IP Library Granted Patent US 7,971,731
Granted Patent B2
US 7,971,731 · App. 12/512,489 · Granted Jul 5, 2011

Density baffle for clarifier tank

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,971,731
App. No.
12/512,489
Granted
Jul 5, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery, a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank and an effluent channel includes a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank. Each baffle has a baffle surface with a lower end and an upper end. The upper end is coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank and the lower end is disposed at a substantially 60° angle away from the side wall of the clarifier tank such that the baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the side wall.

Claims (41)

1. A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel, said baffle system comprising:

a plurality of baffles mounted on the clarifier tank, each baffle comprising:

a baffle surface, said baffle surface having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of said baffle surface being coupled to a wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of said baffle surface being disposed, at a substantially 60° angle away from said wall of the clarifier tank such that said baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from said wall

where the horizontal projection of said baffle into the center of the tank is determined using the following equation:

HP= 18″+ a ( D− 30)

D=diameter of the tank in feet;

a=coefficient multiplier

with the coefficient “a” set to 0.3 inches per foot or greater.

2. The baffle system of claim 1 , wherein said baffle surfaces, further comprise mounting flanges for securing to said wall of said clarifier tank.

3. The baffle system of claim 2 , wherein each of said baffle surfaces further comprise vent openings integrally molded within said mounting flange.

4. The baffle system of claim 1 , wherein said horizontal projection is substantially 39 inches in a clarifier tank of 100 ft diameter.

5. The baffle system of claim 1 , wherein said baffle surfaces each have a lower end flange.

6. The baffle system of claim 5 , wherein said clarifier tank has a sludge blanket that is a collection of solids at the bottom of said tank, wherein said lower end flanges of said baffle surfaces are positioned substantially 2 feet from the top of said sludge blanket.

7. The baffle system of claim 5 , wherein said clarifier tank has a sludge blanket that is a collection of solids at the bottom of said tank, wherein said lower end flanges of said baffle surfaces are positioned at a point midway between the average blanket height of said sludge blanket and the weir.

8. The baffle system of claim 1 , wherein said upper end of said baffle surface is coupled to the peripheral wall of said clarifier tank.

9. The baffle system of claim 1 , wherein said upper end of said surface is coupled to the wall of the effluent channel of said clarifier tank.

10. A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel, said baffle system comprising:

a plurality of baffles mounted on the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank, each baffle comprising:

a baffle surface, said baffle surface having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of said baffle surface being coupled to said peripheral wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of said baffle surface being disposed, at a substantially 60° angle away from the peripheral wall of the clarifier tank such that said baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from said peripheral wall and defines a horizontal projection,

wherein the horizontal projection of said baffle into the center of the tank is determined using the following equation:

HP= 18″+ a ( D− 30)

D=diameter of the tank in feet;

a=coefficient multiplier

with the coefficient “a” is set to 0.3 inches per foot or greater.

11. The baffle system of claim 10 , wherein said baffle surfaces, further comprise mounting flanges for securing to the wall of said clarifier tank.

12. The baffle system of claim 11 , wherein each of said baffle surfaces further comprises vent openings integrally molded within said mounting flange.

13. A baffle system in a clarifier tank having a tank bottom, a periphery and a substantially vertical peripheral wall bounding the interior of the tank, said tank having an effluent channel, said baffle system comprising:

a plurality of baffles mounted on a wall of the clarifier tank, each baffle comprising:

a baffle surface, said baffle surface having a lower end and an upper end, the upper end of said baffle surface being coupled to said wall of the clarifier tank, the lower end of said baffle surface being disposed, away from the wall of the clarifier tank such that said baffle surface slopes downwardly and away from the wall so that it generates a substantially horizontal velocity vector of solids emerging from under said baffle surface

where the horizontal projection of said baffle into the center oldie tank is determined using the following equation:

HP= 18+ a ( D− 30)

D=diameter of the tank in feet;

a=coefficient multiplier

with the coefficient “a” set to 0.3 inches per foot.

14. The baffle system of claim 13 , wherein said baffle surfaces, further comprise mounting flanges for securing to the wall of said clarifier tank.

15. The baffle system of claim 14 , wherein each of said baffle surfaces further comprise vent openings integrally molded within said mounting flange.

16. The baffle system of claim 13 , wherein said horizontal projection is substantially 39 inches and said clarifier tank is of 100 ft diameter.

17. The baffle system of claim 13 , wherein said baffle surfaces each have a lower end flange.

18. The baffle system of claim 17 , wherein said clarifier tank has a sludge blanket that is a collection of solids at the bottom of said tank, wherein said lower end flanges of said baffle surfaces are positioned substantially 2 feet from the top of said sludge blanket.

19. The baffle system of claim 13 , wherein said upper end of said baffle surface is coupled to the peripheral wall of said clarifier tank.

20. The baffle system of claim 13 , wherein said upper end of said surface is coupled to the wall of the effluent channel of said clarifier tank.

Assignments (10)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded May 7, 2026
From: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION HOLDINGS LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION LLC; NAF WATER SOLUTION ENTERPRISES LLC; CHEMTRAC LLC; NAF AQUATICS LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 074586/0152 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2025
From: NEFCO SYSTEMS, INC.
To: NAF CONTRCO LLC
Reel/Frame 073041/0957 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2025
From: NAF CONTRCO LLC
To: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION HOLDINGS LLC
Reel/Frame 073042/0288 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2025
From: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION HOLDINGS LLC
To: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION ENTERPRISES LLC
Reel/Frame 073042/0447 →
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 26, 2025
From: NAF WATER FILTRATION ENTERPRISES LLC
To: NAF WATER FILTRATION LLC
Reel/Frame 073042/0701 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 3, 2025
From: LIVE OAK BANKING COMPANY
To: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION HOLDINGS LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF AQUATICS ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF AQUATICS LLC; CHEMTRAC LLC; NAF WATER SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION LLC
Reel/Frame 072760/0571 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: NORTH AMERICAN FILTRATION HOLDINGS LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF WATER SOLUTIONS ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF AQUATICS ENTERPRISES LLC; NAF WATER FILTRATION LLC; CHEMTRAC LLC; NAF AQUATICS LLC
To: LIVE OAK BANKING COMPANY
Reel/Frame 059509/0921 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2022
From: SCHALLER, EARLE
To: NEFCO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 059420/0643 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 27, 2016
From: NEFCO SYSTEMS, INC.
To: SCHALLER, EARLE
Reel/Frame 039272/0133 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2016
From: SCHALLER, EARLE
To: NEFCO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 039175/0846 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation In Part 12423181 · Apr 14, 2009
Provisional Application 61206039 · Jan 26, 2009
Provisional Application 61206574 · Jan 30, 2009
Provisional Application 61196405 · Oct 15, 2008
Related Publication 20100089821A1 · Apr 15, 2010