US3923649A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating clarifier mechanism and method
Assignee: Hendrick Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1974-02-22
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Granted: 1975-12-02
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Expires: 1994-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Bouyant means float and at least partially submerge a vertically disposed clarifier duct, open at its upper and lower ends, at the surface of a body of water to be clarified. Breakwater means associated with the clarifier duct prevent an overflow of water from the body of water to be clarified into the floating clarifier duct. A decanter means continuously withdraws water from said duct at a level below that of the surrounding water to be clarified thus emabling a continuous upflow of water in said duct, the water entering the lower end of said duct and rising upwardly until withdrawn by said decanter means. Clarifier means integral with or disposed within said duct induce the formation of a sludge blanket within said duct below the level at which said decanter means withdraws water from said duct whereby the continuous upflow of water through said duct entraps impurities contained in the upflowing water in said sludge blanket.
Inventors
- 👤 Vaughan R Sparham
- 👤 Leon C Bixby
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 19:51
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D21/00; B01D21/24; B01D21/2444; B01D21/0027; B01D21/02; C; C02; C02F; C02F1/00; C02F1/52; C02F1/5281
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A METHOD OF CLARIFYING WATER WHICH COMPRISES: ACCUMULATING WATER TO BE CLARIFIED IN A BASIN, FLOATING A BLANKET INDUCING UPFLOW CLARIFIER MEANS WITH AN OPENING THERETO SUBMERGED IN THE ACCUMULATED WATER, AND DECANTING WATER FROM SAID CLARIFIER MEANS AT A LEVEL ABOVE THE INDUCED BLANKET AND BELOW THE LEVEL OF SURROUNDING WATER IN THE BASIN.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A METHOD OF CLARIFYING WATER WHICH COMPRISES: ACCUMULATING WATER TO BE CLARIFIED IN A BASIN, FLOATING A BLANKET INDUCING UPFLOW CLARIFIER MEANS WITH AN OPENING THERETO SUBMERGED IN THE ACCUMULATED WATER, AND DECANTING WATER FROM SAID CLARIFIER MEANS AT A LEVEL ABOVE THE INDUCED BLANKET AND BELOW THE LEVEL OF SURROUNDING WATER IN THE BASIN.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of clarifying water which comprises the steps of accumulating water to be clarified in a basin, floating a blanket inducing upflow clarifier means with an opening thereto submerged in said accumulated water, decanting water from said clarifier means at a level above said opening and below the level of the surrounding water in said basin to induce blanket formation in said clarifier means and thereafter raising the level of flotation of said clarifier means to lift said clarifier means through blanket material formed therein.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
86 words
The method of clarifying water which comprises the steps of accumulating water to be clarified in a basin, floating a blanket inducing upflow clarifier means with an opening thereto submerged in said accumulated water, decanting water from said clarifier means at a level above said opening and below the level of the surrounding water in said basin to induce blanket formation in said clarifier means and thereafter raising the level of flotation of said clarifier means to lift said clarifier means through blanket material formed therein.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
139 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, annular duct means having spaced apart end portions, upward flow clarifier means disposed within said duct means and spaced from one end portion thereof for inducing coagulation of suspended solids as a blanket in the space between said clarifier means and said one end portion, buoyant means attached to said duct means and adapted to float said duct means on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct means, to support said duct means with the other end portion of said duct means and said clarifier means disposed below the level of surrounding water, and decant means for removing water upflowing said duct means at a level above said clarifier means and below the level of the surrounding water without disruption of the blanket induced by said clarifier means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
139 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, annular duct means having spaced apart end portions, upward flow clarifier means disposed within said duct means and spaced from one end portion thereof for inducing coagulation of suspended solids as a blanket in the space between said clarifier means and said one end portion, buoyant means attached to said duct means and adapted to float said duct means on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct means, to support said duct means with the other end portion of said duct means and said clarifier means disposed below the level of surrounding water, and decant means for removing water upflowing said duct means at a level above said clarifier means and below the level of the surrounding water without disruption of the blanket induced by said clarifier means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said clarifier means comprises a foraminous septum supported in and at least partially partitioning said duct means in spaced relation to said one end portion, said septum, when said duct means is floated, permitting an upflow of water therethrough toward said one end of said duct means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus in claim 1 wherein said decant means comprises means to siphon water from said one end portion of said duct means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said decant means comprises outlet passage means communicating to said duct means in the space between said clarifier and said one end portion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said outlet passage means includes a weir spaced above said clarifier means when said duct means is floated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said buoyant means comprises an annular frame, said duct means disposed within said annular frame, said decant means disposed within said annular frame adjacent said duct means and cooperating with said duct means to partition the interior of said annular frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said annular frame has an inner wall and an outer wall defining a chamber therebetween, and including means to displace air from said chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said one end of said duct means comprises a breakwater to shield the interior of said duct means from an overflow of the water in which the duct means is to be floated.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means to adjust the buoyancy of said buoyant means thus to adjust the level at which said buoyant means, when floating said duct means, supports said duct means and said clarifier means with respect to the level of surrounding water.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A water treatment apparatus comprising means including an upflow clarifier septum for inducing coagulation as a blanket of solids suspended in water upflowing the septum, an overflow weir adjacent said septum, said weir projecting above the level at which said soLids coagulate as a blanket, a collection chamber separated from said septum by said weir, buoyant frame means floating the septum, weir, and collection chamber on a body of water, said frame means supporting said weir below the level of water surrounding said frame means, said frame means supporting said septum below the level of said weir whereby solids carried in water upflowing said septum coagulate as a blanket below the level of said weir.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
A water treatment apparatus comprising means including an upflow clarifier septum for inducing coagulation as a blanket of solids suspended in water upflowing the septum, an overflow weir adjacent said septum, said weir projecting above the level at which said soLids coagulate as a blanket, a collection chamber separated from said septum by said weir, buoyant frame means floating the septum, weir, and collection chamber on a body of water, said frame means supporting said weir below the level of water surrounding said frame means, said frame means supporting said septum below the level of said weir whereby solids carried in water upflowing said septum coagulate as a blanket below the level of said weir.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 12 including decant means communicating with said collection chamber to drain water from said collection chamber remotely from the body of water on which the apparatus is floated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
124 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said frame means has an interior wall surrounding the septum, weir, and collection means and has an exterior wall cooperating with said interior wall to provide at least one flotation chamber in communication with said body of water, said apparatus including air pressure supply means communicating with said flotation chamber to displace water therefrom, said air pressure supply means including a first depending pipe affixed to said frame means and disposed within said flotation chamber, said air pressure supply means including normally closed exhaust means which, when opened, permits air to escape said flotation chamber through said first pipe until said frame means settles to a level at which water within said flotation chamber closes said first pipe.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including a second pipe affixed to said frame means and depending within said flotation chamber, said second pipe communicating to the atmosphere above said chamber, said second pipe projecting downwardly in said chamber to a level lower than said first pipe, said second pipe limiting the displacement of water from said chamber by permitting the escape of air to the atmosphere upon the displacement of water in said chamber below the level of said second pipe.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said frame means includes a ballast tank adapted to be charged with water and with air under pressure, said apparatus including means for discharging water from said ballast tank.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 12 wherein said frame means is rectangular, said weir extending between opposite sides of said frame means, said septum extending between said weir and one end of said frame means, said collection chamber extending between said weir and the other end of said frame means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 17 wherein said collection chamber includes an imperforate plate cooperating with said weir and the other end of said frame means to provide said collection chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 18 including duct means communicating with said collection chamber to discharge water from said collection chamber remotely from the body of water on which said apparatus is floated.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tertiary water treatment facility comprising means providing a pond to receive secondarily treated water, an upflow clarifier septum, a weir adjacent an edge of said septum, collection means separated from said septum by said weir, buoyant frame means surrounding the septum, weir, and collection means, said frame means floating on the surface of said pond and supporting said weir below the surface of the surrounding water in said pond, said frame means supporting said septum below said weir whereby the surrounding water drives water underlying said septum upwardly through said septum and over said weir to said collection means, and decant means communicating with said collection means to drain water from said collection means remotely from said pond.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
119 words
A tertiary water treatment facility comprising means providing a pond to receive secondarily treated water, an upflow clarifier septum, a weir adjacent an edge of said septum, collection means separated from said septum by said weir, buoyant frame means surrounding the septum, weir, and collection means, said frame means floating on the surface of said pond and supporting said weir below the surface of the surrounding water in said pond, said frame means supporting said septum below said weir whereby the surrounding water drives water underlying said septum upwardly through said septum and over said weir to said collection means, and decant means communicating with said collection means to drain water from said collection means remotely from said pond.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
70 words
The treatment facility of claim 20 wherein said clarifier septum is a foraminous blanket inducing septum, said buoyant frame means including a flotation chamber having communication with water in said pond, said facility including fluid pressure means to displace water from said flotation chamber and thereby elevate the position at which said frame means normally floats on said pond thus raising said septum through blanket material that may form thereabove.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
The treatment facility of claim 20 wherein said buoyant frame means comprises a breakwater shielding said septum, weir, and collection means from an overflow of water from said pond.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said clarifier means comprises a foraminous blanket inducing septum disposed below the level at which water is decanted and including the step of elevating the level at which said clarifier means is floated to lift said septum through blanket material accumulated thereabove.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
169 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, annular duct means having spaced apart end portions, upward flow clarifier means disposed within said duct means and spaced from one end portion thereof, said clarifier means comprising means defining a chamber within said duct means, said chamber having wall means diverging from a first opening at one end of said chamber to a larger opening at an opposite end of said chamber, buoyant means attached to said duct means and adapted to float said duct means on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct means, to support said duct means with the other end of said duct means and said clarifier means disposed below the level of surrounding water, said wall means diverging in the direction of said one end portion of said duct means, and decant means adapted, when said duct means is floated, to remove water upflowing said duct means at a level above said clarifier means and below the level of the surrounding water.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
169 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, annular duct means having spaced apart end portions, upward flow clarifier means disposed within said duct means and spaced from one end portion thereof, said clarifier means comprising means defining a chamber within said duct means, said chamber having wall means diverging from a first opening at one end of said chamber to a larger opening at an opposite end of said chamber, buoyant means attached to said duct means and adapted to float said duct means on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct means, to support said duct means with the other end of said duct means and said clarifier means disposed below the level of surrounding water, said wall means diverging in the direction of said one end portion of said duct means, and decant means adapted, when said duct means is floated, to remove water upflowing said duct means at a level above said clarifier means and below the level of the surrounding water.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 24 wherein said means defining a chamber comprises an annulus received within said duct means, said diverging wall means comprising the interior wall of said annulus.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
105 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, a duct having spaced apart end portions and having walls diverging from a first opening at one end portion of said duct to a larger opening at the opposite end portion of said duct, buoyant means attached to said duct and adapted to float said duct on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct, to support said duct with said one end portion disposed below the level of surrounding water, and means for removing water upflowing said duct at a level above said one end portion and below the level of the surrounding water.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
105 words
Water treatment apparatus comprising, in combination, a duct having spaced apart end portions and having walls diverging from a first opening at one end portion of said duct to a larger opening at the opposite end portion of said duct, buoyant means attached to said duct and adapted to float said duct on a body of water, said buoyant means adapted, when floating said duct, to support said duct with said one end portion disposed below the level of surrounding water, and means for removing water upflowing said duct at a level above said one end portion and below the level of the surrounding water.
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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) | 1978-12-01 | 1979-06-02 | 1979-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-12-01 | 1983-06-02 | 1983-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-12-01 | 1987-06-02 | 1987-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |