Lighter Constituent Trap Patents (Class 210/538)
  • 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: 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: 7288188
    Abstract: A storm water collection system including a below ground basin and a grate covering the basin. The system also includes a removable water impermeable receptacle disposed within the basin and an inner housing for directing ground water passing through the grate and to the bottom of the removable receptacle. The receptacle also includes one or more generally rectangular openings in an upper portion thereof so that water that flows through the inner housing and upwardly between the walls of the inner housing and the walls of the receptacle flow out of the openings and down to the bottom of the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: Faisal Abdul Aziz Al-Assfour
  • 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: 7273548
    Abstract: A fluid filter, which is adapted for separating a less dense fluid floating on a high dense fluid, includes at least a fluid filtering arrangement including a floating wing adapted for floating on the less dense fluid and at least a fluid outlet formed on the floating wing, and a container body, which is extended from the floating wing, having a fluid collecting cavity communicating with the fluid outlet, wherein the fluid outlet is formed at a position above the fluid collecting cavity. Therefore, when a downward force is applied on the floating wing until the fluid outlet is slightly positioned below a surface level of the less dense fluid, the less dense fluid is allowed to flow into the fluid collecting cavity through the fluid outlet by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Charles N. Chiang
  • Publication number: 20070199871
    Abstract: An above ground oil and water separator including a pump to draw potentially contaminated water from a containment area, and to supply a flow of water to an enclosure. An enclosure inlet pipe takes water from the diaphragm pump into the enclosure. A first sub-enclosure is formed within the enclosure by a wall containing a plurality of coalescing spheres. The coalescing spheres are bagged within the first wall and can be removed through an external lid during cleaning and removal of coalesced oil. A heat source contained within an electrical panel heats water and supplies the heated water to the enclosure to prevent freezing within the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 30, 2007
    Inventor: Roy W. Jorgensen
  • Patent number: 7258800
    Abstract: A waste water treatment system and process for treating waste water received in a batch tank. The waste water is discharged in a headwork screen for removing large solids in the water. The solids are into a sludge drying bin. The screened water is transferred into a top of an influent surge tank with an oil/water separator. The oil/water separator includes a plurality of coalescing plates for separating free oil from the waste water. Heavy solids in the surge tank are drained into the sludge drying bin. The waste water is now dropped into a containment pan. From the containment pan, the waste water is pumped into a water treatment tank. The water treatment tank includes two or more electrodes mounted in the top thereof. The electrodes are separated using insulating support spacers for providing proper electrode spacing and insulation between the electrodes. The electrodes are used for providing current to the waste water and separating the contaminates in the water by electrocoagulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Inventor: Robert J. Herbst
  • Patent number: 7223332
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for oxidizing mercaptans in a preferably kerosene stream. By using a catalyst promoter, sufficient separation of hydrocarbon and aqueous alkali occurs in the reactor vessel to obviate the need for a settling tank. Hence, the sweetened kerosene can be withdrawn from the reactor vessel and sent directly to a residual alkali removal unit such as a sand filter vessel or to a water wash vessel if jet grade fuel is desired. In an embodiment, the reactor vessel used for this purpose includes a reaction section and a separation section in the same reactor vessel and an aqueous alkali outlet and a sweetened hydrocarbon outlet in the separation section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan A. Tertel
  • Patent number: 7182874
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment device for removing floatables, solids and suspended particles and the like from stormwater run off, whereby a removable assembly is provided for installation into a manhole basin, the assembly including a pass-through member which receives stormwater from an incoming drainage system, and diverts low flows to at least one or more vortex separators, while allowing for high flows to bypass the separators and flow through the assembly untreated to exit the basin without diversion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: KriStar Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Paul Allard, Jonathan McDonald
  • 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: 7163624
    Abstract: An electrostatic separator intended for separation of liquid phase systems, made up of mixtures of liquids of various electrical permittivity. In particular, the separator is intended for separation of an oil-and-water emulsion. The electrostatic separator contains a vessel, inside which there is suspended a system of electrodes energized from an external voltage source. The electrode system comprises at least one pair of conducting plates (8), which is attached to a supporting frame (7) and electrically connected with the high voltage winding of a feeding transformer (9), which is placed in the supporting frame (7). The supporting frame (7) is preferably a casting of an insulating material. The conducting plates (8) of the electrode system are preferably connected to the winding of the feeding transformer (9) through a capacitive electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2007
    Assignee: Vetco Aibel AS
    Inventors: Pål Jahre Nilsen, Wojciech Piasecki
  • Patent number: 7105086
    Abstract: A storm drain system (10) contained in the ground (36) contains a standpipe (12) having a bottom section (18) having perforations (20) where a porous pavement (22) surrounds the top portion of the standpipe (12), where, beneath the porous pavement is a substructure of coarse aggregate, all surrounded by a non-porous base material (34), such as concrete, where a storm drain (28) connects to the standpipe by a top outlet pipe (30), where water (38, 40) and liquid impurities (42) are separated from storm water runoff by a non-perforated section of the standpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Alcoa Inc.
    Inventor: B. George Saliba
  • Patent number: 7067064
    Abstract: A device for separating water immiscible hydrocarbons from water contained on vessel decks by spill rails with at least one scupper comprises a rigid liquid impermeable body adapted to be attached on the inside of a spill rail at a scupper and which defines with the spill rail a chamber that has an opening at the bottom end of the body which opening is at a level below the bottom of the scupper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: John J. Poulos
  • Patent number: 7060179
    Abstract: An apparatus for enhancing sanitation in a kitchen equipped with an oil/grease separator includes a barrier made of two vertical portions connected by a horizontal portion to bound a volume between the oil/grease separator and a kitchen wall and prevent the ingress of debris. The vertical portions have lower flanges for affixation to a floor, edge flanges for affixation to the separator and the wall, and horizontal ears at upper ends. The horizontal portion has downward edge flanges for affixation to the separator and the kitchen wall and is readily cut to a length for the oil/grease separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • 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: 7029585
    Abstract: The grease trap is a device that may be attached to the drainpipe of a sink and the outlet pipe of a plumbing system to remove grease from wastewater before it enters the plumbing system. The device uses simple principles of gravity and separation of immiscible liquids to achieve this goal. Also provided with the present invention is a vent pipe to decrease the production of unpleasant odors. A covered opening is provided for removing the grease periodically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventor: Pik N. Wong
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7022243
    Abstract: A separation tank having an inlet and an outlet and forming a low flow path and a high flow path, both conveying water from the inlet to the outlet. At normal, low flows, the water enters the inlet and passes through the low flow path having treatment chambers to remove, respectively, heavy materials and floatable materials. At high flows such as with heavy storm runoff, water exceeding a predetermined flow rate is conveyed from the low flow path into the high flow path where there are baffles to treat the water to remove both heavy materials and floatable materials. In optional embodiments, there is a filter/recharge chamber that may contain a filter and/or a groundwater conveyance system such that filtered or unfiltered water can be discharged from the low flow path through a groundwater conveyance system to groundwater, to the normal outlet, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Inventor: Graham Bryant
  • Patent number: 7018528
    Abstract: A portable purifying system for improved filtering and/or separating of cleaning solutions such as solvents, particularly those used in parts washers. The purifying system utilizes a removable reservoir to provide a smaller reservoir within a larger reservoir such as a parts washer. The portable purifying system provides an apparatus and method of use to perform the following steps: using re-circulating solvent from the larger reservoir, washing oily parts in such manner that oily residue from the washed parts is deposited in the smaller reservoir; separating cleaner portions of solvent from dirtier portions of solvent within the smaller reservoir using density differences to separate by gravity action cleaner portions from dirtier portions; moving the cleaner portions of solvent into the larger reservoir; and periodically emptying and cleaning the smaller reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: F. Donald Lee
  • Patent number: 7014779
    Abstract: A vacuum separation, transport and collection system for immiscible liquids includes a separator (12) for separating two immiscible liquids such as oil and a water-based coolant, and for directing the separated immiscible liquid into a holder (16). A collector (18) is secured through a vacuum line (20) with the holder (16) and a vacuum generator (22) applies a vacuum to the collector (18) and holder (16). A controller (28) controls the vacuum generator (22) to apply a vacuum to the collector (18) and the holder (16) for a predetermined vacuum duty cycle for periodically removing separated immiscible liquid (26) from the holder (16) into the collector (18). Contaminants in the immiscible liquid cannot degrade performance of the system because such contaminants do not contact the vacuum generator (22) or controller (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Edward C. Kirchner
  • Patent number: 7011752
    Abstract: A wastewater separator to separate waste from a mixed wastewater stream including one or more of heavy waste, light waste and water. The wastewater separator comprises a separation container, a inlet and an outlet. The separation container comprises (1) a wastewater stream director within the separation container, the wastewater stream director being sized, shaped and positioned relative to the wastewater inlet to direct the wastewater stream along a preferred flow path to permit the light waste to separate from the wastewater stream in a first direction to a collection area and to permit the heavy waste to separate from the wastewater stream in a second direction towards a heavy waste removal area; and (2) a flow-directing outlet baffle within the separation container for directing the wastewater stream to the wastewater outlet from the heavy waste removal area to remove the heavy waste from the separation container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Canplas Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nicholas Broeders, James Mantyla, Scott Baldwin, Dan Merrington
  • Patent number: 6966984
    Abstract: A unitary or modular, pre-cast, drive-down pit system suitable for use in a heavy equipment wash installation. The completed pit collects runoff generated by the washing of heavy equipment such as construction, industrial, farming, or road-building equipment. The pre-cast concrete separation unit and separate wall sections have tongue and groove mating ends that facilitate assembling the pit and provide for sealing against leakage of water. The wall sections have built-in rebar attachment and water block elements at an angle so as to provide for a strong and waterproof bond with the ramp floor. The ramp floor is concrete, poured after installation of the separation unit and the wall sections to complete the finished drive-down pit. The separation unit has up to four chambers: a primary solids collection section; a secondary solids settling chamber; a free oil separating section; and a pump water holding section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Inventor: Michael A. Solomon
  • Patent number: 6962656
    Abstract: A liquid reconditioning system separates mixtures of two liquids that are insoluble in one another, such as a coolant and tramp oil from a machining operation. The mixtures of the two liquids are delivered from a sump, or collection basin, to a separator by means of a venturi pump. A tank is provided for holding the two liquids after they are separated whereby they may be individually removed from the holding tank. One of the separated liquids, in the case of a coolant and tramp oil, the coolant, is pumped through the venturi pump to create the vacuum, or negative pressure, that draws the mixtures of the two liquids from the sump to the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Zebra Skimmers Corp.
    Inventors: Steven Davidian, Christopher Fenn
  • Patent number: 6951619
    Abstract: A separation tank with an outer chamber and an inner chamber within the outer chamber. An inlet and outlet are formed in the outer chamber to receive and discharge water, respectively. An inlet opening is located in the inner chamber and is generally aligned with the inlet to receive water from the inlet. An outlet opening is formed in the inner chamber below the inlet opening but above the bottom of the inner chamber. The inner chamber has a cylindrical interior surface such that water from the inlet is directed at a tangent to the interior surface and forms a vortex as the water progresses through the inner chamber. A baffle plate having an opening forming upper and lower weirs is located within the outer chamber just upstream of the outlet to separate both floatable and non-floatable material from the water prior to its discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Graham Bryant
  • Patent number: 6926022
    Abstract: A condensate removal system for removing condensate or infiltrate from a fluid reservoir containing a lubricating or scaling fluid. The condensate removal system includes a fluid conduit having a discharge leg with an outlet port. The condensate removal system prevents or inhibits evaporation of fluid within the discharge leg through the outlet port of the discharge leg while allowing fluid within the discharge leg to flow through the outlet port. The location of the outlet port of the discharge leg is adjustable to compensate for different specific gravities of the lubricating or sealing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: McNish Corporation
    Inventor: Richard L. Dornfeld
  • Patent number: 6920984
    Abstract: A rainwater cleaning system for a water tank comprises a pipe element having a closed end located on the floor of the tank. The pipe element also has an open end connectable to an outflow pipe from the tank. Located near the closed end of the pipe element is at least one hole. The cross sectional area of the hole preferably at least equals the cross sectional area of the pipe outflow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Inventor: Warren Roy Agnew
  • Patent number: 6919033
    Abstract: A stormwater treatment system designed to separate floating pollutants, liter, and contaminated settling solids from drainage discharge. The system uses a cylindrical tank, buried below the ground, which enables separation of the pollutants. The stormwater flows around the inside perimeter of the tank until it flows into an inner cylinder through a weir (or weirs). This causes a delayed flow due to the limited entry point through the vertical weir. The extended amount of resonance time allows for separation of pollutants, liter, and contaminated solids. The stormwater continues to separate itself as it flows around the inner cylinder, up through a vertical pipe and out an outlet pipe. The solid contaminants which are left behind are stored and able to be removed later.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2005
    Assignee: Royal Environmental Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John G. Stark, Thomas Fleischanderl, Hannes Brandstaetter
  • Patent number: 6907997
    Abstract: A casing defines a cavity having a top, a bottom, and axially front and rear ends. The casing is configured to conduct a mixture of a liquid and a contaminant through the cavity from the front end to the rear end. A coalescer, located in the cavity, includes an inclined stack of corrugated plates extending rearward and upward. Each plate has corrugations extending rearward and upward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Hancor, Inc.
    Inventors: Kris Odell Thacker, Bill Russell Vanhoose, Owen Michael Atchison, Howard Leander Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6837997
    Abstract: Method and system for removing accumulated sediment at the bottom of a waste pond or lagoon of a wastewater treatment plant for a petroleum refinery. The system comprises a primary oil separation stage for separating hydrocarbons from the wastewater stream by gravity, a secondary oil removal stage and a biological treatment stage downstream of the secondary oil removal stage. A portion of the sediment from the bottom of the waste pond or lagoon is passed to the secondary oil removal stage and/or the biological treatment stage for processing with the refinery wastewater being treated in these stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventor: John B. Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 6824696
    Abstract: An oil from water separator has an oil disengagement chamber adapted to receive an oil and water mixture and retain it for a sufficient time in a relatively undisturbed state so that oil in the mixture floats to the top of the mixture. This results in a substantially oil free volume of water having a layer of oil derived from said oil and water mixture floating on the surface of the mixture. The oil disengagement chamber is partially separated from an effluent water chamber by an under flow baffle which ducts said substantially oil free volume of water to the effluent water chamber. The oil disengagement chamber has a low liquid level which is higher than the under flow baffle. The outflow of the substantially oil free volume of water from the effluent water chamber is limited to a rate of outflow which is a function of the head of the liquid in the effluent water chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Unisearch Limited
    Inventors: David Bleasdale Tolmie, Phineas Balantyne Stone
  • Publication number: 20040195186
    Abstract: A grease removal system includes a solid interceptor fluidly coupled to a grease trap tank, which is fluidly coupled to a secondary tank. The secondary tank contains an enzyme solution which biodegrades the grease. The grease removal system may also include a solid interceptor fluidly coupled to a grease trap tank which is fluidly coupled to a replaceable container. Grease is diverted from the grease trap tank into the replaceable container and thereafter discarded. The grease removal system may include a grease trap tank utilizing a unique arrangement of grease baffles and solids baffles which work together to isolate grease within a single region of the grease trap tank for ease of disposal. Finally, the grease removal system includes two level sensors which detect the level of grease within the grease trap tank and, at the appropriate level direct the accumulated grease from the grease trap tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Zurn Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Nicolia, Joseph Tripodi, Douglas R. Wroblewski, Robert J. Burnham
  • Patent number: 6783683
    Abstract: A stormwater pollutant separator system is provided with the system having a stormwater pollutant separator, a by-pass system, an intake conduit and an outflow conduit connected together. The stormwater pollutant separator includes a chamber with a weir plate and siphon plate therein. The chamber has first, second, and third sections. The first section is located between the chamber first end and the weir plate. The second section is located between the weir plate and siphon plate. The third section is located between the siphon plate and the chamber second end. In one embodiment the third section has filter material placed intermediate the siphon (sometimes referred to as the second weir) plate and the second end plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick X. Collings
  • Publication number: 20040159606
    Abstract: A casing surrounds an axis to define a cavity that has axially front and rear ends. The casing is configured to conduct a mixture of a liquid and a contaminant through the cavity from the front end to the rear end. A porous basket structure, located within the cavity, for holding coalescing media has a top opening. The basket structure is configured for the liquid to flow through the top opening into the basket structure, through the coalescing media, and outward through of the basket structure in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction. A constraining structure, located in the cavity, constrains the liquid flowing through the cavity from the front end to the rear end to flow through the top opening into the basket structure when the liquid is below a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Kris Odell Thacker, Bill Russell Vanhoose, Owen Michael Atchison, Howard Leander Montgomery
  • Patent number: 6758886
    Abstract: A three-phase separator for separating off from a fluid gas and particles contained therein, includes at least one pair of two gas collection caps extending in a horizontal longitudinal direction (L) and each having a plate section. The plate sections converge in the downward direction. At the bottom ends the plate sections leave an inlet passage, elongated in the longitudinal direction, for the fluid containing particles and an outlet passage, elongated in the longitudinal direction, for settled particles. A discharge opening for fluid, opening into the settling chamber, is provided at a level higher than the inlet and outlet passages. The inlet passage and the outlet passage are located in the extension of one another, viewed in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Paques Water Systems, B.V.
    Inventor: Sjoerd Hubertus Jozef Vellinga
  • Patent number: 6749746
    Abstract: An assembly for mounting in a side wall opening of a catch basin side wall and convertible into a trap for reducing the amount of matter being carried out of the catch basin by drainage water exiting the catch basin. The assembly includes a first trap member having a first wall and an outlet opening formed in the first wall and a second trap member releasably and sealingly engageable with the first trap member. The second trap member has a second wall spaced from the first wall when so attached. The assembly further includes a filter assembly releasably attachable to one of the first and second trap members, and having a filter member being made to capture matter entrained in drainage water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Munro Concrete Products Ltd.
    Inventor: John T. Mokrzycki
  • Patent number: 6749089
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a closure for a container which provides for, among other things, an internal drainage system. Preferably, the closure is molded as a single integral unit that includes a base, cap and hinge arrangement joining the base and the cap and further includes a tamper-evident structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Stull Technologies
    Inventors: Gene Stull, Robert T. Auer
  • Patent number: 6730222
    Abstract: A hydrodynamic separator to separate floatable material from a liquid includes a separating vessel having a cylindrical outer wall; an inlet means for introducing the liquid into the vessel in a manner to promote a low energy rotational flow of liquid in the vessel; a base at one end; a top wall at the end opposite the base, the top wall including an axial outlet opening for receiving a flow containing floatable material separated from the liquid flow to the vessel; a flow modifying member provided within the vessel to define with the top wall an annular opening which is spaced from the outer wall; an annular dip plate spaced from the outer wall of the vessel, the dip plate comprising an upper edge spaced from the top wall to define a gap for the flow of liquid containing floatable matter; and an outlet separate from the axial outlet opening in the top wall, comprising a conduit for removing a primary liquid flow from the vessel, which conduit communicates with the interior of the vessel at a substantially ax
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Hydro International PLC
    Inventors: Robert Yaw Gyamfi Andoh, Mike Faram, Paul Le-Cornu
  • Patent number: 6676833
    Abstract: A grit-and-grease removal system includes a grit channel for degritting water by promoting settling of grit to the bottom of the channel, the grit being removed from the bottom of the channel by a traveling bridge-type grit removal device supporting a submerged grit pump. The system further includes an elongate grease channel arranged to receive degritted water from the grit channel, and having a plurality of grease skimmer pipes extending across the channel above the water level. The grease skimmer pipes are spaced apart along the length of the grease channel, and each grease skimmer pipe includes a plurality of fluid discharge orifices or nozzles spaced along the length of the pipe and oriented to blow fluid obliquely onto the water surface in the direction of a discharge end of the grease channel so as to move grease floating on the surface to the discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Schreiber Corporation
    Inventor: William Earl Castleberry
  • Patent number: 6676832
    Abstract: The apparatus is a surface water purifying catch basin which uses a lamella separator to separate out fine sediment and a separate chamber to trap heavy debris, oil, and floating debris. The surface water enters an inlet chamber which is separated from a settling chamber by a divider wall that has a lower opening between the chambers and a higher overflow. The inlet chamber traps floating contaminates and those that are heavier than the water. The opening between the chambers permits the surface water to flow into and through the lamella separator. The catch basin exit is from the settling chamber, but the water can reach the exit only through the lamella separator that separates out the fine sediment in the water. All of the accumulated contaminates can be removed through access holes in the top of the catch basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Terre Hill Silo Company
    Inventors: Hans de Bruijn, Dennis C. Kohl, David Schollenberger
  • Patent number: 6672012
    Abstract: A gutter cover for directing the flow of rainwater from a building roof into a gutter mounted to the peripheral edge thereof while preventing debris such as leaves and twigs from entering and clogging the gutter. The cover is secured to the roof of the building such that rainwater flowing down the shingles will flow across the cover at the bottom roof line. A lower end of the cover has an arcuate nose disposed substantially above the outer edge of the gutter. The surface of the gutter is treated with one or more combinations of coatings and/or substrate textures to slow the flow of water while improving flow to the cover surface. Rainwater will flow around the arcuate nose into the gutter while debris carried by the rainwater is expelled outwardly over the edge of the gutter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: American Metal Products Company
    Inventors: Gobind Bahroos, David Eisenbraun, Daniel Ford, Stephen Gibbons, Dimitris Katsamberis, Dennis Maiello
  • Patent number: 6641722
    Abstract: A method of removing silicone oils from waste water generated by a silicones manufacturing plant including the step of centrifuging the waste water to concentrate silicone oil contaminated solids while removing the silicone oils. The silicone oil contaminated solids are then dried in a continuously mixed sludge dryer to remove more silicone oils from the sludge to form a sludge product which comprises at least 10% water and a low silicone oil concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amy Rene Freshour, Stephen Lan-Sun Hung, Bang Mo Kim, Mark Allan Moses, Alan Frederick North, Don Royall Houston
  • Patent number: 6605224
    Abstract: A coalescer apparatus is used in oil-water separator tanks. The coalescer includes a frame that supports coalescing plates that are inclined upwardly from the bottom of the frame member. The coalescing plates run parallel with each other and are spaced equally apart. The coalescing plates have a bottom surface that is corrugated and a top surface that is flat without corrugations. Water containing oil and solids is passed through the coalescing apparatus and separation of the oil and solids from the water occurs. The solids fall to the top flat surface of the inclined coalescing plates. The inclined flat surface cause the solids to slide down the plate and out of the coalescer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Highland Tank and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Gregory G. Aymong
  • Patent number: 6547962
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating floating and non-floating particulates from drain water wherein said apparatus includes a first chamber for collecting non-floating particulates, a second chamber for collecting floating particulates, and a third chamber through which treated drain water can be discharged from the apparatus. An inlet pipe for introducing drain water into the first chamber is provided tangential to the first chamber to provide a vortex flow of drain water into said first chamber. An outlet pipe providing flow of drain water from the first chamber to the second chamber has an inlet at the vortex of drain water flow in the first chamber and an outlet that is spaced a predetermined distance from the floor of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: Tec-Kon Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Kistner, Paul J. Rowe
  • Patent number: 6517715
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating or segregating an insoluble or immiscible fluid mixture into its denser and less dense components is disclosed. The apparatus' serviceability is enhanced through the use of a removably secured focusing plate. The apparatus may be advantageously used to separate grease/water mixtures of commercial food preparation operations into a gray water component for disposal in sewer lines and a grease component for storage and subsequent appropriate disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles
  • Publication number: 20020166803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to apparatus for removing grease from an effluent stream containing grease and water. A separation tank defines a separation chamber. An effluent inlet connected with the separation tank permits flow of the effluent stream into the chamber to form a body of effluent in the separation chamber. A grease depth level sensor is used in determining the amount of grease in the body of effluent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Josam Company
    Inventors: Niel Mazurek, B. Scott Holloway, Charles Tevis
  • Patent number: 6427848
    Abstract: An improved dual fabrication liquid circulatory system for an electric discharge fabrication machine, having an oily-water separation system of single, dual, or triple-tank types. The single-tank oily-water separation system utilizes a water level sensor to control the switch of an electric magnetic valve and the discharge of oily-water fabrication liquid from an oil discharge pipe and a water discharge pipe. The dual-tank oily-water separation system directs fabrication liquid into a filtration tank such that fabrication liquid enters a water storage tank through a water discharge pipe and the floating oil flows into an oil storage tank from an oil discharge pipe. The triple-tank oily-water separation system includes a water filtration tank and an oil filtration tank with the water filtration tank divided into two tanks by a separation board. The floating oil in the upper oil layer enters an oil filtration tank through a flow pipe and enters the oil storage tank through an oil discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: Chiao-Chin Shih
  • Patent number: 6416675
    Abstract: A separator that utilizes an arcuate inlet manifold and an arcuate baffle to increase the rate of separation for a mix of materials having different specific gravities. The separator includes an arcuate baffle that defines a separation chamber and an arcuate pipe through which a mixture of materials having specific gravities is carried into the chamber. The mixture is discharged into the separation chamber against the baffle through a series of openings disposed along the perimeter of the pipe. The baffle, pipe and openings are configured relative to one another such that mixture is discharged against the baffle at an oblique angle. In preferred versions of the invention, mixture is discharged slanting up, slanting to the side or slanting up and to the side against the baffle at an angle of 18 to 24 (most preferably at about 22°).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventors: Edwin D. McCasland, Michael McCasland
  • Patent number: 6413435
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating or segregating an insoluble or immiscible fluid mixture including less-dense solids and/or buoyant solids into its denser component, less-dense component, and less-dense solids and/or buoyant solids is disclosed. An aspect of the invention is directed to a technique that may relieve and even eliminate the fouling of down stream elements through the use of a flushing cycle in one instance, alternative access lines in another instance, or alternative access lines and flushing in yet another instance. The apparatus may be advantageously used to separate grease/water mixtures of commercial food preparation operations into a gray water component for disposal in sewer lines and a grease component for storage and subsequent appropriate disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce W. Kyles, William C. Batten
  • Patent number: 6379567
    Abstract: A submerged filtering device for separating any mixture of two immiscible fluids having different specific gravities. The filter can be used with either a gravity or pumped in-feed flow, and can be constructed in a range of sizes from easily transportable units to large fixed installations. When separating a mixture of oil and water, the filter operates in an external holding tank of water, which has the higher specific gravity, in which it is nearly entirely submerged. The filter uses a combination of hydro-static pressure and head pressure to exploit the difference in specific gravity of the two fluids, efficiently effecting a separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2002
    Inventor: Thomas Randall Crites
  • Patent number: 6368501
    Abstract: An assembly for connection to the drain of a cooking appliance which diverts low volume flow effluent from the drain is disclosed. The assembly includes a pipe defining a main flow channel. An auxiliary exit port is connected to the pipe in such a way that the low volume flow will be diverted from the pipe into the auxiliary exit port. A hot water entry pipe port is also connected to the pipe and is in connection with a hot water source which provides a flow of hot water into the pipe. Additionally, a solenoid valve regulates the flow of hot water into the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Clearline Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Batten