Patents Assigned to SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
  • Patent number: 11839856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Kim Davis, Jason Bell, James Kacmar
  • Patent number: 11739030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation methods and systems for converting high concentrations of animal wastes into useful products, wherein the separation of the desired useful products is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to the separate desired useful energy and/or products from both viscous and non-viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Jason Bell
  • Patent number: 11654397
    Abstract: A filtration cassette including a multilaminate array of sheets including filter sheets alternating with permeate sheet members and retentate sheet members, and a cross-flow filter device comprising a multiplicity of stacked filtration cassettes of such type. The improvements associated with the filtration cassettes described herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of: reinforced inlet(s) providing for longevity and improved cleanability of the cassettes; spacer permeate screens to limit throughput restriction; stainless steel or otherwise stiffened permeate sheets to prevent movement and increase flux; and stainless steel permeate sheets that can be used with ultrasonic transmission to minimize fouling of the filter sheets and extend cleaning cycles. Advantageously, the filtration cassettes are more resistant to higher temperatures than the filtration cassettes of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Smartflow Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Jason Bell, Mark Vander Hoff, Kelly Johnson, Jonathan Barth, Bradford East, Cameron Gunter, Max Prendergast
  • Patent number: 11565215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modification to permeate channels and permeate materials in a cross-flow filtration system to improve performance in counter current filtration having both retentate channels and permeate channels wherein a solution is pumped through one of the channels and drawn through a membrane to one of the other channels to assist in positive pressure driven filtration by using the osmotic pressure, concentration, or preferential solubility difference between the retentate and permeate flow streams thereby increasing or altering the flux through the membrane separating the flow streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh
  • Patent number: 11065581
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for separating starch from processing solutions containing starch containing plants or roots such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat, corn, tapioca, yams, cassaya, sago, rice, pea, broad bean, horse bean, sorghum, konjac, rye, buckwheat and barley to provide commercially acceptable starch while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Bell, Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Joseph Peters
  • Patent number: 10987631
    Abstract: A filtration cassette including a multilaminate array of sheets including filter sheets alternating with permeate sheet members and retentate sheet members, and a cross-flow filter device comprising a multiplicity of stacked filtration cassettes of such type. The improvements associated with the filtration cassettes described herein include, but are not limited to, at least one of: reinforced inlet(s) providing for longevity and improved cleanability of the cassettes; spacer permeate screens to limit throughput restriction; stainless steel or otherwise stiffened permeate sheets to prevent movement and increase flux; and stainless steel permeate sheets that can be used with ultrasonic transmission to minimize fouling of the filter sheets and extend cleaning cycles. Advantageously, the filtration cassettes are more resistant to higher temperatures than the filtration cassettes of the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Jason Bell, Mark Vander Hoff, Kelly Johnson, Jonathan Barth, Bradford East, Cameron Gunter, Max Prendergast
  • Patent number: 10934222
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation methods and systems for converting high concentrations of animal wastes into useful products, wherein the separation of the desired useful products is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to the separate desired useful energy and/or products from both viscous and non-viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Jason Bell
  • Patent number: 10894232
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Kim Davis, Jason Bell, James Kacmar
  • Patent number: 10786784
    Abstract: The present invention relates to modification to permeate channels and permeate materials in a cross-flow filtration system to improve performance in counter current filtration having both retentate channels and permeate channels wherein a solution is pumped through one of the channels and drawn through a membrane to one of the other channels to assist in positive pressure driven filtration by using the osmotic pressure, concentration, or preferential solubility difference between the retentate and permeate flow streams thereby increasing or altering the flux through the membrane separating the flow streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SmartFlow Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh
  • Patent number: 10688416
    Abstract: The present invention relates to portable filtration units including filter components mated with retentate and permeate flow channels wherein particle containing solutions are introduced into the portable filtration units and contacted with the filter components for filtration thereby producing a retentate outflow and a permeate outflow for capture of desired end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Marc Pugh, Todd Benson, Richard Hibbitts, James A. Kacmar, Gary Cooke, Derrick Marconi, Kim Davis, Diane K. Gates, Greg Holzer, Michael Eggers
  • Patent number: 10220349
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for separating starch from processing solutions containing starch containing plants or roots such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, wheat, corn, tapioca, yams, cassaya, sago, rice, pea, broad bean, horse bean, sorghum, konjac, rye, buckwheat and barley to provide commercially acceptable starch while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Bell, Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Joseph Peters
  • Patent number: 10010814
    Abstract: The present invention relates to portable filtration units including filter components mated with retentate and permeate flow channels wherein particle containing solutions are introduced into the portable filtration units and contacted with the filter components for filtration thereby producing a retentate outflow and a permeate outflow for capture of desired end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Pugh, Todd Benson, Richard Hibbitts, James A. Kacmar, Gary Cooke, Derrick Marconi, Kim Davis, Diane K. Gates, Greg Holzer, Michael Eggers
  • Patent number: 10005697
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation methods and systems for converting high concentrations of animal wastes into useful products, wherein the separation of the desired useful products is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to the separate desired useful energy and/or products from both viscous and non-viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh, Jason Bell
  • Patent number: 9937469
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Kim Davis, Jason Bell, James Kacmar
  • Patent number: 9783750
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method for treatment of fats, oils and grease (FOG) for separation of target products and/or the efficient production of biodiesel while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Jason Bell, Marc Pugh
  • Patent number: 9745333
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for optimization of dilution of a viscous starting material to isolate and/or concentrate the product of interest from the starting source material such that the process minimizes the volume of diluent and the total volume of the waste stream generated during the process as well as maximizing the yield of desired product. The system employs cross-flow filtration modules with sub-channels that are equidistant to the inlet and outlet of said modules and such modules are characterized by optimal channel height, optimal transmembrane pressure, etc., which are selected in order to achieve the best combination of product quality and production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Henry B. Kopf, James A. Kacmar
  • Patent number: 9670429
    Abstract: The present invention provides for methods and systems that effectively separate dispersed FOG from emulsions and/or free-floating FOG from a waste stream to provide dewatered emulsions and/or separated fats, oils and greases from emulsions thereby providing value added separated product while reducing disposal of solid or liquid waste matter into landfills or water treatment facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jason Bell, Mark Vander Hoff, Todd Benson, Marc Pugh
  • Patent number: 9163265
    Abstract: The present invention relates to separation of desired target products from biological, plant, and waste-type material, wherein the desired target products include renewable fuels such as ethanol, biobutanol, and biodiesel, wherein the separation is conducted with a cross-flow filtration system having the ability to separate desired products from both non-viscous and viscous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Todd Benson, Kim Davis, Jason Bell, James Kacmar
  • Patent number: 9101883
    Abstract: The present invention relates to portable filtration units including filter components mated with retentate and permeate flow channels wherein particle containing solutions are introduced into the portable filtration units and contacted with the filter components for filtration thereby producing a retentate outflow and a permeate outflow for capture of desired end product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SMARTFLOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Marc Pugh, Todd Benson, Richard Hibbitts, Jim Kacmar, Gary Cooke, Derrick Marconi, Kim Davis, Diane Seamans, Greg Holzer, Michael Eggers
  • Patent number: 8795530
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and systems for optimization of dilution of a viscous starting material to isolate and/or concentrate the product of interest from the starting source material such that the process minimizes the volume of diluent and the total volume of the waste stream generated during the process as well as maximizing the yield of desired product. The system employs cross-flow filtration modules with sub-channels that are equidistant to the inlet and outlet of said modules and such modules are characterized by optimal channel height, optimal transmembrane pressure, etc., which are selected in order to achieve the best combination of product quality and production yield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Smartflow Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Henry B. Kopf, James A. Kacmar