Patents by Inventor Michael S. Gratz

Michael S. Gratz 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: 7871525
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and program for effecting the decomposition of organic waste material comprises: providing a treatment tank for decomposition of organic waste material, the treatment tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least two inlets to the treatment tank, a first inlet comprising an inlet for organic material and a second inlet comprising an inlet for an aqueous stream; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of a first organic material that can be fed into the treatment tank through the first inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds the at least one organic material through the first inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the treatment tank as recognized by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: NBE, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Clifford, III, John Mills, Greg Stadden, Michael S. Gratz
  • Publication number: 20090261037
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and program for effecting the decomposition of organic waste material comprises: providing a treatment tank for decomposition of organic waste material, the treatment tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least two inlets to the treatment tank, a first inlet comprising an inlet for organic material and a second inlet comprising an inlet for an aqueous stream; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of a first organic material that can be fed into the treatment tank through the first inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds the at least one organic material through the first inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the treatment tank as recognized by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Inventors: Robert E. Clifford, III, John Mills, Greg Stadden, Michael S. Gratz
  • Patent number: 7481940
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and program for effecting the decomposition of organic waste material comprises: providing a treatment tank for decomposition of organic waste material, the treatment tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least two inlets to the treatment tank, a first inlet comprising an inlet for organic material and a second inlet comprising an inlet for an aqueous stream; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of a first organic material that can be fed into the treatment tank through the first inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds the at least one organic material through the first inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the treatment tank as recognized by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: NewBio E-Systems, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert E. Clifford, III, John Mills, Greg Stadden, Michael S. Gratz
  • Publication number: 20080023397
    Abstract: A method, system, apparatus and program for effecting thef decomposition of organic waste material comprises: providing a treatment tank for decomposition of organic waste material, the treatment tank containing an active biomass comprising at least one bacteria that decomposes organic material; providing at least two inlets to the treatment tank, a first inlet comprising an inlet for organic material and a second inlet comprising an inlet for an aqueous stream; a processor that receives and stores information on: the status of chemical oxygen demand of the active biomass; and the oxygen provision capability of a first organic material that can be fed into the treatment tank through the first inlet; a mass flow control system controlled by the processor which feeds the at least one organic material through the first inlet at a rate based at least in part upon the status of chemical oxygen demand in the treatment tank as recognized by the processor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Robert E. Clifford, John Mills, Greg Stadden, Michael S. Gratz
  • Patent number: 7163630
    Abstract: In a vessel containing a filter bed and containing a mixed liquor containing suspended solids, a system disturbs/dislodges a sludge mat that settles on the filter bed. Thus, the system controls the sludge mat on the filter bed that otherwise may blind the filter bed and significantly reduce or stop process liquid flow into and through the filter bed. The system helps maintain effective vessel effluent flowrates with reduced requirements for filter bed backwashing or other filter bed maintenance. The system includes a sludge mat dislodging member that moves along the filter bed surface, preferably on but substantially not inside the filter bed, to disrupt/dislodge the sludge mat and/or prevent formation of the sludge mat. Preferably, the dislodging member is carried inside the vessel on a moving arm or arms that rotate in a plane parallel to the filter bed surface. The preferred sludge mat dislodging member(s) hang from the rotating arm(s) to slide along the top of the filter bed through the sludge mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventors: Dennis Chilcote, Michael S. Gratz, Robert Clifford, John Mills, Gregory Vineretsky, Daniel Mc Graw, Alan Dunn, Bobby Dabbs, Karie Mars
  • Publication number: 20040104167
    Abstract: In a vessel containing a filter bed and containing a mixed liquor containing suspended solids, a system disturbs/dislodges a sludge mat that settles on the filter bed. Thus, the system controls the sludge mat on the filter bed that otherwise may blind the filter bed and significantly reduce or stop process liquid flow into and through the filter bed. The system helps maintain effective vessel effluent flowrates with reduced requirements for filter bed backwashing or other filter bed maintenance. The system includes a sludge mat dislodging member that moves along the filter bed surface, preferably on but substantially not inside the filter bed, to disrupt/dislodge the sludge mat and/or prevent formation of the sludge mat. Preferably, the dislodging member is carried inside the vessel on a moving arm or arms that rotate in a plane parallel to the filter bed surface. The preferred sludge mat dislodging member(s) hang from the rotating arm(s) to slide along the top of the filter bed through the sludge mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Inventors: Dennis Chilcote, Michael S. Gratz, Robert Clifford, John Mills, Gregory Vineretsky, Daniel McGraw, Alan Dunn, Bobby Dabbs, Karie Mars