Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for effecting transfer of oxygen from atmospheric air to liquid waste effluent which comprises continuously drawing effluent through an unobstructed closed flow course having entry thereto in a source of said effluent and outlet therefrom in an enclosed zone of vacuum located a distance above said source while concurrently admitting atmospheric air flow to said flow course thereby to entrain such air in said effluent and dissolve at least some of the oxygen in said entrained air in said effluent, said zone being maintained under a continuous condition of vacuum sufficient to effect suction lifting of said effluent from said source to said zone and further to remove a certain portion of entrained air from the effluent delivered to said zone whereby there is provided a greater density in the effluent in said zone than that of the effluent flowing in said flow course, reintroducing at least a part of the certain portion of the air removed in said zone to the effluent in said source at a location below the surface of the latter, and continuously returning effluent by force of gravity from said zone of vacuum to said source.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
193 words
A method for effecting transfer of oxygen from atmospheric air to liquid waste effluent which comprises continuously drawing effluent through an unobstructed closed flow course having entry thereto in a source of said effluent and outlet therefrom in an enclosed zone of vacuum located a distance above said source while concurrently admitting atmospheric air flow to said flow course thereby to entrain such air in said effluent and dissolve at least some of the oxygen in said entrained air in said effluent, said zone being maintained under a continuous condition of vacuum sufficient to effect suction lifting of said effluent from said source to said zone and further to remove a certain portion of entrained air from the effluent delivered to said zone whereby there is provided a greater density in the effluent in said zone than that of the effluent flowing in said flow course, reintroducing at least a part of the certain portion of the air removed in said zone to the effluent in said source at a location below the surface of the latter, and continuously returning effluent by force of gravity from said zone of vacuum to said source.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said source is a filled basin of liquid waste effluent, the entry to said flow course being within said basin adjacent the surface thereof, the effluent being returned from said zone of vacuum to said basin in a separate closed flow course outletting adjacent the bottom of said pond.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said zone is maintained under vacuum by ejecting air therefrom with a jet of steam, said steam being exhausted with ejected air and returned to said basin.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said source is a filled basin of liquid waste effluent, the effluent being returned from said zone in a free discharge to the surface of said basin from an elevation a distance above said surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the return flow of effluent to said basin is directed from said zone of vacuum to submerged outlet in a confined collection zone in said basin separated from the remainder of said basin, said collection zone having an overflow level spaced a distance above the level of said remainder of said basin from whence said free discharge issues.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the free discharge from said overflow level is directed against a diversion barrier at the surface of said basin to effect horizontal cascade of said discharge onto said surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said source is a pond of liquid waste effluent, the effluent being drawn from said basin from a plurality of locations therein, the effluent being returned from said zone to said basin in plural separate closed flow courses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 in which said portion of removed air is returned to said source at the inlet to said flow course.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for effecting transfer of oxygen from atmospheric air to a liquid waste effluent within a basin, said apparatus comprising an enclosed receiver, means supporting said receiver with at least an upper portion thereof extending a distance above the lEvel of effluent in said basin, first conduit means interconnecting said upper portion of said receiver and the effluent in said basin, means for maintaining a continuous condition of vacuum in said receiver sufficient to suction lift effluent from said basin through said first conduit means to said receiver, means for admitting air from the atmosphere to said first conduit means, said condition of vacuum further being sufficient to remove a portion of the air from the effluent in said receiver whereby the effluent in said receiver has a greater density than that flowing in said first conduit means, means for returning at least a portion of the air removed in said receiver to said basin at a location below the level of the effluent therein, and second conduit means interconnecting a lower portion of said receiver and the effluent in said basin for returning effluent by force of gravity from said receiver to said basin.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
195 words
Apparatus for effecting transfer of oxygen from atmospheric air to a liquid waste effluent within a basin, said apparatus comprising an enclosed receiver, means supporting said receiver with at least an upper portion thereof extending a distance above the lEvel of effluent in said basin, first conduit means interconnecting said upper portion of said receiver and the effluent in said basin, means for maintaining a continuous condition of vacuum in said receiver sufficient to suction lift effluent from said basin through said first conduit means to said receiver, means for admitting air from the atmosphere to said first conduit means, said condition of vacuum further being sufficient to remove a portion of the air from the effluent in said receiver whereby the effluent in said receiver has a greater density than that flowing in said first conduit means, means for returning at least a portion of the air removed in said receiver to said basin at a location below the level of the effluent therein, and second conduit means interconnecting a lower portion of said receiver and the effluent in said basin for returning effluent by force of gravity from said receiver to said basin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 in which the means for returning at least a portion of the air removed in said receiver to said basin comprises a conduit extending between said receiver and the inlet of said first conduit means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the inlet to said second conduit means is disposed in said basin adjacent the level of effluent therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second conduit means outlets in said basin adjacent the bottom thereto.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the vacuum maintaining means comprises a vacuum pump.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 in which the vacuum producing means comprises a steam operated air ejector.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the means for admitting air from the atmosphere to said first conduit means comprises a bleed valve connected to first said conduit means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the means for supporting said receiver in said basin comprises structure disposed at the bottom of said basin.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which the means for supporting said receiver in said basin comprises a flotation member connected with said receiver and floating on the surface of the effluent in said basin.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said first conduit means include a plurality of inlet connections thereto, said inlet connections being disposed at correspondingly plural locations in said basin.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second conduit means comprises a plurality of separate conduits outletting at correspondingly plural locations in said basin.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said second conduit means comprises a pipe extending downwardly in said basin and having outlet adjacent the bottom of said basin, said apparatus further comprising a larger cylindrical conduit encircling said second conduit means and extending to the bottom of said basin to define a separate collection zone into which the effluent outletting from the said second conduit means flows, said cylindrical conduit extending a distance above the surface of the effluent in said basin and having an upper overflow edge from whence issues a free discharge of effluent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus according to claim 20 further comprising at least one splash plate encircling said cylindrical conduit and extending radially therefrom adjacent the surface of the effluent in said basin for diverting free discharge flow across the surface of the effluent in said basin.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
98 words
The apparatus according to claim 9 in which said receiver is a cylinder having its major axis disposed vertically, said cylinder extending downwardly below the surface of the effluent in said basin, said first conduit means including a plurality of pipes communicating with said cylinder, said second conduit means comprising a pipe extending axially within said receiver from a location at one end adjacent the top of the latter to a location at the otheR end adjacent the bottom of said basin, said cylinder and said pipe defining therebetween an annular intake flow space for said waste effluent.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus according to claim 22 in which the annular space between said cylinder and said pipe is provided with a plurality of radially arranged plates extending in the axial direction of said cylinder, and being coextensive therewith and dividing said space into a corresponding plurality of separate compartments, said first conduit means comprising a like plurality of inlet pipes, each inlet pipe being associated with each of one of said separate spaces.