General American Transportation Corporation

Chamberlain Manufacturing Corporation

Gard, Inc.

Philip A Saigh

Albert J Glueckert

Pranas Budininkas

Robert J Honegger

Everett E Nylund

Joseph Caldwell, Jr

Water is recovered and purified from exhaust gases of internal combustion engines which produce water vapor when a hydrocarbon fuel is burned. The present invention passes the engine exhaust through a particulate filter then a catalytic reactor to remove the impurities and then through a precooler and a condenser so as to extract the water therein. The water is then passed through a polishing column and recovered for use in the vehicle.

Apparatus and method of recovering water from engine exhaust gases

A system to protect piping and containers from damage by freezing of contained aqueous liquid includes a temperature-actuated SPDT switch connected at its movable contact to a rechargable battery. The fixed contacts of the switch are connected to two input terminals of a DC motor of a motor-actuated valve having its valve opened or closed depending upon the operation of the switch. The movable contact normally engages the fixed contact that provides voltage to close the valve, if open, as the sensed temperature is above about 35.degree. F., but moves to the other fixed contact when the temperature drops to 35.degree. F. to open automatically the valve. A relay having a coil energized by AC power has a normally open contact coupling the motor and the fixed contact used to close the valve so that closing is inhibited, if the AC power is off, until power is on.

Automatic freeze-proof drain system

The macerator-sterilizer sewage treatment system, that is useful in an overall toilet system to collect, treat and discharge toilet wastes, comprises: macerator/transfer pump means to receive flushed human waste from toilets and urinals; a collection tank connected by conduit means to the outlet of the pump means; a sterilization tank connected by power-operated valved transfer means and transfer pump means to the collection tank; heater means in the sterilization tank; power-operated valved discharge means connected to an outlet of the sterilization tank; and electrical means to control the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means, of the transfer pump means between the collection tank and the sterilization tank, of the heater means, of the power-operated valved discharge means connected to the outlet of the sterilization tank and of the power-operated valved transfer means. The electrical control means initiates in response to a flushing operation the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means for a predetermined period of time, initiates in response to a predetermined accumulation of the flushed human waste in the collection tank the operation of the transfer pump means for a predetermined time and opens the valve of the valved transfer means for a predetermined time to transfer waste from the collection tank to the sterilization tank, controls the operation of the heater means, and then after a preset time opens the valve of the valved discharge means for a predetermined time. The electrical control means also prevents the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means during an initial portion of the transfer of waste from the collection tank to the sterilization tank even though flushed waste is provided to the macerator/transfer pump means and prevents the operation of the transfer pump means and the opening of the valve of the valved transfer means that transfer flushed waste from the collection tank to the sterilization tank until the waste is sterilized in and discharged from the sterilization tank.

Macerator-sterilizer sewage treatment system

The toilet system includes an evaporator tank having an inlet and an outlet that is at the top portion of the tank, a first electrical heater mounted on the tank, macerator/transfer pump means connected to the inlet of the tank to transfer flushed waste from a toilet to that tank, a vapor treatment system including a vessel having an inlet and a vent outlet and containing a bed of catalyst, first conduit means connected to the outlet of the tank and to the inlet of the vessel to transfer vapor from the tank to the vessel, a second electrical heater mounted on the conduit means to heat vapor passing from the tank to the vessel of the vapor treatment system, and second conduit means connected to the first conduit means between the mounting of the second heater and the evaporator tank to introduce pressure air into the vapor from the tank before the heating of the vapor. The toilet system further includes means mounted in one of said first and second conduit means and responsive to a condition indicative of inadequate pressure of air in said second conduit means to prevent continued operation of the second heater. The toilet system has low-level sensing means mounted in the evaporator tank that is operative, when the level of liquid waste in that tank is below a predetermined low level, to prevent the operation of the first heater. Also mounted in the evaporator tank is high-level sensing means that is operative, when the level of liquid waste in the tank has raised to a predetermined higher level to prevent the operation of the macerator/transfer pump means until the level of liquid in the tank is lowered by evaporation of water from the liquid waste in the tank or the discharge of liquid waste from the tank.

Growing community of inventors

Morton Grove, IL, United States of America

Philip A Saigh