Patent US2119330A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5126042A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5126042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating media biofilter
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-10-31
•
Granted: 1992-06-30
•
Expires: 2011-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A biofilter is provided, including a tank, having a bottom, a top and a sidewall having a lower portion which is inwardly sloping toward the bottom; floating filter media in the tank, the media forming a floating media pack when the tank is filled with liquid and the media are undisturbed, the media pack having a bottom and a top; a screen having openings adapted to prevent the floating filter media from passing therethrough, positioned in the tank between the bottom of the tank and the top of the tank; an agitator having a blade, the agitator being attached to the tank and adapted such that the blade is at least partially imbedded in the media pack when the tank is filled with liquid; an inlet line fluidly connected to the tank below the screen; a sludge drain line fluidly connected to the lower portion tank below the screen; a sludge valve, positioned in the sludge drain line; and an outlet line fluidly connected to the tank above the screen.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald F. Malone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:31
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/02; C02F3/06; C02F3/10; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A biofilter, comprising: a. a tank, having a bottom, a top and a sidewall having a lower portion which is inwardly sloping toward said bottom; b. floating media means in said tank for forming a floating media pack when said tank is filled with liquid and said media means are undisturbed, said media pack having a bottom and a top; c. a screen having openings adapted to prevent said media means from passing therethrough, positioned in said tank above said floating media means; d. an agitator having a blade, said agitator being attached to said tank and adapted such that said blade is at least partially imbedded in said media pack when said tank is filled with liquid; e. an inlet line fluidly connected to said tank below said screen; f. a sludge drain line fluidly connected to said tank below said screen; g. a sludge valve, positioned in said sludge drain line; and h. an outlet line fluidly connected to said tank above said screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A biofilter, comprising: a. a tank, having a bottom, a top and a sidewall having a lower portion which is inwardly sloping toward said bottom; b. floating media means in said tank for forming a floating media pack when said tank is filled with liquid and said media means are undisturbed, said media pack having a bottom and a top; c. a screen having openings adapted to prevent said media means from passing therethrough, positioned in said tank above said floating media means; d. an agitator having a blade, said agitator being attached to said tank and adapted such that said blade is at least partially imbedded in said media pack when said tank is filled with liquid; e. an inlet line fluidly connected to said tank below said screen; f. a sludge drain line fluidly connected to said tank below said screen; g. a sludge valve, positioned in said sludge drain line; and h. an outlet line fluidly connected to said tank above said screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, further comprising a diffuser fluidly connected to said inlet line and positioned so as to be below said media pack when said tank is filled with liquid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein said lower portion of said sidewall is substantially conically-shaped.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein said top is substantially dome-shaped.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein said floating media means includes a plurality of low density granular media pellets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein said agitator includes a motor attached to said top of said tank, a shaft rotatably attached to said motor and extending into said tank to a point below said screen, said blade being fixedly attached to said shaft.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein said blade is pitched so as to induce liquid flow toward said bottom.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of said blades are provided.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A biofilter according to claim 8, wherein a first said blade is positioned just below said top of said media pack.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A biofilter according to claim 9, wherein three said blades are provided, and wherein a second said blade is positioned between said bottom of said media pack and said top of said media pack, and a third said blade is positioned just above said bottom of said media pack.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A biofilter according to claim 1, further comprising a means for determining a pressure differential across said media pack and for controlling operation of said agitator depending upon said pressure differential, said means being connected to said tank and said agitator.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US887069A
Cited
GB120867A
Cited
US2464707A
Cited
DE903800C
Cited
US3154601A
Cited
US4009105A
Cited
US4009099A
Cited
US4052300A
Cited
US4036854A
Cited
US4582600A
Cited
US4198301A
Cited
US4547286A
Cited
US4743382A
Cited
US4415454A
Cited
US4566971A
Cited
US4608181A
Cited
US4576718A
Cited
US4898672A
Cited
US4919815A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-30 | 1995-12-30 | 1996-06-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-30 | 1999-12-30 | 2000-06-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-30 | 2003-12-30 | 2004-06-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |