Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-28
2001-06-05
Valentine, Donald R. (Department: 1741)
Chemistry: electrical and wave energy
Apparatus
Electrolytic
C204S240000, C204S269000, C204S270000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06241861
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a water treatment tank and process for treating contaminated waste water and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a tank and process using an electrochemical treatment of the water for dropping out and stratifying various types of contaminates held in suspension.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,293,400 and 4,378,276 to Liggett, an apparatus with a positively charged aluminum electrode and a negatively charged tubular steel electrode are disclosed for the electrolytic treatment of water. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,057 to Metzler et al., an electrocoagulation process is described having electrolytic treaters for treating a highly conductive liquid media.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,959 to Herbst et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,043,050 and 5,423,962 to Herbst, the inventor of the subject invention, Robert J. Herbst describes different types of improved electrolytic systems for treating aqueous solutions using conductive conduits and precipitating various organic and inorganic materials suspended in the solution.
None of the above mentioned prior art electrolytic treatment systems of liquids disclose the subject water treatment tank for treating waste water or teach the electrochemical process used with the tank as disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, it is a primary object of the invention to treat contaminated water and waste water for separating various types of contaminates from the water in a water treatment tank. The tank may include one or more water treatment compartments and made in various sizes and shapes for treating small and large volumes of waste water. The water treatment tank may be lightweight and portable or made into a stationary installation.
Another object of the subject process is to treat the contaminated water using an electrochemical process wherein suspended and dissolved solids in the water are removed and the treated clean water is decanted from the tank for reuse or discharge.
Still another object of the invention is the contaminates are allowed to stratify in the tank with sludge settling to a bottom of the tank and lighter than water contaminates floating on top of the treated water. The sludge is removed from the bottom of the tank and filtered in filter baskets. The contaminates floating on top of the treated water and removed by a vacuum pump and also filtered in the filter baskets.
The water treatment tank includes a tank housing with a first and a second waste water receiving compartment. The two compartments are identical in structure and function and are used alternately when treating large volumes of waste water. A waste water inlet line is attached to the top of the first compartment for filling the compartment with waste water. A side of the first compartment includes an opening for receiving an electrode assembly with a plurality of electrodes extending inside the compartment for treating the waste water electrochemically. The electrodes are attached to the power supply via electrode cables with the polarity of a current cycle reversed periodically depending on the types of water contaminates being treated. When the cycle is reversed, the contaminants gathered on the electrodes typically fall to the bottom of the tank as sludge and are drained into a removable filter basket. The basket is slidably received below the bottom of the tank for removing the sludge. The tank also includes a vacuum pump with vacuum line for removing the contaminates floating on top of the treated water and discharging the contaminates into the filter basket.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those familiar with the electrochemical or electrocoagulation treatment of contaminated water when reviewing the following detailed description, showing novel construction, combination, and elements as herein described, and more particularly defined by the claims, it being understood that changes in the embodiments to the herein disclosed invention are meant to be included as coming within the scope of the claims, except insofar as they may be precluded by the prior art.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4149953 (1979-04-01), Rojo
patent: 4919775 (1990-04-01), Ishigaki
patent: 5049252 (1991-09-01), Murrell
patent: 5324396 (1994-06-01), Ferron et al.
patent: 5531865 (1996-07-01), Cole
patent: 5549812 (1996-08-01), Witt
Crabtree Edwin H.
Margolis Donald W.
Pizarro Ramon L.
Valentine Donald R.
LandOfFree
Waste water treatment tank using an electrochemical... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Waste water treatment tank using an electrochemical..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Waste water treatment tank using an electrochemical... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2519586