Abstract: A continuously operated liquid-solids separator for separating a powdered resin material suspended in water forming a slurry by permitting the resin, which is of a lower specific gravity than the water, to float or be impelled upwardly within a separator vessel or upright tank from which it is withdrawn through an outlet orifice as a thickened slurry.

Abstract: A system of waste treatment and disposal which receives and completely destroys waste solids biochemically and disposes of the effluent by total evaporation within a sealed dispersion reservoir surrounding a two stage tank assembly. Raw sewage is reduced in first and second stages of anaerobic digestion in upper and lower tank units of a double tank assembly. Liquid effluent is forced outwardly through discharge openings in the lower tank unit and upwardly through a rock bed in the dispersion reservoir under the pressure of a liquid column in the upper tank unit. The liquid effluent evaporates in the rock bed as a third stage of disposal, with the resulting vapors being filtered through a sand bed over the rock bed and dispersed to the atmosphere in a fourth and final stage.

Abstract: An improved sanitary water closet wherein the soil pipe leading to the sludge tank, passes through a flushing container and is formed inside the latter with a bend provided with grid means arranged to allow passage through of liquid into the container and further to a septic tank, but to divert solid material to the sludge tank. Because of the separation of liquid and solid products, the sludge product obtained in the sludge tank contains very little moisture and is therefore easily biologically degradable.

Abstract: An apparatus to transform raw sewage into a substantially colorless and odor free effluent by the alternate action of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as the sewage flows through a primary chamber and a secondary chamber to a settling chamber and finally to a holding tank from which the effluent discharges to a disposal area.

Abstract: A two stage oil skimmer separator for separating a hydrocarbon, such as oil or wax, from the water in a hydrocarbon-water mixture which is of particular utility for the output from an oil refinery storm sewer system. The first stage of the separator includes a tank which allows gravity separation of the hydrocarbon and water. The floating hydrocarbon is skimmed off the top and directed to the second stage separator. The settled water passes under a baffle to retain the hydrocarbon within the system while passing the water out of the separator. The skimmed hydrocarbon, containing some water, is directed to the second stage where it is heated to facilitate further separation. The hydrocarbon is passed from the top of the second stage to storage tanks in the refinery. The water in the bottom of the second stage tank is returned to the first stage for further separation.

Abstract: A single capacitance vessel is provided to receive the excess heavy phase discharges (normally water) from a bank of disc-nozzle centrifugal separators. The vessel has a reservoir chamber with a weir at one end. The heavy phase streams are delivered into the reservoir of fluid retained in this chamber. In the event there are any hydrocarbons in the heavy phase fluid, the former rise to the surface of the reservoir fluid and pass over the weir, together with some water. An inert gas blanket within the vessel pressurizes the reservoir so that a fluid backpressure is maintained at the discharge outlets of the separators. By use of this system, any fluid returned from the reservoir to the separators (which occurs when the feed to the separators is low in water) is substantially free of hydrocarbons which, if present, would deleteriously affect the operation of the separators.

Abstract: A baffle for use in sewage or water settling tanks and the like which helps in establishing a substantially uniform flow of liquid down the tank across its entire vertical cross sectional area by dissipating as much of the energy of the incoming fluid stream as possible before allowing the fluid to flow down the settling tank. The energy of the stream is dissipated in part by deflectors which are arranged to direct the flow of liquid into and around a dead space prior to discharge into the settling tank.

Abstract: Decantation tanks receive an oil-water mixture from a holding tank. These decantation tanks are set at varying elevations and are arranged to operate in series to drain off oil that has separated out. These tanks may have heat producing elements associated therewith to increase the efficiency of oil separation, and chemicals may be employed in these tanks also to increase such efficiency if necessary. Separator tanks are also provided in the system and receive oil-water mixture from the bottom of the decantation tanks for further separation of oil from the water. These separator tanks have a skimming apparatus therein and also have a pair of baffles under which the water must travel to accomplish further separation of the oil. The separator tanks have a cross partition, and water in a main portion of the tank flows over such partition to a rear compartment from where it is directed to an open top inspection tank and filtered. The pH of the effluent may be altered at this point if necessary.

Abstract: In a dynamic solids concentrator having a rotor with radially extensive disc-like elements which rotate adjacent other stationary or rotating disc-like elements, stabilizing members are provided along radial edges of the respective elements. In the case of the rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within guide members on or guide paths in the inner walls of the concentrator and, in another embodiment, T-shaped stabilizing members whose arms ride on the surfaces of adjacent disc-like elements. In the case of the non-rotating elements, the stabilizng members are stabilizing fingers which ride within the guide members on or guide paths in the concentrators's rotor shaft. The fingers, T-shaped members and their cooperating guides stabilize the relative positions of the disc-like elements within the concentrator under conditions in which pressure differentials within the concentrator or high rotor speeds would otherwise disturb their relative positions.

Abstract: An improved sewage treatment system including a horizontally elongated tank divided transversely into a primary, aeration compartment, a secondary, settling compartment and a tertiary, filtering compartment. In a first aspect of the invention, overflow of treated effluent from the tank enters a further treatment section, which may constitute a longitudinal extension of the tank, wherein the effluent is constrained by baffles to flow in an elongated path while having chlorine or ozone mixed therewith to provide further purification. Another aspect of the invention resides in the novel structure of the filtering section wherein filter screens of different guage or opening size are used to achieve a greater degree of purification.

Abstract: An ozone and oxidation chamber for treating a liquid has a housing provided with an influent line and an effluent line spaced from one another for creating a flow of a liquid through the housing. At least one rotatable axle provided with an agitating blade is arranged extending through the housing transverse to the influent and effluent lines, and to the path of liquid being treated, for agitating the liquid in order to mix into the liquid at a high rate oxygen and ozone received from an injection nozzle directed into the liquid and toward the blade. The rotation of the agitator blade is adequate to generate sufficient frictional forces created during the passage of the blade through the liquid to create static electricity on the blade that facilitates conversion of oxygen injected into the liquid, and found in the liquid itself, into ozone which kills germs, virus, and the like in the liquid.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating foreign solid particles from a liquid with the apparatus including a tank having a liquid inlet and outlet for the contaminated liquid, and the tank having a liquid inlet and outlet for a flushing liquid, and with the apparatus including a hydro-cyclotron and liquid pumps for moving the liquids.

Abstract: An apparatus for countercurrent extraction of a dissolved material from a first liquid phase to a second liquid phase is disclosed. The apparatus comprises overflow provision for each of the liquid phases with preferably adjustable overflow for the lower liquid phase whereby desired control of interface level can be obtained.

Abstract: A replaceable protein skimmer and carbon filtration unit is disclosed for use with a vertical lift aquarium filtration system. The normal flow path through the vertical lift to returning the air-water mixture to the aquarium is diverted through an integrally formed plastic unit housing a carbon filtration chamber through which the diverted air-water mixture passes.

Abstract: In a dynamic solids concentrator having a rotor with radially extensive disc-like elements which rotate adjacent other stationary or rotating disc-like elements, stabilizing members are provided along radial edges of the respective elements. In the case of the rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within guide members on or guide paths in the inner walls of the concentrator and, in another embodiment, T-shaped stabilizing members whose arms ride on the surfaces of adjacent disc-like elements. In the case of the non-rotating elements, the stabilizing members are stabilizing fingers which ride within the guide members on or guide paths in the concentrator's rotor shaft. The fingers, T-shaped members and their cooperating guides stabilize the relative positions of the disc-like elements within the concentrator under conditions in which pressure differentials within the concentrator or high rotor speeds would otherwise disturb their relative positions.

Abstract: Spent drilling mud riser box construction maintaining a selected high mud level for test and gravity flow to a sand sampling device and an alternately used shale shaker in which the shale shaker when operating will screen both spent drilling fluid and the residual flow from the sand sampling device.

Abstract: In a rotary concentrator for continuous separation of a vehicle fluid and a concentrate of solids from an abrasive solids-containing fluid, a plurality of solids-detaining baffles and pockets are provided within the concentrator to collect deposits of the abrasive materials. This depositing of materials upon interior surfaces of the concentrator provides an autogenous, relatively stationary protective layer of abrasive material which protects those surfaces from the abrasive action of solids-containing material flowing past them during operation of the concentrator.

Abstract: A flocculator for use in water treatment plants which comprises a paddle wheel disposed in a sedimentation basin. The wheel is defined by a plurality of equally spaced semicylindrical paddles which at all times are fully submerged in the water and which are constructed of a relatively thin sheet material that is undulated in a direction perpendicular to the length of the paddles. The paddles extend across the full width of the basin and they are secured to rotatably mounted hubs. The water flow in the basin provides the sole source of motive power for rotating the wheel.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for treating wastewater, such as municipal sewage, are provided in which an oxygen enriched feed gas is supplied to an oxygenation chamber wherein oxygen is efficiently dissolved in wastewater (mixed liquor) by means of a static mixing device. The chamber is preferably submerged in a large body of wastewater being treated, such as is commonly found in the secondary stage of an activated sludge wastewater treatment system with the chamber being adapted to receive such wastewater from a location slightly below the surface thereof. Oxygenated wastewater is discharged from the chamber in either a radial or multi-directional pattern at a sufficient velocity to effect a thorough mixing of the oxygenated wastewater and the large body of wastewater contained in the secondary stage treatment tank.

Abstract: A compact dissolved air floatation system is provided for very small flow, i.e., less than 20,000 gallons per day. The floatation system includes a vertical floatation column including a release well comprising an inverted, truncated cone with tangential inlet flow to prevent breakage of the bubbles. The floatation column also includes a clarified water outlet at the lower portion thereof, which water outlet comprises a pipe defining openings on its circumference and having a debris trap member fastened to the top of the pipe.