US5958249A — Method and apparatus for withdrawing effluent fro…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 137 words

A method for withdrawing effluent from a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in a substantially helical and upward direction, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the velocity of the liquid above the rotating sludge blanket to identify areas of relatively low velocity and to identify areas of relatively high velocity across the surface of the liquid; identifying areas of optimum liquid velocity; and adjusting the withdrawal of effluent from the identified areas of optimum liquid velocity by adjusting the height of effluent withdrawal devices positioned at different radial distances from the center of the vessel across the rotating surface of the liquid.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 137 words

A method for withdrawing effluent from a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in a substantially helical and upward direction, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the velocity of the liquid above the rotating sludge blanket to identify areas of relatively low velocity and to identify areas of relatively high velocity across the surface of the liquid; identifying areas of optimum liquid velocity; and adjusting the withdrawal of effluent from the identified areas of optimum liquid velocity by adjusting the height of effluent withdrawal devices positioned at different radial distances from the center of the vessel across the rotating surface of the liquid.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The method of claim 1 in which the step of adjusting the withdrawal of effluent comprises the step of: lowering a portion of a partially submerged radial weir adjacent the areas of optimum liquid velocity liquid to receive effluent.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 53 words

The method of claim 1 in which the step of monitoring the velocity of the liquid comprises the step of: injecting dye into the liquid along a substantially radial line above the rotating sludge blanket; and observing the radial dye line for distortion brought on by a varying velocity profile in the liquid.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 1 in which the step of monitoring the velocity of the liquid comprises the step of: positioning velocity probes in the liquid above the sludge blanket to collect velocity data.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method of claim 1, in which the withdrawal devices are opposite radial ends of a single radial weir, one of the ends of the weir being selectively vertically adjustable with respect to the opposite end.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1, in which the height of one of the withdrawal devices that is near one of the areas of optimum liquid velocity is lowered.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

The method of claim 1, in which the height of one of the withdrawal devices that is near one of the areas of optimum liquid velocity is lowered, while the height of another withdrawal device is raised.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 48 words

The method of claim 1, in which the height of one of the withdrawal devices that is near one of the areas of optimum liquid velocity is lowered, while the height of another withdrawal device at a different radial distance from the center of the vessel is raised.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for withdrawing effluent from a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in substantially helical and upward directions, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the velocity of the liquid above the sludge blanket to identify areas of relatively low rotational velocity and areas of relatively high velocity across the surface of the liquid; selectively raising a portion of a radial weir trough at one radial distance from the center of the vessel near an area of relatively undesireable velocity; and withdrawing liquid from the vessel through a portion of the radial weir trough another radial distance near an area of desired liquid velocity on the rotating surface of the liquid.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 145 words

A method for withdrawing effluent from a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in substantially helical and upward directions, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the surface of the liquid in the vessel, the method comprising the steps of: monitoring the velocity of the liquid above the sludge blanket to identify areas of relatively low rotational velocity and areas of relatively high velocity across the surface of the liquid; selectively raising a portion of a radial weir trough at one radial distance from the center of the vessel near an area of relatively undesireable velocity; and withdrawing liquid from the vessel through a portion of the radial weir trough another radial distance near an area of desired liquid velocity on the rotating surface of the liquid.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 9 in which the step of withdrawing liquid from near an area of desired liquid velocity comprises the step of: lowering a portion of a weir trough positioned near the area.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 52 words

The method of claim 9 in which the step of monitoring the velocity of the liquid comprises the steps of: injecting dye into the liquid along a substantially radial line above the rotating sludge blanket; and observing the radial dye line for distortion due to a varying velocity profile in the liquid.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 34 words

The method of claim 9 in which the step of monitoring the velocity of the liquid comprises the step of: positioning velocity probes in the liquid above the sludge blanket to collect velocity data.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus comprising: a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in substantially helical and upward directions, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the rotating surface of the liquid in the vessel; first and second weir trough portions on one or more troughs, each portion comprising means for withdrawing effluent from the rotating surface of liquid in the solids-contacting vessel, one of the portions being disposed radially between the other portion and the center of the vessel; means for selectively raising or lowering each of the weir trough portions to control the amount of liquid that flows into that portion; and means for removing liquid from the troughs.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 125 words

Apparatus comprising: a solids-contacting vessel in which untreated liquid is injected into a lower portion of the vessel and flows in substantially helical and upward directions, separating the solids from the liquid in a suspended and rotating sludge blanket below the rotating surface of the liquid in the vessel; first and second weir trough portions on one or more troughs, each portion comprising means for withdrawing effluent from the rotating surface of liquid in the solids-contacting vessel, one of the portions being disposed radially between the other portion and the center of the vessel; means for selectively raising or lowering each of the weir trough portions to control the amount of liquid that flows into that portion; and means for removing liquid from the troughs.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 22 words

The method of claim 13, in which a weir trough portion that is near an area of optimum liquid velocity is lowered.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 13, in which a weir trough portion that is near an area of optimum liquid velocity is lowered, while another weir trough portion is raised.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 40 words

The method of claim 13, in which a weir trough portion that is near an area of optimum liquid velocity is lowered, while a weir trough portion at a different radial distance from the center of the vessel is raised.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-09-27	2003-03-29	2003-09-28	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-09-27	2007-03-29	2007-09-28	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-09-27	2011-03-29	2011-09-28	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and apparatus for withdrawing effluent from a solids-contacting vessel

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