US3864840A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lyophilic waste disposal
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-07-16
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Granted: 1975-02-11
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Expires: 1993-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Wet sewage, which may contain or be mainly composed of human waste, is treated to remove readily separable liquid components and is then comminuted. The wet comminuted waste material is then compressed into a relatively thin layer, frozen, and then subjected to a vacuum to remove by sublimation all of the liquid components, leaving the solid material in a completely dry form. Preferably, the foregoing is accomplished in a continuous process and the material is subjected to different stages of vacuum, with or without controlled heating, so as to perform a selective removal of frozen liquid components by sublimation. Preferably, the system is arranged to collect selected vapors, usually by condensation.
Inventors
- 👤 Steven I Baskin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61L; A61L11/00; F; F26; F26B; F26B17/00; F26B17/02; F26B17/023; F26B5/00; F26B5/04; F26B5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
The method of treating wet sewage containing solid pieces which comprises compacting the mass of wet solid pieces into a thin continuous layer, freezing the layer, subjecting the layer in a substantial vacuum to mild heating to vaporize by sublimation all of the liquids therein, and collecting the fully dried solid materiaL for subsequent use.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
The method of treating wet sewage containing solid pieces which comprises compacting the mass of wet solid pieces into a thin continuous layer, freezing the layer, subjecting the layer in a substantial vacuum to mild heating to vaporize by sublimation all of the liquids therein, and collecting the fully dried solid materiaL for subsequent use.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises compacting the mass to form a layer 0.5 - 2.0 inches in thickness.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises compacting the material on a moving belt, and advancing the belt to subject the material to substantial vacuum and mild heating.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3 which comprises continuously advancing the frozen compacted material on a moving belt through sealing means into an elongated evacuated chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises subjecting the material to progressively higher vacuum conditions to remove normally liquid and gaseous components in the order of volatility, and separately collecting different normally fluid components.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 5 which comprises subjecting the material to progressively greater heating as the vacuum increases.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 which comprises forcing the wet solids through a screen to comminute the wet solid material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 7 which comprises initially separating readily separable liquids from the solids.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
114 words
The method of treating essentially fluid sewage which comprises depositing the sewage continuously on a continuously moving belt to a predetermined thickness, freezing the material on the belt, passing the belt with the frozen material thereon into an evacuated chamber through a pair of opposed sealing rolls, subjecting the compacted frozen material within the chamber to controlled temperature and high vacuum conditions to remove substantially all liquids from the material by the process of lyophilization, causing the belt with the substantially dry compacted material thereon to exit from the chamber between opposed pressure sealing rolls to permit maintainance of high vacuum conditions within the chamber, and finally removing the dried material from the belt.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
114 words
The method of treating essentially fluid sewage which comprises depositing the sewage continuously on a continuously moving belt to a predetermined thickness, freezing the material on the belt, passing the belt with the frozen material thereon into an evacuated chamber through a pair of opposed sealing rolls, subjecting the compacted frozen material within the chamber to controlled temperature and high vacuum conditions to remove substantially all liquids from the material by the process of lyophilization, causing the belt with the substantially dry compacted material thereon to exit from the chamber between opposed pressure sealing rolls to permit maintainance of high vacuum conditions within the chamber, and finally removing the dried material from the belt.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 9 which comprises advancing the belt within the chamber through partitions dividing the chamber into separate compartments and having sealing rolls at each partition which provides for maintainance of different vacuum conditions in such compartments, and maintaining such different vacuum conditions within the compartments.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for separating solids in completely dry usable condition from wet sewage comprising an elongated vacuum tank, a belt movable longitudinally through said tank, means for continuously moving said belt, means for continuously depositing wet sewage material containing solids on said belt exterior of said tank, means for compacting the wet material on the belt, means for freezing the liquids contained in the wet sewage on the belt just prior to entrance into said tank, sealing means for said belt and the compacted material on said belt at the entrance to and exit from said tank, and means for evacuating the interior of said tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
Apparatus for separating solids in completely dry usable condition from wet sewage comprising an elongated vacuum tank, a belt movable longitudinally through said tank, means for continuously moving said belt, means for continuously depositing wet sewage material containing solids on said belt exterior of said tank, means for compacting the wet material on the belt, means for freezing the liquids contained in the wet sewage on the belt just prior to entrance into said tank, sealing means for said belt and the compacted material on said belt at the entrance to and exit from said tank, and means for evacuating the interior of said tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which said sealing means comprises opposed rollers at opposite sides of said belt which compress the frozen material against said belt.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 comprising in addition heating means within said tank to supply heat to said frozen material to sublime frozen fluids therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 12 comprising means for continuously evacuating said tank to maintain a predetermined vacuum condition and to remove vapor sublimed from said material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which the means for freezing said material comprises refrigerating means in position to engage said belt in heat transfer relation.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 15, said freezing means comprising in addition a refrigerated enclosure in which said refrigerating means is located.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 in which the means for freezing said material comprises refrigerating means in position to engage said belt in heat transfer relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 17, said freezing means comprising in addition a refrigerated enclosure in which said refRigerating means is located.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 comprising in addition heating means within said tank to supply heat to said frozen material to sublime frozen fluids therefrom.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 19 comprising means for continuously evacuating said tank to maintain a predetermined vacuum condition and to remove vapor sublimed from said material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 comprising means for continuously evacuating said tank to maintain a predetermined vacuum condition and to remove vapor sublimed from said material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
59 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 11 comprising means for separating said tank into longitudinally spaced sections, sealing means associated with said belt to provide for different vacuum conditions in said sections, means for continuously evacuating said sections to maintain predetermined vacuum conditions and to remove sublimed vapors of different fluids from said sections, and means for collecting said vapors.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which the means for collecting said vapors comprise condensing means for vapors of normally liquid material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which the sealing means to provide for different vacuum conditions in said sections comprises partitions including pressure sealing rolls engageable with the material on said belt.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 24, said sealing means comprising pairs of opposed sealing rolls, in which one roll of each pair engages the underside of said belt and the other roll engages the surface of the material on said belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-10 | 1978-08-12 | 1979-02-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-10 | 1982-08-12 | 1983-02-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-10 | 1986-08-12 | 1987-02-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |