Environment Intenational, Vol. 18, pp. I-Ill, 1992 0160-4120/92 $5.00 + .00 Printed in the U.S.A. (c) 1992 Pergamon Press Ltd. All rights reserved

NEW PATENTS

This section contains abstracts and, where appropriate, illustrations of recently issued United States patents and published patent applications filed from over 30 countries under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. This information was obtained from recent additions to the PATSEARCH @ online database in accordance with interest profiles developed by the Editors.

5083322

TOILET SYSTEM HAVING AN AIR EVACUATING SYSTEM IN A

WATER STORAGE TANK

Jeff Goodman

A toilet system includes a water storage tank that stores fresh water used in the flush cycle. The water storage tank is divided into two com- partments by a partition wall, and an air evacuating system is located in one of the com- partments, while a flush control system and flush water are located in the other compartment. The air evacuating system includes a blower con- nected to an air passage way located in the toilet bowl and to the waste water disposal conduit. Air from inside the toilet bowl is moved to the waste water disposal conduit.

5083676

HAZARDOUS FLUID DISPENSER SAFETY SYSTEM HAVING A

MERCURY TILT SWITCH

William Hunter, Hugh Cross

A system for dispensing hazardous fluid par- ticular suitable for gasoline service stations utilizing an electrical impact sensing switch mounted upon each dispenser wherein the con- tacts of the normally open switch close upon im- pact occurring at the dispenser and the switch controls a primary electrical circuit energizing the pumps providing pressurized fluid to the dis- penser whereby impact forces de-energizes the

pumps minimizing to actuate alarms and alert personnel of the impact.

5084165

WATER TREATMENT APPARATUS

Lawrence Wang, Mu Hao S Wang, Chong Su Hwang, Harold Rhow assigned to Int'l Environ- mental Systems Inc; Globe Environmental Pro- tection Inc

A water treatment multi-stage process and ap- paratus thereof for removing dissolved, col- loidal, volatile, suspended and living contaminants from water, wastewater or sludge streams which includes chemical feeding, static mixing, flotation chemical monitoring and op- timization, gas pressurization, hydraulic floc- culation, sedimentation, flotation, and final water treating by converting dissolved solids to insoluble forms by oxidation and chemical pre- cipitation, coagulating and clarifying colloidal substances and microorganisms, magnetic or electronic treating the remaining contaminants in the water to produce a purified water. A majority of insoluble suspended particles in the water are collected by sedimentation and flota- tion separation procedures and subsequently dewatered and dried and all necessary unit pro- cesses operations are incorporated into an ap- paratus with common walls and drive mechanisms for improviding the water treat- ment efficiency, reducing secondary pollution caused by scums/sludges, and eliminating the needs of a separate mixer, monitor, flocculator, pressure vessel, clarifier, aerator, biofouling pre- ventor, and scale and corrosion controller.