Liquid purification or separation – Processes – Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-04
2002-06-18
Hoey, Betsey Morrison (Department: 1724)
Liquid purification or separation
Processes
Including controlling process in response to a sensed condition
C210S767000, C210S805000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06406634
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is generally related to the pollution cleanup arts and, in particular, to the recovery and cleaning of storm water caught in areas where the water has become contaminated.
Such contamination results from the water being mixed with chemicals, fuels and other pollutants found in containment basins, sumps, manholes, dikes or any other area where storm water runs off into an area designed to contain the release of these pollutants into the ground or water.
In current practice, the standard way of dealing with the above problems is the pumping of water and pollutants into a holding tank, vessel or drums and then hauling it to a treatment facility to be processed.
Such process does achieve the desired cleanup but is very time consuming and costly because of the extensive hauling of hazardous materials.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to set forth a novel system and method which combines the currently existing technology of pumping, either with pumps or vacuum systems, with the newly developed filtering technology which allows water to be pumped through the filtering media to remove the pollutants.
Thus, the storm water is cleaned to an acceptable level and may then be released into the storm or sanitary sewer system.
Importantly, such reduces the need to haul contaminated, hazardous water off-site to a reclamation facility. Thus, time and money are saved and the storm water is returned to the environment quickly and safely.
The principles described herein have utility on land or water and may be effectively utilized for smaller or larger cleanup systems, i.e. pumping equipment from the smallest to the largest currently used in the art.
The following objects and advantages are also achieved in the practice of the invention:
Recovery of run-off water from containment basins at sites where the purpose of those basins is to contain hazardous materials and/or contaminants related to production, delivery and storage of same. These sites would include but not be limited to: industrial, chemical and petroleum factories, gasoline stations, petroleum bulk plants, car washes, and other polluted environments.
Cleanup of waterways and bodies of water where spills of contaminants have been released.
Use of the filter media with the bilge pump on boats or ships.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those of skill in the art from the description which follows.
PRIOR ART PATENTS AND DESIGNS
During the course of preparing the specification for submission to the U.S. Patent Office, a search of the pollution cleanup prior art was conducted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,158,924 teaches the use of a method for decontaminating well water including a vacuum pumping unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,265,978 teaches an on-site system to clean soil.
While these systems are broadly related to the present invention, the system and method disclosed herein are believed to be clearly patentable over all known prior art systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention comprises a system and method for decontaminating polluted water and includes filter media and a pump element which may be used in conjunction with a holding tank.
A discharge valve element in the holding tank allows discharge of cleaned water into a storm drain or other equivalent area.
The system and method include an aperture in the holding tank to permit access and testing of the collected water.
If desired, collected water may be recycled through the filter media again for a more thorough cleaning.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4839061 (1989-06-01), Manchak, Jr. et al.
patent: 4846967 (1989-07-01), McGehee
patent: 5073259 (1991-12-01), Solimar
patent: 5340471 (1994-08-01), Wilson et al.
patent: 6022473 (2000-02-01), Mickelson
Hoey Betsey Morrison
O'Connor Daniel J.
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