Backwash Or Blowback Means Patents (Class 210/275)
  • Patent number: 8002993
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering a fluid is presented. In one embodiment, the apparatus converts contaminated water into water having a lower turbidity and bacterial contamination level than the contaminated water. The apparatus includes a settling unit for at least partially settling a portion of the water; a filter unit having a filtration media; wherein the filtration media comprises sand, anthracite coal, burnt rice husks, diatomaceous earth, gravel, pumice gravel, or combinations thereof; a sanitation unit; wherein the sanitation unit is an ultraviolet disinfection unit; a backwash unit; wherein the settling unit is in fluid communications with the filter unit and the backwash unit, the backwash unit is in fluid communications with the filter unit, and the filter unit is in fluid communications with the sanitation unit; and wherein at least a portion of the settling unit is elevated above the filter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventors: Maximilian Gold, Evan A. Thomas
  • Publication number: 20110174719
    Abstract: An underdrain filter block for use in draining and backwashing a filtering media in a filter bed includes a top wall, a pair of side walls extending from the top wall, and a bottom wall extending between the pair of side walls. The top wall, the pair of side walls, and the bottom wall define an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a grout chamber having a plurality of openings defined by at least one of the bottom wall and the pair of side walls.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2011
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Applicant: ITT WATER & WASTEWATER LEOPOLD, INC.
    Inventors: Dean T. Berkebile, Daniel E. Bruce, Christopher J. Ball
  • Patent number: 7972509
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods relating to washboxes are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Blue Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Remembrance L. Newcombe, David G. Volkenand, Mark S. Lopp
  • Patent number: 7922903
    Abstract: A system and method for uniformly distributing fluids (e.g., washing and in-service) through a filter bed of a filter. The system and method of the present invention can be used with any type of filter that uses media to remove impurities from a fluid. The filter bed can include one or more layers of media. The media can be natural (e.g., sand, gravel, anthracite, etc.) or can be fabricated (e.g., plastic). The filter media can be supported by one or more layers of gravel. Alternatively, the filter media can be supported by a porous plate or other support designed to replace the gravel layers. The present invention includes a system having a distribution member configured to uniformly distribute a fluid through a filter bed of a filter. Preferably, the distribution member can be readily installed by relatively unskilled labor in both existing filters and new filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison
  • Patent number: 7897040
    Abstract: Exemplary systems and methods relating to washboxes are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Blue Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Remembrance L. Newcombe, David G. Volkenand, Mark S. Lopp
  • Publication number: 20100300949
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to eliminate impurities, and the like, water to be treated is passed through each of reactor vessels, phosphorus contained in the water to be treated is removed by using an adsorbent, and thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged through each of first to third treated water discharge paths, thereby eliminating the impurities, and the like derived from the water to be treated. It is possible to eliminate the influence of the impurities in the water to be treated on the discharged desorption agent liquid containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent can be eliminated, and hence it is possible to obtain a phosphorus-containing liquid containing no substance other than the recovered phosphoric matter material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100300954
    Abstract: A filter system having a filter bed for filtering water or wastewater, where the filter bed is periodically washed between service runs by directing washing liquid and washing gas upwardly through the filter bed. The filter system includes a filter bed and at least one flume. The flume is in fluid communication with the filter bed. Preferably, the flume is configured such that no washing liquid and washing gas interface is present in the flume. The flume may be configured such that during washing of the filter bed between service runs the flume receives a washing gas and directs the washing gas upwardly through the filter bed to assist in cleaning the filter bed between service runs. The flume may further be configured such that during washing the only liquid directed from the flume to the filter bed is residual liquid that may be present in the flume from a prior service run.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison, Andrew Scott Taylor, Jason Samuel Schmoyer
  • Publication number: 20100300948
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, water to be treated is passed through each of a first reactor vessel and second reactor vessel, phosphorus contained in the water is removed by using an adsorbent, thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged from each of a first treated water discharge path and second treated water discharge path, and thus the influence of soluble impurities derived from the water is eliminated. Further, when suspended solids impurities contained in the water are accumulated in the phosphorus adsorbent, the accumulated impurities are eliminated by a reverse cleaning operation using a liquid to be thereafter introduced from a reactor vessel liquid introduction path into the reactor vessel, and hence the influence of the suspended solids in the water on a desorption agent liquid to be thereafter introduced into a crystallization vessel, and containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100237003
    Abstract: A ceramic water purifying device is provided. The device includes a silver treated packed particle bed in one embodiment. The device may also include feldspar or bottled glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Inventor: Anthony Reid Harvey
  • Patent number: 7758750
    Abstract: A flume for a filter system including at least one filter having a filter bed that is periodically washed with liquid, gas and/or a combination of liquid and gas. The flume includes a chamber having a top wall, a bottom wall, a left sidewall and a right sidewall. The chamber is adapted to receive a liquid, a gas and/or a combination of liquid and gas. Preferably, the flumes includes at least a first inner wall and a second inner wall. Each of the first inner wall and the second inner wall are preferably free of any orifices. The first inner wall is positioned relative to the second inner wall such that an open space is formed between the first inner wall and the second inner wall. The open space creates a first liquid/gas interface upstream of the first inner wall and the second inner wall and a second gas/liquid interface downstream of the first inner wall and the second inner wall when gas and liquid are present in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison
  • Patent number: 7754089
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring an underdrain in a filter system for filtering water or wastewater. At least one diagnostic condition relating to the performance of the underdrain is monitored to determine if the underdrain is operating in an acceptable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Lee Roberts
  • Patent number: 7736506
    Abstract: A system and method for uniformly distributing fluids (e.g., washing and in-service) through a filter bed of a filter. The system and method of the present invention can be used with any type of filter that uses media to remove impurities from a fluid. The filter bed can include one or more layers of media. The media can be natural (e.g., sand, gravel, anthracite, etc.) or can be fabricated (e.g., plastic). The filter media can be supported by one or more layers of gravel. Alternatively, the filter media can be supported by a porous plate or other support designed to replace the gravel layers. The present invention includes a system having a distribution member configured to uniformly distribute a fluid through a filter bed of a filter. Preferably, the distribution member can be readily installed by relatively unskilled labor in both existing filters and new filters. The distribution member is preferably configured to occupy only a small percentage of space in a distribution chamber (e.g., a flume).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison
  • Patent number: 7718061
    Abstract: Apparatus for inhibiting fines carryover in the form of a settlement tank comprising: a filter which divides the tank into upper and lower portions; a fluid inlet in the lower portion for admitting into the tank a fluid with entrained solids; and a fluid outlet in the upper portion through which filtered fluid can leave the tank. The filter comprises filter media supported on a permeable wall, the wall including a filter media outlet which is normally closed, and opening means for opening the filter media outlet to allow the filter media to discharge into the lower portion of the tank. The invention also relates to a method of refilling the filter with filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Cameron International Corporation
    Inventors: James Edward Delves, David John Parkinson, Simon Thomas Henry Brock
  • Patent number: 7699977
    Abstract: Wastewater and sewage filtering and adsorbing unit includes sewage reservoir, clean water reservoir, active coke powder storage, filtering and adsorbing tank, control cabinet, saturated active coke sludge settling tank, filtering and adsorbing material. The sewage reservoir and the clean water reservoir are on one side, and the filtering and adsorbing tank and the active coke powder storage are on other side. Active coke powder storage is above and connected to filtering and adsorbing tank by conduits; inlet pipes in rows and an outlet branch pipe are mounted into the filtering and adsorbing tank. Filtering and adsorbing material is active coke powder. The sewage reservoir is connected with the filtering and adsorbing tank. An active coke sludge discharge port and an active coke sludge conveyor, which are connected to the saturated active coke sludge settling tank by transporting pipelines, are at the bottom of the filtering and adsorbing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Shenyang David Environmental Protection & Energy Saving Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dawei Zhang, Yanbin Guo
  • Patent number: 7691261
    Abstract: A granular filter media dry cell (or filter or bed) for dewatering a liquid composition of water and particulate solids. The liquid composition is applied to the granular filter media to remove water from the liquid composition by passing through the granular filter media with the particular solids collecting on top surface of granular filter media. Water is first allowed to fill from below to just above the top layer of the filter media. A non-porous liner is located on the inner, bottom surface of the container. A drain pipe, having small openings, is located on top of the liner in the valley. A porous layer of large filter media, with the drain pipe therein, is located in the bottom of the container. A grid having open passageways, with fine filter media therein, is located on top thereof. A layer of fine filtrate sand is located on top of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Franklin David Deskins
  • Publication number: 20100072118
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel low operating head polishing sand filter comprising: (a) a plural-layer media bed comprising small, medium and large crushed quartzite; (b) an untreated water inlet system; (c) an underdrain system; (d) a filtered water collection and outlet system; and (e) a backwash water inlet, collection and siphon outlet system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: OASIS FILTER LTD.
    Inventor: David H. Manz
  • Patent number: 7670486
    Abstract: A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventors: Eric Allen Lawrence, Joseph E Zuback
  • Patent number: 7648630
    Abstract: An underwater filtration system or operator which can be floated on and suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged with simultaneous introduction of continuous forced air to remove impurities from the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the system includes a split housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium or mediums for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the interior of the system housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser, directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Inventor: Ronney L. Broussard
  • Publication number: 20090294356
    Abstract: A compact high efficiency combined biological and physical unsaturated wastewater treatment filter configured for periodic backwashing is disclosed. The filter utilizes packed media and removes pollutants and pathogens from wastewater and other dirty water sources. The filter comprises a periodic backwashing means to less the chance that biofilm growth will clog the media pores. However, such backwashing still leaves sufficient biofilm attached to the media to maintain a very high level of treatment. In the preferred embodiment, the filter utilizes high frequency dosing to cause pore saturation at or near the surface during dosing and shortly thereafter in order to maximize distribution uniformity and to induce downward airflow into the media. The system provides a number of unexpected benefits; including allowing a very low distribution pressure and providing high oxygen transfer at low energy utilization into the filter media for aerobic biodegradation of pollutants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventor: Robert A. Beggs
  • Publication number: 20090283478
    Abstract: A method and system for treating a fluid by trapping particles of an active material suspended in a flow stream by way of a particle-trap structure so as to form a multi-layer filtering media to treat the fluid. The particle trap is fully regenerative configured so that the particles are readily back flushed after achieving their absorption capacity in preparation for loading a fresh charge of active particles. The method also describes a combination of a centrifuge separator in-line with the regenerative particle trap configured such that the separator first removes contaminants of considerably different specific gravity than the fluid and the regenerative active particle trap then removes the remaining contaminants by absorption or chemical treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: MILOW LTD.
    Inventor: Gideon ROSENBERG
  • Publication number: 20090277848
    Abstract: A water recycling tank 40 for a filtration system 10 including a filter 30 and pump 20, the tank: (a) in communication with the filter and the pump; (b) that has a substantial height difference between the upper internal space and the lower internal space of the tank whereby the tank is adapted to permit water-borne sediments 47 to settle near the base 52 of the tank over time; (c) has a waste outlet 44 near or on the base; (d) has a recycling outlet 43 above the waste outlet and in communication with the pump; and (e) has an inlet 42 above the recycling outlet in communication with the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Publication date: November 12, 2009
    Inventors: David A. Slade, Anthony P. Marchmont, Roland V. Burgers
  • Publication number: 20090230042
    Abstract: An underwater filtration system or operator which can be floated on and suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged with simultaneous introduction of continuous forced air to remove impurities from the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the system includes a split housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium or mediums for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the interior of the system housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser, directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Ronney L. Broussard
  • Publication number: 20090218265
    Abstract: This self contained, add-on, self cleaning, instant reverse flush aquarium and/or fish-pond filter system is designed to capture all aquarium and/or pond solid detritus and to deposit them in the spaces between a heavy marbles-like filter substrate in such a way that these detritus can then be often and regularly evacuated by reverse-flush action from the filter-body and the vessel containing this filter-body, very fast, very easily, without any in-tank manual intervention and with a minimal amount of water wastage. This instant reverse-flush aquarium and/or fish-pond filter system will be available in many various sizes, shapes or models that can be added at any time to any aquatic life containing vessel of any shape or size, with the purpose of easily evacuating pollution causing debris as often as possible, hereby minimising the need for biological and/or chemical filtration stages and also drastically reducing other stress causing maintenance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2007
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Inventor: Philippe Alfred Dor
  • Patent number: 7473356
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a wastewater treatment system using a superconducting magnetic separator that can wash the magnetic filter efficiently. The system comprises in a bore of a superconducting magnet a removably built-up multiunit magnetic filter consisting of a plurality of single-unit magnetic filters. The multiunit magnetic filter has a total longitudinal length at least equal or greater than that of the superconducting magnet. During excitation of the superconducting magnet, a single-unit magnetic filter is removed from the upstream side (sewage side) of the multiunit magnetic filter by pushing in another single-unit magnetic filter from the downstream side (clean water side), and washed and returned to the downstream side again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignees: Niki Glass Co., Ltd, Tatsumi Air Engineering, Ltd, Futaba Shoj, Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Takefumi Niki, Yasuhiro Noda, Tatsuo Fukunishi
  • Patent number: 7470372
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of an influent with a porous media. The influent passes radially through the porous media and into an internal volume of the device. The treated influent then passes through an open check valve in the internal volume, and then to downstream equipment. During a backwash operation, a backwash fluid is passed into the internal volume of the device in a direction to close the check valve. The blocked path in the internal volume of the device causes the backwash fluid to pass radially outwardly into the porous media and fluidize the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Inventor: John D. Martin
  • Patent number: 7413649
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system that includes at least one treatment module (“pod”) with rigid and impermeable inner and outer surfaces, and an annular center passage which is designed to provide an alternative flow path during the pod backwashing process. At least one chemical treatment media disposed in the interior portion of the pod. A riser extends upwardly through the pod so that the outer surface of the riser and the inner surface of the pod define the annular passage. At least one valve assembly controls the movement of a fluid within the annular passage. The pod is serviced by directing the fluid into the riser and then directing the fluid through the pod, a portion of the fluid flowing through the annular passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Gene Bittner
  • Publication number: 20080190846
    Abstract: A membrane filtration assembly (10) including a membrane module (5) having one or more permeable hollow membranes (6) supported therein by at least one header (7). A filtrate collection chamber (18) is associated with the header (7) and in fluid communication with lumens of the membranes (6) for collecting filtrate withdrawn through said membrane lumens. A filtration chamber (11) is provided for receiving feed liquid to be applied to the surface of membranes (6) within the module (5). The filtration chamber (11) encloses module (5) and extends beyond the height of the module (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventors: David John Cox, Warren Thomas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20080173581
    Abstract: An aerated biological filtration system (10) for treating waste water includes a treatment vessel (11) of elongated configuration which incorporates a circulating filter bed (23) and a static filter bed (24). The circulating filter bed incorporate a particulate material such as granulated activated carbon having a specific gravity in the range of 1.2 to 1.4 and effective size of 0.6 mm to 1.5 mm. The circulating filter bed is disposed above the static filter bed and an aeration system (27) is disposed between the filter beds. The aeration system is arranged to diffuse air through the circulating bed either continuously or intermittently so as to provide oxygen to micro-organisms attaching to the particulate material and to cause slow circulation of that particulate material. The system has particular application for domestic recycling of grey water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Applicant: NUBIAN WATER SYSTEMS PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Gregory W. Maclean
  • Patent number: 7344640
    Abstract: The apparatus and methods of the present invention enable efficient and appropriate treatment of Urban Water Runoff, so that the treated Urban water Runoff can be can be introduced into public waterways without contaminating such waterways. The system apparatus utilizes adsorptive Organoclay media, mechanical filtration and ultraviolet sterilization. The methods and apparatus of the present invention remove contaminants from Urban Water Runoff to a level which enable the resulting effluent to meet appropriate standards for introducing the treated Urban water Runoff in to public waterways. The method and apparatus of water treatment of the present invention does not utilize chlorine containing compounds which, when combined with organic compounds can produce THM's that can become problematic when re-introduced to the downstream environment. The systems of the present invention can be made sufficiently compact so as to enable their use in remote locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Clear Creek Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Timothy Gannon, Joseph Charles Gannon
  • Patent number: 7341662
    Abstract: A filtration vessel has an inlet for inflow into the filtration vessel of liquid media to be filtered, a body of filter media in the filtration vessel, and a drain to receive filtered liquid media for take off from the filtration vessel. The inlet is configured to induce rotating flow about the vessel of unfiltered liquid present in the vessel; and/or, the drain is configured in backwash mode to force backwash liquid through the filter media in rotating flow about the vessel; and/or the drain includes drain limbs inclined to the horizontal and providing for draining of filtered liquid along the inclined limbs to outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventors: Derek Colin Tolley, Asheley Derek Tolley
  • Publication number: 20080035578
    Abstract: Disclosed is a three-tank water treatment system. In operation, water flows through each tank in succession, with each tank performing one or more treatment operations. By allocating a separate tank for the copper/zinc redox alloy filtration medium, some embodiments of this system allow for a greater amount of the redox alloy to be deployed than is practical with existing systems. This increases the effectiveness of this type of filtering and increases the lifetime between necessary changes of the filtration media. In a preferred embodiment, the three tanks are placed in a vertical column. Each of the uppermost two tanks has one dome hole or bulkhead hole near its top and another near its bottom. When the time comes to exchange the filtration medium in a tank, the top and bottom holes are opened, and the media is easily drained out and replaced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Applicant: Bio-Water Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence Robert Powers
  • Patent number: 7294258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for physically treating drinking water, in particular, for reducing the formation of limestone. The invention device comprises at least one water inlet (3b) and at least one water outlet (3c), whereby the device is mounted in the cold water supply line (3) of at least one water heater (1), preferably a boiler, and the device is placed in good heal-conductive thermal contact with the hot water area of the water heater (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Watercryst Chemiefreie
    Inventors: Klaus Leiter, Gerhard Walder, Franz Mair
  • Patent number: 7258798
    Abstract: A package plant for treating raw water to yield potable water. The package plant includes an inlet for raw water, followed by an ozonator for disinfecting the water. Next is provided an up flow roughing filter including a chemically active layer, on top. A slow sand filter follows, which is sized and shaped to promote growth of a biomass for water purification. The up flow roughing filter removes particulates, contributes to the removal of dissolved organics, and protects the slow sand biomass by removing disinfection residuals. In another aspect a method of maintaining the plant is provided, including washing the up flow roughing filter by draining water down through it, providing a vigorous up flow to agitate the top layer, and then washing the slow sand filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: MS Filter Inc.
    Inventor: Robert LeCraw
  • Publication number: 20070187342
    Abstract: This invention provides a device for removing particulates from a liquid. The invention comprises a first chamber having an outlet and an inlet, operably configured to receive into the first chamber a liquid stream having particulates suspended therein. The device further includes a second chamber having an inlet, a top, a bottom, a processed liquid outlet and a sealable settlement outlet, the inlet being in fluid communication with the outlet of the first chamber and being disposed within the second chamber closer to the bottom of the second chamber than the top; and, a third chamber being in fluid communication with the processed water of the second chamber and having an exit line operably configured to deliver processed water. The first chamber further includes a floor and the inlet of the first chamber is operably configured to direct the liquid stream is a direction substantially parallel to the floor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 16, 2007
    Inventors: Cort ABNEY, Scott Myers
  • Patent number: 7252761
    Abstract: A filtration installation for a swimming pool (2) comprising a filter vessel (4) containing a filter bed (5), an inlet pipe (6) extending between the pool and the filter vessel, a return pipe (8) extending between the filter vessel and the pool, a reversible pump (9) enabling to generate, in a backwashing state, an upward flow of water through the filter bed, and a drain pipe (11) arranged for removing the water pumped by the pump in its backwashing state through the filter bed. In order to reduce the required controls of the installation and to make it easier for unskilled persons to maintain it, the upper portion (12) of the filter vessel is in liquid communication through the inlet pipe (6) with the water in the pool and the inlet pipe is provided with a one-way valve (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Propulsion Systems
    Inventor: Marc Lamberts Van Assche
  • Patent number: 7192521
    Abstract: A filtration system that includes a plurality of underdrain blocks arranged to define a plurality of laterals. Each underdrain block defines an interior and an exterior and has an orifice that provides fluid communication between the exterior and the interior. The system also includes a plurality of media retaining plates. Each plate includes a plurality of slots that extend through the plate. Each slot has an average width of less than 0.065 inches. Each plate connects to only one of the plurality of underdrain blocks such that the slots provide fluid communication between the exterior and the orifice of the underdrain block to which the plate is attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Darin St. Germain
  • Patent number: 7163621
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of an influent with a nonbonded media, and when the media becomes spent, the media is fluidized with a backwash fluid. Concentric inner and outer perforated cylinders contain a column of media therebetween. The influent is passed radially inwardly through the column of media and into the lower portion of the inner perforated cylinder, where the effluent is removed from the device. During a backwash operation, a backwash fluid is forced into the lower portion of the inner perforated cylinder, radially outwardly into the column of media to provide an upwardly directed drag force. When the drag force exceeds the buoyant weight of the media, the media is fluidized so that the contaminants can be removed therefrom by the backwash fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Inventor: John D. Martin
  • Patent number: 7157001
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for treating wastewater from a sewer system including the steps of: (A) removing solids contained in the influent to create solids-depleted preliminary effluent (PrE) and to protect downstream systems from premature failure due to wear from solid particles; (B) removing suspended solids from the PrE to produce a suspended solids-depleted primary effluent (PE); (C) treating the PE biologically by exposing it to bacteria-supporting media that removes soluble organic material, thereby creating trickling filter effluent (TFE); (D) separating the bacterial organisms by settling to create a secondary effluent (SE); (E) subjecting the SE to tertiary treatment including granular activated carbon pressure filters to remove PCB's and other compounds and create a carbon filter effluent; (F) disinfecting the CFE to create a final effluent (FE); and (G) discharging the FE to a receiving environment, separately settling and disposing the backwash solids in a backwash clarifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Hubbell, Roth & Clark
    Inventor: Curt A. Christeson
  • 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: 7138056
    Abstract: A filter underdrain system and a method for measuring the water flow through the underdrain filter system. The apparatus includes panel members assembled to form a perforate grid on the filter base structure of an underdrain block. The panels are generally rectangular and have an upper and lower surface. Multiple apertures are provided in the panel member. The number and/or size of the apertures are dimensioned to prevent the egress of filter media and to obtain substantially uniform backwash flow in the underdrain thereby reducing or eliminating water maldistribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2006
    Inventors: David M. Hambley, Philip Hambley
  • Patent number: 7090771
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a filter underdrain for supporting a filter media between at least two dividers forming at least one cell, which includes at least one porous plate for supporting the filter media for filtering a fluid, the porous plate spanning across at least one of the dividers; and a plurality of support members beneath the porous plate, the support members containing at least one port for draining the fluid after the fluid passes through the porous plate. The porous plates may be bound together by a lap joint and an end section may be included between at least two of the support members, the end section containing at least one pocket for holding the porous plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Infilco Degremont, Inc.
    Inventors: John D. Dyson, Jack H. Jessop, Harold W. Johnson, Jr., Louis U. Brittingham, Jr., Gregory Matanoski
  • Patent number: 7063787
    Abstract: The invention recites a filtration tank including a chamber for holding liquid to be filtered, the filtration tank includes a fluid inlet for providing liquid to the chamber. The filtration tank further includes a fluid outlet and at least one filter block disposed between the inlet and the outlet, wherein the at least one filter block includes a porous cap having an average pore size of up to about 250 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: USFilter Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Jackson, Darin St. Germain, Thomas J. Steinke, Paul M. Gallagher
  • 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: 7045067
    Abstract: The filter contaminant loading capacity of a depth granular media filter is increased by imposing a so-called “back-slip” on the filter bed. At intervals between normal backwashing, a volume of liquid is passed upwardly through the media bed under flow conditions selected to displace at least some of the contaminants upwardly in the bed while essentially removing none of the contaminants from the filter vessel. Preferably, the filter bed comprises at least two media types of different but uniform particle sizes and densities, the media types each forming a distinct layer in which the effective particle size of the media in each successive layer decreases in a downward direction in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Eco-Tec Limited
    Inventors: Craig J. Brown, Michael A. Sheedy
  • Patent number: 7029578
    Abstract: A system suitable for the elimination of Cryptosporidium oocysts from water includes a filter bed comprising four layers of inert particulate material such that, from the top layer (first layer) to the bottom layer (fourth layer), the coarseness of the particles decreases while the density of the particulate material increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Spruce International Separations
    Inventor: Frederick Spruce
  • Patent number: 6991726
    Abstract: The invention recites a filtration system including a block including a first wall and a second wall substantially parallel to the first wall. A top surface that is substantially perpendicular to the first wall is disposed between, and coupled to, the first and second walls to at least partially define an inner chamber. The top surface further includes an orifice defining a passageway between a block exterior and the inner chamber. A plate including a plurality of slots, each slot having a width of less than about 0.065 inches, and a slot outlet, is coupled to the top surface of the block. The slot outlets in the plate are substantially coplanar and the plate, when coupled to the block, substantially covers the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: USFilter Corporation
    Inventor: Darin St. Germain
  • Patent number: 6989096
    Abstract: A fluid distribution system for directing fluids through a filter system. The fluid distribution system ensures proper distribution of fluids during the process of filtering as well as the process of washing a filter bed. The fluid distribution system may be used with numerous filter systems including but not limited to an upflow filter, a downflow filter, a combined upflow/downflow filter and/or multiple downflow filters connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison
  • Patent number: 6972091
    Abstract: An ion exchange resin plant for the demineralizing or softening water with an arrangement that allows the plant to operate continuously. The plant tank is divided into to two separate compartments that work simultaneously. One compartment effects water demineralization while the other compartment regenerates the ion exchanging resins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignee: TM.E. S.p.A. - Termomeccanica Ecologia
    Inventor: Piero Becucci
  • Patent number: 6966987
    Abstract: A water treatment device for purifying process water by filtration comprising a housing containing a filter media, having a bottom gravel bed and an upper silica bed, and a fluidizer for backwashing the filter media. Process water is tangentially introduced and caused to swirl in the housing above a filter media, before passing downwards through silica and gravel beds. The swirling increases the through capacity of the treatment device and reduces the amount of particles that would otherwise become imbedded in the filter media. Backwashing is accomplished by forcing fluid, through first and second components of the fluidizer, into the filter media. The first component is a channel formed in the manifold which provides backwash fluid to the bottom of the gravel bed. The second component provides backwash fluid at the gravel bed—silica bed interface by a series of radially spaced fluidizer arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: Process Efficiency Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. Morgan, Jr., Stuart H. Smith, III
  • Patent number: 6942795
    Abstract: A modular filter system and a method of repairing and/or replacing one or more components thereof. The modular filter system includes a traveling backwash hood assembly and a plurality of filter cells having media contained therein. The traveling backwash hood assembly includes a hood and a baffle assembly. Preferably, the hood has at least one opening formed therein and a cover plate operably associated with the at least one opening. The baffle assembly includes a plurality of baffles for directing the flow of fluid. The baffle assembly is detachably connected to the hood to permit the baffle assembly to be moved relative to the hood to permit an individual to readily gain access to the baffle assembly to repair or replace one or more components thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison