Patents by Inventor Mike Kotelko

Mike Kotelko 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).

  • Publication number: 20150008196
    Abstract: A grit removal system for tanks with a need to remove settled solids (e.g., anaerobic digester tank) is described. The system is especially suitable for a large tank, preferably having a flat floor, and it works well while submerged under a liquid. Specifically, a periphery-driven rack & pinion mechanism drives a shaft to rotate about a center pivot, and scrapes settled solids towards tank periphery, where the solids fall into a pit on the tank floor. A drainage opening inside the pit, when opened by a valve, is used to flush out the solids through a standpipe into a settlement tank for final dewatering and solid disposal. The system is compatible for continuous tank operation, and is useful for stirring tanks requiring periodic sediment removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Kotelko, Mike Kotelko, George Caraganis, Glen Foster
  • Patent number: 8308945
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing organic waste material are provided. These methods and systems include integrating an anaerobic bio-digester and nutrient recovery module with a bio-production facility, which can locally provide feedstock for the bio-production facility, and can locally provide organic material for the anaerobic bio-digester. Methods and systems for integrating an anaerobic bio-digester with a gas cleaner are also provided, which can recover nutrients while cleaning the biogas produced by the anaerobic bio-digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Highmark Renewables Research Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Trevor Jason Nickel, Bern Kotelko, Brett Kotelko, Xiaomei Li
  • Publication number: 20120024800
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disruptor disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disruptor, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Publication number: 20120012540
    Abstract: A grit removal system for tanks with a need to remove settled solids (e.g., anaerobic digester tank) is described. The system is especially suitable for a large tank, preferably having a flat floor, and it works well while submerged under a liquid. Specifically, a periphery-driven rack & pinion mechanism drives a shaft to rotate about a center pivot, and scrapes settled solids towards tank periphery, where the solids fall into a pit on the tank floor. A drainage opening inside the pit, when opened by a valve, is used to flush out the solids through a standpipe into a settlement tank for final dewatering and solid disposal. The system is compatible for continuous tank operation, and is useful for stirring tanks requiring periodic sediment removal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 19, 2012
    Inventors: Peter Kotelko, Mike Kotelko, George Caraganis, Glen Foster
  • Patent number: 8017013
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disrupter, wherein the waste disrupter disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disrupter, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Highmark Renewables Research Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Publication number: 20110165638
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing organic waste material are provided. These methods and systems include integrating an anaerobic bio-digester and nutrient recovery module with a bio-production facility, which can locally provide feedstock for the bio-production facility, and can locally provide organic material for the anaerobic bio-digester. Methods and systems for integrating an anaerobic bio-digester with a gas cleaner are also provided, which can recover nutrients while cleaning the biogas produced by the anaerobic bio-digester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: HIGHMARK RENEWABLES RESEARCH LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Tevor Jason Nickel, Bern Kotelko, Brett Kotelko, Xiaomei Li
  • Patent number: 7927491
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing organic waste material are provided. These methods and systems include integrating an anaerobic bio-digester and nutrient recovery module with a bio-production facility, which can locally provide feedstock for the bio-production facility, and can locally provide organic material for the anaerobic bio-digester. Methods and systems for integrating an anaerobic bio-digester with a gas cleaner are also provided, which can recover nutrients while cleaning the biogas produced by the anaerobic bio-digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Highmark Renewables Research Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Tevor Jason Nickel, Bern Kotelko, Brett Kotelko, Xiaomei Li
  • Publication number: 20100311148
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disruptor disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disruptor, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 9, 2010
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Patent number: 7771598
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disrupter disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disrupter, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Highmark Renewables Research Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko
  • Publication number: 20090250401
    Abstract: Methods and systems for processing organic waste material are provided. These methods and systems include integrating an anaerobic bio-digester and nutrient recovery module with a bio-production facility, which can locally provide feedstock for the bio-production facility, and can locally provide organic material for the anaerobic bio-digester. Methods and systems for integrating an anaerobic bio-digester with a gas cleaner are also provided, which can recover nutrients while cleaning the biogas produced by the anaerobic bio-digester.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Trevor Jason Nickel, Bern Kotelko, Brett Kotelko, Xiaomei Li
  • Publication number: 20090159529
    Abstract: Apparatus, methods and systems for processing waste are provided. For example, a system for processing waste, wherein the waste comprises hard particulates embedded therein, can be provided. The system can comprise a waste disruptor, wherein the waste disrupter disrupts the waste and releases at least one of the embedded hard particulates from the disrupted waste; a segregator, wherein the segregator segregates at least one of the released hard particulates from the waste; and a dilution unit, wherein the dilution unit dilutes the waste. In some embodiments, the system can include a waste loader that provides waste continuously to the waste disrupter, which is configured to disrupt at least a portion of the continuously provided waste.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Inventors: Mike Kotelko, Peter Kotelko