Abstract: A device for separating into two or more components an aggregate of various species of particles immersed in and settled at the bottom of a body of fluid, one application being the removal of biological debris settled on and within the gravel bed of an aquarium, without, however, removing the gravel.The device, which is used in combination with an auxiliary pumping and filtering means, employs a separator chamber having a mouth kept close to or in contact with said aggregate, and accomplishes its purpose by a flow induced through said chamber via inlet and outlet ports therein, with no flow or only a minor flow in through the mouth, while dirt and debris are induced into the chamber by a turbulent action provided for therewithin, such that the dirt and debris are entrained and swept away by the flow, but not the denser gravel.

Abstract: Control apparatus for the purification of collected condensate, including condensers, at least two collecting chambers having open tops and at least two collecting chambers having covered tops for the condensers, a feed line having connections to the covered collecting chambers and connections for receiving run-off from the open collecting chambers, a first set of shut-off valves disposed in the feed line connections to the open collecting chambers, a main condensate pump disposed in the feed line, a purification line having connections for receiving run-off from the open collecting chambers and leading to at least one covered collecting chamber, a second set of shut-off valves disposed in the purification line connections to the open collecting chambers, a purification pump disposed in the purification line, a filter arrangement disposed in the purification line, a device for measuring conductivity of condensate in at least one of the open collecting chambers and for maintaining one of the first and second s

Abstract: A filter system for filtering cleaning solvents includes a first filter unit having mechanical filters such as paper or the like, through which the fluid is first pumped, and a second filter unit having adsorption chemicals, such as clays and charcoal, through which at least a portion of the fluid from the outlet of the first filter unit is passed and the outlet of the second filter unit is in communication with the inlet to the first filter unit for recirculating the fluid therefrom back through the first filter to filter and deposit carbon and clay particles from the second unit on the surface of the first filter unit thereby providing a multi-pass filter system.

Abstract: To seal the top cover of a vacuum travelling web filter, the top cover is lowered, by gravity, with a depending rim fitting against an upstanding rim of a filtrate chamber pan; the contaminant chamber above the filter web is closed off, and supply of filtrate is inhibited. Upon starting of the pump, a vacuum will result within the two chambers, drawing the cover tightly against the filtrate pan and, when a sufficient vacuum has been reached indicative of sealing engagement, supply of contaminant can be opened to draw contaminant into the upper chamber. As the filter cake builds up, further change in pressure in the contaminant chamber will result which, when a predetermined operating pressure level is reached, causes interruption of supply of contaminated fluid, and opening of an air vent valve to dry the resulting filter cake.

Abstract: A waste disposal system provides a mixing stage where waste matter is water-charged, the water charged mixture is then steam exploded by being sprayed onto a white hot surface in a chamber with only one outlet where the expansion on vaporization forces the vapor out through a chemical spray stage; next a vertical-filter stage removes and gravitationally drains coarse filtrate and finally a horizontal filter stage treats the vapor in the presence of a counterwash spray of fresh water before the vapor is released into the atmosphere; recirculation of the material filtered and treating materials is provided.

Abstract: Apparatus for disposing of human waste comprising in combination a bowl, a treating chamber connected to the bowl for receiving the contents of the bowl together with a predetermined quantity of flush water, a macerator in the treating chamber for effecting hydraulic attrition of the solid matter to a predetermined slurry which is pumpable, and a pump for removing the slurry from the treating chamber, and a method of reducing the solid matter in human waste by hydraulic attrition.

Abstract: A blood-treating system in which apparatus for the purification of blood by purifying blood plasma, is provided. The system includes as principal elements, an apparatus for separating blood plasma by way of a membrane, an apparatus for purifying blood plasma and an apparatus for mixing blood with blood plasma to be placed between a blood-introducing portion and a purified blood-withdrawing portion of the system. This system can remove useless substances from blood with a high efficiency without damaging and reducing blood cell components or any fear of mixing of the fine powder in the purifying agent.

Abstract: In the ultrafiltration of liquids such as vinegar, wine, etc., the liquid to be filtered is fed from and back to a circulating tank through at least one filtration circuit including at least two serially connected, vertically spaced, non-horizontal filter modules through each of which the liquid flows from top to bottom. Each filter module consists of a pipe enclosing a bundle of capillary tubes of semi-permeable membrane material and having a lateral outlet for filtered liquid. Each two successive filter modules are separated from one another by a fall interval zone through which unfiltered liquid can flow with a negligibly low pressure drop from the outlet of the upper filter module to the inlet of the lower one, and each fall interval zone is so arranged that the pressure drop occurring in the upper one of each two successive filter modules is equalized, to the extent of about 0.5 to 1.

Abstract: A waste treatment apparatus operated either by gravity or by positive displacement pump in which a variable inflow of contaminated liquid is aerated, clarified, and filtered. The filtered liquid is used to backwash one of at least a pair of rapid sand filters, while the other rapid sand filter is being utilized. The alternating cycle of backwashing and filtering by the respective rapid sand filters, all of which is integrated with overall filtering operation, insures that at least one filter is fully operative at any time.The apparatus is adapted for variable inflow and can adapt to such unfavorable exigencies as overtaxing inflow and clogging at the rapid sand filter or at an earlier stage of contaminated liquid treatment. Sensors are located suitably throughout the apparatus to adjust the system to overflow conditions or clogged conditions, and the flows can be redirected through a preferred stage.

Abstract: An inertial filter is installed in the discharge of a pump which is used to transfer slurries, and the filtrate stream from the filter serves as the pump seal flush.

Abstract: The apparatus and technique service the cage in the sense of removing the waste material generated in the cage by the bird's occupancy of the same. The apparatus and technique employ a bed of particle matter to filter elements of the waste material from a liquid in which the waste material was previously collected and entrained to remove it from the cage. The filtered effluent is then returned to the cage to collect and entrain new waste material before it is refiltered in turn in a closed cycle. In one embodiment, the container for the bed of particle matter is adapted to display aquatic life, and the volume of liquid which is cycled through the foregoing steps is adjusted to form a pool of liquid above the bed so that the aquatic life can live in the pool. Meanwhile, the pool liquid is also cycled through the foregoing steps as part of the waste removal liquid used in the cage.

Abstract: A portable machine for regenerative dialysis comprises a dialyzing liquid reservoir in which is immersed a suction duct connected to a heating tube the temperature of which is controlled by a thermal probe pair piloting a temperature adjusting element. The outlet of the heating tube is connected to the suction side of a dialyzing liquid pump having a first and second delivery ducts opening in the dialyzing liquid reservoir wherein are interposed a dialyzer element and a dialyzing liquid regenerating cartridge respectively.

Abstract: Apparatus for the treatment of wastewater has an enclosed unit providing a facultative zone wherein a mixture low in dissolved carbon comprising raw sewage and partially processed sewage undergoes denitrification brought about by faculative organisms contained in the prevailing low oxygen environment. Effluent from the facultative zone is charged into an enclosed columnar oxidation unit where a controlled flow of air or oxygen oxidizes nitrogen compounds present in raw sewage into nitrates. Part of the effluent from this columnar oxidation unit wherein the limited flow of oxygen has been mostly consumed in oxidizing the nitrogen compounds and is low in dissolved oxygen is recycled to the facultative zone and part flows into a columnar denitrification zone wherein anaerobic microorganisms substantially completely remove nitrogen as gas from the nitrates producing an effluent with a low nitrate content. Columnar oxidation units and denitrification units are in essentially deep-bed filters.

Abstract: A concentrator or mixture separator usable, for example, for significantly increasing the amount of proppant in a formation-fracturing foam is disclosed. In a particular embodiment the concentrator or separator is comprised of a substantially horizontally extending vessel, a rotor rotatably mounted inside the vessel on a shaft and a motor for rotating the shaft. The vessel has a slurry intake at a forward end and a concentrated slurry discharge and proppant carrier discharge at the rearward end. Mounted on the shaft near the slurry intake is a cylindrical stabilizer which is for imparting a spin to the incoming slurry. Also mounted on the shaft, downstream of the stabilizer is an intake impeller assembly which can be comprised of a plurality of annular intake impellers, a discharge assembly which can be comprised of a plurality of annular discharge impellers, and a connecting housing therebetween.

Abstract: A liquid filter apparatus wherein an elongated sheet of filter media is movable along an inclined support at the bottom of a receiving tank for dirty liquid below which is a collection tank for filtered liquid. The periphery of the collection tank is sealed by clean liquid supplied from an auxillary reservoir at a pressure greater than the liquid in the receiving tank. A suction pump attached to the outlet from the collection tank helps to maintain flow of clean liquid through the media while filtered out material is accumulated on its upper surface. Fresh filter media is pulled into position from a supply roll to replace loaded filter media by drive means controlled to operate automatically after the pressure in the collection tank is substantially equalized temporarily with that in the receiving tank.

Abstract: Method of separating a mixture of a carrier medium and at least one substance insoluble therein, for example, water and oil or gas and soot, in which the mixture is separated in three steps, i.e. a first step in which the mixture is passed for coalescence of the substance through a first packet of moving filter material, a second step in which the substance coalesced segregates from the mixture by gravity and a third step in which the remainder of the substance and the other packet of filter material is filtered out.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for separating particulate material from fluids. Essentially, the process and apparatus involves passing a dispersion of particulate material in a fluid through a porous, solid tubular member, which can retain the particulate material within the tubular member but permits passage of the fluid therethrough. The process and apparatus disclosed are especially useful in washing and/or adjusting the concentration of particulate materials dispersed in fluids by recycling the dispersion through the porous member until the concentration of dispersed particulate material is increased to a predetermined degree.

Abstract: Waste containing liquor is treated in a device containing a plurality of submerged, slowly rotating bacterial growth surfaces which are spaced apart from each other, extend in a horizontal plane and are mounted on a vertical, rotating shaft. The bacterial growth surfaces, which may be in the configuration of a substantially flat disk, are maintained submerged in a waste water treatment tank as the waste-containing liquor is passed over, through and around them. The tank may be provided with several sets of growth areas and shafts which are interleafed and separated from each other.

Abstract: A process for separating fine particles entrained in the liquid coolant of lens generating or edging device comprising passing the contaminated coolant through a filter medium made of a non-woven fabric comprising synthetic filaments having a denier of from about 3.5 to about 5.0; the fabric having a density of from about 0.3 to 2.0 oz. per square yard, the reduction in liquid coolant flow rate caused by the filter medium being less than about 1.0%. The present invention is effective in removing about 97% to 99% of particles having a size of about 5 microns or larger.

Abstract: The specification discloses apparatus and methods for recovery of coal fines and for recycling thereof incidental to a self-contained system for charging preheated coal into coke ovens. The apparatus enables a system for charging preheated coal into coke ovens to meet pollution control regulations. The apparatus comprises four circulating streams of liquid for carrying coal fines in a slurry, namely, the charge main liquor circuit, the excess recycle gas scrubber circuit, the charge line condenser circuit and the charge bin vent condenser circuit. The -28 mesh coal with the liquor from the various circuits goes to a clarifier or thickener. Floating fines from top and settled fines from the bottom of the thickener are pumped via a fines tank to filters from which the solid or coagulated fines are restored to the wet coal feed to the heaters.

Abstract: A system for continuously treating waste water from laundries, car washers and like cleaning establishments to recover water soap, detergents, and other chemicals. The process of using the system is carried out by flowing the untreated water through sand chambers to remove heavy sediment, collecting the water from the sand chambers in a storage compartment, pumping the water through a centrifugal separator for removal of large particulate matter and then through a filter containing media for removal of flocculated soaps, detergents, waxes, and other particulate matter, thence into a filtered water storage compartment. The water is pumped from the filtered water storage compartment by a pressure pump.

Abstract: A settling layer filtration system having at least one settling layer arranged in a vertical direction with the liquid to be filtered being delivered thereto by means of an electric powered filter pump which is protected against the collapse of that settling layer in the event of the occurrence of an emergency condition which would interrupt the flow of liquid therethrough by the provision of an emergency standby operating means for maintaining during the emergency condition a minimum flow of liquid through said settling layer sufficient to maintain it in vertical working position. The emergency operating means includes a water turbine having a driving connection with pump means delivering liquid to the settling layer, means for sensing the occurrence of an emergency condition, and means operated in response to the sensing means for activating the water turbine to drive the pump to deliver liquid at a flow level at least sufficient to maintain the settling layer in its working orientation.

Abstract: An aerator for bodies of water comprises a submerged water intake with a filter on it, that leads to the axial inlet of a centrifugal pump of the type that can handle substantial quantities of air. An air inlet to the axial pump inlet introduces the air centrally into the pump chamber, where it is admixed with water and discharged from a peripheral outlet to a point beneath the surface of the water. The pump can be of the type that has a rotor with a plurality of vanes of airfoil configuration.

Abstract: This invention relates to improvements in or relating to vacuum belt filters. It relates further to suction boxes for such filters and to a method of operation of the filters. More particularly, the invention relates to the supporting of the belt of the filter about the suction box so as to minimize drag of the belt and to minimize friction between the belt and the suction box and still seal the suction box. This is accomplished by means of conduits that have deformable walls and are located along the edges of the suction boxes, fluid support cushions being formed in the conduits. This is also accomplished by controlling the fluid support cushion according to the drag on the suction box, the suction pressure in the suction box and the rate of flow of fluid into the conduits to form the support cushion.

Abstract: An aerobic bacteria sewage treatment apparatus for treating waste water mixed with activated sludge by circulating the mixed liquor about a clarification compartment placed in a main treatment tank from which the clarification compartment withdraws water at a quiescent zone and further separates out and filters solid matter, finally delivering a well clarified effluent withdrawn from the top of the clarification compartment, the apparatus having an auxiliary digester compartment operative to periodically receive a proportion of the contents of the main tank, which contents are treated and allowed a time to settle out solids, whereupon the clear water from the auxiliary compartment is returned to the main treatment tank and the solids are left to accumulate for further treatment and later removal, the transfer of said proportion of the mixed liquor from the main tank being accomplished by overflow resulting from a purge cycle during which the clarification compartment is back-flushed into the main treatment ta

Abstract: A filter system to follow a primary sewage treatment unit delivering substantially clarified effluent, the filter system having plural vertical filter columns nearly filled with filter aggregate and each column having a vertical stand pipe terminating near the bottom of the column and operative to introduce air to bubble up through the aggregate while the column is having water backflushed through it, and the filter system having a separate path by which backflushed water with the solids entrained therein is returned to the primary treatment unit during backflush purge cycles.

Abstract: A reservoir tank has filling and outlet ports which are provided in a common aperture formed through the tank top.

Abstract: An improved waste material handling system includes a plurality of waste food disposer units which are operable to disintegrate waste food materials to form a slurry. The system also includes a pulper unit which is operable to disintegrate solid waste materials, such as paper, cardboard boxes, plastic bags, etc., to form a slurry. The waste material slurry is conducted from the waste food disposer units and pulper unit to a press which extracts water from the slurry. To prevent the discharge of waste material slurry from an active one of the waste food disposer units to an inactive one of the waste food disposer units and/or the pulper unit, check valves are associated with each of the waste food disposer units and the pulper unit. A pump is also associated with each of the waste food disposer units and the pulper unit to promote a flow of slurry from the units to the press.

Abstract: An apparatus to collect contaminants from a known volume of fluid and to present the collected contaminants for analysis. The apparatus has a first container to receive the known volume of fluid and a second container to receive the fluid from the container. A contaminant trapping material is located between the two containers so that as the fluid passes from the first container to the second container it passes through the contaminant trapping material. The second container is connected to a vacuum generator used to create a vacuum in the second container. The apparatus also has means to recirculate the fluid from the second container back to the first container so that the fluid can pass through the contaminant trapping material a given number of times thereby insuring an adequate collection of contaminants. A method of collecting contaminants from a fluid and presenting the contaminants for analysis is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of clarifying contaminated liquid through the use of a storage reservoir for containing high volume surges of contaminated influent and chemically treating the influent passed thereinto and a dilution reservoir for selectively transferring the contents of the storage reservoir thereinto to more uniformly control the solids content of the influent to be transferred to the filtration system. The filtration system includes a primary and secondary filter which clarify the contaminated liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for clarifying liquids contaminated with suspended materials that do not readily separate by gravity, is disclosed. A flowing stream of the contaminated liquid is initially passed to a mixing zone at a predetermined flow velocity and intimately mixed with a gas stream to form a multiphase liquid-contaminant-gas stream. The flow velocity of the multiphase stream is then alternately increased and decreased with substantially simultaneous decrease and increase of pressure to ultimately disperse and dissolve the gas stream throughout the liquid and contaminant phases of the stream.

Abstract: A method for the anaerobic fermentation of organic waste materials in a digestion zone, which method comprises introducing into the zone algae produced externally of the zone, and/or at least part of the liquid substrate in which such algae have been grown.Apparatus for anaerobic fermentation consisting essentially of a liquid storage tank comprising an inner bag-like container made of flexible material and provided with inlet and outlet means for the introduction of feed materials and the simultaneous removal of liquid and gaseous products, an outer supporting wall or frame, and at least one layer of insulating material arranged between the outer wall of the frame and the container.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for separating from ruminant animal feces the undigested fibrous material that is preponderantly short pieces which consist of bundles of capillary tubes. The feces are mixed with urine, water from animal washing and preparation for milking, and with other water if needed, to form a homogeneous slurry which is run through tandem perforate drum and roller squeezers that heavily compress the short pieces to express liquid from them while continuously draining off a filtrate of liquid and fine solids which is ultimately put into a pond for use as liquid fertilizer. This leaves a filter mass which is preponderantly the short pieces The filter mass is mixed with clean water to form a suspension which is run through tandem perforate cylinder roller pressers that compress the short pieces under several times heavier pressure to produce a cleansed filter mass and a filtrate which is combined with the original slurry.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for separation of liquids from a mixture of solid matter and liquids by supplying said mixture to a separation member which is permeable by liquid, simultaneously applying a vacuum to the underside of said separation member, and subjecting said separation member to vibrations. The invention also includes a device for carrying out said method.

Abstract: An automatic control is disclosed to keep rotary vacuum filter slurry feed below an upper overflow level and above a lower prime level in a continuous operation in closed circuit with at least one rotary separation stage comprising the slurry feed supply and into which excess filtrate is returned to maintain a predetermined slurry level at filtration. An operator regulates speed of separator rotation in accordance with measurement of level to provide selected speed of rotation for longest dry time for lowest cake moisture.

Abstract: A portable filtration apparatus particularly adapted to remove solid and chemical contaminants from hot cooking liquids used in deep fryers, having a frame, a filter bowl mounted on the frame, a plurality of horizontal filter elements mounted on a hollow, vertical tube within the filter bowl, each of the filter elements having a corresponding cleaning means mounted adjacent it to engage and remove spent filter cake and contaminants from a filtering surface of the element when desired, and a pump mounted on the frame for continuously recirculating liquid through the filtering apparatus or returning filtered liquid to the deep fryer, as controlled by movement of a single valve. The filter elements are rotatable about a central axis of the tube within the filter bowl relative to the stationary cleaning means disposed across the surface of each element, to automatically remove spent filter cake and contaminants and eject them from an opening formed in the bowl.

Abstract: A system for treating waste waters including a pair of concentric tanks forming a space therebetween which serves as an aeration chamber. Untreated but screened waste water is discharged into the (annular) space and withdrawn therefrom by a pump which passes the liquid through an oxygenating device which induces air into the liquid. The liquid is then circulated through long tubing wound around the outside peripheral surface of the tank to obtain intimate contact between the gas, liquid and solids therein and to convert dissolved material into insoluble material by a conventional biochemical process. The liquid thus processed in the tubing is introduced into the central or inner tank where the treated solids rise to the surface for recycling in the system while the liquid effluent is filtered and discharged to a river or stream.

Abstract: Installation for gassing highly emulsified fermentation liquids in which liquid recirculated to the reaction vessel is gassed in a centrifugal pump to improve the efficiency of the process.

Abstract: An apparatus which is suitable for the treatment of at least two liquid wastes which are chemically not compatible with one another, which comprises an addition zone for the addition of treatment substances to the wastes, a sedimentation zone for the separation of precipitates and liquid and a dilution zone in which the liquid separated off in the sedimentation zone is diluted with water and the liquid diluted in this way is run off, is improved by that, for each of the liquid wastes which are chemically not compatible with one another, separate chambers are provided in the addition zone and in the sedimentation zone, that the addition zone is located lowest in the apparatus, the dilution zone is located above the addition zone and the sedimentation zone is located above the dilution zone, that to each of the chambers of the addition zone there is allotted an inlet for treatment substances which can make the waste in question compatible with the other waste or the other wastes, that each of the chambers of th