Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising: (a) means for conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) means for dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between said receiving and transfer locations; (c) means for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (d) means for applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between said transfer and deposit locations; and (e) means for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
163 words
An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising: (a) means for conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) means for dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between said receiving and transfer locations; (c) means for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (d) means for applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between said transfer and deposit locations; and (e) means for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for collecting any volatile reaction byproducts to prevent release thereof to ambient atmosphere.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said transporting and mixing means includes an elongated mixing chamber, a combined mixer and conveyor rotatably mounted therein and means for rotatably driving said combined mixer and conveyor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said collecting means is at least one storage cannister connected in communication with said mixing chamber for receiving the volatile reaction by-products.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for receiving and holding a load of contaminated material and for dispensing the contaminated material in a continuous flow from the load thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said contaminated material holding and dispensing means includes a main hopper.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveying means is operable for continuous conveying of the contaminated material from said receiving to transfer locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said conveying means includes a belt conveyor and means for supporting and driving said conveyor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising; means for receiving and holding a load of the absorbent material and for dispensing the absorbent material in a continuous flow from the load thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said absorbent material holding and dispensing means includes an auxiliary hopper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said transporting and mixing means includes an elongated mixing chamber, a combined mixer and conveyor rotatably mounted therein and means for rotatably driving said combined mixer and conveyor.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
67 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said oxidizing material applying means includes a supply of the pressurized oxidizing material and a plurality of spray nozzles connected in communication with said supply and with said mixing chamber at a plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations for receiving and spraying the pressurized oxidizing material in liquid form on the mixture of contaminated and absorbent materials.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
60 words
The apparatus of claim wherein said aerating means includes a supply of compressed air and a plurality of air nozzles connected in communication with said air supply and with said mixing chamber at a plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations for receiving and injecting air under pressure in the mixture of contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising: (a) an elongated frame; (b) means on said frame for continuously conveying contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (c) means on said frame for holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow at said receiving location; (d) means on said frame for holding a load of an absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow on the contaminated material as the latter material is conveyed between said receiving and transfer locations; (e) means on said frame for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (f) means on said frame for spraying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials at a first plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material with the contaminated and absorbent materials as the latter are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations; and (g) means on said frame for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is sprayed thereon and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
258 words
An apparatus for remediating contaminated material, comprising: (a) an elongated frame; (b) means on said frame for continuously conveying contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (c) means on said frame for holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow at said receiving location; (d) means on said frame for holding a load of an absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow on the contaminated material as the latter material is conveyed between said receiving and transfer locations; (e) means on said frame for receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at said transfer location and for concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from said transfer location to a deposit location; (f) means on said frame for spraying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials at a first plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material with the contaminated and absorbent materials as the latter are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations; and (g) means on said frame for injecting oxygen containing gas the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is sprayed thereon and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are mixed together and transported from said transfer to deposit locations to produce a reaction therebetween which forms reaction by-products more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at said deposit location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising: means on said frame connected in communication with said mixing and transporting means for collecting any volatile reaction by-products to prevent release thereof to ambient atmosphere.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said transporting and mixing means includes an elongated mixing chamber, a combined mixing and conveying auger rotatably mounted therein and means for rotatably driving said combined mixer and conveyor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said collecting means is at least one storage cannister connected in communication with said mixing chamber for receiving the volatile reaction by-products.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said contaminated material holding and dispensing means includes a main hopper disposed above said receiving location on said conveying means, and said absorbent material holding and dispensing means includes an auxiliary hopper disposed adjacent said main hopper and above said conveying means between said receiving and transfer locations thereon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said conveying means includes a belt conveyor and means for supporting and driving said conveyor.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said transporting and mixing means includes an elongated mixing chamber, a combined mixing and conveying auger rotatably mounted therein and means for rotatably driving said combined mixer and conveyor.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said oxidizing material spraying means includes a supply of the pressurized oxidizing material and a plurality of spray nozzles connected in communication with said supply and with said mixing chamber at said first plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations for receiving and spraying the pressurized oxidizing material in liquid form on the mixture of contaminated and absorbent materials.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said aerating means includes a supply of compressed air and a plurality of air nozzles connected in communication with said air supply and with said mixing chamber at said second plurality of spaced locations between said transfer and deposit locations for receiving and injecting air under pressure in the mixture of contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of: (a) conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between the receiving and transfer locations; (c) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (d) applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between the transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (e) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between the transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
154 words
A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of: (a) conveying a contaminated material from a receiving location to a transfer location; (b) dispensing an absorbent material on the contaminated material between the receiving and transfer locations; (c) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (d) applying an oxidizing material on the contaminated and absorbent materials between the transfer and deposit locations to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (e) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials between the transfer and deposit locations concurrently as the oxidizing material is being applied and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed to produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: receiving and holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof at the receiving location
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said conveying of contaminated material is continuous.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: receiving and holding a load of absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof between the receiving and transfer locations.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said applying of oxidizing material is by spraying the oxidizing material in liquid form at a plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations on the mixture of contaminated and absorbent materials.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 23 wherein said aerating of the materials occurs at a plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations and is by injecting of air under pressure.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 23 further comprising the step of: collecting any volatile reaction by-products to prevent release thereof to ambient atmosphere.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of: (a) holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof at the receiving location; (b) receiving contaminated material in the continuous flow thereof at the receiving location and conveying the material from the receiving location to a transfer location; (c) holding a load of absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof and onto the contaminated material being conveyed between the receiving and transfer locations; (d) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (e) spraying a liquid oxidizing material at a first plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations onto the contaminated and absorbent materials to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (f) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations by injecting air under pressure into the materials concurrently as the oxidizing material is being sprayed and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed the produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
229 words
A method for remediating contaminated material, comprising the steps of: (a) holding a load of contaminated material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof at the receiving location; (b) receiving contaminated material in the continuous flow thereof at the receiving location and conveying the material from the receiving location to a transfer location; (c) holding a load of absorbent material and dispensing the material in a continuous flow from the load thereof and onto the contaminated material being conveyed between the receiving and transfer locations; (d) receiving the contaminated and absorbent materials at the transfer location and concurrently mixing the materials together and transporting them from the transfer location to a deposit location; (e) spraying a liquid oxidizing material at a first plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations onto the contaminated and absorbent materials to produce mixing of the oxidizing material therewith between the transfer and deposit locations; and (f) aerating the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials at a second plurality of spaced locations between the transfer and deposit locations by injecting air under pressure into the materials concurrently as the oxidizing material is being sprayed and the contaminated, absorbent and oxidizing materials are being mixed the produce a reaction therebetween and form reaction by-products which are more environmentally acceptable than the contaminated material for discharge at the deposit location.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 30 further comprising the step of: collecting any volatile reaction by-products to prevent release thereof to ambient atmosphere.