US5225085A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and process for the separation and reclamation of selected components in grease trap waste
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1991-11-07
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Granted: 1993-07-06
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Expires: 2011-11-07
Abstract
Abstract A process for separating the grease, solids and water components from grease such as grease traps and fry grease. The grease is collected and introduced into a primary holding tank to effect primary crude separation. The grease is removed to a second stage separator for further concentration. The water and solids are separately directed to a second stage to separate these components. The separated water is treated suitable for discharge into a sewer. The solids are dried and the solids and grease are then suitable for re-use. In the preferred embodiment, the separators are centrifuges. Heating of the grease may also be necessary to achieve proper viscosity for handling and to remove bacteria.
Inventors
- 👤 Laksir P. Napier
- 👤 Tommy L. Mortensen
- 👤 Dawn F. Abbey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 10:26
CPC Classifications
B; B03; B03D; B03D3/00; B01; B01D; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0214; B01D17/0217; B01D17/12; B03B; B03B9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for separating grease, water and solids from waste grease containing a mixture of such components, said system comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of grease solids, a commercially reusable solids component and a commercially reusable grease component including: (a) a primary holding tank having an inlet for receiving the mixture and providing a predetermined residence time therein, said primary holding tank having a first discharge for water and solids at a first location in said tank and a second discharge for grease at a second location in said tank displaced from said first location; and (b) secondary treatment means including first separator means for receiving the first discharge from said first outlet from said primary tank for separating the discharge into primarily water and solid components and second separator means communicating with said second outlet from said primary holding tank for separating the second discharge grease into water, solid and grease components.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for separating grease, water and solids from waste grease containing a mixture of such components, said system comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of grease solids, a commercially reusable solids component and a commercially reusable grease component including: (a) a primary holding tank having an inlet for receiving the mixture and providing a predetermined residence time therein, said primary holding tank having a first discharge for water and solids at a first location in said tank and a second discharge for grease at a second location in said tank displaced from said first location; and (b) secondary treatment means including first separator means for receiving the first discharge from said first outlet from said primary tank for separating the discharge into primarily water and solid components and second separator means communicating with said second outlet from said primary holding tank for separating the second discharge grease into water, solid and grease components.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein water components discharged from said first and second separator means are directed to a holding tank having means for monitoring the pH and adding chemicals to maintain a predetermined pH.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said primary holding tank includes heating means for heating at least the grease discharged from said primary holding tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system of claim 3 further including heating means for heating the water discharged from said primary holding tank.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said primary holding tank includes float means adapted to float on a grease layer in said primary holding tank, said float means being in communication with said second grease discharge.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of claim 1 further including a heater and dryer for receiving the separated solids and heating and drying the same.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1 further including screen means for screening the first and second discharge from the primary holding tank.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said first separation means is a decanter-type centrifuge and said second separation means is a disk bowl-type centrifuge.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein an upper portion of said primary holding tank is provided with a vent communicating with a scrubber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said primary holding tank includes liquid level sensing means and pump means which are operatively controlled by said liquid level sensing means to pump grease, water and solids from said holding tanks only when the liquid level is within predetermined limits.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the mixture is screened prior to introduction into said primary holding tank.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for treating grease for separating waste grease into concentrated grease, water and solid components, said system comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of solids and grease, a commercially reusable solids component and commercially reusable grease component including: (a) a primary holding tank having an inlet for waste grease to be processed and an outlet, said tank including agitation means for mixing the contents of the tank and heating means for heating the contents of the tank; (b) secondary treatment means communicating with the outlet from said primary holding tank, said secondary treatment means including first separator means for separating the discharge from the primary holding tank into substantially liquid and solid components, a dryer receiving the solid components discharged from said first separator means and second separator means receiving the liquid discharged from said first separator means, said second separator means separating the liquid into substantially grease, solid and a water components.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for treating grease for separating waste grease into concentrated grease, water and solid components, said system comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of solids and grease, a commercially reusable solids component and commercially reusable grease component including: (a) a primary holding tank having an inlet for waste grease to be processed and an outlet, said tank including agitation means for mixing the contents of the tank and heating means for heating the contents of the tank; (b) secondary treatment means communicating with the outlet from said primary holding tank, said secondary treatment means including first separator means for separating the discharge from the primary holding tank into substantially liquid and solid components, a dryer receiving the solid components discharged from said first separator means and second separator means receiving the liquid discharged from said first separator means, said second separator means separating the liquid into substantially grease, solid and a water components.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 12 in which the water component discharged from the second separator means is directed to a pH adjustment system.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system of claim 12 wherein the grease from said secondary treatment means is directed to a holding tank, said holding tank including heating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
148 words
A process for separating grease, water and solids from a grease waste mixture of such components, said process comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of grease, a commercially reusable solids component and a commercially reusable grease component including: (a) introducing the grease waste mixture into a primary holding tank and allowing the mixture a predetermined residence time therein to effect primary separation into an upper portion of mostly grease and a lower portion containing mostly water and solids; (b) removing the mostly grease portion from the primary holding tank at a first outlet and directing the removed grease to a first separator to further concentrate the grease; (c) removing the mostly water and solids portion from the primary tank at a second outlet and directing the mostly solids and water portion to a second separator for separation into separate water and solids portions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
148 words
A process for separating grease, water and solids from a grease waste mixture of such components, said process comprising means for recovering a disposable water component being essentially devoid of grease, a commercially reusable solids component and a commercially reusable grease component including: (a) introducing the grease waste mixture into a primary holding tank and allowing the mixture a predetermined residence time therein to effect primary separation into an upper portion of mostly grease and a lower portion containing mostly water and solids; (b) removing the mostly grease portion from the primary holding tank at a first outlet and directing the removed grease to a first separator to further concentrate the grease; (c) removing the mostly water and solids portion from the primary tank at a second outlet and directing the mostly solids and water portion to a second separator for separation into separate water and solids portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said first and second separators are centrifuges.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 16 wherein said solid portions from said second separator are subsequently dried.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said water from said first and second separators are treated to a predetermined pH.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said mostly grease portion is heated prior to introduction into the first separator.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said grease from said first separator is directed to a holding tank for storage and subsequent reuse.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 15 wherein said grease waste mixture is periodically collected from restaurant grease traps and transported by a tanker to a remote location for separation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 21 wherein said tanker includes means for effecting crude separation of the mixture prior to introduction into the primary holding tank.
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) | 1996-07-05 | 1997-01-04 | 1997-07-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-05 | 2001-01-04 | 2001-07-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-05 | 2005-01-04 | 2005-07-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |