Within Gravitational Separator Patents (Class 210/207)
  • Patent number: 6592754
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating solid particles from the suction effluent of, for example, a dental office, preferably driven by a dental office vacuum pump, includes a surge tank for accommodating effluent overfill connected to a sedimentary deposit tank for sedimentation of effluent particles. A bypass conduit is connected to the surge tank inlet which is equipped with a vacuum break valve for allowing air into the system when the suction openings are closed. The sedimentary deposit tank has a series of baffle chambers through which effluent flows in sequence, and in each of which chambers sediment is deposited for later removal. The surge tank preferably has a liquid level sensor and warning device. Modular filters or adsorbants may be installed in the sedimentary deposit tank, or a modular auxiliary filter may be connected downstream of the tank. Chemical injection may be used to improve sedimentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Richard H. Chilibeck
  • Patent number: 6482322
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating sewage in cold regions including a pretreatment stage, an aerobic treatment stage, and a discharge stage, where cold outside air is combined with warm recirculating air from within the sewage treatment system to provide oxygen for the aerobic treatment of the sewage, with the treated sewage being discharged intermittently in high volume, high flow-rate batches to prevent freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: Robert C. Tsigonis
  • Patent number: 6406619
    Abstract: The Three Stage Sewage Treatment Plant is an uniquely designed three stage sewage waste water cleaning device for use in homes and other buildings which are not attached to municipal sewer systems. It employs both aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms to break down sewage, in addition to gravity separation of solids from the effluent. The cleaning process is centered around a cylindrical aerobic tank which is divided into an inner and an outer chamber by a funnel shaped clarifier. In the outer chamber of the aerobic tank, air droplines aerate the sewage, promoting the aerobic microorganisms that break down the sewage, and create turbulence. In the inner chamber, the sewage is gravity separated, such that solid particles are extracted from a cleaned effluent. The device is comprised of a pre-treatment tank, which screens out solid particles and allows for the preliminary anaerobic cleaning process, and a post-treatment tank, where the effluent is chlorinated and stored, in addition to the aerobic tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventors: Hubbard H. Donald, George E. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6379548
    Abstract: This invention provides a compact effluent water reclamation apparatus which is minimized in the kinds and amounts of chemicals to be used for the recovery of water to thereby reduce the amount of waste and eliminate equipment which necessitates a large area for installation. The effluent water reclamation apparatus comprises a reverse osmosis device and is adapted to treat acid-alkali effluent water containing organic matter but no fluorine, by concentrating the acid-alkali effluent water containing organic matter by reverse osmosis, evaporating the resulting concentrated water to dryness and collecting the water permeating through a reverse osmosis membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi Zosen Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Kurokawa, Shiro Inoue, Shoichi Momose, Kazunori Koba
  • Patent number: 6358415
    Abstract: A vortex sewage disposal apparatus for the disposal of construction sewage, comprising a hopper-type casing, a water inlet pipe, a lower outlet and a frame; within the water inlet pipe these are provided rapid-mixing blades, on the wall of the inlet pipe there are provided an upper and a lower reagent-filling holes used to add two treatment reagents successively, at the center of the hopper casing there is provided a central tube, at the lower end of the central tube there is mounted a conical separator, and inside the central tube there is provided a screw-type water lifter; on the top of the hopper casing there is provided a top baffle plate acting as an upper cover; a bleed pipe is provided for discharging oil and gas, the silt is discharged through the lower outlet, and the clear water ascents to a clear water tank and a water-directing tray and then flows into a water discharging pipe after crossing a dam board to be discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Inventor: Wai On Leung
  • Patent number: 6274375
    Abstract: A commercial and institutional kitchen retrofit system for 1. the automatic daily cleaning of commercial kitchen exhaust hoods and flues, 2. a low pressure, low volume, recirculating cleaning system designed for the removal of oily residue from hard surfaces and the accelerated bioremediation of the resulting collective hydrocarbon waste, 3. the collection and elimination of roof-top grease accumulations, 4. the systematic on site incubation and enhanced propagation of cultured, hydrocarbon specific, bacterial microorganisms in an automatically mixed aqueous solution containing PH neutral oxidizers and hydrocarbon base emulsifiers altogether, producing a regenerative, recyclable cleaning solution specifically developed for use in 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Allied Directives, LLC
    Inventor: Pearson Vernie McMinn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6224752
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having an aeration tank (20) is provided with an operations control center (12) that includes a controller (64) and an aerator pump (50) mounted atop a base (58), which is in turn mounted atop a platform (56). A plurality of electrical lines (66) extend from the controller through respective conduits (90, 92, 94, 96). The conduits extend through and are sealingly engaged by holes in the base and the platform. A compression fitting (136) and coupler (154) are included to provide a fluid-tight seal. This arrangement is advantageous because it prevents corrosive gases from entering the operations control center and corroding the terminals thereof. Also described is a wastewater treatment system that includes a pretreatment tank (244), an aeration tank (20), and a pump tank (202) secured together by a connector that includes bands (260, 262) and spacing means (264, 268) for maintaining a fixed-spaced relationship between the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Aqua Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: T. Gig Drewery
  • Patent number: 6171498
    Abstract: An upflow water clarifier for treating a liquid that contains dissolved or suspended solids has a central pier disposed in the center of a conical section angled at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal. Water enters the clarifier at the bottom and is removed at the top. The central pier bears at least part of the weight of an observation deck and includes a mechanism for discharging sludge from the clarifier. The pier can also house both a sludge discharge line and an effluent withdrawal line, and as a support for a radial trough used to collect the effluent. The pier may also serve as an aid during construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: John J. Fassbender, Daniel H. Phillips, David K. Wyness
  • Patent number: 6132602
    Abstract: This clarification plant consists of a circulating reactor in a housing which has a treatment area and a sedimentation area and which is characterized by at least one gas-input element and at least one treatment element which interlock with each other; in the gas input element, the water to be purified is highly enriched with oxygen and subsequently undergoes strong turbulence in the treatment element. The gas input elements and the treatment elements are modularly constructed out of disk-shaped components so that the clarification plant can be scaled as desired. The main purification is done by means of biological reduction processes in micro-organisms which are specifically introduced or cultivated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Wolfgang Luehr
  • Patent number: 6123838
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying separator waste water from a dry cleaning process. The present invention utilizes 3 stages of purification. In Stage one, highly contaminated separator waste water is put into a solvent separator tank. Liquid solvent settles out of the separator waste water, sink to the bottom of the solvent separation tank where it accumulates below the separated water. In Stage 2 air bubbles are introduced through the separated water, stripping out much of the solvent which is dissolved in the separated water and reducing the dissolved solvent concentration. This air stripping process dramatically extends to useful life of the granulated carbon in the granulated eaton filter. Stage 3 takes the air stripped water and filters it through a granulated carbon filter, which results in the carbon purified water having a dissolved solvent of less than 0.7 parts per million. The carbon purified water can then be safely and economically disposed of without harming the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Evaporation Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Grossman
  • Patent number: 6120194
    Abstract: Spent color photography liquids comprising alkaline developer liquid and fixer liquid loaded with iron ions generate a dischargeable effluent, in which clogging of drains and conduits with precipitated iron oxides is minimized or avoided; the liquids are fed through separate feed ports into a vessel to form a liquid bath, the feed ports being isolated from each other and from the liquid bath; liquid effluent is pumped from the bath to form an effluent flow; preferably the pumping employs a suction generated by flow of a carrier liquid such as water through a venturi passage, whereby the liquid effluent is entrained in the flowing water and discharged under pressure, the precipitated iron oxides being retained in a dispersed non-clogging state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Assignee: Metafix Inc.
    Inventors: Denis Brunelle, John Riviere, Bernard Gravel, Jian Min Ren
  • Patent number: 6120687
    Abstract: A vessel (10) for placement on a land site for treatment of wastewater, in which an inlet (22) communicates wastewater, grit, and suspended solids into a grit collecting chamber (24) for settling grit particulates therefrom. An aeration zone (34) receives air from nozzles (37) for facilitating biological digestion of the suspended solids and conversion to activated sludge. The activated sludge communicates through an airlift (70) to a mixing chamber (30) which also receives wastewater with suspended solids from the grit collecting chamber. The air from the nozzles (37) creates an upflow of wastewater and activated sludge to secondary clarifiers (42) having sludge receiving plates (48) on which the sludge settles, accumulates, and falls from, resulting in treated water in the upper portions of the secondary clarifier (42). The treated water discharges in a trough (62) from the vessel (10). A method of sanitary treating of wastewater is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Boris Oyzboyd
  • Patent number: 6106704
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having a tank with an aeration compartment and a clarifier compartment, an air pump affixed to a top of the tank and having an air line delivering air to the aerator of the aeration compartment. The air line extends through an interior of the tank. A control panel is also affixed to a top of the tank. The control panel is electrically connected to the air pump. A raised platform is formed on the top of the tank such that an outer periphery of the platform intersects at least at one point of the cylindrical wall. The top of the tank also has an access opening formed therein located along the periphery of the cylindrical wall diametrically opposite the platform. The air pump is affixed to the horizontal platform. A housing is attached to the platform. The housing extends over the air pump and the control panel. The housing includes a base affixed to the platform and a cover removably affixed to the base so as to extend over and around the air pump and the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Aqua Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: T. Gig Drewery
  • Patent number: 6099722
    Abstract: A self-contained wastewater treatment system is provided, comprising a vessel having a bottom, side walls and a lid defining a hollow interior for containing wastewater, the vessel being adapted for installation underground; an influent line; an effluent line; and a baffle disposed within the interior, generally between the influent line and the effluent line and extending transversely toward opposing side walls of the vessel. The baffle includes a bottom edge separated by a predetermined distance from the bottom of the vessel to define a flow opening. The position of the baffle defines an upstream aeration chamber and a downstream clarifier chamber within the vessel. The side walls include a downstream end wall, the downstream end wall having a lower inclined wall which intersects the bottom of the vessel adjacent the flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventors: Marty E. Tittlebaum, Grady A. Tucker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6096222
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing hydrocarbon contaminants and heavy metal ion contaminants from wastewater stream comprising the introduction of iron ions into the stream. In one embodiment, the ions are introduced by applying an electrical current through a bed of iron particulates in the form of steel wool and iron nodules. In another embodiment, the iron salts are added to the waste stream and the iron ions are reduced to a more reactive lower valence state by electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Inventors: Stephen R. Wurzburger, James Michael Overton
  • Patent number: 6093316
    Abstract: A sewage treatment apparatus including a treatment tank with a floor and walls and having an upper aperture. A hopper having a clarifier chamber with upper and lower apertures is centrally disposed on hopper supports in the treatment tank, maintained at a predetermined height. A deflector cone is centrally disposed on the tank floor with its vertex received in the lower aperture of the hopper. The exterior of the hopper, the deflector cone and the interior walls of the treatment tank define an aerator chamber, subdivided into a plurality of aerator zones. Diffusers in each aerator zone introduce air into the aerator zones, inducing sewage to flow in a generally vertical orientation in the treatment tank. A cover mounted over the treatment tank aperture maintains a pressurized pocket of air above the sewage for increased oxygenation of the sewage. Treated sewage passes from the aerator zones into the clarifier chamber, then into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Inventor: Murphy Cormier
  • Patent number: 5938918
    Abstract: A domestic water clarifier comprising a storage tank and a batch tank having an annular inner wall is described. Raw water is pressurized and injected into the batch tank along with a quantity of a flocculent chemical such that the raw water and the flocculent chemical swirl around the inner annular wall of the tank, thereby mixing the raw water and the flocculent chemical. The mixture is then allowed to stand, thereby separating into clarified water and floc. The clarified water is drawn off to the storage tank and stored until needed. The batch tank is then flushed to remove the floc and to prepare the batch tank for the next clarification cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Inventor: William J. Kidd
  • Patent number: 5932109
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for handling water used in plating processes to eliminate discharge of pollutants including a plating tank for chrome plating selected materials, at least one rinse tank which holds rinse water where parts from the plating tank are rinsed to remove chrome compounds used in the plating tank and transfer means to transfer water from the rinse tank to a purification tank where hydrazine is added to the rinse water in quantities sufficient to maintain selected pH in the water returned to one of the rinse tanks for precipitation of the chromic compounds to chromic hydroxide which can be easily filtered for disposal as a dry material. High quality water such as deionized water is added to the rinse tank to makeup lost water and a catalyst such as cobalt salt can be added to the purification tank to assist in reduction of the chromic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Griffin Chemical Company
    Inventor: Gus Griffin
  • Patent number: 5911877
    Abstract: A device for maintaining effective bacterial levels within a collecting container of an organic matter collection system of the type having a collecting container having a bottom and a liquid to air interface-surface is provided. The bacterial incubator has an enclosure defining an interior, the enclosure adapted to be positioned beneath said liquid to air interface-surface. The enclosure has a plurality of apertures therethrough, the apertures sized to allow the flow of wastewater into the interior of the enclosure. Placed in the interior is a packing having a high surface area. The apertures in the enclosure are sized to retain the packing in the interior. The packing is adapted to allow wastewater to flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Assignee: Interbio, Inc.
    Inventors: J. Peter Perez, John A. Christiansen
  • Patent number: 5895566
    Abstract: A self-contained wastewater treatment system is provided, comprising a vessel having a bottom, side walls and a lid defining a hollow interior for containing wastewater, the vessel being adapted for installation underground; an influent line; an effluent line; and a baffle disposed within the interior, generally between the influent line and the effluent line and extending transversely toward opposing side walls of the vessel. The baffle includes a bottom edge separated by a predetermined distance from the bottom of the vessel to define a flow opening. The position of the baffle defines an upstream aeration chamber and a downstream clarifier chamber within the vessel. The side walls include a downstream end wall, the downstream end wall having a lower inclined wall which intersects the bottom of the vessel adjacent the flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Inventors: Marty E. Tittlebaum, Grady A. Tucker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5893970
    Abstract: A self-diluting feedwell for a thickener or settling tank includes a delivery pipe for providing an influent feed stream of slurry, a nozzle for directionally discharging the influent feed stream, and an eductor structure including a launder zone for receiving the nozzle discharge, a throat zone for creating a reduced pressure area for eduction of diluent into the launder zone, and a discharge zone for dispensing the diluted influent into a thickener or settling tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonard J. A. Wood, Simon D. Turner, Timothy J. Laros, Robert C. Emmett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5876598
    Abstract: An improved modular system of solids separation is described. In the invention, a settling tank is provided which consists of one or more hoppers having sloped sides downwardly to a drain. Liquids with entrained solids are permitted to accumulate within the hopper as the solids settle until the settling has been completed; whereupon a pump lowered into the liquid is used to decant the liquid. The pump is suspended from a flexible conduit and is lowered as the liquid level lowers so that it remains submerged until the pump reaches a predetermined level above the level of the suspended solids. The sludge is removed from the hopper by gravity flow by opening a drain valve in the bottom therein and an anti-vortexing cap is provided over the drain. The cap has sides which conform to the hopper vessels but slope in the opposite direction so that the lower edge of the cap side is a predetermined distance from the hopper side adjacent the drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Assignee: Environmental Treatment Facility, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Baxter
  • Patent number: 5837136
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a mineral eluting material for drinking water with granite as raw material and manufacturing method thereof and a structural body of mineral eluting material. The mineral eluting material includes granite crushed to sizes of 0.075.about.0.145 mm, submerged in 3.about.10% glucose solution for 24 hours, baked at 380.degree..about.400.degree. C. for 12.about.24 hours, and cooled at room temperature in a tightly sealed vessel. The structural body according to the present invention is manufactured by piling up granular granite and silver activated charcoal in 2-10 layers respectively and alternately in a cylindrical column. Water having passed the structural body according to the present invention comprising granular granite contains no impurities and abounds in minerals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Duk-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 5833865
    Abstract: The slurry subjected to aggregation processing by a line mixer is supplied to a slurry feed member via a slurry supply passage and then fed radially outward from slurry fed outlets within a sedimentation tank. Therefore, liquid flow hardly takes place below the slurry feed member and the settling velocity of the solid is increased. The slurry feed member is arranged close to the boundary face of the thickened slurry zone, and thus the settling distance of the solid is shortened. Accordingly, the residence time of the solid is shortened to a great extent. In addition, the sedimentation tank can be constructed to be sealed and solid-liquid separation can be also performed under the pressurized state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Takuo Harato, Yoshio Kumagae, Kazuhisa Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 5830351
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system has at least one treatment chamber and at least one settling chamber. An influent conduit connects the treatment chamber to a source of wastewater. A pump is provided for transferring treated wastewater, the treated wastewater being a water/biomass mixture, from the treatment chamber to the settling chamber by way of a transfer conduit. An effluent conduit removes treated wastewater from the settling chamber. A treatment system is provided for treating water in the treatment chamber. A biomass conditioner in the transfer conduit conditions the biomass by removing energy from the water/biomass mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: Carl E. Adams, Jr.
    Inventor: Carl E. Adams, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5811016
    Abstract: There are described a method of and an apparatus for removing sand from waste water loaded with sand and organic substances which is set forth in circulation in a vertical container (1) in which the organic substance moves upward to an overflow (13), while the sand sinks downward toward a discharge conveyor (3) connected to the container (1) from beneath, and is discharged after a certain settling period. To achieve a substantial separation of the sand and the organic substances, the settled sand is stirred by an agitator, with simultaneous rinsing with fresh water delivered to the container bottom region, and is discharged in an amount, which insures a predetermined minimal height of the settled sand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Noggerath Holding GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Franz Zierler
  • Patent number: 5804062
    Abstract: Apparatus for treating a liquid containing suspended solids comprising a clarifying vessel and a number of filters positioned around the periphery of the clarifying vessel for receiving and filtering liquid from the clarifier. A filter may be backwashed by isolating that filter, filling the other filter cells with clarified liquid and draining them into the isolated cell to remove filter media contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Inventor: David K. Wyness
  • Patent number: 5792347
    Abstract: A neutral dischargeable effluent is developed by reaction between an acidic, spent photographic fixer liquid and an alkaline, spent photographic developer liquid; the spent fixer liquid contains iron in solution, the iron being introduced in a de-silvering pretreatment of the spent fixer liquid. The two liquids are fed into a treatment chamber and are allowed to react in the treatment chamber to form a neutral liquid and precipitated iron-containing solids; the solids settle in the treatment chamber and the neutral liquid rises upwardly through a synthetic organic polymer fiber filter pad into a discharge chamber above the filter pad; fine sticky particles suspended in the rising neutral liquid are retained by the filter pad; a neutral effluent is discharged from the discharge chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Metafix Inc.
    Inventors: Gordon Bathurst, John Riviere
  • Patent number: 5770092
    Abstract: The invention provides a multi-stage apparatus for continuous waste water filtration, comprising a first tank provided with a waste water inlet pipe to supply waste water containing suspended solids to the tank, means for adding a coagulant to the waste water and an outlet pipe, a second tank receiving the mixture of waste water and coagulant from the outlet pipe, the second tank being sufficiently large to allow larger suspended solids to settle and being provided with a lower, openable port for discharge of the settled solids and having an upper weir for discharge of partially-cleared water, a continuously-driven, non-taut perforated belt, having a surface positioned to receive, at a first location, a stream of the discharged, partially-cleared water, the belt perforations being sized to enable the passage of clear water therethrough while retaining fine and coagulated solids on the surface for subsequent discharge at a second location, and the belt being non-taut to form a trough for retaining a body of wa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Solar Dynamics Ltd.
    Inventor: Eitan Sharir
  • Patent number: 5755966
    Abstract: Biological activation waste water purification method is disclosed, wherein the waste water is biologically purified in an activation process. Activated sludge is pumped into a circulation circuit comprising a flow channel and at least one distribution channel. Raw waste water is added to the activated sludge to form an activation mixture which is gradually denitrified as it flows through the circulation circuit. The activation mixture is aerated so as to suspend the activated sludge in the mixture while gradually saturating the activation mixture with oxygen so as to change the denitrifying of the mixture to the nitrifying of a mixture as the mixture flows through the circulation circuit. The activation mixture then flows to a fluidized bed filter where it is separated into purified water and activated sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventors: Svatopluk Mackrle, Vladimir Mackrle
  • Patent number: 5728295
    Abstract: Metal ions and/or complexes of metal ions are removed from a solution by formation of an insoluble chelated complex of the metal ions and a polymeric precipitating agent. A two-step process of mixing the influent with the precipitating agent is used to induce rapid precipitation and obtain large, self-agglomerated precipitate without addition of flocculating agent and/or pH adjustment. In addition, parallel loops are employed to simultaneously discharge treated metal-free solution and effectively collect/remove the precipitate-containing sludge without interfering with each other. The metal capturing capacity of the polymeric precipitant is maximized by forcing the influent solution through layers of the collected precipitate and by recycling unsaturated metal-precipitant complexes in the processing loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Fuji Hunt Photographic Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Hailing Duan
  • Patent number: 5718824
    Abstract: An improved collector hood for a sedimentation tank. The collector hood is disposed within the tank and separates the tank into an upper reaction compartment and a lower settling compartment. The collector hood has the shape of an inverted funnel including a tubular upper portion connected to an outlet in the sidewall of the upper reaction compartment and a downwardly diverging conical wall lower portion, the periphery of which engages the sidewall of the tank for separating the tank into the upper reaction compartment and the lower settling compartment. A plurality of downcomer pipes are arranged around the axis of the collector hood and depend from the downwardly diverging conical wall into the lower settling compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Crane Co.
    Inventors: Shyam Kannan, Raghavachari Kannan
  • Patent number: 5716519
    Abstract: Apparatus for discharging an additive into water in a treatment vessel comprises discharging means and means for feeding the additive to the discharging means. The discharging means may comprise a pipe, a nozzle, or a header conduit having a number of outlets. A method for discharging an additive into water in a treatment vessel includes the steps of adjusting the elevation of an outlet in a conduit relative to the treatment vessel and discharging the additive from the outlet in the conduit into water in the treatment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: James M. Schleife, Donald N. Ruehrwein, John J. Fassbender
  • Patent number: 5690818
    Abstract: In a waste water treatment system having a container and waste water disposed therein, an apparatus for treating a sludge blanket comprising at least one spray assembly, the spray assembly fluidly connected to a source of fluid, the spray assembly having a spray head positioned above the waste water, the spray head being adapted to spray fluid such that when fluid is sprayed from the spray head, the sprayed fluid will suppress a sludge blanket on the waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Monroe Wayne Guy
  • Patent number: 5688401
    Abstract: Spent solutions from photographic processors are fed into a conduit (18) to which subsequently are added precipitating agents from a first source (22) and flocculating agents from a second source (28); so that, well grown or ripened clumps of flocculated solids are formed along the conduit before being emptied into a gravity collecting vessel and shipping container (38) from which clarified liquids are displaced by a mass (50) of accumulated flocculated solids, typically through a filter (58, 142, 150, 158, 162, 166, 220) for removal of any unsettled fines. Many of the clumps of flocculated solids become enlarged enough to individually extend across and substantially fill a cross-sectional area of the conduit. As a result, the enlarged clumps substantially block passage of and strain from the solution remaining fine particles which then adhere to the clumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bober, Terry W. Pearl, Dominick Vacco, David C. Yeaw
  • Patent number: 5667689
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus is provided which includes at least an aeration chamber and a clarification chamber having a common wall therebetween, a transfer port opening through the common wall between a lower portion of the clarification chamber and the aeration chamber, an aerator mechanism in the aeration chamber for creating wastewater flow currents which flow through an inlet portion of a flow augmenting device located in the common wall above the transfer port. The flow augmenting device is a conduit or pipe having a discharge outlet adjacent the lower portion of the clarification chamber through which exits the flow from the aeration chamber resulting in solid particles being agitated and returned from the clarification chamber lower portion into the aeration chamber through the transfer port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves
  • Patent number: 5662794
    Abstract: A solid-liquid separator comprising a first roller disposed on one side of a tank containing a slurry subjected to solid-liquid separation at such a height that the lower part thereof is immersed in the slurry, and driven rotationally in a direction which enables the slurry attached to its surface to be lifted up and discharged to the outside of the tank; and a second roller disposed above the first roller facing the first roller so that the second roller comes into pressure contact with the slurry attached to the first roller and lifted up so as to remove the liquid from the slurry; as well as a wet flue gas desulfurization apparatus using this solid-liquid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Okazoe, Atsushi Tatani, Taku Shimizu, Naohiko Ukawa
  • Patent number: 5647977
    Abstract: A system is provided for removing impurities anticipated to be found in industrial waste water, which system is particularly well suited for waste water systems such as those used for laundry or vehicle washing operations. The system includes aeration, mixing/flocculating, and contact media mechanisms to remove suspended solids, hydrocarbons, organic materials and undesired dissolved minerals from the treated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: Hydrotreat, Inc.
    Inventor: Johnny Arnaud
  • Patent number: 5614411
    Abstract: Water borne human wastes contained in a holding tank of a self contained convenience facility are decomposed and thus decontaminated as well as deodorized by aqueous live bacteria delivered in a controlled laminar flow through flexible hose controlled by at least one valve from a reservoir of aqueous live bacteria held in a supply container. A flexible, sealed supply container or an open, rigid container having an air inlet is recommended. In addition, a flow meter having communication with this flow, specifically a drip chamber, also recommended. Two valves, one above the flow meter, the other below, is suggested in use with a drip chamber. A spigot attached to the supply outlet is specifically recommended as an upper valve and a simple constriction device which partially constricts the lumen of a length of the hose below the drip chamber is specifically recommended for the lower valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Charles Gastgaber
  • Patent number: 5589064
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquid solid separation of liquid effluents or wastewater containing pollutant particles in a suspension. A vessel defining a reactor for receiving and containing a flow of the liquid effluent or wastewater has an inverted lower distribution cone defining a coagulation zone into which the flow is injected toward the apex of the cone at the bottom of the reactor to provoke an intense mixing of the polluted or contaminated liquid with a water-soluble chemical alkaline agent added to the injected flow externally of the reactor as required to control the pH of the injected liquid. The reactor has a wider volume above and contiguous with the lower coagulation zone and is dimensioned for effectively defining a flocculation zone, and an upper part of the reactor defines a turbulence-free volume above the flocculation zone and contiguous therewith for settling of flocculant comprising the coalesced contaminant particles and the separation of solids and liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Inventor: Samuel Elmaleh
  • Patent number: 5569376
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus is provided which includes at least an aeration chamber and a clarification chamber having a common wall therebetween, a transfer port opening through the common wall between a lower portion of the clarification chamber and the aeration chamber, an aerator mechanism in the aeration chamber for creating wastewater flow currents which flow through an inlet portion of a flow augmenting device located in the common wall above the transfer port. The flow augmenting device is a conduit or pipe having a discharge outlet adjacent the lower portion of the clarification chamber through which exits the flow from the aeration chamber resulting in solid particles being agitated and returned from the clarification chamber lower portion into the aeration chamber through the transfer port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves
  • Patent number: 5549820
    Abstract: Spent solution from photographic processors are fed into a conduit (18) to which subsequently are added precipitating agents from a first source (22) and flocculating agents from a second source (28); so that, well grown or ripened clumps of flocculated solids are formed along the conduit before being emptied into a gravity collecting vessel and shipping container (38) from which clarified liquids are displaced by a mass (50) of accumulated flocculated solids, typically through a filter (58, 142, 150, 158, 162, 166, 220) for removal of any unsettled fines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bober, Terry W. Pearl, Dominick Vacco, David C. Yeaw
  • Patent number: 5492620
    Abstract: This invention includes a first balance pH tank, a clarifier tank and a final pH balance tank. The first tank periodically receives a certain volume of the waste stream. This tank is equipped with an automatic system for raising the pH so that all the heavy metals will precipitate as oxides and hydroxides. Next the stream is transferred to the clarifier tank. The clarifier tank has a number of internal vertical baffles. The first baffles have perforations near their lower ends. The stream flows from one chamber to the other over or under the first baffles or through their perforations. Then the stream flows over the last baffle. In the clarifier, the precipitate accumulates at the bottom of the tank and the pH drops. Lastly, the stream is transferred to a final pH balance tank where the pH is adjusted to about 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Inventor: Steven T. Evans
  • Patent number: 5422019
    Abstract: Water-based industrial cleaning solutions are stripped of mixed oil and high density particulate (dirt) contamination by a full or partial flow system through, first, a centrifugal separator to produce two effluent flow streams respective to low and high density contamination. Each centrifugal separator effluent stream is conducted to and through respective gravimetric separators producing three effluent streams each. The two purified cleaning solution streams are combined for recycling. The two oil effluent streams are combined for disposal. The two particulate dominated streams are combined for screen or matrix filtration.A small side stream such as effluent from the screen or filter is treated with ozone for bacterial control prior to recombination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Inventor: Lyle Carman
  • Patent number: 5413706
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes inner and outer relatively telescopic units, the outer telescopic unit including an outer container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall collectively defining a generally upwardly opening chamber, a filter exteriorly of the peripheral wall and defining therewith a first downstream settling zone, control openings in the peripheral wall for controlling wastewater flow through the first settling zone generally in response to the level of wastewater in the first settling zone, the inner telescopic unit including an inner container having a chamber defined in part by a peripheral wall, the peripheral walls being in relatively spaced relationship to each other and therebetween defining a second settling zone, a third settling zone within the inner telescopic unit chamber, and the inner and outer telescopic units each being a distinct unitized structure which permits the same to be bodily telescopically assembled and disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company d/b/a NORWECO, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves
  • Patent number: 5409604
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes inner and outer relatively telescopic units, the outer telescopic unit including an outer container having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall collectively defining a generally upwardly opening chamber, a filter exteriorly of the peripheral wall and defining therewith a first downstream settling zone, control openings in the peripheral wall for controlling wastewater flow through the first settling zone generally in response to the level of wastewater in the first settling zone, the inner telescopic unit including an inner container having a chamber defined in part by a peripheral wall, the peripheral walls being in relatively spaced relationship to each other and therebetween defining a second settling zone, a third settling zone within the inner telescopic unit chamber, and the inner and outer telescopic units each being a distinct unitized structure which permits the same to be bodily telescopically assembled and disassembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Norwalk Wastewater Equipment Company
    Inventor: Jan D. Graves
  • Patent number: 5389250
    Abstract: A self-diluting feedwell for a thickener or settling tank includes a delivery pipe for providing an influent feed stream of slurry, a nozzle for directionally discharging the influent feed stream, and an eductor structure including a launder zone for receiving the nozzle discharge, a throat zone for creating a reduced pressure area for eduction of diluent into the launder zone, and a discharge zone for dispensing the diluted influent into a thickener or settling tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1995
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventors: Leonard J. A. Wood, Simon D. Turner, Timothy J. Laros, Robert C. Emmett, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5376280
    Abstract: A flocculation control system for controlling a feed rate of a flocculant into an aqueous slurry comprises an elongate settling tube having an open lower end for placing into the slurry. An air eductor creates a subatmospheric pressure within the settling tube to thereby draw a sample of the slurry therein to a predetermined location above the slurry level. A control valve hermetically seals an upper end of the settling tube to maintain the subatmospheric pressure therein such that the sample is retained in a quiescent state and in fluid communication with the slurry body. A pressure sensor senses the subatmospheric pressure within the settling tube, and measurements thereof are taken at selectable intervals to develop an initial measurement of said pressure and intermediate lower magnitude measurements of said pressure resulting from the settling of particles from the sample. The pressure measurements enable calculation of the weight concentration and settling velocity of said suspended particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 27, 1994
    Assignee: Westech Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Wilhelm, C. J. H. Brest Vankempen, Ralph A. Cutler, Vincent E. Hamilton
  • Patent number: 5358636
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for the treatment of waste sludge. The apparatus comprises as its main feature a vertically extending housing unit having a height/width ratio sufficient to provide separate zones in the housing unit, including a settling zone for thickened sludge, a mid-level buffer zone for waste sludge containing solid matter in suspension and a supernatant treatment zone for supernatant treatment. The housing unit also has an inclined bottom with a slope sufficient to cause a lateral and a gravity force to be exerted by the solid matter in the sludge along the inclined bottom to yield a thickened sludge at the settling zone of the housing unit and a supernatant liquid having a reduced solid content at the supernatant treatment zone of the housing unit. The height/width ratio of the housing unit is important to provide the three zones referred to above by which treatment of the supernatant can be conducted in the supernatant treatment zone with minimal disturbance to the settling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Inventor: Gaetan Brouillard
  • Patent number: 5308482
    Abstract: A portable water-purifying device comprises a primary disinfecting chamber (50) and a combined secondary disinfecting chamber and post-filter (30). Water to be purified can be scooped by means of a cover (12) into a receptacle (90) containing a pre-filter media (39) of preferably silvered activated carbon beneath a coarse entry filter pad (102). From that receptacle (90) the water enters the primary disinfecting chamber (50), flowing downwards through nine or so passage-forming segments (22) filled with a microbiocide (56), to effect primary disinfection, that is, to kill a substantial number of pathogenic organisms, but probably not all. Each passage (22) is at least three times longer than it is wide, to prevent channelling of the water through the microbiocide. Disinfectant from the microbiocide (56) enters the water as it passes through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Pre-Mac Kent Ltd.
    Inventor: Robert J. Mead