Waste material processing apparatus and method

United States Patent [w]

Foss

US005826979A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

5,826,979 Oct. 27, 1998

[54] WASTE MATERIAL PROCESSING APPARATUS AND METHOD

[76] Inventor: Milton K. Foss, 81 W. Vancouver Dr., Port Townsend, Wash. 98368

[21] Appl. No.: 923,171
[22] Filed: Sep. 4, 1997

Related U.S. Application Data

[63] Continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 697,538, Aug. 26, 1996, abandoned.

[51] Int. C I. B01F 5/10

[52] U.S. CI 366/242; 366/262; 366/275

[58] Field of Search 366/51, 64, 241,

366/242, 262-265, 275, 342, 343, 349; 415/70; 417/410.3, 437, 474; 418/156

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

1,922,196 8/1933 Butler 417/474 X

3,216,362 il/1965 Hewko 418/i56 X

3,233.553 2/1966 Chanton 417/474 X

4,173,419 11/1979 Blok .

4,347,135 8/1982 Lafosse et al. .

4,555,063 11/1985 Goettsch 366/264 X

5,380,427 1/1995 Foss .

5,425.581 6/1995 Palm .

5,536,418 7/1996 Foss .

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

739718 8/1966 Canada 417/474

1378193 10/1964 France 417/474

637586 10/1936 Germany 417/474

57-140572 8/1982 lapan 418/156

605666 4/1978 U.S.S.R 366/275

1656158 6/1991 U.S.S.R 417/474

1783157 12/1992 U.S.S.R 417/474

Primary Examiner—Charles E. Cooley
Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Dean A. Craine

[57] ABSTRACT

An apparatus for agitating small batches ol septic waste material contained in a processing tank into sludge material and waste water using an oxidizing agent and a flocculating agent. The apparatus includes at least one agitator with a non-rotating mixing implement that extends into the waste material. The mixing implement has a plurality ol sections that sequentially move inward and outward to gently mix the oxidizing and flocculating agents into the waste material. The mixing implement element includes an elongated shaft with sealed, flexible hose coaxially aligned thereover. Attached to the elongated shaft is at least one lateral arm perpendicularly aligned to the elongated shaft's longitudinal axis. Attached to the distal end of the lateral arm is a rotatable wheel transversely aligned with the longitudinal axis of the lateral arm. Coaxially aligned over the elongated shaft is a flexible hose designed to collapse inward when disposed inside the waste material. The ends of the flexible hose are sealed and the diameter of the hose is sufficient so that the rotatable wheels on the lateral arms hold the adjacent sidewall of the flexible hose outward. As the elongated shaft is rotated, the lateral arms attached thereto rotate and causing the sidewalls of the flexible hose to gently move inward and outward.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets