US5106504A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Artificial open water structures
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-02-12
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Granted: 1992-04-21
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Expires: 2011-02-12
Abstract
Abstract This invention provides an artificial water impoundment system to remove biologically fixable pollutants from runoff water. The system utilizes submersed aquatic plants to absorb pollutants. The system comprises a sedimentation trench and submerged purification section elevated above the trench to maximize growth of submerged aquatic vegetation. Typically, these systems will be most valuable in processing of urban runoff or industrial waste waters.
Inventors
- 👤 David P. Murray
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:59
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/12; C02F3/1205; C02F3/1215; C02F3/32; C02F3/327; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y02W10/30; Y02W10/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for purifying contaminated water comprising: a source of the contaminated water; a sedimentation trench fluidly connected to the source of contaminated water, the trench having a bottom, an exterior side, and an interior side; a submerged purification section contiguous with the interior side and having a bottom elevated above the trench bottom, said submerged section inhabited by cultivated, submersed, rooted plants capable of absorbing water contaminants; and, a water exit in contact with the water, said exit having a height at an elevation above the bottom of the submerged purification section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
93 words
A system for purifying contaminated water comprising: a source of the contaminated water; a sedimentation trench fluidly connected to the source of contaminated water, the trench having a bottom, an exterior side, and an interior side; a submerged purification section contiguous with the interior side and having a bottom elevated above the trench bottom, said submerged section inhabited by cultivated, submersed, rooted plants capable of absorbing water contaminants; and, a water exit in contact with the water, said exit having a height at an elevation above the bottom of the submerged purification section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said bottom of said sedimentation trench is at a depth of between about 18 and 20 feet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said sedimentation trench is inhabited by a submersed cultivated plant capable of absorbing nitrate or phosphate salts from said runoff water, said plant enclosed within a phytocompatible envelope.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system of claim 3, wherein said submersed plant is from a genus selected from the group consisting of Ceratophyllum, Elodea, Myriophyllum, Najas, Vallisneria and Potamogeton.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said sedimentation section has a sloping side of less than a 3 to 1 slope.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said submerged region has a depth between about 6 to about 10 feet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said submersed plants comprise at least one species selected from the genre consisting of Ceratophyllum, Elodea, Myriophyllum, Najas, Vallisneria and Potamogeton.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system of claim 1, further comprising a pump having an inlet and outlet connected to a water source separate from the water of the system and the outlet connected to the water in the system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A system of claim 1, wherein the trench encircles the submerged purification section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system of claim 1, wherein said water exit adjusts to control water flow.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system of claim 1 wherein said water exit is a weir.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
12 words
A system of claim 1 wherein said water exit is a downpipe.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of purifying water comprising: the separating of water and particulates by specific gravity in a sedimentation trench having an exterior side, a bottom and an interior side; passing water across a bed of cultivated submersed rooted plants at a controlled flow rate in a submerged purification section contiguous with the interior side of the sedimentation trench and having a bottom elevated above the sedimentation trench bottom, said cultivated submersed rooted plants capable of absorbing water pollutants; and exiting the water through a water exit in contact with the water, said exit having a water entrance at an elevation above the bottom of the submerged purification section.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of purifying water comprising: the separating of water and particulates by specific gravity in a sedimentation trench having an exterior side, a bottom and an interior side; passing water across a bed of cultivated submersed rooted plants at a controlled flow rate in a submerged purification section contiguous with the interior side of the sedimentation trench and having a bottom elevated above the sedimentation trench bottom, said cultivated submersed rooted plants capable of absorbing water pollutants; and exiting the water through a water exit in contact with the water, said exit having a water entrance at an elevation above the bottom of the submerged purification section.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method of claim 11 wherein the water exits from a weir.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method of claim 13, wherein the bottom of the sedimentation trench is at a depth of between about 8 to about 20 feet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of claim 13, wherein said sedimentation trench is inhabited by a submersed cultivated plant capable of absorbing nitrate or phosphate salt from said runoff water, said plant enclosed within a phytocompatible envelope.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of claim 16, wherein said submersed plant is from a genus selected from the group consisting of Ceratophyllum, Elodea, Myriophyllum, Najas, Vallisneria and Potamogeton.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method of claim 13, wherein said submerged purification section has a depth between about 6 to about 10 feet.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of claim 13, wherein said submersed plants comprise at least one species selected from the group consisting of members of the genus Ceratophyllum, Elodea, Myriophyllum, Najas, Vallisneria and Potamogeton.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-04-21 | 1995-10-21 | 1996-04-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-21 | 1999-10-21 | 2000-04-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-21 | 2003-10-21 | 2004-04-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |