# US 10,865,374 B2 · Cultivation and dispensing of bacteria > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,374 B2 - Document ID: US10865374B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/654,937 - Filed: 2017-07-20 - Published: 2017-11-02 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-06 - Assignees: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. - Applicants: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. - Inventors: David Fielding; Chris Dyer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865374B2 ## CPC - C12M 29/14: {Pressurized fluid} - C02F 3/1294: {"Venturi" aeration means} - C12M: APPARATUS FOR ENZYMOLOGY OR MICROBIOLOGY; {APPARATUS FOR CULTURING MICROORGANISMS FOR PRODUCING BIOMASS, FOR GROWING CELLS OR FOR OBTAINING FERMENTATION OR METABOLIC PRODUCTS, i.e. BIOREACTORS OR FERMENTERS} - C02F: TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE (separation in general B01D; special arrangements on waterborne vessels of installations for treating water, waste water or sewage, e.g. for producing fresh water, B63J; adding materials to water to prevent corrosion C23F; treating radioactively-contaminated liquids G21F9/04; regeneration of reactants for recirculation into processes, see the relevant places for the processes) ## Abstract An apparatus 100 for cultivating bacteria, comprising a conduit 101 having an upstream and a downstream section and the downstream section of the conduit 101 comprising first Venturi eductor means 111 with at least two inlet ports 117, 118 wherein one of said inlet ports 117 is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another one of said inlet ports 118 is in fluid communication with a supply of bacteria such that, in use, nutrient and bacteria are drawn into said Venturi eductor means 111 by a fluid passing along said conduit 101 and said Venturi eductor means 111. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of removing grease from grease traps cultivating bacteria, comprising the steps of: a) cultivating bacteria through the steps of: i) providing a conduit with an upstream section and a downstream section and a mixing chamber into which the conduit discharges, wherein the upstream section of the conduit comprises an inlet in fluid communication with a source of water and a first valve associated with the conduit, said first valve controlling a supply of water along said conduit from the inlet; the downstream section of the conduit comprising a first Venturi eductor with at least two inlet ports, wherein one of said inlet ports is in fluid communication with a supply of nutrient and another of said inlet ports is in fluid communication with a supply of dormant bacteria suspended in liquid respectively, wherein the method further comprises the step of employing a second Venturi eductor in fluid communication with the first Venturi eductor and connected in series between the first Venturi eductor and the mixing chamber, ii) passing water along the conduit such that a pressure drop in the first Venturi eductor draws the nutrient and the dormant bacteria suspended in liquid into said eductor to discharge into the mixing chamber and mix therein; iii) allowing the dormant bacteria suspended in liquid in said mixing chamber to cultivate for a predetermined period of time; iv) repeating steps (ii) and (iii) until a desired amount of the dormant bacteria suspended in liquid is cultivated; and b) dispensing the cultivated bacteria into the drainage pipe of the commercial kitchen via an outlet port present in the mixing chamber, wherein said second Venturi eductor having at least one inlet port, wherein the at least one inlet port of the second Venturi eductor is in fluid communication with a supply of air such that, in use, air is drawn into said second Venturi eductor by the water, nutrient and bacteria mix passing from the first Venturi educator in to the second Venturi educator and wherein the air supplied to the system is drawn from the atmosphere. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein each of the method steps are initiated automatically and governed by a battery powered timer programmed to open and close a solenoid valve at certain times throughout a 24 hour period, and wherein opening the solenoid valve enables water to pass through the conduit and into the first and second Venturi eductors respectively, drawing bacteria, nutrient and air and then discharging this fluid mixture into a mixing chamber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of employing a second valve, said second valve associated with the outlet port of the mixing chamber such that the opening and closing of the outlet port is controlled by the second valve. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method according to claim 3, wherein the second valve is a timer operated valve programmed to operate automatically at pre-set intervals. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the first and second valves are programmed to enable the step of a) a main fill of the mixing chamber, b) an aeration charge of the mixing chamber, and c) flushing of the content of the mixing chamber to the use location. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method according to claim 4, wherein the bacteria, nutrient, water and air mix in the mixing chamber to cultivate over a 24 hour period and regular aerating of the mixture occurs throughout that 24 hour period. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, further comprising the step of retaining at least 1 litre of fluid in the mixing chamber.