← Back to Patent Explorer
US3966608A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Liquid treatment apparatus

Assignee: Smith and Loveless Inc
•
Filing: 1974-03-01
•
Granted: 1976-06-29
•
Expires: 1994-03-01
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An improved method and apparatus for treating liquor containing biodegradable wastes wherein the liquor is first delivered to a quiescent settling zone and then to an aeration zone. The aeration liquor is delivered downwardly through a column of submerged fixed media having a high surface area to volume ratio so that aerobic microorganisms can grow on their surface. The liquor is recirculated through the aeration zone and fixed media, and is withdrawn from the unit after treatment.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald G. Mason
  • 👤 Robert B. Higgins

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 01:01
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1236; C02F3/1242; C02F3/06; C02F3/10; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S261/00; Y10S261/72

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
Improved apparatus for treating a liquor containing biodegradable wastes comprising: a settling tank having an inlet communicating with an upper portion thereof; a reactor chamber disposed within said settling tank, said reactor chamber having lower inlet means communicating with said settling tank, a perforated floor portion, and a vertical flow passageway; a column of fixed media within said reactor chamber on said perforated floor portion and surrounding said flow passageway, said media being composed of a multiplicity of elements freely and randomly stacked on one another to provide interstitial areas therebetween, said elements having a high surface area to volume ratio; aeration means in said reactor chamber for introducing air into said liquor; means for delivering said liquor from said aeration means downwardly through said fixed media; means for recirculating said liquor through said fixed media and said central flow passageway; and means for withdrawing effluent from an upper portion of said reactor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 153 words
Improved apparatus for treating a liquor containing biodegradable wastes comprising: a settling tank having an inlet communicating with an upper portion thereof; a reactor chamber disposed within said settling tank, said reactor chamber having lower inlet means communicating with said settling tank, a perforated floor portion, and a vertical flow passageway; a column of fixed media within said reactor chamber on said perforated floor portion and surrounding said flow passageway, said media being composed of a multiplicity of elements freely and randomly stacked on one another to provide interstitial areas therebetween, said elements having a high surface area to volume ratio; aeration means in said reactor chamber for introducing air into said liquor; means for delivering said liquor from said aeration means downwardly through said fixed media; means for recirculating said liquor through said fixed media and said central flow passageway; and means for withdrawing effluent from an upper portion of said reactor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said aeration means comprise an impeller positioned at the top of said central flow passageway, a motor positioned above said impeller, and a drive shaft connecting said impeller to said motor, said motor have a cooling fan for delivering air downwardly through said motor to said impeller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 18 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said flow passageway is centrally located within said reactor chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said fixed media comprises plastic material having an open area which is at least 90% of the total volume of said fixed media.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 20 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said aeration means comprises an air line communicating with said flow passageway.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 183 words
Improved apparatus for treating a liquor containing biodegradable wastes comprising: a settling tank having an inlet communicating with an upper portion thereof; a reactor chamber disposed within said settling tank, said reactor chamber having a lower inlet, a perforated floor portion, and a central, vertical flow passageway; a column of fixed media within said reactor chamber on said perforated floor portion and surrounding said flow passageway, said media being composed of a multiplicity of plastic elements freely and randomly stacked on one another to provide interstitial areas therebetween, said elements having an open area which is at least about 90% of the total volume of said media; an impeller positioned at the top of said flow passageway for drawing liquid upwardly through said flow passageway and for aerating said liquid; a motor positioned above said impeller; a drive shaft connecting said impeller to said motor, said motor having a cooling fan for delivering air downwardly through said motor to said impeller; means for recirculating said liquor through said fixed media and said central flow passageway; and means for withdrawing effluent from said reactor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 183 words
Improved apparatus for treating a liquor containing biodegradable wastes comprising: a settling tank having an inlet communicating with an upper portion thereof; a reactor chamber disposed within said settling tank, said reactor chamber having a lower inlet, a perforated floor portion, and a central, vertical flow passageway; a column of fixed media within said reactor chamber on said perforated floor portion and surrounding said flow passageway, said media being composed of a multiplicity of plastic elements freely and randomly stacked on one another to provide interstitial areas therebetween, said elements having an open area which is at least about 90% of the total volume of said media; an impeller positioned at the top of said flow passageway for drawing liquid upwardly through said flow passageway and for aerating said liquid; a motor positioned above said impeller; a drive shaft connecting said impeller to said motor, said motor having a cooling fan for delivering air downwardly through said motor to said impeller; means for recirculating said liquor through said fixed media and said central flow passageway; and means for withdrawing effluent from said reactor.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2183657A Cited
US2051727A Cited
US2137397A Cited
US3167600A Cited
US3204768A Cited
US3210053A Cited
US3360460A Cited
US3576316A Cited
US3543937A Cited
US3662890A Cited
US3753897A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1979-06-29 1979-12-29 1980-06-29 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1983-06-29 1983-12-29 1984-06-29 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1987-06-29 1987-12-29 1988-06-29 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag