Patents by Inventor James E. Bigham

James E. Bigham 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: 6913671
    Abstract: A compact evaporation apparatus includes an evaporator vessel with a sloped, bottom chamber. A combustion chamber is mounted to a top of the vessel, with a burner mounted to a top of the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber sized to achieve total combustion of an air/gas mixture supplied to the burner before being released below a liquid surface in the vessel. At least one turbulence diverter plate is located within the vessel beneath the liquid surface, the diverter plate being a submerged perforated plate extending horizontally from the combustion chamber, such that hot combustion gasses are released below the diverter plate, and as large gas bubbles rise to the surface they pass through small perforations in the diverter plate, thereby breaking large, hot gas bubbles into small bubbles, the gas to liquid contact area being maximized to increase system efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventors: Danny R. Bolton, James E. Bigham
  • Publication number: 20040045681
    Abstract: A compact evaporation apparatus includes an evaporator vessel with a sloped, bottom chamber. A combustion chamber is mounted to a top of the vessel, with a burner mounted to a top of the combustion chamber, the combustion chamber sized to achieve total combustion of an air/gas mixture supplied to the burner before being released below a liquid surface in the vessel. At least one turbulence diverter plate is located within the vessel beneath the liquid surface, the diverter plate being a submerged perforated plate extending horizontally from the combustion chamber, such that hot combustion gasses are released below the diverter plate, and as large gas bubbles rise to the surface they pass through small perforations in the diverter plate, thereby breaking large, hot gas bubbles into small bubbles, the gas to liquid contact area being maximized to increase system efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Danny R. Bolton, James E. Bigham