Patents by Inventor Herman P. Miller

Herman P. Miller 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: 8357297
    Abstract: Anaerobic Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size in a completely enclosed and flooded environment. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20100213121
    Abstract: Anaerobic Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size in a completely enclosed and flooded environment. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Patent number: 7718068
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20100044305
    Abstract: Wastewater treatment system and process in which the influent is passed through a mixing chamber and then through a series of filters of progressively smaller size to separate the materials carrying the colonized bacteria from finer solids in the influent and separate the materials according to size. The materials from the filters are progressively reduced to a smaller size, the materials of smaller size are returned to the mixing chamber, and new influent is inoculated with the colonized bacteria carried by the materials returned to the mixing chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Patent number: 6942798
    Abstract: Anaerobic digestion system and process in which a liquor containing a digestible biomass is processed a retort vessel at a thermophilic temperature and with a vacuum pressure at the surface of the liquor. A pressurized feedstock is introduced into the vessel so that the feedstock impacts upon the surface of the liquor in a manner which serves to break up any scum on the surface and produce a mixing of the liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Patent number: 6790359
    Abstract: Method and process for dramatically increasing mixing, energy and operating efficiency of wastewater treatment plants at reduced capital and operating cost per unit volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20040134853
    Abstract: Anaerobic digestion system and process in which a liquor containing a digestible biomass is processed a retort vessel at a thermophilic temperature and with a vacuum pressure at the surface of the liquor. A pressurized feedstock is introduced into the vessel so that the feedstock impacts upon the surface of the liquor in a manner which serves to break up any scum on the surface and produce a mixing of the liquor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller
  • Patent number: 6632362
    Abstract: This invention pertains generally to anaerobic digesters, and more particularly to a system and process that extends the range of acceptable biomass feedstock concentrations and provides pH process control of all known digestion processes: by the creation of a vacuum or vacuum retort in or before the digester that essentially acts to boil off excess liquid, thickening the liquor of the digester to an optimum value; and to control the pH of the various phases or stages of digestion by separating the component products of digestion and mixing or diffusing a portion of said component products into the mixing system of each phase of the process. A system and process: that produces a potable water effluent, clean commercially useful by-products, zero environmental emissions, a very positive ecological impact; and, that has the capability of being completely self powered plus providing energy back to the community or industry that supports or owns it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Publication number: 20030038079
    Abstract: Method and process for dramatically increasing mixing, energy and operating efficiency of wastewater treatment plants at reduced capital and operating cost per unit volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller
  • Publication number: 20020096471
    Abstract: This invention pertains generally to anaerobic digesters, and more particularly to a system and process that extends the range of acceptable biomass feedstock concentrations and provides pH process control of all known digestion processes: by the creation of a vacuum or vacuum retort in or before the digester that essentially acts to boil off excess liquid, thickening the liquor of the digester to an optimum value; and to control the pH of the various phases or stages of digestion by separating the component products of digestion and mixing or diffusing a portion of said component products into the mixing system of each phase of the process. A system and process: that produces a potable water effluent, clean commercially useful by-products, zero environmental emissions, a very positive ecological impact; and, that has the capability of being completely self powered plus providing energy back to the community or industry that supports or owns it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller
  • Patent number: 6291232
    Abstract: Anaerobic digestion system and process in which the raw digester gas containing methane and other gaseous components is cooled at atmospheric pressure in the presence of a liquid to a temperature at which the other gaseous components have a substantially higher solubility in the liquid than methane and are substantially all absorbed into the liquid, leaving pure, dry methane gas. That methane gas is then used in other parts of the system, including the digester and a refrigeration system for cooling the raw gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
  • Patent number: 4315105
    Abstract: System and method utilizing the temporal separation and amplitude differences of signals for transmitting the signals in a bandwidth corresponding to one half of the frequency range present in the signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1982
    Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III