) and by the buoyant action of the other mixing device which moves simultaneously on its upward stroke.

Abstract: An improved refuse-extruder-and-compactor apparatus adapted for general use in the transporting and transferring of solid-waste materials in combination with a refuse-transport vehicle, the apparatus being positioned within the storage container of the vehicle so as to provide a more compact load as well as a means for effectively discharging a load therefrom. The apparatus comprises a vertically disposed blade which includes a linearly arranged guide system to keep the blade in a vertically balanced load situation. The blade is moved by a combination chain-sprocket-drive system coupled to the guide system, said guide system including a rack mechanism whereby the blade is reciprocally moved within the storage container for either compacting or discharging the load therein.

Abstract: An improved conveyor system, designed particularly for unloading bulk cargo, such as refuse, from a tractor-trailer type transporter. The conveyor system traverses the full length of the trailer cargo-box floor and includes at least a pair of endless chains arranged in parallelism, each chain being affixed to a plurality of cleat members that are affixed in a predetermined space relationship to each other, the cleats being arranged along only one-quarter of the total continuous length of the chains; and wherein the cleats are positioned along the rear half of the cargo box floor when loading refuse therein, whereby the rear half of the refuse is unloaded first, followed by the forward half of the refuse.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting solid-waste material, the apparatus being arranged to be used in conjunction with a moving collection vehicle, wherein the apparatus includes an improved pick-up means adapted to pick up waste material, whether the material is encapsulated within paper or plastic bag containers, or stacked as loose bundles, such as stacked newspapers or the like, the improvement further including a novel steering device.