Patents by Inventor Orris E. Albertson

Orris E. Albertson 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: 7243802
    Abstract: A clarifier is provided with an improved inlet structure which receives influent from influent column ports and discharges the influent uniformly around the entire circumference of the inlet structure. The influent column ports may be baffled. Angled guide vanes on the inlet structure reduce the flow energy and effect a tangential flow into a feedwell in the basin. The feedwell may be conical to further reduce the velocities and create an outward flow to counteract inward flows in the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Enviro Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 6921489
    Abstract: An aerated grit chamber includes an aeration zone in which influent is vigorously aerated and a settling zone separated from the aeration zone by a baffle beneath which wastewater flows from the aeration zone into the settling zone. The aeration causes swirling motion and causes larger grit particles to settle and accumulate in a grit trough on the floor. An inclined plate settler in the upper part of the settling zone causes smaller grit to settle and fall into the grit trough. In order to prevent overly efficient operation at low flow rates and settling of organics with the grit, internal recycling of the wastewater from the settling zone back into the aeration zone is effected, preferably with air lift to induce recycling but also using alternative techniques such as direct pumping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Publication number: 20040011738
    Abstract: An aerated grit chamber includes an aeration zone in which influent is vigorously aerated and a settling zone separated from the aeration zone by a baffle beneath which wastewater flows from the aeration zone into the settling zone. The aeration causes swirling motion and causes larger grit particles to settle and accumulate in a grit trough on the floor. An inclined plate settler in the upper part of the settling zone causes smaller grit to settle and fall into the grit trough. In order to prevent overly efficient operation at low flow rates and settling of organics with the grit, internal recycling of the wastewater from the settling zone back into the aeration zone is effected, preferably with air lift to induce recycling but also using alternative techniques such as direct pumping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2002
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 5435924
    Abstract: A sludge collector for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank for clarifying wastewater includes an elongate curved housing placed on the bottom of the tank, with the focus of the curve being the center of the floor, the housing defining an interior cavity, and a plurality of relatively small inlets spaced along the length of the housing for the introduction of sludge from the sludge blanket. The inlets are disposed adjacent the floor to remove the most concentrated sludge therefrom. The cross-sectional area of the housing increases from the ends to the midpoint, where an outlet pipe removes the sludge from the cavity under positive hydraulic pressure and applied negative pressure. The sludge collector is designed for most efficient use with spiral or curved scraper blades in a cylindrical clarifying tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 5160435
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing the operation of a trickling filter. Optimization is obtained by using a controlling device and a variable speed drive in combination. The drive motor rotates the distributor mechanism of the trickling filter in response to signals transmitted thereto by the controlling device. The signals received are either based on the influent flow rate or a pre-programmed system representing the above. In response to these signals, the speed of rotation of the distributor is continually varied to provide a SK value most conductive for (1) reducing the BOD and ammonia levels present in the wastewater influent, (2) removing excess bio-mass attached to the media used in the filter and (3) driving the organic food materials deeper into the bio-mass. SK values of between 5 to 100 mm/pass are used for normal operation and a SK of 100 to 1000 mm/pass for flushing during non-peak hours. An intermediate SK value is used to drive the organic feed deeper into the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 5096588
    Abstract: A method and system for optimizing the operation of a trickling filter. Optimization is obtained by using a pair of controlling devices, a timer and an electric motor in combination. The electric motor rotates the distributor mechanism of the trickling filter in response to signals transmitted thereto by the first and second controller. The timer activates the first controller during operation to provide a SK value of between 25-500 mm/pass. During non-peak hours, the timer activates the second controller for flushing the biomass used in the trickling filter operation. The flushing is accomplished at SK values of between 200-1000 mm/pass. A method is also disclosed incorporating the above system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 4917027
    Abstract: A method for sludge disposal in a single compartment furnace in which fouling of the apparatus by low melting eutectics and/or the release to the atmosphere of heavy metal fumes is avoided by limiting the temperature in the combustion bed and in the overlying freeboard to be below the eutectic melting or heavy metal fuming point then immediately cooling and scrubbing the gases and only thereafter subjecting the resulting scrubbed and cooled gases to high temperature afterburning carried out with appropriate heat exchange functions. Apparatus is also disclosed for carrying out the method in a fluidized bed reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 17, 1990
    Inventors: Orris E. Albertson, Allen Baturay
  • Patent number: 4901654
    Abstract: Medium temperature (500.degree. F.-1100.degree. F.) wet off-gases from the final drying zone of counterflow incineration of waste sludge are scrubbed and cooled before heating to final high temperature in an afterburner and the resulting hot dry gases are used to preheat the scrubbed and cooled gases prior to entry of said gases into the afterburner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1990
    Inventors: Orris E. Albertson, Allen Baturay
  • Patent number: 4347156
    Abstract: There is provided a system for reactivating wet, spent carbon including a drying device to heat the carbon to drive moisture from the carbon as steam. A multiple-hearth furnace receives the carbon from the drying device, and the carbon is baked and reactivated therein. Reactivation is accomplished in the presence of steam, at least part of which is the steam which had been driven from the wet, spent carbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1982
    Assignee: Lurgi Corporation
    Inventors: Luis A. Lombana, Daniel E. Myers, Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 4232614
    Abstract: Moist combustible matter is burned in a combustion zone following a drying treatment in which the combustible matter is brought into contact with hot, inert particulates circulated from the combustion zone. The water in the combustible matter is evaporated at a relatively low temperature in the drying zone, thereby conserving heat in the system. The exhaust gas stream from the drying zone is handled separately from the reactor exhaust gases to condense the water vapor therein, the water is removed from the process and the remaining gas is subjected to odor-destroying high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1980
    Assignee: Dorr-Oliver Incorporated
    Inventors: Elliot B. Fitch, Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 4159682
    Abstract: Moist combustible matter is burned in a fluid bed reactor following a drying treatment in which the combustible matter is brought into contact with hot sand circulated from the fluid bed reactor. The water in the combustible matter is evaporated at a relatively low temperature in the drying treatment, thereby conserving heat in the system. The exhaust vapor from the drying treatment is handled separately from the reactor exhaust gases to condense the vapor therein before subjecting the remaining gas to odor-destroying high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Assignee: Dorr-Oliver Incorporated
    Inventors: Elliot B. Fitch, Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 4017388
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for economically removing algae producing phosphorus, from sewage by separating sludge from the sewage, recirculating the sludge, mixing into this the lime needed to bring the pH up to 11.0 or more and then mixing the limed sludge with the raw feed to a pH of 10.5 or under to precipitate more phosphorus from the total flow than would result from an equal amount of lime fed directly into the total flow. This result is also obtained by splitting the feed and heavily dosing one part with lime before returning it to the remainder of the feed.The high pH reached in the heavily dosed part also produces a water softening effect, which makes the sludge easier to dewater and the effluent more acceptable for discharge or reuse. Additional precipitation is economically secured by mixing polyvalent metal salts or polyelectrolytes with the lime treated waste material before separation of the lime sludge from the waste material effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1973
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1977
    Assignee: Dorr-Oliver Incorporated
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: 3996133
    Abstract: A process for reclaiming calcium values from the solid residual of incineration or calcination of calcium-bearing sewage and water sludges includes the following steps: classifying the residuals on the basis of their size and density to form two classified streams, the first of which contains relatively larger sized solid particles and has a relatively decreased concentration of calcium and the second of which contains relatively increased concentration of calcium for reuse; then mixing the particles in the first stream with water to form an aqueous solution containing calcium hydroxide; then clarifying the aqueous solution in a settling zone to form a sediment relatively rich in the insoluble inert solids and a decanted stream which is relatively rich in calcium values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1975
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: Envirotech Corporation
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson
  • Patent number: RE35668
    Abstract: A sludge collector for removing sludge from the bottom of a tank for clarifying wastewater includes an elongate curved housing placed on the bottom of the tank, with the focus of the curve being the center of the floor, the housing defining an interior cavity, and a plurality of relatively small inlets spaced along the length of the housing for the introduction of sludge from the sludge blanket. The inlets are disposed adjacent the floor to remove the most concentrated sludge therefrom. The cross-sectional area of the housing increases from the ends to the midpoint, where an outlet pipe removes the sludge from the cavity under positive hydraulic pressure and applied negative pressure. The sludge collector is designed for most efficient use with spiral or curved scraper blades in a cylindrical clarifying tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Orris E. Albertson