Patents Examined by Benjamin Kurtz
  • Patent number: 9833745
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtration means (10) for the filtration of liquid media having a housing (12) and at least one filter element (16) arranged in said housing (12), wherein at least one of said filter element (16) at at least one axial end has a laterally outwardly extending flange (24), which is connected to said housing (12) forming a seal. Said flange (24) has a conical surface (25) projecting outwardly which interacts with a complementary conical surface (27) of a gasket (26) which is arranged between said flange (24) and said housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Nanostone Water GMBH
    Inventors: Christian Goebbert, Manfred Volz
  • Patent number: 9835371
    Abstract: A refrigerator and filter device are described. In one aspect, the refrigerator includes a main body that defines a storage space. The refrigerator includes a door that is configured to open and close at least a portion of the storage space. The refrigerator further includes a dispenser that is located at the door and is configured to dispense water. The refrigerator further includes a filter that is configured to purify water and supply the purified water to the dispenser. The refrigerator further includes at least two heads that are configured to attach to the filter. The refrigerator further includes a connector that is configured to connect the at least two heads to each other, the connector providing a passage between the at least two heads. The refrigerator further includes a bracket on which the connector and the at least two heads are seated, the bracket being coupled to the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jongho Yun, Kyunghoon Koak, Bongjun Kim, Siyeon An
  • Patent number: 9827515
    Abstract: A filter element (20) includes individual components (2, 4, 8), such as a filter medium (8) as one component and further filter element components (2, 4), of which at least one component (4) is made of a material that is at least partially transparent to laser light and at least one further component (2), in the manner of a barrier layer, is made of a material that is at least partially opaque to laser light to perform a transmission welding method by laser light for connecting associable components to each other. At least some of the components of the filter element that are exposed to the laser light during the transmission welding method are at least partially electrically conductive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Giuseppe Galifi, Harald Mees
  • Patent number: 9815010
    Abstract: A water filtration system utilizes a housing configured to utilize various types of filter media and having a press-sealed closing system. The closing system includes a head portion defining a head opening, a lock member, and a lid member. The lock member releasably engages the head portion such that an abutment section of the lock member projects into the head opening. The lid member is received by the head portion to cover the head opening, and has an outward-facing press section configured to abut an inward facing portion of the abutment section of the lock member when the lid member is covering the head opening. Pressure generated within the housing during water filtration presses the lid member in an outward direction and causes the lid member press section to press against the abutment section of the lock member to substantially prevent disengagement of the lock member from the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: ENPRESS L.L.C.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Horner, Michael P. Mormino, Douglas S. Stolarik
  • Patent number: 9808751
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a complex filter and to a water purifier including a complex filter. By providing a complex filter for a water purifier including an antibacterial hollow fiber membrane, activated carbon fibers, ion-exchange fibers, and one or more activated carbon layers arranged in an optimized combination, the size of a water purifier can be reduced, and excellent water-purifying performance and an improved service life can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Kyunghee Moon, Changho Lee, Hyunhwan Oh, Sangduck Lee, Jeayoul Joung, Jeongil Kye, Min-Joung Kim
  • Patent number: 9776111
    Abstract: The invention relates to a disc shaped filter element for filtering a liquid such as a polymer. The filter element comprising—a hub, said hub defining a central opening therethrough, —an upper filter medium and a lower filter medium, said upper filter medium and said lower filter medium extending radially outwards from said hub. The upper filter medium and the lower filter medium comprise a layered structure comprising a first layer and a second layer. The first layer comprises a non-sintered metal fiber fleece and the second layer comprises a layer of non-sintered metal powder particles. The first layer and the second layer are sintered together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Purolator Advanced Filtration
    Inventors: Inge Schildermans, Stefan Vandendijk, Marie Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9776113
    Abstract: A rotatable basket extractor for use in extracting oil from oleaginous feed material is disclosed. The extractor includes a rotatable rotor that includes a plurality of baskets extending radially outward from a central shaft, and the baskets receive and transport the oleaginous feed material while a motor rotates the baskets between a feed inlet and a feed outlet. The rotor is located within a housing and positioned above a screen through which miscella that drains from the feed material passes. The miscella is collected in a trough located below the screen and is sprayed onto the feed material bed positioned within the baskets in a counter-current manner. A suction device pulls vapor down between the particles of the feed material bed to decrease the drainage time of the miscella through the feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Desmet Ballestra North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Kemper, Marc Kellens, Anibal DeMarco
  • Patent number: 9731232
    Abstract: A liquid filter having a housing and a hollow insert. The housing has a dirty liquid feed, a clean liquid outlet and a drainage channel, and is closed by a detachable cover. In the channel, a valve is arranged, having a valve body axially displaceable between a closed and an open position. The cover on the housing presses the valve body into the closed position. When the cover is removed from the housing, the valve body is carried to its open position and then is detachable from the cover or insert and is retainable in its open position by a spring holding element. The holding element automatically expands into the opening position by spring force and engages a spring element restraint holding the valve body in its open position. A force contracts the spring element, displacing the valve body in the closing direction, releasing engagement with the spring restraint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Hengst SE & Co. KG
    Inventor: Wilhelm Ardes
  • Patent number: 9731966
    Abstract: A non-pleated depth filter element in the form of a tubular ring of depth filter media is provided. Multiple wraps of sheets, some including fine fibers, are employed. The depth filter element has particular applications to liquid filtration applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: CLARCOR Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas B. Green, Lei Li, John A. Krogue
  • Patent number: 9707497
    Abstract: A filter assembly and cage and/or capsule apparatus including upstream and downstream and optional intermediary supports having modified features to maximize fluid flow through the filter assembly. The cage apparatus has a plurality of posts with stacked ridges that function as cap engaging teeth. A cage end cap is formed with a plurality of slots corresponding in configuration and position to the plurality of posts. The combination of slots and ridges interact to create a locking mechanism to adjustably secure the end cap to the cage and to generate the necessary compression to seal the enclosed filter discs and supports. The upstream supports are formed with channels in an outer ring and optional channels in radially extending ribs to improve fluid ingress and transfer to the filter discs. The downstream supports are formed with channels or tunnels in an inner ring to facilitate filtrate egress into a filter assembly outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Inventor: Zhenwu Lin
  • Patent number: 9676069
    Abstract: The invention concerns a filtration device comprising a manifold providing fluid connection and mechanical connection comprising a clamping plate movably mounted relative to the manifold and adapted to compress at least one cassette against the manifold, means for driving and guiding the clamping plate comprising a rod extending between the manifold and the plate, an actuator provided with a body and a member moveable relative to the body, which member is adapted to move through a predetermined travel between an extended position and a retracted position, the body being carried by the manifold, and the member carrying the rod and driving the plate via the rod to a clamped position in which the member is in an intermediate retracted position in which it has moved through a shorter travel than the predetermined travel relative to its extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Cirou, Jean-Louis Weissenbach, Rene Reinbigler, Jean-Luc Beulay, Frans Mels, Cecile Delbos
  • Patent number: 9643111
    Abstract: A screen panel assembly includes a screen panel and one or more raised screen components, wherein at least one of the raised screen components is disposed on the screen panel. Furthermore, each of the one or more raised screen components includes at least one inclined screen surface that defines a first plane that is oriented at a first angle relative to said screen panel. Additionally, the first plane is substantially aligned with a second plane that is oriented at a second angle relative to a third plane that is perpendicular to a displacement vector along which the screen panel assembly is accelerated by a vibratory separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Thomas Robert Larson, Paul William Dufilho
  • Patent number: 9643110
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solid/liquid separation apparatus including an extruder press combined with a solid/fluid separation module for separating fluid from a mass of solids compressed by the extruder at elevated pressures. The extruder includes two or more extruder screws with flighting intercalated at least along a part of the extruder barrel. The separation module forms a continuation of the barrel, receives the pressurized mass and at least a portion of the twin screws, and includes a filter pack consisting of a filter plate and a backer plate. The filter plate has a throughgoing filter slot extending away from a core opening and into the filter plate for directing fluid away from the core opening. The backer plate has a core opening shaped and sized equal to the barrel and defines a passage for guiding fluid collected in the filter slot to an exterior of the filter pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GreenField Specialty Alcohols Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Romeo Lehoux, Christopher Bruce Bradt
  • Patent number: 9630418
    Abstract: A liquid holding container includes a liquid accommodating chamber, a flow path, and a filter. The liquid accommodating chamber is configured and arranged to hold liquid. The flow path is communicated with the liquid accommodating chamber via a first through hole and a second through hole. The filter is disposed in the flow path. The first through hole and the second through hole are each communicated with the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Ken Yamagishi, Toshinobu Yamazaki, Takeshi Iwamuro, Shigenori Nakagawa, Ryoichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9629345
    Abstract: A biochemical ball includes a first half, a second half, and a plurality of sponge filters. The first half has a plurality of first ribs, a first rim, and a first partition. The first partition divides the first half into a plurality of equal first accommodating spaces. The first rim of the first half is provided with a first fastener and a connecting joint. The second half has a plurality of second ribs, a second rim, and a second partition. The second partition divides the second half into a plurality of equal second accommodating spaces. The second rim of the second half is provided with a second fastener configured to correspondingly engage with the first fastener. The sponge filters are so received in the first and second accommodating spaces that the sponge filters are separated without contacting each other, thereby enhancing filtering efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventor: James C. Lin
  • Patent number: 9604166
    Abstract: Provided is an improved filtration module assembly comprising a vessel having a filtration cartridge disposed within it and a header coupled to an end of the vessel, the header including a housing having an open-ended upper end and a lower end, and an end cap including a portion that mates with a complimentary structure defined by the inner wall of the open ended upper end of the housing to removably engage with the housing and the end cap may further define a passageway for fluid to flow out of the vessel. The filtration module assembly may enable an improved manifold arrangement used to communicate fluids to and from a filtration system comprising a plurality of such modules and the configurations of the present invention may facilitate improved operation of such filtration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Bruce Gregory Biltoft, Michael Collignon, Robert James McMahon
  • Patent number: 9592577
    Abstract: The invention concerns a filtration device comprising a providing fluid connection and mechanical connection comprising a clamping plate movably mounted relative to the manifold and adapted to compress at least one cassette against the manifold, means for driving and guiding the clamping plate comprising a rod extending between the manifold and the plate, an actuator provided with a body and a member moveable relative to the body, which member is adapted to move through a predetermined travel between an extended position and a retracted position, the body being carried by the manifold, and the member carrying the rod and driving the plate via the rod to a clamped position in which the member is in an intermediate retracted position in which it has moved through a shorter travel than the predetermined travel relative to its extended position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Sebastien Cirou, Jean-Louis Weissenbach, Rene Reinbigler, Jean-Luc Beulay, Frans Mels, Cecile Delbos
  • Patent number: 9587410
    Abstract: A pool cleaner debris bag is provided having an open end adapted to receive debris from the pool and a closable end defining at least one discharge passage for the bag. The pool cleaner further comprises a securing apparatus disposed along at least a portion of the closable end. For example, the securing apparatus can have at least two separable members selectively movable between an unsecured position to permit opening of the discharge passage, and a secured position having at least a portion of the first end is disposed between the at least two separable members to permit closing of the discharge passage. In addition or alternatively, the debris bag can comprise a seam disposed at a location spaced apart from the open end for defining at least one discharge passage for the bag. In addition or alternatively, the securing apparatus can comprise a clasp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventor: Suresh Cherulassery Gopalan
  • Patent number: 9579594
    Abstract: A seal comprises a lid that is rotary-mounted to a filter container base and has a body with at least two stub pipes and an internal part attached to the body in which are formed circulation ducts positioned as an extension of the stub pipes in opened position, and at least one bypass duct connecting the stub pipes in closed position. The internal part is attached to the body using a rotary bayonet mount by rotating to closed position in which the stub pipes are connected by the bypass duct, and the body together with the attached internal part are attached to the base using a rotate-and-lock bayonet mount. In closed position the internal part is attached to the base in a stationary manner using a longitudinal head joint formed on the joined elements, and the changing to opened position occurs by rotating the body in the rotate-and-lock bayonet mount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Aquael Janusz Jankiewicz SP. Z O.O.
    Inventor: Janusz Jankiewicz
  • Patent number: 9579591
    Abstract: A liquid filter assembly comprising a filter subassembly is inserted within an elongated tubular filter body, enclosed by a pair of end caps. The filter subassembly includes a plurality of filtration discs placed onto a tubular core and inner support member. A disc aperture is provided concentrically through each filtration disc. An outer filter support member and a central filter support member support each filtration disc. The outer filter support member engages with an interior of the elongated body and an end wall engages with the disc perimeter. The central filter support member engages with an exterior of the inner support member and an end wall engages with the peripheral edge about the filtration disc aperture. Fluid passes through the first end cap orifice, continuing through the inner support member, transferring flow through the filtration discs, returning through the inner support member, and exiting the opposite end cap orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventor: Horace Lester Gadson