US4959084A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined air and water pollution control system
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
•
Filing: 1989-05-26
•
Granted: 1990-09-25
•
Expires: 2009-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A bioaquatic air pollution control system for controlling both water and atmospheric pollution. The pollution control system includes an exhaust for directing polluted gases out of a furnace and a fluid circulating system which circulates fluid, such as wastewater, from a source, past the furnace where the fluid flow entrains the pollutants from the furnace. The combined fluid and pollutants are then directed through a rock/plant/microbial filtering system. A suction pump pumps the treated wastewater from the filter system past the exhaust to again entrain more pollutants from the furnace where they are combined with the fluid (wastewater) and directed to the filter system.
Inventors
- 👤 Billy C. Wolverton
- 👤 Lamont R. Jarrell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 02:09
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/32; C02F3/327; B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B01D53/74; B01D53/84; C02F3/02; C02F3/025; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A50/00; Y02A50/20; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A process for removing pollutants from a source of polluted air and from a source of waste fluid comprising: combining said polluted air and said waste fluid by continuously flowing said waste fluid past said source of polluted air for entrainment of said polluted air into said waste fluid; circulating said combined polluted air and said waste fluid through a filter for removal of pollutants from said air and waste fluid; and, re-circulating the filtered waste fluid past said source of polluted air for entrainment of additional said polluted air into said fluid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process for removing pollutants from a source of polluted air and from a source of waste fluid comprising: combining said polluted air and said waste fluid by continuously flowing said waste fluid past said source of polluted air for entrainment of said polluted air into said waste fluid; circulating said combined polluted air and said waste fluid through a filter for removal of pollutants from said air and waste fluid; and, re-circulating the filtered waste fluid past said source of polluted air for entrainment of additional said polluted air into said fluid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as set forth in claim 1, wherein said filter is comprised of a combination of rocks, equatic plants, and various microorganisms formed around said plants response to passage of said waste fluid through said filter.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as set forth in claim 2 wherein said waste fluid is water.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as set forth in claim 3 wherein said source of polluted air is a furnace.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
A combined air and fluid pollution control system for eliminating pollutants occurring in a source of polluted air and in waste fluids comprising: an exhaust communicating with said source of polluted air for exhausting polluted gases therefrom; filter means remotely positioned with respect to said source of polluted air, said filter means having an inlet and an outlet; a source of fluid; first conduit means flow connecting said source of fluid with said filter means inlet; second conduit means flow connecting said filter means outlet with said filter means inlet, said second conduit means disposed in communication with said source of fluid; and aspirating means disposed for entrainment of said gases from said source of polluted air by flowing said fluid from said source of fluid past said exhaust whereby said gases are mixed with said fluid prior to circulation of said fluid through said filter means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
A combined air and fluid pollution control system for eliminating pollutants occurring in a source of polluted air and in waste fluids comprising: an exhaust communicating with said source of polluted air for exhausting polluted gases therefrom; filter means remotely positioned with respect to said source of polluted air, said filter means having an inlet and an outlet; a source of fluid; first conduit means flow connecting said source of fluid with said filter means inlet; second conduit means flow connecting said filter means outlet with said filter means inlet, said second conduit means disposed in communication with said source of fluid; and aspirating means disposed for entrainment of said gases from said source of polluted air by flowing said fluid from said source of fluid past said exhaust whereby said gases are mixed with said fluid prior to circulation of said fluid through said filter means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said source of polluted air is a furnace.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
49 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said aspirating means is defined by a joint couplings said furnace exhaust and said fluid flow path in angled relation to provide for the entrainment of said exhaust gases while preventing backflow of said fluid into said exhaust.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said filter system includes an enclosure, said inlet means entering said enclosure, a filter bed carried in said enclosure, a plurality of aquatic plants growing in said enclosure atop said filter bed, a support layer of material disposed beneath said aquatic plants for supporting said aquatic plants, and said outlet means exiting said enclosure.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 8 wherein said filter bed is provided with a plurality of rocks of various sizes, said rocks, said aquatic plants, and various microorganisms formed in said fluid in its passage through said rocks forming a rock/plant/microbial filter system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 9 wherein said filter system includes a forward section having collection chamber means carried therein said collection chamber means being connected to said inlet means and having an open end communicating with the interior of said filter bed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 10 wherein said collection chamber means includes a manifold connected to said inlet means, a plurality of perforated pipe sections disposed in communication with said manifold and said filter bed, each of said pipe sections having a plurality of passageways in communication with the interior thereof and opening to the atmosphere, and removable closure members disposed in said passageways.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 11 including pumping means disposed between said filter system and said aspirating means for pumping said fluid from said filter system past said aspirating means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said exhaust is at least one closed smokestack communicating with said furnace.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 13 including a fluid effluent chamber connected to said filter outlet and said pump, said effluent chamber disposed for receiving and storing effluent fluid therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
A pollution control system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fluid is wastewater.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2200581A
Cited
US2222310A
Cited
US3155609A
Cited
US3216905A
Cited
US3546111A
Cited
US3704570A
Cited
US4102982A
Cited
US3999329A
Cited
US4276063A
Cited
US4005546A
Cited
US4095964A
Cited
US4168958A
Cited
US4333837A
Cited
US4169050A
Cited
US4344920A
Cited
US4415450A
Cited
US4544381A
Cited
US4662900A
Cited
US4717519A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-24 | 1994-03-26 | 1994-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-24 | 1998-03-26 | 1998-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-24 | 2002-03-26 | 2002-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |