US 7,491,321 B1
Oxidation tank control valve assembly and systems and methods for replenishing a charge of oxygen-containing gas within an oxidation tank
Edward T. Maas, Poynette, Wis. (US); Paul A. Beres, Waukesha, Wis. (US); Kevin A. Hellenbrand, Mukwonago, Wis. (US); William M. Kavey, Sun Prairie, Wis. (US); and Daniel A. Klein, Middleton, Wis. (US)
Assigned to Hellenbrand, Inc., Waunakee, Wis. (US)
Filed on Jul. 18, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/458,279.
Int. Cl. B01D 21/30 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 210—136  [210/278; 210/138; 210/198.1; 210/205; 210/209; 210/220; 210/418; 137/488; 137/511; 137/624.13; 137/625] 27 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An aeration control apparatus, usable with an aeration tank having an interior, and a compressed gas source that supplies compressed oxidizing gas, the aeration control apparatus comprising:
a first valve, having
a first position disconnecting the compressed gas source from a first flow passage and connecting the first flow passage to an atmospheric exhaust, and
a second position connecting the compressed gas source to the first flow passage and disconnecting the first flow passage from the atmospheric exhaust,
a valve housing having at least one interior chamber, the first flow passage fluidly connecting the first valve to a first interior chamber of the at least one interior chamber;
at least one one-way-flow valve, a first one-way-flow valve located between the first interior chamber and the interior of the aeration tank, the first one-way-flow valve oriented to allow the compressed oxidizing gas to flow from the first interior chamber to the interior of the aeration tank and to preclude gas or fluid from flowing from the interior of the aeration tank to the first interior chamber; and
a controllable actuator operatively connected to the first valve and having a first state usable to place the first valve in the first position and a second state usable to place the first valve in the second position, wherein the controllable actuator is operable to repeatedly switch between the first state and the second state.