US4260490A — Biomonitor to safeguard water purification proces…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 185 words

Method of monitoring a waste influent stream to a waste treatment basin which contains active microorganisms for levels of materials injurious to the microorganisms in the basin comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, R, in a first sample of liquor from said basin, said first sample having a predetermined volume and a predetermined dissolved oxygen content; (b) measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, M, in a mixture of a second sample of liquor taken from said basin and a sample of liquid from said waste influent stream, said second sample having substantially the same volume and dissolved oxygen content as said first sample; (c) computing the differential, M-R; (d) providing a toxic condition signal when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of liquor from said basin. (e) diverting said influent stream to a holding zone separate from said basin, when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream on said sample of liquor from said basin.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 185 words

Method of monitoring a waste influent stream to a waste treatment basin which contains active microorganisms for levels of materials injurious to the microorganisms in the basin comprising the steps of: (a) measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, R, in a first sample of liquor from said basin, said first sample having a predetermined volume and a predetermined dissolved oxygen content; (b) measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, M, in a mixture of a second sample of liquor taken from said basin and a sample of liquid from said waste influent stream, said second sample having substantially the same volume and dissolved oxygen content as said first sample; (c) computing the differential, M-R; (d) providing a toxic condition signal when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of liquor from said basin. (e) diverting said influent stream to a holding zone separate from said basin, when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream on said sample of liquor from said basin.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 75 words

Method as claimed in claim 1 for also monitoring said influent stream for highly degradable materials capable of causing undue oxygen depletion, bulking or loss of microorganisms in said basin including the step of providing an undue oxygen depletion signal when said differential, M-R, is higher than a predetermined value indicating highly degradable material in said influent stream capable of causing undue oxygen depletion, bulking or loss of microorganisms in said sample from said basin.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 43 words

Method as claimed in claim 1 for monitoring the oxygen uptake, R, of said sample of liquor taken from said basin including the step of providing a reject signal when said uptake, R, is less than a predetermined value indicating insufficient oxygen uptake.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 55 words

Method as claimed in claim 3 wherein said influent stream is diverted to a holding zone separate from said basin when said differential, M-R, is higher than a predetermined value indicating highly degradable material in said influent stream capable of causing undue oxygen depletion, bulking or loss of microorganisms in said sample of said basin.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 169 words

Apparatus for monitoring a waste influent stream to a waste treatment basin which contains a mixed liquor containing active microorganisms for levels of materials injurious to said microorganisms in the basin comprising: (a) means for measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, R, in a sample of liquor from said basin; (b) means for measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, M, in a mixture of a sample of mixed liquor from said basin and a sample of liquid from said waste influent stream; (c) means for computing the differential, M-R; (d) means for providing a toxic alarm signal when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of mixed liquor from said basin; and (e) means for diverting said influent stream to a holding zone separate from said basin, when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of mixed liquor from said basin.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 169 words

Apparatus for monitoring a waste influent stream to a waste treatment basin which contains a mixed liquor containing active microorganisms for levels of materials injurious to said microorganisms in the basin comprising: (a) means for measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, R, in a sample of liquor from said basin; (b) means for measuring the rate of oxygen uptake, M, in a mixture of a sample of mixed liquor from said basin and a sample of liquid from said waste influent stream; (c) means for computing the differential, M-R; (d) means for providing a toxic alarm signal when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of mixed liquor from said basin; and (e) means for diverting said influent stream to a holding zone separate from said basin, when said differential, M-R, is lower than a predetermined value indicating a toxic effect of said influent stream sample on said sample of mixed liquor from said basin.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 50 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which includes means for providing an oxygen depletion alarm signal when said differential, M-R, is higher than a predetermined value indicating highly degradable material in said influent stream capable of causing oxygen depletion, bulking or loss of microorganisms in said sample from said basin.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 which includes means for diverting said influent stream to a holding zone when said differential, M-R, is higher than a predetermined value.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 33 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which includes means for providing a reject alarm signal when said oxygen uptake, R, of said sample from said basin indicates insufficient oxygen uptake in said sample.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 97 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5 which includes: (a) first and second vessels for receiving first and second measured samples, respectively, of mixed liquor from said basin; (b) first and second dissolved oxygen detectors operatively connected with the interiors of said first and second vessels, respectively, for measuring the respective dissolved oxygen levels of mixed liquors therein; (c) means for aerating the first and second samples in said first and second vessels to a predetermined level of dissolved oxygen; and (d) means for injecting a measured sample of said waste water influent stream into said first vessel.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes means for stirring the contents of both vessels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes valve means for directing mixed liquor from said basin to said first and second vessels.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 which includes means for detecting a predetermined level of mixed liquor in said first and second vessels.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 26 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 12 which includes means responsive to said level detecting means for closing said valve means when said predetermined level is reached.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said filling means includes a mixed liquor weir through which mixed liquor from said basin continuously flows which said first and second measured samples of mixed liquor is drawn to said first and second vessels.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 110 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein said valve means comprises an inlet port for receiving mixed liquor from said basin, an outlet port for discharging mixed liquor to said forst and second vessels, a first diaphragm movable from a first position allowing mixed liquor to pass from said inlet port to said outlet port to a second position preventing passage of mixed liquor from one port to the other, spring means urging said diaphragm towards one of said positions and a pneumatically actuated driving diaphragm connected to said first diaphragm and acting against said spring means to move said first diaphragm to the other of said positions, when actuated.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes means for draining said first and second vessels.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 19 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes means for flushing said first and second vessels with flush water.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 64 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein said injecting means includes a measuring vessel in which said sample of waste influent is volumetrically measured and waste water valve means having a first position directing waste water from said stream into said measuring vessel to fill said vessel and a second position directing said waste water sample from said measuring vessel into said first vessel.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said measuring vessel is provided with means for detecting a predetermined level of waste water influent therein.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 42 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 which includes means responsive to said waste water level detecting means for actuating said waste water valve means to said second position to direct said waste water sample in the measuring vessel to said first vessel.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 35 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 19 which includes a waste water weir through which waste water from said influent stream continuously flows and from which waste water is drawn to said waste water valve means.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 which includes means for flushing said measuring vessel with flush water.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 161 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said waste water valve means comprises an inlet port for receiving waste water from said influent stream, a measuring vessel port for discharging waste water to said measuring vessel and for receiving waste water from said measuring vessel, an outlet port for discharging waste water to said first and second vessels, a first diaphragm movable from a first position allowing waste water to flow from said waste water stream to said measuring vessel to a second position preventing such flow, a second diaphragm movable from a first position preventing flow of waste water from said measuring vessel to said first vessel to a second position allowing such flow, spring means urging both said diaphragms to their first positions or second positions, and a pneumatically activated driving diaphragm connected to both said first and second diaphragms actingagainst said spring means to move them, when actuated, to the other of their first positions or second positions.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 46 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9 which includes means for computing the oxygen uptake rate, M, in said first vessel over a predetermined period of time and means for computing the oxygen uptake rate, R, in said second vessel over the same predetermined period of time.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 which includes means for providing an undue oxygen depletion signal when said differential M-R is higher than a predetermined value indicating highly degradable material in said influent stream capable of causing undue oxygen depletion, bulking or loss of microorganisms in said sample from said basin.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 24 which includes means for providing a reject signal when said uptake R is less than a predetermined value indicating insufficient oxygen uptake in the mixed liquor.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1984-04-06	1984-10-06	1985-04-07	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1988-04-06	1988-10-06	1989-04-07	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1992-04-06	1992-10-06	1993-04-07	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Biomonitor to safeguard water purification process from toxicants

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