Patents by Inventor Tom Happel
Tom Happel 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).
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Patent number: 11491422Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A single treatment box, vault and system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the system. A flow spreader having a triangular shape with straight sides, or concave sides or convex sides can split incoming water to pass into dual screen filtration systems. Additionally, an upwardly angled debris ramp above a downwardly angled screened defector can be located on both sides of the flow spreader to help direct debris and trash into dual screened boxes.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2021Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10926199Abstract: Vertically oriented cylindrical vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A flow deflector can include a flow spreader for splitting an incoming flow into two flow paths that interact with high profile vertical baffle(s), and with low profile vertical baffles, and angled low profile vertical baffles that extend above downwardly inclined surfaces of a horizontal deflector having an opening for allowing debris to fall. Treated water can pass out of an outflow pipe on an opposite side of the cylindrical vault. A bottom open skimmer or a flow restrictive skimmer or a hydro-variant skimmer can be used in front of the output flow port.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10918975Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A single treatment box, vault and system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the system. A flow spreader having a triangular shape with straight sides, or concave sides or convex sides can split incoming water to pass into dual screen filtration systems. Additionally, an upwardly angled debris ramp above a downwardly angled screened defector can be located on both sides of the flow spreader to help direct debris and trash into dual screened boxes.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2019Date of Patent: February 16, 2021Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10907338Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A single treatment box, vault and system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the system, along with a hinged skimmer system with or without a float. The hinged skimmer system can include a rigid vertical panel attached by pivotal support rods that allow the vertical panel to move up and down along a vertical plane in front of an outlet flow line to a vault.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 2018Date of Patent: February 2, 2021Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10472815Abstract: Stormwater pollution prevention systems, vaults, boxes, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area. The systems can be part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure, where the system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the systems. The systems can use cartridges, each having either a treatment media or treatment polymer inside, wherein the cartridges can be serviced without requiring anyone to enter into a treatment vault/box.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10384956Abstract: Vaults, boxes, chambers, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. The system enhances the removal efficiency of almost any type of filtration media by increasing contact time between storm water runoff and the media, and also offers an easy and inexpensive method for serving the media, without having to remove or replace the media. A media filter can include a bottom screen, a media layer, and at least one top lid that can be opened to allow for backwashing of the media layer without removing the media layer from the filter. A servicing system can include pivotal spray heads to pivot to parallel positions over a sloped floor to flush debris toward easy to reach locations to be vacuumed, and vertical spray heads which can break up debris bridges.Type: GrantFiled: July 25, 2017Date of Patent: August 20, 2019Assignee: Oldcastle Infrastructure, Inc.Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10238993Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A single treatment box, vault and system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the system. A flow spreader having a triangular shape with straight sides, or concave sides or convex sides can split incoming water to pass into dual screen filtration systems. Additionally, an upwardly angled debris ramp above a downwardly angled screened defector can be located on both sides of the flow spreader to help direct debris and trash into dual screened boxes.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 26, 2019Assignee: Suntree Technologies Holdings, LLCInventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10202285Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and methods of treatment systems to capture pollutants from storm water runoff and prevent the conveyance of these pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which is designed to be a part of a local permanent storm water drainage infrastructure. A single treatment box, vault and system combines both drainage conveyance, multi-level treatment techniques, variable hydraulic capabilities, and easy and inexpensive methods for servicing the system. A flow spreader can split incoming water to pass into dual screen filtration systems. The system can include components selected from a shelf beneath the spreader, at least one baffle, skimmer, deflectors, media filtration and water pressure lines with spray heads for cleaning debris on a sloped floor.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignee: Suntree Technologies Holdings, LLCInventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 10155670Abstract: Vaults, boxes, systems, and treatment methods to capture pollutants from stormwater runoff and prevent conveyance of the pollutants from entering a receiving water body or landscape area, which can be part of a permanent stormwater drainage infrastructure. A polymer system with at least one polymer log can be used to treat stormwater runoff and any stormwater conveyance, such as a pipe, box culvert, ditchline, and the like. Once stormwater has been dosed with polymers, the treatment easily retains the pollutants, and the one or more polymer logs continue to enhance water quality, while providing an easy method for servicing polymer logs without requiring service technicians to enter the vault. A hydroslide servicing system can include pivotal spray heads to pivot to parallel positions over a sloped floor to flush debris toward easy to reach locations to be vacuumed, and vertical spray heads which can break up debris bridges.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2017Date of Patent: December 18, 2018Assignee: Suntree Technologies Holdings, LLCInventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 9534368Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems, and methods for retrofitting or providing new water treatment vaults and chambers, with a floatable skimmer on tracks above a solid shelf that constricts and restricts water during low and medium flows for maximum detention time to allow for greater storm water treatment, and for high flows allows for the skimmer to automatically adjust to allow for greater conveyance of storm water flow. The skimmer can have float(s) across an upper edge with side edges having both centering and load bearing wheels that slide up and down within tracks that are mounted to side walls of storm water treatment chambers and vaults. Additional embodiments include multi-chamber vaults and chambers with baffles separating sediment chambers. Additionally screen treatment systems can be used with the chambers and vaults.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2014Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 9068312Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of locking and unlocking a door that is slidable by articulating wheels in tracks, over an entry port to a storm water structure. Locking the door can be accomplished by rotating bolts that are attached to cams. Rotating the bolts causes the cams to press the door against the tracks. Sealing strips can be compressed between door edges and the track to prevent water from passing around the door. A vacuum truck can remove water and debris from the vault/structure. Other versions allow doors to move downward to allow water to overflow the door. The door can slide upward so water can flow underneath. A door in door version has a secondary door slide up and down in tracks in a main door.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: June 30, 2015Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8974144Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of locking and unlocking a door that is slidable by articulating wheels in tracks, over an entry port to a storm water structure. Locking the door can be accomplished by rotating bolts that are attached to cams. Rotating the bolts causes the cams to press the door against the tracks. Sealing strips can be compressed between door edges and the track to prevent water from passing around the door. A vacuum truck can remove water and debris from the vault/structure. Other versions allow doors to move downward to allow water to overflow the door. The door can slide upward so water can flow underneath. A door in door version has a secondary door slide up and down in tracks in a main door.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2014Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8651767Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of locking and unlocking a door that is slidable by articulating wheels in tracks, over an entry port to a storm water structure. Locking the door can be accomplished by rotating bolts that are attached to cams. Rotating the bolts causes the cams to press the door against the tracks. Sealing strips can be compressed between door edges and the track to prevent water from passing around the door. A vacuum truck can remove water and debris from the vault/structure. Other versions allow doors to move downward to allow water to overflow the door. The door can slide upward so water can flow underneath. A door in door version has a secondary door slide up and down in tracks in a main door.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2013Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8622652Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of moving a door, over a water conveyances. Locking the door can be by rotating bolt heads attached to cams. Rotating heads causes cams to press the door against tracks. A strip can be compressed between the door and track to prevent flow. Slidable doors can move to allow water overflow. The door can slide so water can flow underneath. A secondary door can slide within an opening in a door. A half panel can have an upper opening located in a wall, to close or allow water flow. A channel can have grooves in sides of an opening, where a door can slide to different heights to close or allow flow.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2011Date of Patent: January 7, 2014Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8491797Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for preventing backflow current problems which often have caused debris and litter to pass out of screen type baskets used in storm water treatment systems. A half size or full size pivoting panel at the input end of a basket screen system placed in a storm water treatment chamber can downwardly divert incoming storm water so as to prevent back flow currents from being formed. The pivoting panel can work well during high flow conditions. A half size or full size pylon located in the input end of the basket screen can split and divert incoming storm water to also prevent back flow currents from also being formed. The pylon can work well during low flow conditions. Also, both the half pivoting panel and the half pylon can both be used at the input end of the screen basket. Still furthermore a gap in the floor before the input end of the screen basket can allow for sediment coming to pass down and collect beneath the screen basket.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2010Date of Patent: July 23, 2013Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8425150Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of locking and unlocking a door that is slidable by articulating wheels in tracks, over an entry port to a storm water structure. Locking the door can be accomplished by rotating bolt heads that are attached to cams. Rotating the heads causes cams to press the door against the tracks. Sealing strips can be compressed between door edges and the track to prevent water from passing around the door. A vacuum truck can remove water and debris from the vault/structure. Other versions allow doors to move downward to allow water to overflow the door. The door can slide upward so water can flow underneath. A door in door version has a secondary door slide up and down in tracks in a main door.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2010Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8393827Abstract: Systems, devices, apparatus, and methods of locking and unlocking a door that is slidable through tracks, over an entry port to a storm water type vault or storm water structure. Locking the door in place can be accomplished by rotating upwardly protruding bolt type heads that are fixably attached to cams. Rotating the bolt type heads causes the cams to press the door against one side of the tracks. An elongated sealing strip can be compressed between the door edges and the one side of the track and seal and prevent water from passing about the sides of the door. Alternatively, removable wedges can be used to compress door edges in place. Furthermore, a hinged pressure relief door can be attached over a small opening in the slidable door. Opening the small pressure relief door by an elongated tool allows for water on both sides of the sliding door to equalize.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2009Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8366923Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using an adjustable filter basket on telescoping post supports to raise and lower the filter basket so as to adjust the position of the inlet chute for different ground water levels in storm water treatment systems, along with horizontal slidable lids in tracks on the basket that allow access to the inside of the basket in vaults having ceilings close to the top of the baskets. A single winch point or floats can be used to raise and lower the filter basket on the telescopic post supports.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2010Date of Patent: February 5, 2013Inventor: Tom Happel
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Patent number: 8142666Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods of using baffle boxes with turbulence deflectors and flow spreaders. Turbulence deflectors are added about the inlet port of a baffle box, and a flow spreader is added centrally beneath an outlet port to increase removal efficiency of pollutants and prevent the conveyance of pollutants down stream. The turbulence deflectors and the flow spreader will increase the removal efficiency of particles, especially fine and ultra fine particles without impeding the water flow. The turbulence deflectors will significantly reduce the turbulence within the sediment chambers which will lead to better settling and less re-suspension. The flow spreader spreads the flow wide sooner within the baffle box to reduce the linear velocity of the water current, and directs water flow away from the area of greatest turbulence adjacent to the inflow, and will increase the settling of particles and minimize re-suspension.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Inventor: Tom Happel