Superposed Compartments Or Baffles, E.g., Parallel Plate Type Patents (Class 210/521)
  • Publication number: 20080185325
    Abstract: A system for removing pollutants from a liquid. The system has a tank with a bypass chamber, a treatment chamber, inlet and outlet ports. A dividing wall is located within the tank and defines the bypass chamber and the treatment chamber. The dividing wall has an inlet opening, one or more outlet openings, retaining rods forming a retention space at least partially below the inlet opening, and a vertically-extending weir between the inlet opening and the outlet opening(s). The inlet opening receives polluted liquid from the inlet port and the one or more outlet openings output a cleaned liquid to the outlet port. A float in the treatment chamber is adapted to float in a retention space formed by the retaining rods. The float is adapted to rise against the inlet opening when a fluid level in the treatment chamber reaches a predetermined level to substantially block the inlet opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Christopher Adam Murray, Scott Gordon Monteith
  • Publication number: 20080185334
    Abstract: A density current baffle for use in a clarifier tank has a first baffle portion having a lower end, an upper end and an intermediate central portion. The lower end of the baffle portion is coupled to a side wall of the clarifier tank. The upper end of the baffle portion being disposed away from the side wall of the clarifier tank. The intermediate central portion between the lower end and the upper end, the baffle portion is curved such that the upper end curves inward towards the center of the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Inventors: Earle Schaller, Elaine Schaller
  • Patent number: 7406843
    Abstract: An automatic washer comprises a remote sump fluidly connected to a drain pump and a recirculation pump, and a separator comprising an array of regularly-spaced fins oriented upstream of the recirculation pump for intercepting foreign objects in wash liquid. The remote sump also comprises a wash liquid heater. The separator is automatically purged when the drain pump is operated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Edward L. Thies, Matthew C. Parsons
  • Patent number: 7401704
    Abstract: A conveyor apparatus for conveying solid material in a process vessel includes, a first baffle set comprising a plurality of inclined baffles located above the eductors and arranged to restrict upward flow of solids in the direction of movement of the solids. A second baffle set may be used to prevent particles rebounding from an end wall and back into upper levels of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Cyclotech Limited
    Inventors: David Hadfield, Michael Hess, Alastair Sinker, Ian Smyth, Pete Thompson
  • Patent number: 7392910
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lamellar decanting module comprising two interconnected plates, at least one of said plates being corrugated in such a way that the dips and peaks are inclined in relation to a first edge of said plate according to a non-zero degree angle and define inclined decanting tubes with the other plate. Said module is characterised in that the two plates (2, 3) have the same corrugated profile and are interconnected in connection regions defining a plane of symmetry (P) for the tubes (4) defined by said plates. A plurality of modules can be assembled in such a way as to form a block in which the plates are parallel to one of the faces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: OTV S.A.
    Inventor: Valery Ursel
  • Patent number: 7390420
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling and compressing a dispersion formed in the mixing stage of liquid-liquid extraction. The compression of the dispersion is achieved by reducing the cross-section of the separation section in the direction of flow and by equipping the separation section with a dispersion-damming member. The equipment according to the invention thus comprises a settler, which is essentially trapezoid in shape so that its cross-section is wider at the feed end of the settler and gets smaller towards the rear end of the settler, from whence the separated solutions are discharged from the settler, and the settler is equipped with at least one device to dam up the dispersion. In particular the method and equipment relate to the extraction process used in the recovery of metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventors: Bror Nyman, Stig-Erik Hultholm, Eero Ekman, Launo Lilja, Juhani Lyyra, Pertti Pekkala, Raimo Kuusisto
  • Patent number: 7384551
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a trapezoid settler having a longitudinal axis, a base, a first side wall oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, a second side wall opposing the first side wall and oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, and a coalescence fence connected to the first side wall and the second side wall. The coalescence fence has a first screen, a second screen oriented generally parallel to the first screen, and a media disposed between the first screen and the second screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Giralico, Bernd Gigas, Michael Joseph Preston
  • Publication number: 20080128351
    Abstract: A water treatment plant for water purification or the removal of organic matter, suspended solids and other pollutants from water or wastewater is formed from multiple sections of polymer that are assembled to form a pre-treatment chamber, a treatment chamber and a settling chamber. The plant is preferably formed of a polymer, such as HMWPE. The treatment chamber is preferably a biofilm-aeration chamber. An outer tank is comprised of first and second upper sections and first and second lower sections secured by mating flanges. A divider baffle forms an inner wall separating the pre-treatment and treatment chambers. A hanging clarifier baffle is formed to be suspended from the outer tank between the treatment chamber and the settling chamber and includes a lower wall with specific angled portions near an angled wall of a lower section of the tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: B. James Elliott, Trent Lydic, Terry Fischer, Gary Waite
  • Patent number: 7367459
    Abstract: A grease trap for separating grease and solid waste from waste water. The grease trap includes a tank having a downwardly shaped bottom. An upwardly shaped divider divides the tank into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. A hole near an upper part of the divider allows waste into the upper chamber. An inlet invert in the tank receives incoming waste water, while an outlet invert removes water from the tank. A lid covers the tank. A pipe extends through the lid, upper chamber, and lower chamber for sucking solid waste out of the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Patent number: 7364664
    Abstract: The present processing apparatus blocks off such a portion of a flow of a plating solution (17) that is other than a vicinity of a liquid surface, by using a first partition plate (15) whose lower end is in close contact with a bottom of a plating tank (11) and whose upper end is at a position lower than a liquid surface. Therefore, the plating solution (17) flowing at the bottom of the plating tank (11) flows upwards along the first partition plate (15). At this time, heavy foreign substances do not tend to follow such an upward movement of the plating solution (17), and therefore sink and accumulate in a vicinity of the lower end of the first partition plate (15), so as not to flow into a downstream side of the plate. With this arrangement, the present processing apparatus can remove the heavy foreign substances from the plating solution (17) without relying solely on a filter of a circulation pipe (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Akio Shimoyama, Kazushi Kodama
  • Patent number: 7357860
    Abstract: A skimmer system composed of a base and a slidable float assembly. The base has a base chamber defined by a sidewall, an endwall, and a conduit having an intake communicating with the base chamber. The float assembly has a float chamber defined by an outer float wall, an inner float wall and a top plate. The conduit passes through the inner float wall, wherein a flow channel is disposed therebetween. Preferably the inner float wall carries a flow governor, and the upper end of the inner float wall serves as a weir. An air pocket in the float chamber imparts buoyancy to the float assembly such that the weir skims a top layer of a liquid in which the skimmer system is immersed. A separator may then be used to separate the liquid from material floating on the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Inventor: Paul W. Painter
  • Patent number: 7347945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an installation for separating out an effluent made up of a multi-phase fluid mixture. According to the invention, said installation includes gravity separator means whose geometrical separation characteristics can be adjusted during said separation operation. According to the invention, the method makes it possible to adjust the geometrical separation characteristics of the separator as a function of how the multi-phase composition of the effluent varies over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jul Amado, Baptiste Germond, Pierre Le Foll
  • Patent number: 7334689
    Abstract: An overflow launder for a separation cell where particles are fluidiZEd and rise to the top of the cell, has a primary trough (1) surrounding the rim of the cell (2), and an array of secondary troughs (4) extending across the fluid surface from the side (5) of the rim to the opposite side (6). FluidiZed particles can report directly to the secondary troughs (4) without travelling across the surface of the cell, reducing the incidence configurations with radial secondary troughs and external and/or internal primary troughs are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: The University of Newcastle Research Associates Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Galvin, Maurice Munro
  • Patent number: 7331472
    Abstract: A tank has an inlet opening mounted at an end wall at the beginning of an elongated horizontal path for supplying a mixture to be separated, and two outlet openings mounted at the end of the elongated horizontal path for separately draining the separated liquids. An outlet opening located below the inlet opening and is connected to a vertical channel furnished with a sink located at least on the level of the inlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Lisopharm AG
    Inventors: Alexander Seregin, Victor Ermolov, Vladimir Minaev, Andrey Orlov
  • Patent number: 7328809
    Abstract: A weir assembly for use with a mixer-settler for liquid-liquid extraction includes in one embodiment an organic weir having an inlet opening below the free surface of the organic phase liquid and a vertically-adjustable front wall allowing adjustments in the position and/or height of the inlet opening. The organic weir can also feature an angled bottom coupled to a lip segment, an incline plate in the interior of the weir, and a front wall that is angled with respect to incoming fluid flow. In another embodiment the weir assembly can independently or additionally include an aqueous weir with a labyrinth section. The aqueous weir can optionally include an adjustable lip hingedly coupled to the top of the final partition in the labyrinth section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Michael Giralico
  • Publication number: 20080011693
    Abstract: A self-cleaning waste-water treatment device and method having a housing; a waste-water inlet; a coalescing plate interceptor removably mounted within the housing comprising a plurality of corrugated separator plates each having apertures therein, for receiving the waste-water and for separating, via specific gravity, hydrocarbon-based contaminants from the waste-water; at least one ultrasonic generator disposed within the housing; contaminant removal means for removing separated hydrocarbon-based contaminants from the housing; a purified water outlet; and at least one baffle located adjacent to the purified water outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: Ming Li, ShaoXiang Lu
  • Patent number: 7314549
    Abstract: A storm water interceptor comprises an input conduit connected to a first treatment tank for delivering storm water to the first treatment tank and having an obvert elevation. Also, the interceptor comprises a lower conduit having an invert elevation, a substantially horizontal orifice at a first end connected to the first treatment tank and an exit orifice at an opposite end connected to a second treatment tank, whereby the substantially horizontal orifice at the first end of the lower conduit is below the invert elevation of the lower conduit. The interceptor further comprises an overflow conduit connecting the first treatment tank to the second treatment tank, whereby the overflow conduit is connected to the first treatment tank at a location above the obvert elevation of the input conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Storm Pal Inc.
    Inventor: Gavin Swift
  • Patent number: 7314572
    Abstract: Settleable-particles are separated from a dirty flow of settleable-particles and fluid by trays having a planar section configured with opposed ends and opposed sides, and an entrance edge and an exit edge on opposed ends. The section has opposed side edges, and an upturned entrance lip at each of the entrance and exits edges, with downturned lips at each side edge. A settler unit has one tray as an upper tray and another tray as a lower tray, the two trays being mounted parallel and at a low-angle to define a dirty flow entrance, a clean flow exit, and a pocket between the upturned entrance lip and the upturned exit lip for receiving and capturing settled-particles from the dirty flow while cleaner flow flows from the entrance to the exit. A sludge exit is at each side of the trays for permitting the captured settled-particles to exit the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Meurer Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Lonnie Meurer
  • Patent number: 7311818
    Abstract: A water separation unit having an inner housing for storm water collection, separation of oils and debris from the storm water, and discharge of clean water. The inner housing is suspended inside an outer housing. The inner housing has a translatable floor with a plurality of hollow tubes extending upward from the floor and downward through the floor for passage of clean water from the inner housing and out the water separation unit. A plurality of conduits collect the clean water as it escapes from the inner housing and carries the clean water to a discharge tube and out the water separation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Inventor: Benjamin Gurfinkel
  • Patent number: 7303085
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating oil and particulate contaminants from pump-driven aqueous fluid contaminated with emulsified oils, free oils, particulate matter, suspended solids, and other contaminants in which the contaminated fluids are introduced into a container having a horizontal bottom portion and a weir plate dividing the container into an upper clean fluid compartment and a lower separation compartment, an aperture for the outflow of clean fluid from the upper clean fluid compartment sized relative to the pumping rate of the pump driving the aqueous fluid to ensure a residence time of the contaminated fluid in the lower separation compartment of at least about 0.4 minutes, coalescing media comprising a plurality of abutting polypropylene spheres located in the lower separation compartment, and a drain receptacle for collecting the contaminated fluid and delivering the contaminated fluid across the weir plate to the lower separation compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Chemical Management Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy C. Lindsey, Joseph Pickowitz, Stephen Rundell
  • Patent number: 7303686
    Abstract: Arrangement for separating suspension, in particular for treatment of wastewater. A flocculating suspension is separated from the liquid by filtration in a fluidized layer in a sludge blanket, wherein the flocks are created from the separated suspension and fluidization is maintained by the rising stream of liquid while liquid with suspension enters the fluidized layer from the bottom and the liquid freed from suspension is discharged above the surface of the sludge blanket represented by the interface between the fluidized layer and the liquid without suspension. Thickened separated suspension in the form of flocks from a sludge blanket is withdrawn from a zone of the fluidized layer the velocity of upward flow in the fluidized layer decreasing in the upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventors: Svatopluk Mackrle, Vladimir Mackrle, Oldrich Dracka
  • Publication number: 20070272625
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for filtering out particles in a fluid, the method comprising providing the fluid, creating a turbulent flow in the fluid, and collecting the particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: Ansul Canada Limited
    Inventor: Peter Moskun
  • Patent number: 7296692
    Abstract: A fluid separation system includes a tank with a storage chamber for retaining floating and non-floating particulates. The tank includes a baffle for retaining floating particulates within the storage chamber and for directing flow out of the storage chamber. The tank also includes a bypass with an inlet flow control zone and an outlet flow control zone. The flow control zones are separated by a weir sized and positioned to regulate the fluid flow through a baffle port into the storage chamber. The weir also provides control of the flow rate at which incoming fluid is diverted directly through the bypass to the tank outlet rather than into the storage chamber. The baffle and/or the weir may be curved, and the baffle may include a complex curve, to aid in the smoothing of the fluid flow within the storage chamber to improve particulate separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Contech Stormwater Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Vaikko P. Allen, II, Daniel P. Cobb
  • Patent number: 7296693
    Abstract: A method is provided for introducing a fresh sludge flux whose concentration in terms of dry material is less than 40 g/l into the upstream part of digester, maintaining a thin sludge layer in the digester, circulating substantially horizontally effluents above and across the sludge layer and removing the effluents from the digester simultaneously with soluble products of sludge digestion. The cuvette of the digester is divided into sections by transverse walls, which are provided with communication openings in the lower part thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignee: Ergalia
    Inventors: Philip Hervé, Maunoir Siegfried
  • Patent number: 7294256
    Abstract: A storm water filter system for filtering storm water being fed into an in-ground well includes a housing having an inlet and an outlet, with the outlet being connected to an in-ground recharge well. A plurality of open chambers are formed in the housing. An inlet filter box has an open end located in the housing and positioned with the open end facing the housing inlet. An outlet screen filter is positioned over the outlet for capturing debris from water entering the outlet and has a bypass for water to pass when the filter becomes partially blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Happel, Thomas H. Happel
  • Patent number: 7285211
    Abstract: A retention treatment basin system and method 10 that handles an influent of combined wastewater and sewer overflows. The influent includes floatable 12 and settlable solids 14. The basin includes a ceiling 16. The retention treatment basin has one or more influent channels 20 that duct the influent into the basin. A weir assembly 22 extends upwardly from the floor, over which the influent flows. A cell 24 receives the influent passing over the weir. At least some of the settlable solids are retained in the cell. A baffle 26 traps at least some of the floatable solids in the cell. Part of the influent passes under the baffle. One or more up-flow screen systems 28 with bars having a triangular cross-section extend from the baffle that are pervious to fluids for receiving the influent and arresting movement of floatable solids therethrough. The screen system creates a floatable-solids depleted effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Hubbell, Roth & Clark
    Inventor: David Brody
  • Patent number: 7282143
    Abstract: A septic tank includes a chamber, an inlet through which waste water enters the chamber, an outlet, and an outlet pipe mounted to the outlet. At least one partitioning member is mounted in the chamber and separates the chamber into at least a first subchamber adjacent to the inlet and a second subchamber adjacent to the outlet. The partitioning member includes a plurality of through-holes allowing communication between the first subchamber and the second subchamber. The partitioning member prevents the suspensions and deposits in the first subchamber from entering the second subchamber. A submersible pump may be mounted in the first subchamber for creating recycling currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: Chin-Tuan Liao
  • Patent number: 7238281
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic device for removing sediment and other materials from storm water runoff is provided. An exemplary embodiment of this device includes: a first substantially cylindrical chamber a second substantially cylindrical chamber concentrically disposed within the upper portion of the first chamber, a first baffle concentrically disposed within the second chamber, and a second baffle disposed within the lower portion of the first chamber. A water inlet is attached to or formed integrally with the second chamber; a water outlet is attached to or formed integrally with the first chamber; and an optional bypass outlet is attached to or formed integrally with the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Yuming Su, Gayle F. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 7223348
    Abstract: The present invention provides a new and improved method and apparatus for separating a disperse mixture of two non-miscible liquids to increase the separation extent within less time required as per usual. The proposed method includes the steps of providing a tank having an elongated horizontal extension terminated by two end faces (4, 5), creating within said tank an interface (13) between a first layer formed by a volume of one of said two liquids and a second layer formed by a volume of the other of said two liquids with, and supplying said disperse mixture into the tank from one of said end faces (4) thereof directly into said interface (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Lisopharm AG
    Inventors: Alexander Seregin, Victor Ermolov, Vladimir Minaev, Andrey Orlov
  • Patent number: 7213712
    Abstract: A system for settling solids or other impurities from water or wastewater. The system includes a containment vessel for containing fluid. The containment vessel has an inlet for receiving an influent and an outlet through which an effluent is discharged. At least a first group of tube settlers is disposed in the containment vessel. The first group of tube settlers has a top, a bottom and a plurality of tubes for receiving influent and discharging effluent. A distribution channel is provided for distributing influent evenly through the first group of tube settlers to enhance the settling of solids and other impurities from water or wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Lee Roberts
  • Patent number: 7201849
    Abstract: The invention concerns a lamellar clarifier (1) comprising: a) a tank (3) for liquid to be clarified (5), b) means for conveying said liquid (5) into a lower zone (9) of said tank (3), c) means (11) for evacuating said liquid (5) from an upper zone (13) of the tank (3), and d) a plurality of settling plates (Di) arranged inside said tank (3), said plates (Di) being substantially parallel and uniformly spaced apart from one another so as to define a plurality of passages (IIi) extending between said lower (9) and upper (13) zones. Said clarifier is characterized in that it further comprises tubular members (Ti) integral with said plates (Di), and oscillating fixing means (?i) interposed between said tubular members (Ti) and said tank (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Innova Environnement
    Inventor: Alain Boulant
  • Patent number: 7172688
    Abstract: A system to collect by vacuum conveyance, separate, and discharge two mixed immiscible liquids with different specific gravities comprising a prefilter vessel 200, a vacuum tank 100, an optional heavy phase intermediate separation stage 40, and an optional light phase intermediate separation stage 30. Vacuum tank 100 is under a constant regulated vacuum, which sucks mixed immiscible liquids with different specific gravities from their respective remote source(s) through conduit(s) connected to vacuum tank 100. Collection conduits can have manually, mechanically, or electro-mechanically controlled valves at their source ends. Any grit, sediment, particles, and/or floatable debris in the collection conduits is first removed, and then any entrained air in the mixed liquid stream is removed, from the mixed liquid stream prior to undergoing any phase separation stages. Initial phase separation occurs automatically in vacuum tank 100 without any phase interface detection devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Robert N. Petersen
  • Patent number: 7165683
    Abstract: The invention concerns a lamellar clarifier (1) comprising: a) a tank (3) of liquid to be clarified (5); b) means (7) for conveying said liquid (5) into a lower zone (9) of said tank (3); c) means (11) for evacuating said liquid (5) from an upper zone (13) of said tank (3); d) a plurality of clarifying plates (Di) mounted inside said tank (3), defining a plurality of passages extending between said lower (9) and upper (13) zones; and e) means for calibrating said liquid flow (5) between said passages and said upper zone (13). Said calibrating means comprise first tubular members (Ti) mounted inside said tank (3) and integral with said plates (Di), and second tubular members (Tj) arranged substantially staggered relative to said first tubular members (Ti).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Innova Environnement
    Inventor: Alain Boulant
  • Patent number: 7166214
    Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of mercury and other harmful substances from effluents produced in dentist offices is described. The apparatus involves a series of inclined plates upon which mercury reducing bacteria are present, and a subsequent alkaline pH precipitation chambers and an ion exchange chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: 3MA Solutions Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephen Armstrong, Colin Morrell
  • Patent number: 7163107
    Abstract: In-situ cleaning of the bilgewater processing plates of stacks within a treatment tank chamber of a 50-gpm oil/water separator is performed by an injected chemical cleaning agent dispersed by diverted flow of pressurized air introduced into the tank chamber below the plate stacks by emergence of air bubbles from plural branches of an air sparging array system positioned in underlying alignment with crest formations on the processing plates. The air sparging array system consists of an upper and lower tank arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Stephan J. Verosto, Mario DiValentin, David O. Ferchau, Michael Honan, J. William Citino, III, David E. Freshcoln
  • Patent number: 7160474
    Abstract: The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for recycling drilling fluids used in the drilling of wells. The apparatus comprises a tank with a plurality of compartments. Used drilling fluid containing well cuttings or “solids” is pumped into a receiving compartment of the tank and directed towards a flow-reversing barrier. Reversal of the flow causes heavier solids to settle to the bottom of the tank. As fluid fills the receiving compartment, it flows downstream into an adjacent compartment by passing through a flow-restricting baffle that causes more solids to settle to the bottom of the tank. As fluid overflows from compartment to compartment in the tank, it passes through successive flow-restricting baffles causing further solids to settle to the bottom of the tank. When the fluid reaches the collecting compartment of the tank, it is removed to be used again in drilling operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Inventor: Darin Merle Harding
  • Patent number: 7160440
    Abstract: A storm water separator system having side walls constructed from sheet piling to enable installation within a small footprint and in poor soil conditions. The separator system has an upper bypass chamber and a lower treatment chamber with a diffuser directing inflowing water down into the lower chamber. A flow control orifice between the two chambers near an outlet orifice in the side wall controls the quantity of flow through the lower chamber. Excess flow bypasses treatment and passes through the upper chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Sameng Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald W. Samide, David Martz
  • Patent number: 7156241
    Abstract: A composite fluid separator for isolting a first liquid from a second liquid having a different specific gravity. A housing (52) encloses a separation chamber (53). An inlet port (60) delivers the composite fluid into the sump (65) of the chamber. A plurality of stacked baffles (30) is positioned between the inlet and outlet ports, composed of individual inclined separation flow plates (25). The baffles create a flow path in which the fluid flows over each of the plates as it travels upward in the separation chamber toward the outlet port (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Inventor: Gary David Hanks
  • Patent number: 7147111
    Abstract: A hindered-settling fluid classifier is adapted for processing aggregate entrained in a flowing slurry. The classifier includes a classifier tank defined by walls, and having an inlet at its upstream end and an outlet at its downstream end. A slurry feed pipe is connected to the tank inlet for introducing the aggregate slurry into the classifier tank for processing. A plurality of laterally-extending flow control doors are spaced apart along a length of the classifier tank, and are adapted for interrupting flow of the aggregate slurry downstream from the tank inlet to the tank outlet. The doors define respective material settling zones each located a progressively greater distance downstream from the tank inlet. At least one water line is provided for generating an upwardly rising current in each of the material settling zones to control the settling velocity of aggregate floating downwardly towards a base of the classifier tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Inventor: Brian K. Fendley
  • Patent number: 7144516
    Abstract: A method and a settling tank for use in separating a solids containing fluid, such as a drilling fluid. The settling tank includes a settling compartment comprised of an inlet and an upper outlet so that the fluid passes through the settling compartment generally in a first direction from the inlet toward the upper outlet. Further, a backwash fluid source directs a backwash fluid within the settling compartment generally in a second direction which is substantially opposite to the first direction. The method includes the steps of passing the fluid through the settling compartment generally in the first direction and directing the backwash fluid within the settling compartment generally in the second direction. Finally, a method is also provided for clarfying a solids containing fluid using a settling tank, wherein the settling tank is comprised of at least three isolatable settling compartments connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: BOS Rentals Limited
    Inventor: Donald Roy Smith
  • Patent number: 7141640
    Abstract: An upflow reactor for the production of bisphenol A from acetone and phenol includes a vessel, a catalyst bed disposed within the vessel, and a reactant distribution/product collection system disposed within the vessel. The reactant distribution/product collection system includes a perforated distributor disposed at a lower end of the reactor. The reactant distribution/product collection system further includes a perforated collector disposed at an upper end of the reactor. A method for producing bisphenol A from acetone and phenol Includes Introducing the reacting mixture containing acetone and phenol to the distributor, directing it upward through the catalyst bed, and recovering the reacted acetone and phenol as bisphenol A together with other isomers and non reacted species. A method for avoiding catalyst bead carryover from the bed in an upflow reactor Includes receiving a product of the upflow reactor into the collector disposed at an upper end of the reactor through a screen with proper slit size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hatem Belfadhel, Corinne Duchanoy, Jan-Willem Goedmakers, Eduard Hendricus Schlarmann, Monique I. R. de Winne
  • Patent number: 7141162
    Abstract: Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separates the bitumen into an overflow stream providing a bitumen product output from the circuit and a bitumen depleted underflow stream. A primary cyclone stage, a secondary inclined plate separator stage and a secondary cyclone stage further process the underflow stream to produce a secondary bitumen recovery product stream and a recycle stream. The secondary bitumen recovery product steam is incorporated into and becomes part of the circuit bitumen product output stream. The recycle stream is incorporated into the bitumen froth feed stream for reprocessing by the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Suncor Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 7087176
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the high-pressure electrocoagulative treatment of aqueous and viscous fluids and sludge is provided. The apparatus includes a plate and frame design utilizing mechanical closure on a plurality of recessed, gasketed, non-electrically conductive electrocoagulation spacer plates that completely enclose and isolate all fluids, electrical contacts, and electrodes within the confines of the apparatus. The spacer plates include intergral supports that position and support said plates with enclosed electrodes on top of the side rails of the supporting frame of the apparatus allowing said plates to be separated for electrode replacement and maintenance and conversly closed, pressured and put into service. The apparatus includes a baffled influent and effluent chamber at both ends for the addition and flash mixing of chemical reagents and/or flocculants and to provide a means of fluid communication between fluid conduits and chambers formed within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventors: Tom Gus Gavrel, Ira B. Vinson, David Wayne Otto
  • Patent number: 7083721
    Abstract: A hydraulic-permeation type environmental water-runoff filtration-system applicable to street curb-inlet type drainage-chambers, which generally cooperatively interconnect with street and parking-lot drains. The BLUEBAY-BMP™ pollution-trap provides advantage of community-tailored filtering stages, the preferred embodiment seting forth a convenient user-friendly prefabricated-kit assembly employing a basic build-in-place containment-housing which can be readily adapted to the studied needs of a given community,—without incuring alteration of existing sewer-stormdrains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventors: Stewart D. McClure, Ivan R. Fox
  • Patent number: 7083736
    Abstract: A system for extracting free oil from industrial processing fluids contains a solids retention cartridge having a plurality of vertically oriented polymeric elements therein. The cartridge fluidly communicates with a retention chamber, wherein the retention chamber provides a predetermined residence time based on fluid flow as established by inlet and outlet pressure and also as established by valved fluid exit orifices. An aggregation chamber fluidly communicates with the retention chamber and provides an area for aggregation of a low density fluid such as oil for example. The low density fluid is then decanted from a decant chamber. The purified bulk fluid is drained from the retention chamber through an associated return chamber. The average cross-sectional area of the aggregation chamber is less than the average cross-sectional area of the retention chamber thereby enhancing the aggregation of a lower density fluid such as oil, prior to decant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Inventor: Gene Hirs
  • Patent number: 7065863
    Abstract: The present invention has for its object to provide a mechanism for preventing a liquid from splashing from a liquid tank, and a component mounting apparatus with this liquid splashing prevention mechanism. The liquid splash prevention mechanism has a first seal member with a circumferential outer face attached to a first driving lever in a lubricating oil tank, and a second seal member with an arc face set in the lubricating oil tank correspondingly to the first seal member so that a sealing gap for preventing lubricating oil from scattering is formed between the first seal member and the second seal member. Moreover, the lubricating oil is filled in the sealing gap. Scattering of the lubricating oil is more surely prevented by this arrangement. Quality degradation to be caused by adhesion of the lubricating oil to printed boards and the like can be prevented, and productivity can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kurayasu Hamasaki, Kunio Sakurai, Minoru Yamamoto, Hirotsugu Uemori
  • Patent number: 7048852
    Abstract: A method of treating liquid including mixing coagulant with the liquid, introducing mixed coagulant and liquid into a primary reaction zone, containing an agitator, of a reactor which is substantially concentrically positioned with respect to a secondary reaction zone of the reactor, introducing flocculant into the primary reaction zone at a location between the agitator and where the mixed coagulant and liquid are introduced into the primary reaction zone, mixing the mixed coagulant and liquid with the flocculant and causing the resulting mixture to flow into the secondary reaction zone, introducing an encapsulating agent into the secondary reaction zone, recirculating the liquid and encapsulated flocs through the primary and secondary reaction zone, and passing the liquid and encapsulated flocs outwardly of the reactor, and an apparatus for treating liquids including a reactor, a draft tube substantially concentrically positioned within the reactor and being positioned such that the liquids may flow inwardl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Infilco Degremont, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Temple Ballard
  • Patent number: 7044308
    Abstract: An apparatus for the removal of suspended solids and entrained oil from an aqueous solution is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a vessel having a top, bottom, side walls and end walls, with a flow inlet aperture at an upstream end and a flow outlet aperture at a downstream end. A first baffle extends downwardly from the top of the vessel downstream of the inlet and a second baffle extends upwardly from the bottom of the vessel downstream of the first baffle, with a first hopper for solids collection located upstream of the second baffle and a second hopper downstream of the second baffle. A removable coalescing media pack is located downstream of the second hopper, while a plurality of angled plates are located downstream of the coalescing media pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Allan Clarke Benson
  • Patent number: 7033496
    Abstract: A casing surrounds a horizontal axis to define a cavity. The cavity has a top, a bottom, and axially front and rear ends. The casing is configured to conduct a mixture of a liquid and debris through the cavity from the front end to the rear end. Front and rear walls cap the casing at the front and rear ends. A horizontal outlet tube extends through the rear wall and defines a horizontal outlet channel with a bottom. A transversely-extending weir extends upward from the bottom of the cavity. The weir has a horizontal top edge located above the channel bottom and spaced below the top of the cavity, and further has fluid flow apertures below the channel bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Hancor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kris Odell Thacker, Bill Russell Vanhoose, Howard Leander Montgomery
  • Patent number: 7021471
    Abstract: An oil-water separator system diffusing chamber having a diffuser and a baffle with uptake control means. The diffuser includes an attachment portion and a lower portion, with the attachment portion being secured to inlet conduit of the separator system, and with the lower portion being connected to the attachment portion and having flow channeling means. The diffuser has a first side and a second side, with the first side of the diffuser having formed therein a plurality of apertures. The baffle has a first side, a second side and a top edge. The uptake control means includes a plurality of pipes and a pipe restraining means, with each of the pipes having a first end, a second end and a sidewall, with at least one of the pipes having a sidewall with apertures formed therein. The pipes first ends are retained by the pipe restraining means adjacent the baffle first side and the pipes second ends are retained adjacent to the top edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Hamilton Welding Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Abrams