US4998848A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for removing ground contaminants
Assignee: RG HANSEN & ASSOCIATES A CORP OF
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Filing: 1989-03-27
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Granted: 1991-03-12
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Expires: 2009-03-27
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for removing fluid contaminants from a solid material is described. In a preferred embodiment, a cylindrical container having openings in its surface through which contaminants in a gaseous state may enter is filled with cyro-adsorbing substances, for example, charcoal, and placed into a correspondingly-sized hole formed in the solid material from which the contaminants are to be removed. A cryogenic fluid, for example liquid nitrogen, is introduced into the container, thereby cooling the cyro-adsorbing substance so that molecules of contaminants are cyro-adsorbed from the solid material. After the adsorption of contaminants, the container is removed from the solid material and the cyro-adsorbing substance is regenerated, or regeneration is effected in situ. This invention has utility in the field of removing contaminants, such as for example gasoline or other harzardous or toxic materials, from the ground.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert G. Hansen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 07:01
CPC Classifications
B; B09; B09C; B09C1/00; E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/02; E21B43/08; E21B43/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for removing fluid contaminants from a solid material comprising the steps of: providing a container having a surface across which fluid contaminants can enter, said container for holding a cryo-adsorbing substance adjacent said surface, said substance having a cryo-adsorbing capability with respect to fluid contaminants to be removed; placing said cryo-adsorbing substance in said container adjacent said surface; placing said surface of said container adjacent to a solid material from which fluid contaminants are to be removed; and cooling said cryo-adsorbing substance with respect to said solid material below the temperature at which said substance is efficiently cryo-adsorbing with respect to said fluid contaminants so that fluid contaminants are adsorbed by said substance and removed from said solid material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method for removing fluid contaminants from a solid material comprising the steps of: providing a container having a surface across which fluid contaminants can enter, said container for holding a cryo-adsorbing substance adjacent said surface, said substance having a cryo-adsorbing capability with respect to fluid contaminants to be removed; placing said cryo-adsorbing substance in said container adjacent said surface; placing said surface of said container adjacent to a solid material from which fluid contaminants are to be removed; and cooling said cryo-adsorbing substance with respect to said solid material below the temperature at which said substance is efficiently cryo-adsorbing with respect to said fluid contaminants so that fluid contaminants are adsorbed by said substance and removed from said solid material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of cooling comprises placing a liquid that is cool with respect to said solid material in said container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of placing said container adjacent to a solid material precedes said step of cooling said cryo-adsorbing substance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of cooling said cryo-adsorbing substance precedes said step of placing said container adjacent to a solid material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
60 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said surface of said container is cylindrical and said step of placing said container adjacent to said solid material comprises the steps of: forming a cylindrical hole in said solid material sized to accommodate said container; and inserting said container into said hole so that said surface is adjacent to said solid material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein the step of placing said cryo-adsorbing substance in said container comprises a step of placing charcoal in said container.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein the step of placing a liquid that is cool with respect to said solid material in said container comprises a step of placing liquid nitrogen in said container.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 5 wherein said cryo-adsorbing substance is charcoal and said step of cooling comprises placing liquid nitrogen into said container.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising the step of removing said surface from placement adjacent said solid material after fluid contaminants have been cryo-adsorbed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: monitoring the temperature at at least one position in said container; and removing said surface from placement adjacent to said solid material when said monitored temperature has risen to a predetermined level.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as in claim 1 further comprising the steps of: monitoring the temperature at at least one position in said container; and removing said cryo-adsorbed contamination from said container after said monitored temperature has risen to a predetermined level.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as in claim 8 further comprising the steps of: monitoring the temperature at at least one position in said container; and removing said container from said hole after said monitored temperature has risen to a predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as in claim 12 further comprising the steps of: placing said container removed from said hole into a chamber; and removing said adsorbed fluid contaminants from said container.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 13 further comprising the step of analyzing said removed fluid contaminants to determine their constituents
Claim 16
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removing molecules of contaminants from the ground comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container for holding a cryo-adsorbing substance, said container having a surface across which molecules of contaminants may enter said container and having an inlet through which a cryogenic fluid may be introduced into said container; (b) placing said cryo-adsorbing substance into said container; (c) placing said container into the ground such that said surface is adjacent to the ground from which molecules of contaminants are to be removed; and (d) introducing a cryogenic fluid into said container through said inlet whereby said cryo-adsorbing substance adsorbs molecules of contaminants from the ground.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for removing molecules of contaminants from the ground comprising the steps of: (a) providing a container for holding a cryo-adsorbing substance, said container having a surface across which molecules of contaminants may enter said container and having an inlet through which a cryogenic fluid may be introduced into said container; (b) placing said cryo-adsorbing substance into said container; (c) placing said container into the ground such that said surface is adjacent to the ground from which molecules of contaminants are to be removed; and (d) introducing a cryogenic fluid into said container through said inlet whereby said cryo-adsorbing substance adsorbs molecules of contaminants from the ground.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 15 wherein said surface of said container is provided with a plurality of openings through which said molecules of contaminants may enter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the step of introducing a cryogenic fluid into said container through said inlet comprises a step of introducing liquid nitrogen into said container through said inlet.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 15 wherein said surface of said container is cylindrical, and said step of placing said container into the ground further comprises the step of forming an essentially cylindrical hole in the ground sized to accommodate said container into which said container is placed with said cylindrical surface adjacent said ground.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the step of: (e) removing said container from the ground after said cryo-adsorbing substance has adsorbed molecules of contaminants.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the step of: (e) regenerating said cryo-adsorbing substance by removing molecules of contaminants that have been cryo-adsorbed by said cryo-adsorbing substance.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method as in claim 20 wherein the step of regenerating said cryo-adsorbing substance is accomplished by vacuum-pumping said cryo-adsorbing substance to cause said molecules to desorb from said cryo-adsorbing substance, said method further comprising the step of: (f) collecting said desorbed molecules for subsequent disposal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: (e) monitoring for a predetermined value at least one of the following parameters while said container is placed into the ground: the amount of time said container is in the ground, or the temperature at a position within said container; (f) removing said container from the ground when said predetermined value is reached; and (g) desorbing said adsorbed molecules of contaminants from said substance.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as in claim 22 further comprising the steps of: (h) monitoring said desorbed molecules of contaminants to obtain an indication of the amount of contaminants cryo-adsorbed while said container was placed in the ground; and (i) using said indication to determine whether further contaminants should be removed from said ground.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as in claim 23 further comprising the step of: (j) repeating steps (b) through (j) if in step (i) it is determined that further contaminants should be removed from said ground.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the steps of: (e) monitoring for a predetermined value the temperature at a position within said container; and (f) desorbing said adsorbed molecules of contaminants from said substance when said temperature reaches said predetermined level.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as in claim 25 wherein step (d) precedes step (c).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said step of cooling said cryo-adsorbing substance with respect to said solid material includes the steps of providing a tube within said container for holding a liquid and placing a liquid that is cool with respect to said solid material in said container to cool said cryo-adsorbing substance.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as in claim 15 further comprising the step of providing a tube within said container connected to said inlet for holding a fluid and wherein the step of introducing a cryogenic fluid into said container through said inlet is a step of introducing a cryogenic fluid into said tube through said inlet.
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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) | 1994-03-11 | 1994-09-10 | 1995-03-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-03-11 | 1998-09-10 | 1999-03-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-03-11 | 2002-09-10 | 2003-03-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |