Patents Examined by Christopher Upton
  • Patent number: 11679346
    Abstract: A floating liquid intake for a liquid suction removal system, the liquid intake comprising housing defining an internal cavity. The housing has a hollow and buoyant annular body, an upper cover and a lower cover. The internal cavity is formed between the upper and lower covers. A substantially annular inlet is formed in the annular body for ingress of liquid into the cavity. The annular body has a buoyancy sufficient for the liquid intake to float in a liquid with the annular inlet submerged below the surface of the liquid in which the liquid intake is floating. A pipe extends into the cavity and the pipe includes an inlet that in use is open below the surface of the liquid within the cavity. The pipe extends outside of the cavity for connection to a liquid suction removal system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Turret IP Pty Ltd
    Inventor: Robert Bruce Hair
  • Patent number: 11679342
    Abstract: A separation device configured to separate light and heavy components of an effluent mixture. The separation device includes a separation tank, an inlet discharge, an outlet diffuser, and a baffle. The separation tank includes a tank reservoir for containing the effluent mixture during separation, with light components configured to migrate upwardly toward a static water line and heavy components configured to sink adjacent the bottom. The inlet discharge is located within the tank reservoir to supply effluent mixture to the separation tank. The outlet diffuser is spaced from the inlet discharge and located within the tank reservoir to receive a heavy component of the effluent mixture after separation. The baffle is located within the tank reservoir to separate the inlet discharge from the outlet diffuser. The baffle presents a baffle opening adjacent the static water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Schier Products Company
    Inventors: Tad Asay, Connor O'Boyle, Benjamin F. Brown, Grahm Heide
  • Patent number: 11679345
    Abstract: Settling devices for separating particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields. The particle settling devices include a stack of cones with a small opening oriented upwardly or downwardly. The cones have an interior surface that is convex. These devices are useful for separating small (millimeter or micron sized) particles from a bulk fluid with applications in numerous fields, such as biological (microbial, mammalian, plant, insect or algal) cell cultures, solid catalyst particle separation from a liquid or gas and waste-water treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Sudhin Biopharma
    Inventors: Dhinakar S. Kompala, Braden L. Smith
  • Patent number: 11673074
    Abstract: A cyclonic inlet diverter for initiating the separation of a multi-phase inlet fluid flow comprises an enclosed tubular body mounted crosswise within a larger separator vessel. The inlet diverter includes a splitter plate positioned within a center portion of the tubular body and configured to split the inlet flow into a first stream and a second stream, and a swirl plate positioned on each side of the splitter plate with angled surfaces configured to increase the cyclonic motion of the first and second streams within the tubular body. The inlet diverter further includes elongate apertures formed through bottom sidewall portions of the tubular body on each side of the splitter plate, an axial aperture formed through opposing end caps of the tubular body, and at least one radial aperture formed through lateral sidewall portions of the tubular body proximate each opposing end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: ENXL LLC
    Inventor: Bruce D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 11661732
    Abstract: A drain assembly for installation in a shower floor, the drain assembly including a drain body including an upper surface defining a top side, and a lower surface opposite the upper surface defining a bottom side. The drain assembly also defines an aperture extending along an axis through the drain body between the upper surface and the lower surface and includes an outlet having a flange and an elongated body. When assembled, the elongated body is configured to extend below the lower surface of the drain body when the flange rests on the upper surface. The drain assembly also includes one or more fasteners configured to couple the outlet to the drain body to form a water-tight seal therebetween, where each of the one or more fasteners are accessible from the top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLC
    Inventors: David Michael Gomo, Robert Anthony DiPlacido, Michael Thomas Benesh, Christopher J. Say, John Matthew Lawrence
  • Patent number: 11661156
    Abstract: An apparatus for collecting floating marine debris comprises a frame, a debris collection container in communication with a rear opening of the frame, a pair of helicoidal screws mounted to the frame in a symmetrical V-arrangement that tapers inwardly from a front opening of the frame to the rear opening, and at least one prime mover rotationally coupled to the pair of helicoidal screws. The prime mover is operable to rotate the helicoidal screws in opposite directions at the same angular velocity in water to move the apparatus forward through the water, such that floating marine debris enters the apparatus through the front opening, passes through the rear opening and is collected in the debris collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Technika Engineering Ltd.
    Inventor: Radé Svorcan
  • Patent number: 11655627
    Abstract: The invention relates to a locking element (11) for securing a grate (3). The locking element (11) comprises a spring element (113) kept between a cover element (111a) and a spring support element (117). The spring support element (117) is displaceable relative to the cover element (111a) by means of an actuating element (115). The displacement of the spring support element (117) causes a movement of at least one of the ends (113a, 113b) of the spring element (113) relative to the cover element (111a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: MEA Bautechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Steinbacher, Wolfgang Zeiselmair
  • Patent number: 11648493
    Abstract: An improved clarifier tank having a rake arm assembly with one or more rake arms, a rake arm driveshaft operatively connected to the rake arms and a rake arm drive, and a sump scraper driveshaft, operatively connected to a plurality of sump scrapers and a sump scraper drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: KADANT BLACK CLAWSON, LLC
    Inventor: Paul J. Powers
  • Patent number: 11643819
    Abstract: A cover for a drain. The cover may be used with roof drains or other drains and allow for fluid collection into the drain even with buildup of debris around or on the cover. The cover may have a lower flange or skirt portion with a large area and extending outwardly in an arcuate or polygonal configuration and having openings for fluid flow. The lower portion may be oriented at a positive, zero, or negative angle with respect to the horizontal. The lower portion may be wider than a drain body over which the cover is used. An upper portion may be connected to the lower portion and may be more vertically-oriented than the lower portion and having openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Roofguard Manufacturing, LLC
    Inventor: Donald G. Huber
  • Patent number: 11642613
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to providing an oil-water separation filter structure including a base guide having a separated water outlet hole through which a fluid separated from a mixed fluid including an impurity exits, an oil-water separation filter disposed on the base guide to separate the impurity and the fluid included in the mixed liquid, and a top guide disposed on the oil-water separation filter, having at least one mixed fluid inlet hole through which the mixed fluid enters, and coupled to the base guide. According to the present disclosure, the oil-water separation filter structure includes a hydrophilic material to separate water and oil, and as opposed to the existing nonwoven fabric type filters, can be continuously used, thereby preventing environmental pollution problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Myoung-Woon Moon, Young-A Lee, Seo-Hyun Cho
  • Patent number: 11642610
    Abstract: A method of concentrating sediment in a water tank involves attaching a vortex inducing device to an opening through the roof of the tank between the central vertical axis and the side walling of the tank. The device has a device inlet which narrows to a device outlet. The device outlet is orientated such that, water flowing out via the device outlet induces a vortex within the pooled water, thereby causing sediment to collect centrally on the floor of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Inventor: Leigh Maxwell
  • Patent number: 11639640
    Abstract: An electro-separation apparatus for separation of drilling fluids is provided. The apparatus can include a reaction chamber and a set of electrode plates provided in the reaction chamber. A sediment outlet can be provided near a bottom of the reaction chamber and wiper blades can be provided for sweeping sediment that has collected on the electrode plates towards the sediment outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: Ground Effect Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Sean Frisky, Jason Beaudin, Justin Lee, Joel Wolensky
  • Patent number: 11633678
    Abstract: The embodiments of the present disclosure provide a system for removing particulates from liquid. The system may comprise a base, a tubular body extending upwardly from the base, a liquid quality device located above the base, a sump region located between the base and the liquid quality device, and a plurality of drag-inducing portions positioned in the sump region and projecting inwardly toward a central axis of the sump region. The tubular body may comprise an inlet and an outlet. The plurality of drag-inducing portions may comprise a first set of drag-inducing portions, a second set of drag-inducing portions, a third set of drag-inducing portions, and a fourth set of drag-inducing portions. The first, second, third, and fourth sets of drag-inducing portions may be positioned equidistant from each other and at a same height around a perimeter of the sump region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Erik Karl Hartwell, Bo Liu, Daniel John Figola
  • Patent number: 11634910
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a sump drain apparatus comprising a drain inlet and a ramp coupled to the drain inlet comprising an incline plane configured to divert drainage water toward the drain bowl, wherein at least a portion of the ramp is configured to be positioned on top of a roof deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JMH INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS, LLC
    Inventor: David Leslie
  • Patent number: 11629488
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods for the separation of macroscopic solid body particles (SBPs) from a fluid stream contained in a conduit, such as a hose or pipe. The method involves utilizing a particle separator having a fluid inlet port connected to a fluid inlet conduit and a fluid outlet port connected to a fluid outlet conduit to change the direction (and optionally the velocity) of the fluid stream within a lumen of an enclosed vessel component of the particle separator sufficiently to permit SBPs to fall by gravity (and/or to descend due to inertia) into a removable receptacle within a bottom portion of the vessel component while directing the flow of cleansed fluid to the fluid outlet port of the particle separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: George Hylkema
  • Patent number: 11629085
    Abstract: A stormwater collection, treatment, and aquifer replenishment installation includes a stormwater drain for receiving surface stormwater, a dry well downwardly extending underground to an outlet proximate to a water table over an aquifer, a tank structure at least partially disposed underground and coupled with the stormwater drain and the dry well in stormwater communication, a stormwater treatment system enclosed within the tank structure between the stormwater drain and the dry well for converting surface stormwater into treated stormwater, the tank structure for conducting surface stormwater to the stormwater treatment system between the stormwater drain and the dry well, and the dry well for receiving and gravity feeding treated stormwater from stormwater treatment system to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Daniel L. Wensel
  • Patent number: 11629471
    Abstract: A novel water-borne debris collection system integrated into a waterborne vessel for collecting surface and near surface debris in a body of water, such as a river, lake, or ocean. The apparatus may include a solid collection boom that projects laterally from a vessel and is partially submerged to act as a collection mechanism. The boom also facilitates the propulsion of the vessel by providing a barrier across which a differential water surface level may be created to drive the vessel forward. The apparatus may include a pumping system that draws water from the anterior side of the screen and for multiple purposes, including processing the collected water to remove plastics and other pollutant and debris material therefrom, and to transfer the water to the posterior side of the screen to create the differential water level for driving the vessel forward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Inventor: Patrick Marshall
  • Patent number: 11623166
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid processing apparatus and a liquid processing method for reducing a waste amount of a high specific gravity liquid. The liquid processing apparatus includes: a supply pump; a bubble tank including an inflow port, an overflow port, and a return port; a microbubble generator disposed outside the bubble tank; a recovery tank having a recovery port to recover the processing liquid overflown from a first liquid level to the tank; a separation tank including a settling tank connected to the overflow port, and a floating tank connected to the settling tank at a lower portion, and an ejector having a inlet port connected to the supply pump, a suction port connected the suction body, and a discharge port connected to the return port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: SUGINO MACHINE LIMITED
    Inventor: Akihiro Tanii
  • Patent number: 11623878
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multipurpose tool that is configured to collect seaweed and other debris from the edges of a body of water and from shorelines. The tool has an elongated handle having an ergonomic grip, a head portion, a plurality of tines extending from the head portion, and a removably attached net-like filter. Each tine has an elongated length with a downwardly extending distal portion and is supported by a curved brace, wherein the curved brace extends laterally across the tines for providing mechanical support to the tines. The tines are oriented in a tapered manner having less spacing between the tines near the head portion and more spacing between the tines at the distal end which allows the width of the tines to be larger at the distal end than near the head portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Jack Meyer
  • Patent number: 11624180
    Abstract: A drain protector having a flexible adsorbent pad, a raised insert, and a cover is described. The pad and the insert each includes aligned apertures. The raised insert is positioned over the flexible adsorbent pad or within the aperture of the flexible adsorbent pad. The cover is connected to the flexible adsorbent pad, a raised insert, forming a space over the insert. The drain protector is made from adsorbent material for blocking sediment, collecting contaminants and filtering water into a drain. The cover of the drain protector reinforces the sheet and insert to protect against damage from traffic over the drain protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: HALENHARDY LLC
    Inventors: Donald L. Beaver, Jr., Joshua D. Beaver, Troy L. Beaver, Patrick E. Healy, Katlyn Palmer, Brandon W. Guida