Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guides have distal ends coupled to the activation, and a part of the activator housing or movable member is a glowable diffuse reflector. The switch moveable member moves in a path in the switch body between an optical path present state and an optical path absent state.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guides have distal ends coupled to the activation, and a part of the activator housing or movable member is a glowable diffuse reflector. The switch moveable member moves in a path in the switch body between an optical path present state and an optical path absent state.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, and two optical fibers, that can be connected to a light source and a light detector. The optical switch includes a moveable member that moves from a first position to a second position. In the first position, an optical path is present through the two fibers guide using a reflection or emission of light from the glowable member. In the second position, there is no optical path present through the switch.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing and optical fibers connectable to a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned in a separator assembly and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to modify a light beam, and the device is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, and two optical fibers, that can be connected to a light source and a light detector. The optical switch includes a moveable member that moves from a first position to a second position. In the first position, an optical path is present through the two fibers guide using a reflection or emission of light from the glowable member. In the second position, there is no optical path present through the switch.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and a part of the activator housing is a glowable diffuse reflector. The switch includes a moveable member that moves in a path in the switch body between an optical path present state and an optical path absent state.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention is a combination of a tank and an optical switch, where the tank has a wall forming an enclosure for holding fluids, and the optical switch has a housing floatable in a liquid stored in the tank, and further has a first light fiber having proximal and distal ends, where the first light fiber is connected to a light source at the distal end, and a second light fiber having proximal and distal ends, the second light fiber connected to a light detector at the distal end, the first and second fibers separated by a gap, and a rigid rod connected to the housing and to the tank enclosure, where the rod moves in response to movement of the housing.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and a part of the activator housing is a glowable diffuse reflector. The switch includes a moveable member that moves in a path in the switch body between an optical path present state and an optical path absent state.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing and optical fibers connectable to a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned in a separator assembly and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to modify a light beam, and the device is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float, and includes part of the switch as a glowable member.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing and optical fibers connectable to a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned in a separator assembly and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to modify a light beam, and the device is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing and optical fibers connectable to a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned in a separator assembly and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to modify a light beam, and the device is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing, The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing. The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap. The switch may be embodied in a float.

Abstract: An optical switch having a housing, a light source and a light detector. The light source and light detector are located remote from the housing, The light source is connected to the housing with a first light guide, and the light detector is connected to the housing with a second light guide. The first and second light guide cables have distal ends positioned through the housing and are optically aligned but separated by a gap. The switch includes a device to interrupt a light beam that is usually adapted to removably occupy the gap.

Abstract: A UV disinfection device having a contact chamber, the chamber being a container with an interior, a top portion and a bottom portion. A partition is positioned in the interior to form a first and second chamber, where the first and second chambers are in fluid communication near the bottom portion of the container. The container has an inlet in one of the first or second chambers, where the inlet is formed in the container near the top portion. The device includes an outlet in the other of the first or second chambers, and an ultraviolet lamp is positioned in either the first or second chambers.

Abstract: A reactor chamber for placement in a wastewater treatment system, where the reactor chamber has a chamber formed from a sidewall which forms an interior of the chamber. The sidewall has a top portion and a bottom portion and fixed channel growth media positioned in the interior of the chamber. The fixed channel growth media is positioned below the top of the sidewall, so that when positioned in a treatment system, most of the growth media is located below the water level in the treatment system. The top of the sidewall near the water level (when positioned in a treatment system) is substantially impermeable to wastewater. The reactor includes an air distribution manifold system having a series of air release sites positioned below the fixed channel growth media and adapted to release air which disperses upwardly through the fixed channel growth media. Influent is discharged into the treatment tank near the air discharge sites.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for reducing the nitrate concentration in wastewater within a wastewater treatment apparatus configured to define an aeration zone and a quiescent zone or dilution zone. The method comprises the step of ceasing airflow into the aeration zone for a predetermined time period or until the dissolved oxygen level within the wastewater has reached a predetermined threshold. The method also comprise the step of mixing the wastewater in the aeration zone to prevent suspended particles within the wastewater in the aeration zone from settling and to avoid substantially disturbing the quiescence of the quiescent zone.