US4401441A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Digester
Assignee: Chase Precast Corp
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Filing: 1981-12-03
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Granted: 1983-08-30
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Expires: 2001-12-03
Abstract
Abstract Digester for producing organic material having a reaction chamber through which organic material is allowed to flow from an inlet opening to an outlet opening, having means for heating the organic material in the reaction chamber, and having means for collecting the fuel gas which is generated within the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber is located in a housing which has a continuous concrete wall within which is located a core of thermal insulating material to form a continuous insulating envelope around the reaction chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregory J. Chase
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 20:04
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/04; C12M23/00; C12M23/36; C12M27/00; C12M27/18; C12M27/20; C12M41/00; C12M41/12; C12M41/18; C12M41/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
287 words
Digester for producing fuel gas from organic material, said digester comprising: (a) a concrete housing which has a front end and a back end and which defines an elongated horizontal reaction chamber which extends from the front end to the back end, said housing having a continuous concrete wall with an inlet opening at the front end for receiving flowable organic material and an outlet opening at the back end through which said organic material is removed, enabling the organic material to flow through the chamber from the front end to the back end, said housing comprise a substantially closed, continuous inner layer of concrete; a substantially closed continuous intermediate layer of thermal insulating material; and a substantially closed, continuous outer layer of concrete; the housing thereby forming a substantially closed, continuous insulating envelope around the reaction chamber, (b) heating elements which extend substantially the entire length of the reaction chamber for heating the organic material in the reaction chamber, (c) means for collecting the fuel gas which is generated within the reaction chamber, and (d) a baffle located within the reaction chamber between said front and back ends, said baffle extending from the bottom and across the entire width of the reaction chamber, and being spaced from the top of the reaction chamber so that said organic material is forced to flow over the baffle as it flows from said front end to said back end, the baffle dividing the reaction chamber into a forward section toward the front end and a rearward section toward the back end, the said forward section being smaller in volume than the rearward section, and wherein said heating elements are located in both, said forward section and said rearward section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
287 words
Digester for producing fuel gas from organic material, said digester comprising: (a) a concrete housing which has a front end and a back end and which defines an elongated horizontal reaction chamber which extends from the front end to the back end, said housing having a continuous concrete wall with an inlet opening at the front end for receiving flowable organic material and an outlet opening at the back end through which said organic material is removed, enabling the organic material to flow through the chamber from the front end to the back end, said housing comprise a substantially closed, continuous inner layer of concrete; a substantially closed continuous intermediate layer of thermal insulating material; and a substantially closed, continuous outer layer of concrete; the housing thereby forming a substantially closed, continuous insulating envelope around the reaction chamber, (b) heating elements which extend substantially the entire length of the reaction chamber for heating the organic material in the reaction chamber, (c) means for collecting the fuel gas which is generated within the reaction chamber, and (d) a baffle located within the reaction chamber between said front and back ends, said baffle extending from the bottom and across the entire width of the reaction chamber, and being spaced from the top of the reaction chamber so that said organic material is forced to flow over the baffle as it flows from said front end to said back end, the baffle dividing the reaction chamber into a forward section toward the front end and a rearward section toward the back end, the said forward section being smaller in volume than the rearward section, and wherein said heating elements are located in both, said forward section and said rearward section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
Digester as recited in claim 1, wherein the outlet opening is located below the upper limit of the chamber so that there is a space between the organic material and the upper limit of the chamber, and wherein the means for collecting the fuel gas comprises: (a) a collection chamber located above the reaction chamber, the collection chamber having a bottom boundary defined by the portion of the wall of the housing between the collection chamber and the housing, (b) venting means operatively connecting the space to the collection chamber comprising a plurality of holes in said bottom boundary, and (c) pump means for removing the gas from the collection chamber for use.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
Digester as recited in claim 2, wherein the collection chamber is formed by a flexible inflatable bag attached to the top of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
87 words
Digester as recited in claim 1, wherein the said collecting means is a pump means, the digester further comprising: (a) an elongated pipe which is located within the reaction chamber along substantially the entire length of the chamber, said pipe having a plurality of holes along its length, and (b) return piping for connecting the pump means to the elongated pipe for returning a portion of the gas removed from the collection chamber to the elongated pipe to function as an agitating means to prevent crust formation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
280 words
Digester for producing fuel gas from organic material, said digester comprising: (a) a housing formed of discreet precast concrete sections which has a front end and a back end and which defines an elongated horizontal reaction chamber which extends from the front end to the back end, said housing having a continuous wall formed of said precast sections which are sealed at their adjacent edges, the housing having an inlet opening at the front end for receiving flowable organic material and an outlet opening at the back end through which said organic material is removed, enabling the organic material to flow through the chamber from the front end to the back end, said housing comprising a continuous core of thermal insulating material embedded within the continuous concreate wall to form a substantially closed, continuous insulating envelope around the reaction chamber, (b) means for collecting the fuel gas which is generated within the reaction chamber, (c) heating elements which extend substantially the entire length of the reaction chamber, and (d) a baffle located within the reaction chamber between said front and back ends, said baffle extending from the bottom and across the entire width of the reaction chamber, and being spaced from the top of the reaction chamber so that said organic material is forced to flow over the baffle as it flows from said front end to said back end, the baffle dividing the reaction chamber into a forward section toward the front end and a rearward section toward the back end, the said forward section being smaller in volume than the rearward section, and wherein said heating elements are located in both, said forward section and said rearward section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
280 words
Digester for producing fuel gas from organic material, said digester comprising: (a) a housing formed of discreet precast concrete sections which has a front end and a back end and which defines an elongated horizontal reaction chamber which extends from the front end to the back end, said housing having a continuous wall formed of said precast sections which are sealed at their adjacent edges, the housing having an inlet opening at the front end for receiving flowable organic material and an outlet opening at the back end through which said organic material is removed, enabling the organic material to flow through the chamber from the front end to the back end, said housing comprising a continuous core of thermal insulating material embedded within the continuous concreate wall to form a substantially closed, continuous insulating envelope around the reaction chamber, (b) means for collecting the fuel gas which is generated within the reaction chamber, (c) heating elements which extend substantially the entire length of the reaction chamber, and (d) a baffle located within the reaction chamber between said front and back ends, said baffle extending from the bottom and across the entire width of the reaction chamber, and being spaced from the top of the reaction chamber so that said organic material is forced to flow over the baffle as it flows from said front end to said back end, the baffle dividing the reaction chamber into a forward section toward the front end and a rearward section toward the back end, the said forward section being smaller in volume than the rearward section, and wherein said heating elements are located in both, said forward section and said rearward section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
Digester as recited in claim 5, wherein said housing comprises two precast end sections of box shape.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
Digester as recited in claim 6, wherein the housing further comprises at least one precast intermediate section of box shape.
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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) | 1986-08-29 | 1987-02-28 | 1987-08-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-08-29 | 1991-02-28 | 1991-08-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-08-29 | 1995-02-28 | 1995-08-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |