Responsive To Material Level Patents (Class 210/104)
  • Patent number: 4828716
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for partitioning a pre-selected phase of a sample of liquid, such as blood, having a plurality of phases of differing densities the method comprising the steps of introducing a sample into a chamber of constant cross-sectional shape and a volume greater than that of the sample, ordering the phases of the sample concentrically by rotating the chamber about its longitudinal axis, reducing the volume of the chamber in response to a separation control signal, removing a portion of the separated sample in order of phase, deriving information about the portion of the sample being removed from the chamber and modifying the separation control signal in response to the derived information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Andronic Devices, Ltd.
    Inventors: James A. McEwen, William J. Godolphin, Rainer M. Bohl, Mark N. Dance, Martin L. Furse, John C. Osborne
  • Patent number: 4828717
    Abstract: The device for reducing the volume of an aqueous waste effluent includes a holding tank, a heating tank for receiving waste effluent from the holding tank and including a heater for heating the waste effluent to a predetermined temperature which is below the boiling point of water and high enough to cause a portion of the water to evaporate and be discharged as water vapors, an agitation pump for continuously recirculating the liquids contents of the heating tank and filter units mounted on top of the heating tank for separating solids and particulate matter from the resulting slurry and returning the filtrate to the heating tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Arkay Corporation of Wisconsin
    Inventors: James A. DeLeeuw, Raymond E. Sims
  • Patent number: 4824579
    Abstract: A primary separation vessel is separated into a plurality of chambers having fluid communication therethrough; in each of the chambers there is further included a downwardly depending eductor system having a coaxial bore wherein fluid induces air into the eductor system where the educted air in the fluid being projected downward into the flow of fluid and the bubbles rising along the curved wall of the tank and carrying contaminants through a centrally located collection trough, which through gravity the contaminants collect in the trough and move to a circulation collected in the trough. The contaminants then move via gravity to a separation zone within the vessel, wherein the oil that is collected is allowed to spill over in an oil collection zone for recovery, and the level of the water is monitored to draw off any water collected within the zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Inventor: Albert L. George
  • Patent number: 4824562
    Abstract: An in-well separator and recovery device for liquids which are heavier than water. A closed top container in the well circulates liquid through it, drawing liquid into its lower region and deflecting the liquid downward so that the heavier liquid settles to the bottom of the container from where it is pumped to the surface. Water is pumped from the top of the container directly back into the well. The pumps are controlled by sensing the water to pollution interface in the container and shutting down each pump before it pumps the inappropriate liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: R. E. Wright Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn S. Carson
  • Patent number: 4818414
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for protecting a media bed filter with underlying support screen from solids contained in a liquid, such as filtrate from the filter, used to regenerate or backwash the media bed filter. Filtrate enters a first collection chamber containing a screen assembly covering one outlet, the chamber also containing a second outlet. Filtrate traverses the screen assembly and is transferred to a second collection chamber with addition of a predetermined amount of bactericide to prevent solids growth therein. Upon bactericide-treated filtrate reaching a predetermined level within the second chamber, filtrate in the first chamber bypasses the screen assembly and flows out the second output to further biological treatment or use. Bactericide-treated filtrate from the second collection chamber is used to regenerate or backwash the media bed filter with addition of optional surfactant to assist in cleaning the filter media and underlying support screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Zimpro/Passavant Inc.
    Inventor: David S. Ross
  • Patent number: 4816146
    Abstract: A separator for removing oil from a fluid mixture at a well site. An elongated conduit is arranged for support on an offshore structure and extends downward into a body of water into which cleaned water is to be discharged. The process fluid flows downward in the conduit past a series of baffles and out the lower end into the body of water. Quiescent regions at each baffle allows oil droplets to migrate into entrapment regions and be withdrawn up a riser connected to each entrapment region. A mixture inlet tube extends down to discharge below the topmost baffle. A fluid enclosure above the topmost baffle accepts the collected oil. An oil collection box is situated in the fluid enclosure and receives oil directly from the riser, some of which is allowed to flow out openings into the enclosure. An oil outlet standpipe collects oil from the oil box for removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1989
    Inventor: Harold D. Schertler
  • Patent number: 4810374
    Abstract: A self-emptying centrifuge drum has an intake for the centrifugate, a peeling chamber that accommodates a peeling disk for diverting the clarified liquid, and an automatic device that senses the level of solids in the separating space of the drum. The sensing device consists of channels extending from the separating space to another peeling chamber with another peeling disk. The outflow channel from the second peeling disk communicates with a measuring instrument that operates in conjunction with controls that introduce the extracted solids into the drum. Peeling channels are provided in the second peeling disk, extending out from its circumference and opening tangentially into an annular space that does not have any ribs and that extends radially inside the disk to detect the level of solids in the separating space even when centrifugates that do not block the channels sufficiently are being clarified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Westfalia Separator AG
    Inventors: Paul Bruning, Werner Kohlstette
  • Patent number: 4802978
    Abstract: An oil water separator is disclosed having a vertical, cylindrical tank with a plurality of corrugated, oleophilic plates. A corrugated diffusion baffle is located adjacent an oil-water mixture inlet to remove the larger particulate material from the mixture and to cause coalescing of the larger oil droplets. The flow of the oil-water mixture proceeds generally in a vertical direction and passes between the corrugated plates to cause further coalescing of the oil droplets. A separate oil channel directs the coalesced oil to an upper portion of the tank. The clarified water then passes downwardly to a clean water outlet. A second coalescing unit may be located upstream of the clean water outlet to further coalesce and remove the smaller oil droplets. In this case, a second oil relief channel directs these coalesced oil particles to the upper portion of the tank, from which the oil may be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: McTighe Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael B. Schmit, Robert T. McTighe
  • Patent number: 4801375
    Abstract: The invention is related to water vending systems for the automatic dispensing of purified water from a machine which is preferably activated by coin or other form of payment. Reverse osmosis filtration of local water together with other water treatment operations is used to improve the quality of the vended water. Stagnation of stored permeate is automatically prevented to assure the freshness of dispensed water. The system is designed to reduce the frequency of servicing and the life of components without decreasing the quality of the vended water. In one embodiment the vending system comprises control means for automatically dumping the filtered water stored in a tank in the system if there has not been at least a predetermined number of vends of water within a predetermined period of time. After the storage tank has been dumped the drain is automatically closed and fresh filtered water is produced to refill the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Cuno Incorporated
    Inventor: James M. Padilla
  • Patent number: 4784764
    Abstract: An arrangement for separation by flocculation of flocculable substances contained in a suspension, as such is used particularly for purifying the backwater of deinking installations for waste paper processing, comprises a container supplied by a conduit with a suspension coming from a reservoir and admixed with flocculating agents and with air. The container contains a rotor with vertical shaft from which two arms extend outwardly at different heights. The suspension to be purified is delivered by the shaft and the upper arm, and by means of the lower situated arm leading the upper arm at an acute angle the purified water is removed. The floated-up flocculated substances are withdrawn from the surface as flotation scum and optionally by means of a conveying device through a scum conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Sulzer-Escher Wyss GmbH
    Inventors: Hans H. Kleinschnittger, Wolfgang Bassler, Albrecht Kahmann, Wolfgang Siewert
  • Patent number: 4772402
    Abstract: A system for processing and reclaiming machine tool coolant wherein filtering apparatus mounted upon a portable frame is transported to the machine tool and includes pumps for cycling coolant from the machine tool coolant reservoir through coarse and fine filters to remove contaminating foreign matter, including bacteria. The apparatus includes an accumulating reservoir receiving and supplying pumped coolant and the pumps are controlled by float-operated switches maintaining a sequence of pump operation to assure efficient pump operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 20, 1988
    Inventor: Ray B. Love
  • Patent number: 4770769
    Abstract: The ultra-filtration in a hemodialysis operation is controlled by a control apparatus which is connected to a balancing device (1) and to a dosing device (9) to form a closed loop control circuit for the metered supply of dialysis concentrate into the balancing device and for the metered supply of fresh dialysis solution into the dialyzer. The closed loop control circuit controls the alternating supply of fresh dialysis solution into one chamber of a balancing device and the withdrawal of used-up dialysis solution from the other chamber of the balancing device. The closed loop control circuit also controls a pump for the metered withdrawal of used-up dialysis solution out of the dialysis circulatory system. The dosing device operates as a proportionality device to produce fresh dialysis solution from water and dialysis concentrate whereby the concentrate is dosed and the dialysis solution is also dosed or metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1988
    Assignee: Fresenius Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wilfried Schael
  • Patent number: 4764272
    Abstract: A unitized system for the restoration of hydrocarbon-contaminated ground water and other water sources. The system employs two interconnected tanks having substantially the same elevation and mounted upon a transport skid. A first of these tanks provides for separation of the hydrocarbon from the water by gravimetric principles, and the second is a storage tank for water. An outlet from the water storage tank feeds water into a storage pan of an upright air sparging tower also mounted upon the skid. Water pumped from the pan is sprayed countercurrent to forced air flow in the tower so as to remove any entrained vapors from the water. A portion of the water handled by this pumping can be recycled to the separation tank. A level detector in the separation tank controls a preselected water level prior to introduction of contaminated water, and again when separated hydrocarbon has been removed from the separation tank to a product storage tank. The product storage tank is preferably mounted on the skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1988
    Inventor: James R. Fox, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4761225
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the removal of liquid hydrocarbons from ground water in perforated well casings consists of a plurality of pump chambers and a control system which is powered by compressed air. The pump chambers are positioned above a liquid hydrocarbon recovery device which is positioned in the well casing at the oil/water interface. The pump chambers are evacuated, causing the ground water and the liquid hydrocarbons to be drawn into separate chambers through respective check valves. The pump chambers are then pressurized with air to push out the water and liquid hydrocarbons through check valves in the chamber discharge conduits, thereby removing the fluids from the well casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Inventor: Michael K. Breslin
  • Patent number: 4758335
    Abstract: A system is provided for washing down equipment, aircraft and vehicles used in the application of pesticides on crops, and accumulating the wash water with its dissolved contaminants. The wash water is passed through an activated charcoal filter to remove the contaminants, and the filtered water is then converted to steam, which is also run through a second activated charcoal filter so that, with the double filtration system, only pure steam is vented into the atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1988
    Inventor: James M. Hayden
  • Patent number: 4747952
    Abstract: Separation apparatus capable of separating plasma into high molecular weight substances and low molecular weight substances containing albumin, regardless of whether plasma is obtained by separation of corpuscular components in a continuous centrifugal separator or in a batch-type centrifugal separator. The apparatus comprises a filtration membrane module, a plasma feeding circuit connecting the centrifugal separator with the filtration membrane module, a plasma return circuit for returning to a patient purified plasma freed of high molecular weight substances, a supplemental fluid circuit for supplying additional fluid to the plasma return circuit, and a condensed plasma discharge circuit for disposal of high molecular weight substances. The apparatus is controlled independently of the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1988
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Nakano, Yoshimichi Harada, Yasuzo Kirita, Tadashi Miyahara, Yoshio Yagiri, Michiko Ueda, Yasunori Ueda
  • Patent number: 4746423
    Abstract: A two pump skimmer system for recovery of lighter-than-water hydrocarbons from water wells. A water pump is used to depress the water table and a contaminant pump is used to remove the hydrocarbons. The pumps are located in individual chambers which are interconnected, with the water chamber below the hydrocarbon chamber and with limited one-way flow into the water chamber. Both pumps are independently controlled by sensors in the upper chamber to assure that each pumps only the proper liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1988
    Assignee: R. E. Wright Associates
    Inventor: Donald L. Moyer
  • Patent number: 4728440
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing a liquid from a mixture of liquids in a collecting tank has a drain box in the collecting tank having a weir for passage of liquid being removed into the drain box and a conduit for discharge of the liquid from the drain box. The drain box is movable up and down in the tank. To improve the separation of the liquids by control of the position of the weir, the vertical location of the drain box in the tank is determined by height-adjusting means connected to the drain box. the height-adjusting means is controlled in dependence on the output of a sensor sensing the level of liquid in the drain box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1988
    Assignee: Hoogovens Groep B.V.
    Inventor: Herman C. van Kuijeren
  • Patent number: 4699719
    Abstract: Exhaust heat from engines used in oil field operations can be utilized to (1) at least partially separate a water-containing wellstream fluid into a progressively enlarged hydrocarbon phase which floats on the remainder of the wellstream fluid and/or on a water phase and (2) vaporize lighter fractions of the hydrocarbon phase for use as fuels for such engines. The level of the wellstream fluid in the separation vessel and the depth of the hydrocarbon phase which forms a top of the remainder of the wellstream fluid and/or water phase are automatically adjusted so that a heater tube which directs exhaust heat through the separation vessel is predominantely in contact with the hydrocarbon phase. The lighter hydrocarbon vapors thus produced are collected and, preferably, superheated prior to being used as fuels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Harry W. Finley
  • Patent number: 4685158
    Abstract: A control system for automatically maintaining a predetermined water level in a swimming pool includes a multi-contact water level sensor unit mounted on an exposed sidewall of the pool. The sensor unit is vertically adjustable within a stationary mounting bracket to enable user adjustment of a selected normal water level. A single sensing contact on the sensor unit senses the presence or absence of water at the selected normal level. A monitoring circuit associated with the sensor unit interrupts operation of the control system in the event that the sensor unit is disconnected. Additional water level sensing contacts open a dump valve to preclude overflow of the pool in the event of a high water condition, and interrupt operation of recirculation pump apparatus associated with the pool in the event of a low water level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventor: Olin A. Lively
  • Patent number: 4686045
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for the aeration of cesspools in operation. In one embodiment there is a tool for inserting the aeration device under the bottom of the cesspool. The tool comprises a central cylinder with retractable arms. The aeration device has retractable arms which attach to the tool and compressed air is supplied to the tool to facilitate its passage through and beneath the pool. The tool is then removed leaving the aeration devices in place with a line extending out of the pool to receive compressed air. Other embodiments include the method of inserting the aeration device, a system for aerating a pool, and methods for controlling the operation of the aeration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1987
    Inventor: George B. McKee
  • Patent number: 4673493
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus of a fixed type for supplying filtered liquid which is able to filter liquid containing impurities of minute solid particles and then supply the filtered liquid while further filtering the same, said apparatus itself being of a fixed type, so designed that the liquid is repeatedly passed through a filter member provided within said apparatus for sufficient filtration, and at the same time, the liquid is filled in a movable container with rollers so as to be freely taken in or out of the apparatus in a completely purified condition, wherein the liquid in the movable container is transferred to fixed tanks, when the movable container is separated from the apparatus so as to be filled with fresh liquid, further to a discharge port through said filter member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1987
    Assignee: Kurashiki Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsuki Wada, Mikio Takahashi, Eiji Suhara
  • Patent number: 4659461
    Abstract: Liquid separating device apparatus particularly for separating oil and water components from a mixture thereof. The apparatus includes a tank (50) for the liquid and two banks (62, 64) of cyclone separators for separating oil and water from the liquid in the tank. A control circuit (102) receives input from height sensors (180, 182, 184, 186) sensitive to the height of liquid in the tank (50). Circuit (102) is responsive to the sensed liquid height to vary the flow rate of liquid through the apparatus by varying the rate of operation of a pump (60) which pumps liquid from the tank (50) to the banks (62, 64), by controlling a valve (66) to direct the liquid either to one or to both the banks (62, 64) and to constrick flow from the banks (62, 64) by varying the resistance to flow through variable chokes (68, 70) which receive outflow from the banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Inventor: Noel Carroll
  • Patent number: 4654147
    Abstract: An automated control system for maintaining a supply of dissolved oxygen (DO) within a given range in each of a given plurality of pools for treating sewerage, farming fish, or the like, and energizing an alarm system (148 FIG. 1) which, when energized, will warn designated persons of the failure to maintain the amout of D.O. within the given range in a particular pool and with each pool comprising a first sensor for sensing the amount of D.O. in each pool, a settable indicator (146) for detecting, respectively, when the amount of D.O. drops below a first threshold and when the amount of D.O. drops below a second threshold, with both the first and second thresholds being selectively determinable by setting the indicator. Also provided is a communication link for transmitting the amount of D.O. to the indicators, a second sensor responsive to the amount of D.O. dropping below the first threshold (146) to energize the pool aerator (258 FIG. 3) to increase the amount of D.O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Automated Commercial Controls, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Bagley
  • Patent number: 4639312
    Abstract: A control system has been invented for feeding settled sludge to two filter presses without the use of a surge tank. The system provides for constant feed rates from a solids settling tank, even as filter press capacity decays and the filter press is taken off stream for dumping. This is accomplished by providing two modes of operation. The first mode provides for the feeding of a single filter press. The second mode provides control when both filter presses are fed. The second mode is actuated by elevated pressure differential across a filter press, which signals the valve to move, to bring a second filter press on line while compensating for flow rate and finally shuts down the first filter press after a timed interval.The need for a surge drum is eliminated by maintaining continuous upstream and downstream operation of the filter presses in a sludge dewatering process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Deborah E. R. Quock, Timothy L. Triplett, Don E. Childress
  • Patent number: 4626345
    Abstract: Apparatus for removing suspended particles from water comprises outer and inner concentrically arranged tanks and a carriage arranged on top of the outer tank for movement around the same. Unclarified water is introduced into the inner tank along with flocculating material for combining with the suspended particles in the water, and the mixture passes from the inner to the outer tank. Gaseous bubbles are introduced into the mixture for attaching to the flocculated suspended particles and floating them to the surface of the water in the outer tank, forming a sludge layer thereon. A scoop device mounted on the carriage removes the sludge for discharge from the apparatus. A plurality of filter beds are arranged near the bottom of the outer tank for removing the remaining precipitated flocs to complete the clarification of the water for discharge, and suction apparatus is arranged above the filter beds for cleaning the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Lenox Institute for Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Milos Krofta
  • Patent number: 4625807
    Abstract: Ground water pollutant floating above the water table in a water-bearing formation is removed through a well penetrating the formation by lowering the water level so that pollutant from the region surrounding the well will flow into the well due to gravitational force, and lowering a liquid-retaining vessel into the well to a depth whereby a liquid entry port in the vessel is in the pollutant layer above the water level. The vessel is constructed to receive the liquid pollutant by gravitational flow through the liquid entry port, the displaced gas leaving through a vent. A compressed air line feeds the vessel to purge its interior of accumulated liquid through an exit port on an intermittent basis. Check valves associated with each port are actuatable by the influence of the compressed air to prevent leakage of discharged pollutant back into the vessel and to provide complete and efficient purging when the compressed air is flowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Inventor: Delmont E. Harlow
  • Patent number: 4624742
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for measuring the present and ongoing performance of paper pulp brown stock washers. Black liquor carryover within a washer mat past wash liquor application showers is quantified by determination of and correlation with the mat liquor specific conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventors: Edward P. Klein, Thomas M. Neider
  • Patent number: 4623452
    Abstract: A dockside system for the collection and disposal of bilge water, waste oil and the like is described for continuously evacuating waste liquids from waterborne vessels (16, 18) into a shore vacuum tank (24) and for simultaneously and automatically separating oil and water from the waste liquid. A continuous regulated vacuum is applied near the top of the vacuum tank (24) for sucking waste liquid, such as bilge water and oil, through tubes (30, 33, 82) into the tank. The tubes have manually operated on/off valves (34) at outer end portions thereof which are operated at the bilges of the waterborne vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1986
    Inventor: Robert N. Petersen
  • Patent number: 4610848
    Abstract: A device for the dosable addition of accurate quantities of liquid disinfecting agent to water, having a reservoir for the water, and a supply container for the disinfectant. A dosing pump feeds the disinfectant in regulatable amounts from supply container to the water flowing from the reservoir. In order to reduce constructional costs and to increase the dosing accuracy, the water reservoir has a liquid level-control device and an outlet line. The quantity of the outflowing water is controlled accurately solely by the existing static pressure of the water level in the reservoir. The fluctuation in dosing is less than 2%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Weber und Springmann
    Inventor: Klaus Weber
  • Patent number: 4608157
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a wastewater treatment plant which includes pretreatment, aeration, final clarification and overflow/backwash chambers adapted to receive a fluid, such as home wastewater, which is to be subjected to extended aeration or aerobic digestion, the aeration chamber including an aerator having a shaft whose lower end is normally received in the fluid which is to be treated, an aerator foam deflector carried by the shaft which under abnormally high fluid levels increases the torque on the shaft and, thus, indicates abnormal operation, the final clarification chamber including a demand use filter, an overflow outlet operative should the filter become disabled, and a backwash nozzle located in the filter by reverse pumping therethrough fluid pumped from the overflow or backwash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves
  • Patent number: 4601833
    Abstract: The device of the present invention comprises a frame assembly having a trough frame and a float frame. The float frame includes a fluid removal device thereon with an inlet opening for taking in fluid in response to actuation of the removal device. The trough frame has a trough thereon. The float frame is movable with respect to the trough frame from a sealed position with the trough in sealed covering relation over the inlet opening of the removal device to an open position wherein the trough is spaced away from the inlet opening. The float frame has sufficient buoyancy to float at a predetermined level in the fluid with the inlet opening of the removal device positioned below the surface of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Inventor: Wesley M. Shubert
  • Patent number: 4597874
    Abstract: Saline-tolerant surfactant is utilized in tertiary recovery of oil. The surfactant is concentrated in a portion of the produced oil and water and is recovered by the use of a cosolvent and fresh water. Both the cosolvent and surfactant are reclaimed for reuse, while the oil is released for sale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1986
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Francis, Jr. deceased
  • Patent number: 4594153
    Abstract: A sewage pumping station is disclosed which includes a sewage receiving wet well positioned adjacent to a machinery chamber which contains sewage pump means and associated controls. A base beam means, of hollow rectangular cross-section, is secured to the underside of the floor of the machinery chamber. The base beam means defines a suction pipe extension conduit in fluid communication with the wet well. Sewage pump means are supported above the floor of the machinery chamber by a substantially vertical suction conduit extending therebetween. The lower end of the suction conduit is in fluid communication with the suction extension conduit.A sump pump assembly is provided within the machinery chamber which directs accummulated liquid into the suction extension conduit. A control assembly is provided within the machinery chamber which senses the pressure within the suction extension conduit and controls the operation of the sewage pump means dependent upon the liquid level in the wet well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1986
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank G. Weis
  • Patent number: 4582612
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating sewage sludge in which the sludge is conveyed to a vessel having an oxygen-rich atmosphere. The sludge is channelled through a first dispersing means to a plurality of second dispersing means by which it is dispersed throughout the oxygen-rich atmosphere where it is completely oxygenated. Preferably, the first dispersing means comprises separable components which define the channelling means. Preferably, the second dispersing means are aligned with the channelling means and either arranged around the inner periphery of the vessel, or attached to the first dispersing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Long Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles A. Long, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4582568
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a pulp suspension in the manufacture of paper employing a controlled drainage thickener and a screw type pulp press. Pulp is fed into the thickener where the feed screw contained therein delivers it to a vertical discharge column. A screw type conveyor delivers the pulp suspension from the vertical discharge column into a vertical inlet column associated with a screw type pulp press. A sensing means is provided to measure the consistency of the pulp entering the press, and a sensing means provides a control signal which is arranged to modulate operation of a discharge valve on the thickener to keep the consistency of the pulp entering the screw type pulp press within a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1986
    Assignee: Beloit Corporation
    Inventor: Rangaswami S. Iyengar
  • Patent number: 4568465
    Abstract: A water treatment system includes a water treatment tank containing a resin bed through which water is passed for treatment thereof during normal operation of the treatment system. A brine tank contains a brine solution which, when passed through the resin bed, results in regeneration of the treatment effectiveness of the bed. A plurality of electrically actuatable valve means direct water through the treatment tank during normal operation of the treatment system and direct brine solution through the treatment tank in a regeneration operation. A control for the water treatment system includes means for manually entering control data, display means for displaying data, and sensor means for sensing the volume of water treated by the water treatment system. A controller circuit means is responsive to means for manually entering control data and to the sensor means and is connected to display data on the display means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1986
    Assignee: Water Refining Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen H. Davis, Donald J. Muckerheide
  • Patent number: 4564374
    Abstract: A separator for incorporation into dental suction apparatus for separating from the suction stream liquid and solid materials coming from the mouth of a patient comprises a housing, a separation chamber in the housing, an inlet for the suction stream into the separation chamber and an outlet for cleaned suction air from the separation chamber. Below the separation chamber there is a smaller collecting chamber below which is a drainage chamber provided with a liquid-solid discharge opening. In the separation chamber there is a cyclone device into which the suction stream enters tangentially so as to provide a swirling movement. The suction air then passes up through a central opening defined by the cyclone means. Also in the separation chamber there is a rotating element in the form of a rotatable float having a stem extending up from the float and provided with vanes associated with the cyclone device so as to rotate the float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1986
    Assignee: Durr-Dental GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Hofmann
  • Patent number: 4563274
    Abstract: An aqueous solution carrying paint solids is fed through an inlet into a floatation tank. The clean liquid exits through an orifice whose size is controlled by a movable gate. The level of the liquid within the tank is sensed by an ultrasonic rangefinder and the distance signals output from this rangefinder are fed to an electronic controller. During normal operation, this controller periodically supplies power signals to an electric actuator to adjust the position of the gate whereby the level of the liquid in the tank can be maintained substantially at the a first predetermined level. The controller may also include means for causing the liquid to rise to a second predetermined level after a preset time such that the paint solids are transferred over a weir into a collecting vessel. Thereafter the liquid level is caused to rapidly drop and is again maintained at the first level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Haden Drysys International Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Rothon, Ronald Collis
  • Patent number: 4557836
    Abstract: A particle discharge mechanism is described for use on a centrifugal dewatering system, which is of relatively simple and rugged construction. The discharge mechanism includes a pair of concentric ring-like gates (50, 52 in FIG. 2) that can move across a particle discharge passageway (46) extending around a rotating vessel (14). The gates are operated in a sequence to first trap a mass of particles inside the radially outermost gate (52), to close an innermost gate (50) to isolate the trapped particles, and then to open the outermost gate (52) to release the trapped mass. In one procedure, the outermost gate is opened only slightly prior to complete particle release, to remove small amounts of remaining water in the mass of particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Dresser Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald A. Croopnick, John M. Zabsky
  • Patent number: 4555323
    Abstract: A system to generate chlorine to disinfect a body of water. The system has a pump to move water through the system, a filter and an electrolytic cell able to generate chlorine by the electrolysis of sodium chloride and having an anode and a cathode mounted in a separate compartment. Chlorine is generated in the anode compartment and hydrogen in the cathode compartment. The compartments are in communication through an ion permeable membrane. There is a power source for the cell. The ion permeable membrane is formed as separate members, each covering an opening in a wall dividing the anode and cathode compartments. The anode and the cathode are located above the electrolyte. There is a mixing container divided into compartments, a first compartment to receive hydrogen and chlorine from the cell and provided with an outlet for water and the second compartment, in communication with the first and having an inlet for water, a float valve to control the inlet, the mixing container having a pressure relief outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Inventor: Richard B. Collier
  • Patent number: 4555332
    Abstract: A vessel in the form of a vertically-extended cylindrical tank receives oil well production containing a difficult-to-treat component. An elongated path for the production is formed within the tank with which to stratify production fluids. The upper stratum is oil containing some percentage of emulsion, the lower stratum is water containing some percentage of emulsion, and the intermediate stratum is a concentration of the remaining difficult-to-treat emulsion. A subsystem is provided for the liquids of each stratum. The subsystem processing the intermediate stratum extracts surfactant which has been used in facilitating production from the earth, and isopropanol utilized to break the bond of oil with the surfactant and water of the emulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1985
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Alex W. Francis, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4539108
    Abstract: A fuel filter device for use with diesel engines has a manually operable pump section and a filter container housing therein a filter element and detachably attached to the pump section. The pump section has a manually operable diaphragm facing a chamber having fuel inlet and outlet respectively communicated with a fuel tank and the filter container. The inlet and outlet are provided with valves responsive to the fuel pressure at the inlet and to a pressure variation caused by the diaphragm in the chamber to allow the fuel to flow through the inlet into the chamber and through the outlet into the container in which the fuel flows through the filter element and out of the container to a discharge port of the pump section. An electric heater is disposed in the chamber adjacent to the path of the flow of the fuel in the chamber. A fuel temperature or pressure sensor is disposed downstream of the filter element to provide a signal for the control of the electrical supply to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouji Izutani, Isamu Shigeta, Akio Nara, Hidetaka Hayashi
  • Patent number: 4539109
    Abstract: A drain system adapted for use in fuel processing devices, as well as in other fluid equipment applications, includes sensing means for detecting the presence of a predetermined quantity of water or other impurities separated from the fuel, or the presence of other fluids, in an enclosure or container. Drain means are also included for discharging at least a substantial portion of the predetermined quantity in response to said detection of the presence thereof. The drain means is preferably actuated and deactuation by automatic control means in order to maintain said water or other impurities, or said other fluids, at or below the predetermined quantity. The fuel processing device herein further includes means for heating fuel in order to prevent fuel waxing and clouding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Davco Manufacturing Corporation
    Inventor: Leland L. Davis
  • Patent number: 4530759
    Abstract: The ultra-filtration in a hemodialysis operation is controlled by a control apparatus which is connected to a balancing device (1) and to a dosing device (9) to form a closed loop control circuit for the metered supply of dialysis concentrate into the balancing device and for the metered supply of fresh dialysis solution into the dialyzer. The closed loop control circuit controls the alternating supply of fresh dialysis solution into one chamber of a balancing device and the withdrawal of used-up dialysis solution from the other chamber of the balancing device. The closed loop control circuit also controls a pump for the metered withdrawal of used-up dialysis solution out of the dialysis circulatory system. The dosing device operates as a proportionality device to produce fresh dialysis solution from water and dialysis concentrate whereby the concentrate is dosed and the dialysis solution is also dosed or metered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1985
    Assignee: Fresenius Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Wilfried Schal
  • Patent number: 4526684
    Abstract: A polymer slurry is passed past a filter and a wash fluid is caused to flow at a substantial angle with respect to the flow of the polymer slurry and toward the filter such as to replace at least a substantial portion of the fluid of the polymer slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1985
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company,
    Inventor: Charles L. Seefluth
  • Patent number: 4518503
    Abstract: A water purifier for treating water intended for drinking and like purposes, for installation at point-of-use, i.e., home, office or workplace, which is effective in removing additional contaminents therefrom using a heated carbon filter and distillation, in which the water being purified is heated and induced to alternately flow back and forth between an open compartment used for the filter and a closed evaporator in which it is distilled, the intervals of flow into the filter compartment being effective to heat the filter to thereby increase its ability to remove heavy molecular pollutants (e.g., pesticides, herbicides, etc.) and also being an advantageous location from which there is released to atmosphere low molecular volatile pollutants (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1985
    Assignee: Intercontinental Water Corp.
    Inventor: Saul Fermaglich
  • Patent number: 4517099
    Abstract: Apparatus has a receiving chamber subjected to low pressure to receive solid/liquid mixture through inlet valve thereof. The chamber also has outlet valve to discharge the mixture, an admitting valve to raise pressure in the chamber, and quantity sensing structure responsive to predetermined quantity of mixture within the chamber. The inlet valve is positioned above a predetermined upper level of mixture within the chamber, and a riser constrains the mixture to move initially upwardly and then, optionally, downwardly prior to discharging through the inlet valve. The riser is shaped to cause solids that might otherwise tend to rest initially adjacent the inlet valve, when the mixture flow therethrough ceases, to fall under gravity either forwardly through the inlet valve, or backwardly towards mixture within the delivery duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Inventor: Raymond A. Breckner
  • Patent number: 4516281
    Abstract: A sewage treatment device [10] is disclosed for use with a toilet [12] having a water flush input [16] and a sewage output [22]. The invention incorporates a treatment tank [56] connected for receiving the sewage from the sewage output [22] of the toilet. A disinfectant holding tank [58] is included for holding a disinfectant such as conventional household bleach. A mascerator blade [74] is disposed within the treatment tank [56] for mascerating the sewage to reduce the size of the particulate matter within the treatment tank [56]. An electric motor rotates the mascerator blade [74] and simultaneously pumps a disinfectant from the disinfectant holding tank [58] to the treatment tank [56]. A discharge pump [86] discharges the treated sewage from the treatment tank [56]. A control senses the level of the sewage in the sewage treatment tank and controls the sequence of operation of the mascerator blade [74] and the discharge pump [86].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1983
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1985
    Assignee: The Eastern Company
    Inventors: David B. MacPherson, Jay E. Paris, Robert W. Foley, Martin W. Greinier, David N. Pulsifer
  • Patent number: 4505813
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a wastewater treatment plant which includes pretreatment, aeration, final clarification and overflow/backwash chambers adapted to receive a fluid, such as home wastewater, which is to be subjected to extended aeration or aerobic digestion, the aeration chamber including an aerator having a shaft whose lower end is normally received in the fluid which is to be treated, an aerator foam deflector carried by the shaft which under abnormally high fluid levels increases the torque on the shaft and, thus, indicates abnormal operation, the final clarification chamber including a demand use filter, an overflow outlet operative should the filter become disabled, and a backwash nozzle located in the filter by reverse pumping therethrough fluid pumped from the overflow or backwash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1985
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves