US4090940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for producing methane gas by processing waste materials
Assignee: Alpha Systems Corp
•
Filing: 1976-01-23
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Granted: 1978-05-23
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Expires: 1996-01-23
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for producing methane and other products by processing a slurry of biodegradable waste materials including two tanks containing waste material which are connected to allow fluid flow communication between slurry in each tank, each tank being airtight with respect to the ambient, one of said tanks containing a cathode and the other tank containing an anode to aid in the growth of methane producing bacteria, the tanks provided with movable hoods for collecting gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Harold Switzgable
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 12:06
CPC Classifications
C; C02; C02F; C02F3/00; C02F3/28; C02F3/286; C02F3/005; C02F3/30; C12; C12M; C12M21/00; C12M21/04; C12M23/00; C12M23/58; C12M35/00; C12M35/02; C02F1/00; C02F1/34; C02F1/36; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E50/00; Y02E50/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for producing methane gas by processing waste materials comprising: a. at least one airtight primary tank containing partially liquid and partially solid waste material inoculated with anaerobic bacteria; b. a primary outlet for expelling waste material from said primary tank; c. a primary inlet for introducing additional waste material into said primary tank; d. a cathode located in said primary tank; e. means for withdrawing gas created within said primary tank; f. at least one airtight secondary tank containing partially liquid and partially solid waste material inoculated with anaerobic bacteria; g. a secondary outlet for expelling waste material from said secondary tank; h. a secondary inlet for introducing additional waste material; i. an anode located in said secondary tank; j. means for withdrawing gas created within said secondary tank; k. a conduit providing fluid flow communication between waste material in said primary tank and waste material in said secondary tank; and i. means for removing non-processible and processed waste material from said primary tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
Apparatus for producing methane gas by processing waste materials comprising: a. at least one airtight primary tank containing partially liquid and partially solid waste material inoculated with anaerobic bacteria; b. a primary outlet for expelling waste material from said primary tank; c. a primary inlet for introducing additional waste material into said primary tank; d. a cathode located in said primary tank; e. means for withdrawing gas created within said primary tank; f. at least one airtight secondary tank containing partially liquid and partially solid waste material inoculated with anaerobic bacteria; g. a secondary outlet for expelling waste material from said secondary tank; h. a secondary inlet for introducing additional waste material; i. an anode located in said secondary tank; j. means for withdrawing gas created within said secondary tank; k. a conduit providing fluid flow communication between waste material in said primary tank and waste material in said secondary tank; and i. means for removing non-processible and processed waste material from said primary tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said removing means further comprises: a. a movable conveyor chain located near the surface of the waste material; b. at least one wiper fixedly attached to said chain such that when said chain is moved, said wiper moves along the surface of the waste material skimming away non-processible and processed floating waste material; and c. a trough located adjacent one end of said chain such that non-processible and processed floating waste material is urged into said trough.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in Claim 1 wherein said removing means comprises: a. a barrel assembly which when rotated in a first direction agitates and strains the waste material located therein and when rotated in a second direction expels the processed and non-processible waste material through said primary outlet valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said barrel is said cathode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said primary tank includes: a. a primary cover, movable vertically in proportion to the amount of gas accumulated therein; and b. a primary switch, responsive to a predetermined vertical height of said primary cover to actuate said primary withdrawing means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5 further comprising a primary agitation means activated by the vertical movement of said primary cover.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said primary removing means is responsive to be actuated by a vertical movement of said primary hood.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said secondary tank includes: a. a secondary cover, movable vertically in proportion to the amount of gas accumulated therein; and b. a secondary switch, responsive to a predetermined vertical movement of said secondary cover to actuate said secondary withdrawing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 8 further comprising a secondary agitation means activated by the vertical movement of said secondary cover.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a means for introducing oxygen into the waste material located in said secondary tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means for bubbling the hydrogen produced at said cathode into the slurry in said primary tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a primary heater element located in said primary tank.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 including a secondary heater element located in said secondary tank.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein said primary withdrawing means and said secondary withdrawing means each include a compressor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising ultrasonic tranducers positioned within said primary and secondary tanks to selectively be actuated to stimulate activity of bacteria located therein by the addition of energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising light emitting elements positioned within said primary and secondary tanks to selectively be actuated to stimulate the activity of bacteria located therein by the introduction of energy.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said removing means further comprises: a. a movable conveyor chain located near the surface of the waste material; b. at least one wiper fixedly attached to said chain such that when said chain is moved, said wiper moves along the surface of the waste material skimming away non-processible and processed floating waste material; and c. a trough located adjacent one end of said chain such that non-processible and processed floating waste material is urged into said trough.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said removing means comprises: a. a barrel assembly which when rotated in a first direction agitates and strains the waste material located therein and when rotated in a second direction expels the proceseed and non-processible waste material through said primary outlet valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein said barrel is said cathode.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said primary tank includes: a. a primary cover, movable vertically in proportion to the amount of gas accumulated therein; and b. a primary switch, responsive to a predetermined vertical height of said primary cover to actuate said primary withdrawing means.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 20 further comprising a primary agitation means activated by the vertical movement of said primary cover.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 20 wherein said primary removing means is responsive to be actuated by a vertical movement of said primary hood.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said secondary tank includes: a. a secondary cover, movable vertically in proportion to the amount of gas accumulated therein; and b. a secondary switch, responsive to a predetermined vertical movement of said secondary cover to actuate said secondary withdrawing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 23 further comprising a secondary agitation means activated by the vertical movement of said secondary cover.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 including a means for introducing oxygen into the waste material located in said secondary tank.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 including means for bubbling the hydrogen produced at said cathode into the slurry in said primary tank.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 including a primary heater element located in said primary tank.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 including a secondary heater element located in said secondary tank.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein said primary withdrawing means and said secondary withdrawing means each include a compressor.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus as defined in claim 16 further comprising ultrasonic tranducers positioned within said primary and secondary tanks to selectively be actuated to stimulate activity of bacteria located therein by the addition of energy.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-05-22 | 1981-11-21 | 1982-05-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-05-22 | 1985-11-21 | 1986-05-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-05-22 | 1989-11-21 | 1990-05-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |