Patents by Inventor Larry J. Finn

Larry J. Finn 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: 6312649
    Abstract: A unitary structure containing a vertically integrated system for deodorizing composting gaseous effluents using scrubbers packed with means providing both extensive surface area for microorganism growth sites and cascading dispersion of microorganism-impregnated liquid media while concomitantly providing sufficient void space to permit substantially unimpeded flow of effluents undergoing treatment within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bedminster AB
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Publication number: 20010018032
    Abstract: An odor treating system in which a silo-type structure (2) incorporates in layered sequence along its height at least one bioscrubber (4) and one wet scrubber (6) or biofilter and incorporates a port (10) for introducing malodorous effluent into the structure (2) below the scrubbers (4, 6) and fan means (1) overlying the scrubbers (4, 6) for drawing the effluent through the scrubbers (4, 6) to deodorize, dilute and disperse the effluent into the atmosphere.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Publication date: August 30, 2001
    Inventor: LARRY J. FINN
  • Patent number: 6087159
    Abstract: An odor control system consisting of a cylindrical bio-scrubber (20) packed with means providing an extensive surface area over which liquid media is caused to cascade, an oxidation pond (22) containing selected microorganism in a fluid media, and means (25) for introducing gases to be treated into the bio-scrubber (20) while concurrently causing microbial-impregnated fluid from the oxidation pond (22) to flow through and into contact with effluent gases passing through the bio-scrubber (20), thereby to effect transport of gases to the oxidation pond (22) where volatile organic compounds are metabolically destroyed. When necessary to achieve optimum odor reduction a further element can be added to the overall combination in the form of a biofilter (30) through which gases emanating from the bio-scrubber (30) are passed before their release to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corp.
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 6003680
    Abstract: A waste separation device for removing wrappable materials such as film plastics, rags and rope from a moving stream of solid waste material which device consists of a pole like casing rotatable about it longitudinal axis housing an endless chain drive carrying a plurality of spaced spikes extending from the casing in their movement along the length of the casing in the direction towards the free or discharge end of the casing and retracted within the casing in their movement in the opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corp.
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5758462
    Abstract: An air floor for curing compost made of a series of light weight, relatively short grates each containing a plural of air slits narrow at the top of the grate openings and progressively widening toward the bottom of the opening and structure supporting the grates to provide a span spaced to limit the bending moment to which the grates are subjected and to provide space beneath the grates to facilitate removal of compost passing through the air slits and to permit unobstructed air flow through the grates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corp.
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5700687
    Abstract: A compost curing and odor control system in which biofilters are disposed in overlying relation to the compost curing area the floors of both the biofilters and curing area consist of a series of elongated planks of generally trapezoidal cross sectional configuration placed in abutting relation with the longer parallel sides of the trapezoid lying in the plane of the floor and forming between them a narrow slit through which air is passed by means of an underlying air plenum in pneumatic communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5583045
    Abstract: A compost curing and odor control system in which biofilters are disposed in overlying relation to the compost curing area the floors of both the biofilters and curing area consist of a series of elongated planks of generally trapezoidal cross sectional configuration placed in abutting relation with the longer parallel sides of the trapezoid lying in the plane of the floor and forming between them a narrow slit through which air is passed by means of an underlying air plenum in pneumatic communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5459071
    Abstract: A compost curing system utilizing a compost turner of generally V-shaped configuration, one leg of the "V" being formed by counter-rotating ribbon augers and the other leg of the "V" being formed by pair of over-under conveyors, the lower conveyor being adjustably extendable to vary the throw of the conveyor system. The legs of the "V" are piviotally interconnected to permit their angular adjustment and are pivotally mounted on a frame structure for attachment to a motorized conveyance. The system includes means for injecting air into compost undergoing treatment and air collection and air treatment apparatus for controlling the temperature of process air emanating from the compost pile for reuse and for deodorizing the air prior to its release to the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Bedminster Biconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5407809
    Abstract: A rotatable digester drum for convening organic waste material into compost which has internally disposed along its longitudinal axis a series of spaced-apart baffles, each baffle having a variable cross sectional area ranging from 60 to 100% of the cross sectional area of the drum and arranged with respect to one another when in the partially open mode to cause material and air introduced into the drum to traverse a non-linear path through the drum, the drum having a plurality of longitudinally extending internal ribs arranged in spaced array around its circumference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5215921
    Abstract: A water manifold and air supply system for use with a multi-compartment rotating drum apparatus for the fermentation of natural organic material which provides for selective injection of air and predetermined amounts of water into compartments of the drum during its rotation which system includes an air supply conduit concentrically aligned with the rotational axis of the drum, a first water-conduit section fixedly secured to the rotating drum, a second water-conduit section concentric with the rotational axis of the drum residing within the air supply conduit and connected to the first section through a water-tight seal, the two water-conduit sections and air supply conduit being respectively connected to stationary water-supply and air-supply means by swivel joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5206173
    Abstract: In a composting process, a heat conductive ventilation hood overlying a compost pile undergoing active composting. The hood is shaped so that process air emanating from the pile contacts the undersurface of the hood while ambient outside cool air is caused to traverse the upper surface of the hood. As a result of this heat exchange arrangement process air is dehumidified while concomitantly the ambient air is heated. The hood is pitched to cause condensate to run down its surface and not to drip. Warmed ambient air is used to heat the composting facility and dehumidified process air and condensate is reused in the composting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn
  • Patent number: 5204263
    Abstract: A compost curing air circulating and odor control system including a channel for storage of compost to be cured, the channel being provided with a retractable cover to permit periodic turning of the compost within the channel while concomitantly maintaining the channel as a closed vessel and an air circulating system for venting air from the closed vessel and recirculating the air through the stored compost whereby to enhance pathogen destruction through improved control of temperature gradients within the compost pile and to improve odor control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1993
    Assignee: Bedminster Bioconversion Corporation
    Inventor: Larry J. Finn