Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for continuously removing particles from a flowing liquid and recovering them. In particular, the disclosed preferred embodiment is an application of the invention for the purpose of recovering curd particles from whey in the process of making cheese. The device employs a perforated conduit nested within the conduit bearing the flowing liquid. The liquid passes to the interior of the perforated conduit, leaving the particles moving in a slurry along the outer surface of the perforated conduit. The particle laden slurry encounters a barrier which diverts the flow into a particle recovery pipe.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process for laminating a functionally gradient material and a laminating apparatus for the same. The process therefor includes a suspending step and a functionally gradient material laminating step. In the functionally gradient material laminating step, solid-liquid separation is carried out to a suspension while varying the mixing rates of the suspension particles contained therein continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner. Therefore, the functionally gradient material layer thus laminated offers a composition gradient varying continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner in the thicknesswise direction thereof in a superior continuity, and the composition fluctuates less in the planewise direction thereof. In addition, the process and the laminating apparatus have obviated the atomizing and the spraying which adversely affect a working environment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating effluents is disclosed for selective solids control and/or dewatering of effluents, for example drilling fluids (or mud), slurries or sludges, or other clean up involving solids removal from a hydraulic system where flocculation would be employed. The apparatus is compact and portable for ease of on-site delivery and hookup and includes a plurality of mixers for mixing polymer materials with water and/or the effluent, a plurality of pumps for controlling the flow of effluents, water and mixed liquids, and a plurality of conveniently located valves and pump controls for control of the various functions of the apparatus from a centrally located control panel. An improved mixing device is provided for blending of shear-sensitive fluids which includes multi-port injection sites and a series of geometrical flow altering elements.

Abstract: An apparatus and method provide automated collection and transfer of particles from a liquid suspension to a glass slide for visual examination. A solution which contains particles, for example cells, is drawn through a filter element so that particles too large to pass through the filter element collect against a first surface of the filter element. A transfer fluid, such as alcohol, is applied from a second surface of the filter element to the first surface, to transfer cells from the filter element to a glass slide positioned adjacent the filter element. An alternative transfer mechanism applies a selected pneumatic signal to the filter element for transferring collected cells to the viewing slide. The apparatus includes a device for dispersing the liquid suspension of particles prior to the collection process and particles collect against the filter element with a spatial distribution advantageous for visual examination. The transfer operation maintains this spatial distribution.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for continuously treating infectious waste, which comprises: (a) introducing bulk unseparated infectious waste material into a receiving container, the receiving container adapted to receive a flow of disinfectant such that the receiving container remains substantially free of infectious contaminants; (b) shredding the waste material by a primary shredder; (c) separating the shredded waste material from waste residue in a separation tank having a predetermined fluid level thereby producing a waste slurry; (d) pumping the waste slurry into a reactor vessel; (e) contacting the waste slurry with a disinfecting fluid in the reactor vessel for a sufficient amount of time to disinfect the waste slurry; and (f) dewatering the disinfected waste slurry to recover solid disinfected waste material.

Abstract: A system for reclaiming water which has been previously used for such purposes as washing vehicles includes both a diatomaceous earth filter for removing particulates and a carbon filter for removing organic contaminants. Reclaimed water which is in the system and not immediately required for use is continuously recycled by a pump so as to increase the removal of contaminants. A second pump moves the cleaned water into a pressure tank for use in washing. A substantial portion of the system is disposed below ground level with a lockable cover above.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for the batch treatment of infectious waste material in a fluidized bed reactor utilizing gas oxidation, preferably ozone gas diluted in air. The process and apparatus provide for the disinfecting of infectious waste in a rapid, cost efficient manner allowing for disposal of such infectious waste material in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Abstract: A system and method to remove pathogenic organisms and other suspended and dissolved containments from sewage or other contaminated water by an inexpensive, nearly maintenance free device. Principles of operation include new effective methods whioch combine synergistically, suspended and fixed film biological reactor, settling chamber, physical filter, and composting technology, to achieve tertiary sewage treatment and equivalent treatment of other contaminated water without outside energy input being required. Contaminated water flows into the apex or center of a large circular, wedge or conic chamber, then radially through precisely shaped layers of medium which provide progressive treatment by reduced pore size and increased surface area as the flow proceeds to the periphery. Oxygen can be diffused into the final treatment stage by providing large surface exposure to ambient air.

Abstract: A method of removing a constituent of a biological fluid including a blood component, said method including flowing the biological fluid past one side of a first semipermeable membrane; flowing solution containing a first precipitation agent past a second side of the membrane so as to cause transfer of the precipitation agent through the membrane to the biological fluid so as to improve precipitation characteristics of the fluid; and precipitating the constituent from the biological fluid. Also disclosed are maintaining a lower pressure in a biological fluid in a dialyzer than in dialysate at all portions of a membrane in the dialyzer and adding a continuously flowing stream of concentrated precipitation agent to a continuously flowing stream of a biological fluid.

Abstract: A liquid recovery system and method for precipitating dissolved solid material out of a spent liquid, and for thereafter separating the precipitated solid material from the liquid to provide a recovered liquid. The system includes a first tank for receiving spent liquid in a substantially continuous manner, a second tank for receiving a quantity of spent liquid from the first tank, a separator for separating solid material from the spent liquid in the second tank to provide a recovered liquid in the second tank, a third tank for receiving a quantity of recovered liquid from the second tank, and output means for delivering recovered liquid from the third tank in a continuous manner. The separator includes a separator tank through which spent liquid in the second tank is circulated during a circulation period to separate precipitated solid material from the spent liquid.

Abstract: A self-cleaning water filter system for a household or the like having a plurality of water usage zones requiring varying water quality.

Abstract: Water purification apparatus includes a housing 10 which contains water purification materials. Liquid which has been purified can be extracted via a manually operable dispensing element 16 which is coupled to the main housing by a flexible conduit 14. The element 16 can be supported with its nozzle in a receptacle 17 in the housing 10 where it can be irradicated by ultra violet radiation.

Abstract: A device for purification of waste water by oxidizing polluting substances at normal pressure and temperature by oxygen contianing gases or by oxygen in the presence of solid catalytic particles is described. A vessel has at one end wall an inlet for feeding waste water and at the opposite end wall an oulet for purified water. The top side of the vessel is open and the bottom has a V-shaped cross-section with an air-feeding nozzle pipe extending along and through the vertex of the bottom. An air uptake channel is mounted in the vessel at a spaced relation to the bottom portion and has an inlet facing the nozzles of the air-feeding pipe. The outlet of the uptake channel is below the level of the treated water.

Abstract: A self-cleaning system and method for dispersing aggregates in a fluid medium is provided. The system is comprised of first and second members operatively associated to form an internal chamber and having an inlet to the chamber for admitting the fluid to be treated. At least one of the members is biased toward the other whereby the introduction of a fluid medium to be treated into the chamber under an operating pressure in the range of from about 50 to about 1,000 psid (3.5 to 70.3 kg/cm.sup.2) provides an elongated orifice between the first and second members having a transverse dimension or width of from about 1 to about 1,500 micrometers for egress of the fluid medium. As the fluid passes through the elongated orifice, aggregates contained therein are dispersed. The system is self-cleaning by virtue of the biased nature of at least one of the members toward the other, thereby providing longer onstream operation and requiring less servicing.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for the catalytic oxidation purification of waste water inside a reaction vessel. The vessel includes a front wall, a back wall, two side walls interconnecting the front and back wall and a bottom. The waste water is admitted into the vessel through admitting means located on the front wall and discharged through discharge means located on the back wall. The vessel is divided into a plurality of compartments each of which includes a pair of risers which are divided by a plurality of partitions to form a plurality of sub-chambers. The partitions include an oscillatable flap or, alternatively, are tilted in a direction opposite to the direction of flow of the water in the vessel. In this manner, entrapment of the catalyst particles is prevented.

Abstract: A membrane module which includes a unitary, curved, backing support which retains all the U bends, serially connecting the membrane tubes, in a sealing relationship, and which includes an annular permeate-collector ring system at the end of each membrane tube and channels with a permeate manifold passageway, to provide efficient removal and easy cleaning of the permeate flow path.

Abstract: An apparatus for decomposing injurious substances to form non-injurious substances comprising a first reaction vessel, an injurious substance inlet connected to the first reaction vessel for supplying an injurious substance containing only one of an oxygen or hydrogen donor substance, and at least one further reaction vessel connected to the first reaction vessel. A mixing vessel connected to the at least one further reaction vessel is provided with the first reaction vessel, the further reaction vessel and the mixing vessel containing an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate. Conduits may be provided between the first reaction vessel, further reaction vessel and mixing vessel, permitting circulation of the aqueous sodium carbonate solution. A feeding device is connected between the mixing vessel and the first reaction vessel for feeding the aqueous sodium carbonate solution therebetween and into association with the injurious substances supplied to the first reaction vessel.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for treating liquor (e.g., liquor produced by sewage disposal systems) that is contaminated with dissolved, colloidal and finely divided suspended solids, and also with bacteria and viruses. The apparatus maintains a vertical column of the liquor in a treatment tank. Liquor is continuously introduced into the lower portion of the tank and continuously removed at a level well below the top of the tank. The column is continuously sparged with gas containing ozone whereby gas bubbles progress upwardly to the surface with formation of foam that is received in a confined space above the column. The evolving foam is delivered into the zone of operation of an impeller which collapses the foam bubbles by mechanical shearing and impacting. Liquor derived from the collapsed foam and the evolved gas is collected and discharged. Remaining uncollapsed foam is recycled into the shearing zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the liquid level of overflow ponds and the like. It comprises a vertical standpipe having a polymer feed inlet near its bottom, a valve for controlling flow of polymer to the polymer feed inlet, at least 1 fluid discharge inlet near the bottom of the vertical standpipe. A flexible hose connects the fluid discharge inlet to a corresponding opening located in a horizontal plate which is adapted to ride up and down on the standpipe. The horizontal plate is fitted with a float, filter and a valve shut off plunger.

Abstract: The underflow of a cyclonic separator is discharged onto the drum of a magnetic separator and is confined to flow around the drum along a narrow channel so as to filter the underflow through swarf collected on the drum within the channel while preventing the underflow from washing across and disturbing the swarf collected outside of the channel.

Abstract: Liquid to be treated flows into a combined sedimentation and thickening tank. The upper part of this tank is a sedimentation zone in which the liquid passes through parallel flow paths between downwardly inclined separator plates below which the solids fall to the bottom of the tank into the thickening zone whereat the solids are stirred and removed by a suitable stirring and scraping device. The liquids flowing with the solids through the parallel paths are removed at the end of said paths and delivered directly to the top of the sedimentation zone thus leaving the thickening zone essentially flow-free. Flocculants may be added to the water to be treated in a separate flocculation compartment arranged upstream from the sedimentation compartment. A separate destabilization compartment may be provided upstream from the flocculation compartment. A square sedimentation zone may merge smoothly into a circular thickening zone. The thickening zone may extend beneath the flocculation compartment for compactness.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for treatment of a fluid by use of a membrane tube wherein a volume displacement rod is positioned longitudinally through the membrane tube to provide desired filtration conditions for removal of a permeate from the fluid, and an improved support arrangement for the rod is provided that eliminates the use of a spider or similar support structure that constitutes a fluid flow obstruction. In the disclosed embodiment, the remote ends of the rod are seated in sockets located in bends in the walls of the inlet and outlet conduits associated with the membrane tube.

Abstract: A system for reducing the hardness of raw water to a level where it is suitable for circulation to a boiler wherein the water is converted to steam for generating power and subsequent use in equipment for building tires. The system employs, (i) a sedimentation tank in which a mixture of raw water, lime and soda ash is heated to cause the precipitation of calcium carbonate from the water as a sludge; (ii) a filter with a bed of coal for removing sludge which escapes with the water removed from the sedimentation tank; (iii) a softener with a resinous bed of sodium zeolite resin for further reducing the hardness of the water to a desired or tolerable level; and (iiii) a special filter or trap between the coal filter and zeolite softener for removing particles of coal carried along by the water as it flows through the coal filter, since the particles of coal eventually destroy the capacity and effectiveness of the zeolite softener.

Abstract: The efficiency of a sewage settling tank is improved by providing the tank with a plurality of submerged, vertically spaced decks which divide the tank into a plurality of horizontal settling layers. This improves the settling rate in that solids travel a relatively short vertical distance before coming to rest on one or another of the decks. A floating siphon system having inlets at each deck level removes the settled sludge from each of the decks.

Abstract: Disclosed is a portable apparatus and method for purifying lubricating oil in remotely separated devices, such as gearboxes and motors on oil well pumping equipment. The apparatus is mounted on a vehicle, such as a trailer, and has separate tanks thereon for holding volumes of oil. A flexible conduit on the apparatus is provided for selective connection to a device. Pump means are provided for removing the lubrication oil from the device and pumping it into one of the tanks on the apparatus. A liquid heater is provided in the apparatus for selective connection to the tanks. Appropriate valve and pump means are associated with the heater for use in circulating the oil through the heater to raise the temperature to between 150.degree. and 175.degree. F. A filtering apparatus is provided with appropriate valves and pump means for cleaning the heated oil.