Modular rotating biological contactor system

Claim 1

An improved modular rotating biological contactor apparatus comprising in combination: (A) at least two hemicylindrical trough sections, all said trough sections having inside walls with generally similar diametrical and circumferential dimensions, and all being oriented relative to one another so as generally to have a common longitudinal axis, and each said trough section being generally in a proximate relationship relative to longitudinally adjacent others thereof, (B) a bulkhead means located between each adjacent pair of said trough sections, said bulkhead means including mounting means for engaging said bulkhead means with said adjacent pair of said trough sections in a generally fluid tight engagement and further including aperture means defined in each said bulkhead means for achieving fluid passage therethrough, (C) a pair of endplate means each one disposed across a different opposed end of the terminal pair of said trough sections, each said endplate means including mounting means for engaging said endplate means with a different one of said opposed ends in a generally fluid tight engagement, and further including aperture means defined therein for achieving fluid passage therethrough, (D) fluid conduit means associated with the respective said aperture means of each one of said pair of endplate means for inputting fluid into a first chamber of a series of sequential chambers defined by the resulting assembly of said trough sections, said bulkhead means and said endplate means, and for removing fluid from a final chamber of said series, (E) rotatable contactor means suspended in each one of said chambers in adjacent but diametrically spaced relationship to said inside walls, all said contactor means including an associated shaft means mounting said contactor means, and bearing means for so suspending said shaft means, supported by said bulkhead means and said endplate means, said shaft means being generally coaxial with said axis, (F) drive means for rotatably driving said shaft means, whereby said contactor means is rotatable, and (G) support means associated with at least one of said hemicylindrical trough sections, said bulkhead means, and said endplate means for independently supporting said rotating biological contactor apparatus relative to an underlying ground surface in an orientation such that said axis is generally horizontal.