Patent US5254252A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5254252A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ecological treatment system for flowing water
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1992-09-29
•
Granted: 1993-10-19
•
Expires: 2012-09-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention is a method for using periphyton to treat flowing water in a waterway. The periphyton reduces the quantity of undesirable chemicals polluting the water. Fish, in turn, control the density of periphyton by grazing on the periphyton and convert the undesirable chemicals associated with the periphyton into removable forms such as fish tissue or fish feces.
Inventors
- 👤 Ray W. Drenner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 15:27
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/32; C02F3/327; A; A01; A01K; A01K63/00; A01K63/04; Y; Y02; Y02W; Y02W10/00; Y02W10/10; Y02W10/30; Y02W10/37
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: maintaining the flowing water in the waterway at a minimum flow rate of about 1 to about 10 cm/s; exposing the flowing water to periphyton; treating the flowing water by allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals; and controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable form the flowing water with fish.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: maintaining the flowing water in the waterway at a minimum flow rate of about 1 to about 10 cm/s; exposing the flowing water to periphyton; treating the flowing water by allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals; and controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable form the flowing water with fish.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals; and controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
75 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals; and controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the waterway is lined with an imperforate material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4, whereby the imperforate material is concrete.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4, whereby the imperforate material is metal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4, whereby the imperforate material is fiberglass.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 4, whereby the imperforate material is earthen.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 4, whereby the imperforated material is clay filled.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the waterway is treated with artificial sunlight generated by lights spaced at regular intervals in the waterway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the flow rate of the transferred water in the secondary waterway is at least 1 cm/s.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, whereby the flow rate is adjusted by gravity.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, whereby the flow rate is adjusted by pumping.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11, whereby the flow rate is adjusted by airlifts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the substrate is a screen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the substrate is a filter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the substrate is a net.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the substrate is a filter screen.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 3, whereby the fish are algae-grazing.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19, whereby the fish are selected from the group consisting of cyprinidae, cichlidae, catostomidae and ictaluridae.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20, whereby the fish are selected from tilapia and stonerollers.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 21, whereby the fish are selected from the group consisting of Tilapia mossambica, Tilapia aurea, and Campostoma anomalum.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 3, whereby periphyton growth in the secondary waterway is controlled by fish contained within the secondary waterway grazing on the periphyton.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 3, whereby periphyton growth is controlled by the fish, the method comprising: removing the substrate with the attached periphyton from the secondary waterway; transporting the substrate with the attached periphyton to a second location containing a population of fish and placing the substrate in with the fish; and allowing the fish to graze on the periphyton attached to the substrate.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; adjusting the rate of flow of the flowing water within the secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; adjusting the rate of flow of the flowing water within the secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals. transferring the treated flowing water to a receiving point.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
114 words
A method of treating flowing water in a waterway to reduce the quantity of undesirable chemicals in the water using periphyton and fish, the method comprising: transferring water from the water's source to a secondary waterway; treating the transferred flowing water by exposing the transferred flowing water to a population of periphyton which are at least partially attached to a substrate, and allowing the uptake of undesirable chemicals by the periphyton for reducing the quantity of undesirable chemicals from the flowing water; controlling periphyton growth and converting undesirable chemicals to forms removable from the flowing water with fish; and analyzing the fish for undesirable chemicals. transferring the treated flowing water to a receiving point.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3444647A
Cited
US3348285A
Cited
US3635816A
Cited
US3780471A
Cited
US3839198A
Cited
US3768200A
Cited
US4005546A
Cited
US4169050A
Cited
US4209388A
Cited
US4267038A
Cited
US4432869A
Cited
US4333263A
Cited
US4695384A
Cited
US4910912A
Cited
US4727672A
Cited
US5040486A
Cited
US5011604A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-10-18 | 1997-04-19 | 1997-10-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-10-18 | 2001-04-19 | 2001-10-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-10-18 | 2005-04-19 | 2005-10-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |