With Distinct Reactor Tank, Trough Or Compartment Patents (Class 210/205)
  • Patent number: 7173255
    Abstract: An irradiation device, for example a UV irradiation device for disinfecting waste water, is arranged to emit radiation from a source and through an outer wall which is permeable to fluid. Means are provided for varying the fluid pressure behind the inner surface of the outer wall, to cause fluid to permeate through it, either inwardly or outwardly. The arrangement serves to maintain the outer surface of the permeable wall clear of contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Malcolm Robert Snowball
  • Patent number: 7172687
    Abstract: A water treatment system for treating water. The water treatment system includes a primary water treatment station and a solid-based sulfurous generator downstream from the primary water treatment station for producing aqueous sulfurous acid for further treatment of the water. In one embodiment, the solid-based sulfurous generator includes a hydraulic air inlet shut off valve safety system for automatically reducing the combustion air to the sulfurous generator when water is not delivered to the solid-based sulfurous generator. Also, in one embodiment, the water treatment system includes a control system that monitors the pH of the treated water to control the water flow rate through the solid-based sulfurous generator to achieve the desired concentration of sulfurous acid in the water being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: SO2 Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: James Webb
  • Patent number: 7169301
    Abstract: A water purification installation includes a coagulation area, a flocculation area, an area for mixing, in an upflow, the flocculated water with pressurised water which is delivered by a microbubble-generating pressurisation-pressure reduction system, and a flotation area. Suspended matter, which is brought to the surface by the microbubbles, is evacuated from the upper part of the flotation area. Moreover, the lower part of said flotation area includes means of collecting the clarified water. The geometry of the flotation area is such that the ratio between the height (H) of the area located above the clarified water collection means and the length (L) of the area is between 0.3 and 1; and the ratio between the surface (Sa) of the nappe at the outlet of the mixing area and the surface (Sp) of the actual flotation area is between 0.05 and 0.5 and, preferably, between 0.1 and 0.35.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Degremont
    Inventor: Patrick Vion
  • Patent number: 7169297
    Abstract: The invention features a system for treating liquid including a liquid treatment device comprising adsorbent media for removing a substance from liquid and a pH adjuster device located upstream of the liquid treatment device relative to a direction of flow of the liquid. The pH adjuster device contains particulate or solid state pH adjuster material capable of releasing H or OH groups into the liquid or consuming H or OH groups from the liquid effective to raise or lower the pH of the liquid while it passes through the media. The pH adjuster may include acidifier or basifier material. Also featured is a method of using the device to remove a substance from liquid by adsorption and/or ion exchange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Magnesium Elektron, Inc.
    Inventors: Anatoly I. Bortun, Mila N. Bortun, Francis J. Fischer
  • Patent number: 7166214
    Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of mercury and other harmful substances from effluents produced in dentist offices is described. The apparatus involves a series of inclined plates upon which mercury reducing bacteria are present, and a subsequent alkaline pH precipitation chambers and an ion exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: 3MA Solutions Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Armstrong, Colin Morrell
  • Patent number: 7163632
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system and method for dissolving a gas into a fluid and subsequently allowing microbial or chemical reactions with the fluid mixture to decontaminate the fluid. The system comprises a pressurized gas transfer reactor, a depressurization device, a means of rapid dilution, a reactor, and a means of secondary clarification. Gas is dissolved into a fluid within the pressurized gas transfer reactor. The fluid is then transferred to the depressurization device where it is depressurized and diluted. Thereafter, or concurrently, the fluid flows into the reactor where microbes consume contaminants and dissolved gas within the fluid. The decontaminated fluid then either flows into a secondary clarification tank or membrane system where the bacteria within the decontaminated fluid are removed, or the fluid is recycled through the system. The method of present invention utilizes the system of present invention and operates pumps and a regenerative turbine or throttling valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: Richard E. Speece
  • Patent number: 7156984
    Abstract: This invention relates to remediation systems, and more particularly to remediation systems for water, soil, and sediment bodies using thin-layer coated microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 7156990
    Abstract: A coagulation-flocculation apparatus for conducting coagulation-flocculation treatment by adding a coagulant or flocculent to suspension such as sludge is capable of diffusing the flocculant into the suspension uniformly so as to exhibit flocculation function of the flocculant effectively, thereby enhancing the flocculation efficiency, shortening the processing time, and allowing reduction in size of the apparatus. The flocculation apparatus has transfer piping 12 for transferring suspension, small-diameter piping 13 of which diameter is smaller than that of the transfer piping 12 and which is connected to the transfer piping 12, a flocculent supplying device disposed on the small-diameter piping 13 or the transfer piping 12 on the upstream side thereof, and a temporary retention section 11 for flocculation having an inlet and an outlet for water, the small-diameter piping 13 being connected to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Tadao Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 7153420
    Abstract: A colloid comprises a sulfone polymer. The colloid may be used as a replacement for activated carbon or charcoal in water purification systems. Unlike activated carbon, the colloid is advantageously regenerated chemically and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Mark M. Clark, Robert Riley
  • Patent number: 7150827
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for adding a dechlorination agent into a fluid stream prior to discharge and a method for treatment of chlorinated water. The portable apparatus can connect in any part of a fluid flow system. A bypass is provided such that a controlled portion of the fluid stream is diverted to a dechlorination agent. The dechlorination agent dissolves in the bypassed fluid flow. The bypassed, dechlorination agent enriched fluid re-enters and mixes with the fluid flow that was not bypassed. As the two streams mix, the total flow receives the required amount of dechlorination before being discharged into the environment. A valve controls proportional flow of the fluid stream through the bypass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Inventor: Frederick H. Grenning
  • Patent number: 7147786
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for purifying water by dissolving one or more soluble metal salts in the water to provide corresponding metal ions, by dissolving hypohalite into the water, and by regulating the residence time, and thus hypohalite concentration in the device using a venturi nozzle disposed between the metal generator and the hypohalite generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care, Inc.
    Inventors: Alvin Costa, Richard T. Coffey, Michael Pereira, Daniel Nelsen, Thomas Parent, Christopher Kampf
  • Patent number: 7147782
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-vinylpyridine resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Juzer Jangbarwala
  • Patent number: 7135112
    Abstract: A flocculation apparatus and method for treating colloidal suspensions. The apparatus includes a suspension inlet, a suspension outlet and an inner cone mounted centrally in a conical outer housing. The inner cone and/or the outer housing is rotatable relative to one another and a gap for through-flow of suspensions is present between the inner cone and the outer housing. In the method, continuously measuring a flock size distribution of a suspension stream passed into the flocculation apparatus is provided. Additionally provided is axially displacing the inner cone and/or outer housing as a function of the flock size distribution and the suspension volume flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Clausthaler Umwelttechnikinstitut GmbH (CUTEC-Institute)
    Inventors: Christian Schroeder, Michael Sievers
  • Patent number: 7128830
    Abstract: A purifying device comprising a purifying tank (1) having an ultraviolet radiating tube (2) installed within the middle thereof and a submersible pump (3) mounted in the upper region thereof. The purifying tank is held 5 to 100 cm below the water level by floats (7a). A partition (6) divides the region adjacent to the water level into upper and lower levels, wherein only the water on the upper side of the partition (6) is sucked in by the submersible pump (3) for purification in the purifying tank (1), whereby water-bloom, algae or the like floating on water is rapidly collected and decomposed for removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Yoshiyuki Sawada
  • Patent number: 7122115
    Abstract: A method and system flows water through a water system in proximity to an ion generation device and to a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation that combines photochemistry principles, heavy metal toxicity, and UV light radiation to form a highly effective combined water disinfection process. Using ion generation and UV irradiation, the method and system synergistically improves the disinfection and bactericidal effects of ion generation or UV radiation working individually by making ion-exposed microorganisms more susceptible and less resistant to the bactericidal effects of UV radiation. The combined method and system of the present invention may include control means such that the method and system can be configured for single pass through, dual pass through or for recirculation such that the order of exposure to the ion generation and UV radiation aspects can be varied or altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventors: William Holt, John V Kraft
  • Patent number: 7105094
    Abstract: A method which uses a process reactor having three separate reaction stages to remove high concentrations of heavy metals from acidic wastewater and chemical solutions. During each of three stages the pH level of the wastewater is increased and sludge and flocculate organic and metal hydrocyl matters are removed from the wastewater to provide clean water which is discharged in to a sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: T. Richard Lee, Ye Yi
  • Patent number: 7105084
    Abstract: A passive treatment system for removing metals, especially manganese, from mine drainage and other aqueous solutions. The Hybrid Flow Pond (HFP) is an open, pond-like structure utilizing a horizontal or vertical operational flow path through a bed of treatment media together with a vertical flow path for flushing accumulated solids from the bed. The bed preferably contains basic steel slag, limestone, marble, blast furnace slag, other types of slag, organic material, or mixtures thereof. In another aspect of the Hybrid Flow Pond, a tiered piping system divides an interior of the treatment bed into cells. Each cell has its own header and adjustable riser whose output level can be raised or lowered to change the head experienced by each cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Inventors: Gene T. Hilton, Jr., Timothy P. Danehy, Margaret Hensley Dunn, Clifford F. Denholm, IV, Shaun L. Busler
  • Patent number: 7097762
    Abstract: The modular waste water treatment system receives waste water from a waste water source containing organic waste and produces a treated water effluent. The modular system includes bioreactors and a bioreactor support module. The bioreactors receive a waste water mixture from the bioreactor support module and produce treated water substantially free of organic waste. The bioreactor support module is a transportable unit fabricated upon a frame adapted for transport by a truck upon a public roadway. The bioreactor support module includes items of equipment needed for conditioning waste water for intake by the bioreactors, items of equipment for receiving, processing and discharging treated water from the bioreactors and may include other items of equipment for receiving and processing other byproducts from the bioreactors. The transportable bioreactor support module is sized to support the operation of between one and preferably as many as six bioractors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignees: ICM, Inc., Phoenix Bio-Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph John Ruocco, Paul John Russell
  • Patent number: 7094341
    Abstract: Processes and apparatus are disclosed for separating and purifying aqueous solutions such as seawater by causing a substantially impermeable mat of gas hydrate to form on a porous restraint. Once the mat of gas hydrate has formed on the porous restraint, the portion of the mat of gas hydrate adjacent to the restraint is caused to dissociate and flow through the restraint, e.g., by lowering the pressure in a collection region on the opposite side of the restraint. The purified or desalinated water may then be recovered from the collection region. The process may be used for marine desalination as well as for drying wet gas and hydrocarbon solutions. If conditions in the solution are not conductive to forming hydrate, a heated or refrigerated porous restraint may be used to create hydrate-forming conditions near the restraint, thereby causing gas hydrates to form directly on the surface of the restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Marine Desalination Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael David Max
  • Patent number: 7094342
    Abstract: A water activation device efficiently activates water and maintains its activation performance over a long period of time. The water activation device includes a conductive body having an in-flow opening and an out-flow opening, a cover member that coats the outer perimeter of the body through insulation material and is insulated from water pipes, a plurality of holders overlapped with one another in an axial direction of the body, and a plurality of activation material units each being formed in a cylindrical block containing minerals as a main component. The activation material units are held in a retainer of the holder without contacting with one another. Each of the holders is formed of a retainer having a plurality of flow openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Inventor: Kikuo Tamura
  • Patent number: 7087157
    Abstract: A multi-phase separation system utilized to remove contaminants from fluids includes a pre-filtering module for filtering a contaminated fluid to provide a filtered contaminated fluid. A condenser module receives the filtered contaminated fluid and a contaminated gas phase for condensing the contaminated gas phase to a contaminated liquid. A phase reaction chamber converts the filtered contaminated fluid to a contaminated mist wherein the mist is subjected to a low energy, high vacuum environment for providing a first change of phase by separating into a contaminated gas phase and a liquid mist phase. The contaminated gas phase is carried out of the phase reaction chamber by a carrier air. A vacuum pump provides the low energy, high vacuum environment in the phase reaction chamber and delivers the contaminated gas phase to the condenser module for condensation providing a second change of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Advanced Phase Separation, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne W. Spani
  • Patent number: 7083717
    Abstract: A chlorinator connected to a water system includes a hopper for holding chemical tablets on a perforated bed and an underlying basin. A spray head is supported by the perforated bed and sprays water onto the tablets and parallel to the perforated bed. The basin receives the water through the perforated bed. Rinse nozzles in the basin are connected to the re-circulation system, and a float valve controls the flow of water to the rinse nozzles. A discharge pump draws water from the basin and discharges it to the water system at a rate faster than water is added to the basin by the spray head, but at the same rate as the overall incoming water makeup water is added to the basin through the rinse nozzles and the float valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: BioLab, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald L. Hustelll, Jason M. Crain, Stephen D. Clark, Acevedo H. Cuahutemoc
  • Patent number: 7077958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sewage treatment plant for treatment of waste fluid, said plant comprising at least one aeration chamber (2, 3), a settling chamber (4) and a disinfection chamber (5). In order to rationalize the layout and the structure of the sewage treatment plant (1), the at least one aeration chamber (2,3) and the settling chamber (4) are arranged in a structural unit comprising opposite end walls (101, 102), opposite side walls (103, 104), a bottom part (105) and a cover part (106). The disinfection chamber (5) is arranged separately outside one of said end walls (101, 102), side walls (103, 104), bottom part (105) or cover part (106) of the structural unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: EVAC International OY
    Inventor: Timo Metsänen
  • Patent number: 7077208
    Abstract: An apparatus having various conduits moves liquid by passing gas up through it. A collector conduit transports the liquid to the bottom of the unit. A gas-lift conduit mixes the liquid and gas at the bottom and transports the mixture upwards, owing to the rising action of the bubbles and the resulting decreased density of the gas/liquid mixture. At the top of the gas-lift conduit, some of the gas may escape from the liquid and out of the apparatus. The lifted liquid may exit the apparatus at an elevation higher than the entry point of the liquid or may be directed down through a down and out conduit. A one way valve or equivalent configuration may be used to limit flow to one direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: R3 Pump Technologies
    Inventors: Michael J. Harrington, Jeffery Dean Rabe, David Alan Nickel
  • Patent number: 7077953
    Abstract: An acid recovery system used in a hydrolysis operation includes a chromatographic unit to provide initial separation of sugar and acid. The sugar product provided by the chromatographic unit is processed to produce higher value products, such as ethanol. The remaining acid is contaminated by sugar. A nanofiltration unit containing a nanofilter membrane processes the sugar contaminated acid. The acid is allowed to permeate across the nanofilter membrane while sugar is rejected. The permeate is provided to a conventional acid recovery system and recycled for use in the hydrolysis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Harris Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Ranney
  • Patent number: 7056441
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a wastewater processing apparatus and method comprising a rotating filter thickener (20) receiving and filtering a wastewater mixture and producing a first filtrate output and a first sludge output, a screw press thickener (24) receiving the first sludge output and forming a final sludge output and a second filtrate output, a dissolved air flotator (46) receiving the first filtrate output from the rotating filter thickener (20) and producing a first solid output and a third filtrate output, a first conductor (10, 12, 29) for mixing incoming raw manure wastewater and the second filtrate output from the screw press thickener (24) to produce the wastewater mixture for input to the rotating filter thickener (20), and a second conductor (34) for branching off a part of the first filtrate output to a spray cleaner (38) for spraying the part of the first filtrate output onto the filtration disks (70) for their cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Meri Entsorgungstechnik fur die Papierindustrie GmbH
    Inventors: Lucas Menke, George Troubounis, Brad Leitner, Bob Knoll, Carl Theunis
  • Patent number: 7052600
    Abstract: The inventive method and apparatus for treating water and water systems. The apparatus and method also assures the retention of calcium in drinking water provided to an animal by suppling water to a water feed line which is connected to a drinking device, oxidizing the water to retain calcium in the water in solution, ionizing the water using copper/zinc electrodes, the ionization sanitizing the water and providing residual copper and zinc ions which act as an algicide and a biocide, and providing the ionized oxidized drinking water which retains calcium in solution to the animal for drinking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Enproamerica, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott McKay
  • Patent number: 7048852
    Abstract: A method of treating liquid including mixing coagulant with the liquid, introducing mixed coagulant and liquid into a primary reaction zone, containing an agitator, of a reactor which is substantially concentrically positioned with respect to a secondary reaction zone of the reactor, introducing flocculant into the primary reaction zone at a location between the agitator and where the mixed coagulant and liquid are introduced into the primary reaction zone, mixing the mixed coagulant and liquid with the flocculant and causing the resulting mixture to flow into the secondary reaction zone, introducing an encapsulating agent into the secondary reaction zone, recirculating the liquid and encapsulated flocs through the primary and secondary reaction zone, and passing the liquid and encapsulated flocs outwardly of the reactor, and an apparatus for treating liquids including a reactor, a draft tube substantially concentrically positioned within the reactor and being positioned such that the liquids may flow inwardl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Infilco Degremont, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Temple Ballard
  • Patent number: 7048857
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for selectively removing metal ions of interest from a solution (12), such as the wastewater from a chemical mechanical polishing process. The method comprises contacting a solution (12) containing solid particles, an oxidizing agent and a first concentration of the metal ions with an ion-exchange resin (20), such as a crosslinked poly-4-v resin, that is resistant to damage by the oxidizing agent and that is operative when in contact with the solution (12) to exchange selected ones of the metal ions in the solution for selected preferred ions in the ion-exchange resin thereby to produce a treated solution (22) having a second concentration of the metal ions that is lower than the first concentration. The present invention also relates to an apparatus (100) and system (500) for use with the method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Juzer Jangbarwala
  • Patent number: 7048853
    Abstract: Arsenic is removed from water and other aqueous feeds by (1) treating the feed with a compound containing cerium in the +4 oxidation state, preferably cerium dioxide, to oxidize arsenic in the +3 oxidation state to arsenic in the +5 oxidation state and (2) removing the arsenic in the +5 oxidation state from the aqueous phase, normally by contacting the treated feed with alumina or other precipitating agent containing cations in the +3 oxidation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Richard Donald Witham, Edward Bayer McNew, John Leslie Burba, III
  • Patent number: 7048854
    Abstract: An apparatus which uses a process reactor having three separate reaction stages to remove high concentrations of 3000 mg/l heavy metals from acidic wastewater and chemical solutions. During each of three stages the pH level of the wastewater is increased and sludge and flocculate organic and metal hydroxyl matters are removed from the wastewater to provide clean water which is discharged in to a sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: T. Richard Lee, Ye Yi
  • Patent number: 7033495
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water. The system is self-contained within a standard shipping container, with all components disposed in-line within the shipping container. Float is removed from the flotation tank with a skimmer that drives float downstream onto a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt conveys float away from the flotation tank, in the downstream direction, and deposits the float in a collection tank. Clean water may be drawn from the flotation tank continuously, while float may be removed periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Sionix Corporation
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 7030391
    Abstract: An apparatus for irradiation of a fluid with UV light includes a tubular body consisting of UV-permeable material. The body includes a fluid chamber and openings for passage of fluid. A UV source is provided to subject the chamber to the UV light. Light baffles define an irradiated section of the chamber to prevent light penetration beyond the irradiated section while permitting the fluid to flow through. The apparatus is provided as a component in a housing having a modular design. The modules include a back cover for surface mounting. The body is mounted to the back cover. An inner cover is attached to the back cover. The inner cover includes the UV source and modular electronics. A front cover is attached to the inner and back cover. Heat sink elements are provided to control the heat produced in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: CFM Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Zagrobelny
  • Patent number: 7022227
    Abstract: A multifunctional filtering device for an aquarium mainly includes a filter box for being suspended at an aquarium. The filter box includes a pump motor for producing mixture of water and air and a vortex flow generator disposed at the center of the inner side of the bottom thereof and in communication with a water outlet disposed at the pump motor. A bubble collector is disposed at the top of the vortex flow generator. The filter box may be suspended inside or outside the aquarium. The filter box includes a water input pipe unit and a water output pipe unit which may be differently configured in accordance with the suspension position of the filter box. The water output pipe unit may be further disposed with a heating rod or ultraviolet sterilization lamp for heating or sterilizing breeding water in the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Shih-Hui Liao
  • Patent number: 7022234
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for delivering activated microorganisms to an environment to be treated. The apparatus has a bioreactor containing microorganisms, a supply of organic and inorganic nutrients and a controller. The controller maintains the conditions of the bioreactor so as to maintain the microorganisms in the exponential phase of growth. Although the apparatus is continuous, the controller also doses a portion of the fluid in the bioreactor to the environment to be treated. The invention also provides a method for the biological treatment of wastes and an organic and inorganic nutrient composition used to feed the microorganisms in the bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Aqua-Nova LLC
    Inventors: Jon Shaffer, Jack Fernandes, John Lucido
  • Patent number: 7018531
    Abstract: An oil-conditioning filter, for use with an internal combustion engine, includes a mechanical filter element and a central additive cartridge, for gradually dispensing an oil additive over time. The additive cartridge has a beneficial oil-conditioning agent contained therein. The additive may be provided as a solid block within a storage chamber of the cartridge, or may be a plurality of pellets. Central placement of the cartridge allows for fluid filtration through the mechanical filter element before the additive is added thereto, reducing the likelihood that the additive will be filtered out prematurely upon its initial release. An additive cartridge for installation in an oil filter is also described, including a baffle portion and a storage chamber. Alternative exemplary embodiments of the additive cartridge may include a cylindrical shell, a basket which is operatively attached to an oil filter center tube, or a porous center tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Eilers, Daniel J. Auxter, Michael S. Lynch, Gerard W. Bilski, Gary B. Zulauf
  • Patent number: 7018532
    Abstract: Contaminated water is chemically treated and aerated while being gravity fed through a trough. A series of slats are positioned in the trough to interrupt the flow and induce mixing and aeration. An array of aeration edges is removably installed over the slats. A holder for containing chemical treatment matter therein is positioned adjacent each slat. The aeration edges consist of upper and lower plates stacked one on top of the other. Each plate is provided with horizontal fingers extending in a direction downstream relative to the flow direction of the treated water. Each finger terminates in a baffle, which baffle is positioned substantially perpendicular to its finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Michael J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7014758
    Abstract: A water treatment device capable of filtering out iron and manganese in raw water by oxidizing them and making them insoluble in water includes a raw water supply tube (4), one or more jet nozzles (5), each being at one end portion thereof in communication with the raw water supply tube (4) and having at the other end thereof a raw water jetting outlet for blowing out the raw water in a jet stream, one or more air introducing tubes (6) provided in correspondence to the jet nozzle or jet nozzles (5), each being at one end portion thereof opened to the atmosphere and being at the other end portion thereof opened to the inside of a corresponding one of the jet nozzles (5) upstream of the raw water jetting outlet and a filter container (3) containing a filter layer (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 7014780
    Abstract: A water treatment device, method and system with the water treatment device having a container for holding a water treatment material therein with the water treatment device including a shroud extending in a direction generally normal to a flow of debris laden water with the shroud inhibiting direct flow of debris into a water inlet in the water treatment device by directing water and debris over the shroud and around the water treatment device while a portion of the water can be directed laterally into the water treatment material within the water treatment device to thereby purify the water that flows over the water treatment materials with the water treatment device including multiple spaced and positioned water inlets so that the likelihood of the water inlet being completely obstructed is remote.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: King Technology
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7014782
    Abstract: A point-of-use filtering and water treating kit includes a container, a plurality of membrane-type filter elements and a filter basket to support the filter elements during use. The filter elements are contained within a reclosable package that is fitted within the container during storage. At least one ladle or other drinking cup is also contained within the container to provide a complete assembly for producing potable water. In use, the package containing the filter elements is removed from the container and a single filter element is placed in the filter basket. The filter basket is nested in the top end of the container and the water to be filtered is poured through the filter element. The filtered and purified water is collected within the container. In one embodiment, the filter elements contain a purifying agent, disinfectant or antimicrobial agent impregnated within the filter element to treat the water as the water is being filtered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventors: Joseph A. D'Emidio, Gilbert V. Levin
  • Patent number: 7014752
    Abstract: A water treatment control system for minimizing trihalomethane formation includes chlorine injection equipment having a plurality of chlorine injectors (11d, 12, 13), a fluorescence analyzer 7 provided on the upstream of the chlorine injectors, and a water flowmeter 6. An chlorine injection rate necessary to reduce a trihalomethane formation potential is calculated by a chlorine injection rate calculating apparatus 14a based on a measured value from the fluorescence analyzer 7. An chlorine injection amount from the chlorine injectors is controlled by chlorine injection amount control apparatuses 15a–15c based on the chlorine injection rate and a measured value from the flowing water flowmeter 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Seiichi Murayama, Futoshi Kurokawa, Masao Kaneko, Kotaro Iyasu, Kenji Taguchi, Kie Kubo, Shojiro Tamaki, Akira Hiramoto, Takumi Hayashi, Nobuyoshi Kaiga
  • Patent number: 7011749
    Abstract: A system for treating sediments contaminated with organic contaminants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other contaminants polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) includes treating the sediments with ozone to react the contaminants. The system is particularly effective for remediation of PCBs. In an in-situ system for remediating sediments in underwater sediment beds that are contaminated with (PCBs) and other contaminants, the contaminated sediments are treated with ozone with an ozonator conveyed over the sediment bed to mix the sediment with the ozone. The ozone reacts with the PCBs to form more reactive and biodegradable products. The treated sediment is then redeposited upon the sediment bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Donald F. Hayes, Puikwan A. Hong
  • Patent number: 7011745
    Abstract: The disclosed device is directed toward a rotary water treatment system comprising at least one open channel cell configured to contain a liquid. A cylinder partially disposed in the open channel cell. The cylinder having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and a cylinder wall coupled between the first end and the second end. The cylinder wall including a plurality of perforations formed in the cylinder wall. A motive force element is coupled to the cylinder configured to impart rotary motion to the cylinder. At least one influent supply is coupled to the at least one open cell. At least one effluent discharge is coupled to the at least one open cell. A pump is fluidly coupled to the at least one influent supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Inventor: Patrick L. Moulton
  • Patent number: 7011750
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a water treatment device in which temperature does not affect performance in nitrogen removal. Water circulates in a first anaerobic filter bed chamber 5, a second anaerobic filter bed chamber 10, a contact aeration chamber 14, a sedimentation chamber 19, and an electrolytic chamber 59 for phosphorus removal. The supernatant in sedimentation chamber 19 flows into a disinfection chamber 21 and is then sent to an electrolytic chamber 100 for nitrogen removal. An electrode pair is provided inside electrolytic chamber 100. Halogen ions present in the water are oxidized on the anode side. After halogen gas is generated, this gas reacts with water and generates hypohalous acid. On the cathode side, the nitrogen components in the water are converted to nitrate ions, and these nitrate ions are further converted to ammonium ions. The hypohalous acid and ammonium ions react, and the nitrogen components are converted to nitrogen gas by way of chloramine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kitayama, Masaki Moriizumi, Jun Hirose
  • Patent number: 7007759
    Abstract: A gas/liquid pump moves liquid by passing gas up through it. Pumping is accomplished by the liquid's moving through three conduits. The first, a collector conduit, transports the liquid to the bottom of the unit. The second, a gas-lift conduit, mixes the liquid and gas at the bottom and transports the mixture upwards, owing to the rising action of the bubbles and the resulting decreased density of the gas/liquid mixture. At the top of the gas-lift conduit, some of the gas escapes from the liquid and out of the unit. The lifted liquid then returns to near its original density and exits the unit through the down and out conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: R3 Pump Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Harrington, Jeffery Dean Rabe, David Alan Nickel
  • Patent number: 7005074
    Abstract: Ballast water treatment apparatus and methods for preventing foreign aquatic invasive species form entering marine ecological zones by translocation in ship's ballast water. The apparatus includes a housing, a filter member, and UV water treatment chambers. Methods include use of a ship's fire hydrant system for moving ballast water from the ship's ballast tanks into the apparatus for filtration and treatment. In-port service vessels and dock-side service vehicles are equipped with the treatment and filtration apparatus to provided in-port or dock-side ballast water treatment services. Related methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventors: Hap Nguyen, William Murray Fowler, Howard Roop, Ronald Yoshio Nishida
  • Patent number: 6989095
    Abstract: A device utilizing a catalytic alloy, preferably the Walker Alloy, to reduced scale and paraffin buildup in surface hydrocarbon piping is disclosed. The device is presented in a basket filter configuration for ready servicing. A series of alternate embodiments for the fundamental filter device is discussed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Corrosion Inhibitor Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Linda K. Melton, Katherine A. Majors
  • Patent number: 6979398
    Abstract: A method and system for the treatment of wastewater is described herein. The system determines a quantity of fresh water entering a building and supplies a quantity of wastewater treatment solution on a basis of the quantity of entering fresh water. The system includes a conventional septic tank and two sanitization modules connected in series and automatically controlled by a controller. Compressed air and aseptic solution may also be supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2005
    Inventors: Gontran Veilleux, Blaise Bégin
  • Patent number: 6966996
    Abstract: A desalination system for removing at least a substantial amount of salt from a saltwater. In at least one embodiment, the desalination system may inject the saltwater with one or more ionized gases for removing contaminants from the saltwater. The desalination system may include one or more ionized gas generators for generating one or more ionized gases to be mixed with the saltwater. The desalination system may inject a disinfectant into the saltwater to disinfect the saltwater. The desalination system may generate one or more disinfectants from saltwater using a disinfectant generator. In at least one embodiment, the disinfectant generator may separate disinfectants from saltwater using electrolysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Eaglestone Investment Partners I, L.P. Tesla Capital LLC
    Inventor: Charles E. Leffler
  • Patent number: 6964740
    Abstract: A system for separating particles from a contaminated liquid stream includes an apparatus for mixing the liquid with one or more separation enhancement additives and gases. A pressure reducing device having a flow restrictor element within an enlarged tube receives the mixed liquid and creates bubble laden floccs by reducing the pressure of the liquid stream. The pressure reducing device empties into a bloom chamber of a flotation tank, where the bubble laden floccs are directed upwardly to an upper portion of the flotation tank. The flotation tank is configured such that the bubble laden floccs circulate within the upper portion of the flotation tank until they float to the upper surface, while decontaminated liquid flows to a lower portion of the tank for removal. A skimmer removes the floated contaminated floccs from the upper surface of the flotation tank into a dewatering apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventors: Dwain E. Morse, Wade O. Morse, Thomas G. Matherly