Patents Examined by Jeannie McDermott
  • Patent number: 11787719
    Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Schwing Bioset, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles M. Wanstrom, Thomas M. Anderson, Wim H. M. Moerman
  • Patent number: 11787721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tailings settling-dewatering-solidifying device and an experimental method thereof, which falls into the technical field of mine engineering and mine geotechnical engineering, comprising a tailings settling device including a water tank, charging barrels I and II, and a reaction tank made of a transparent material, a dewatering device including an intelligent type controller, a circular base, a gas cylinder, a permeable stone, a piston, a metal rod and a water return barrel, a solidifying device including a charging barrel III and a tailings barrel, a stirring system including a stirrer, a rotary shaft and an electric motor, a dynamic real-time monitoring system including a high-definition electronic camera and a computer, and a three-layer framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kunming University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Guangjin Wang, Chengliang Zhang, Xiangyun Kong, Mingyu He
  • Patent number: 11787712
    Abstract: The invention relates to a water treatment plant comprising: means for supplying water for treatment, wherein said water has been coagulated previously, a flocculation-decantation device having means for dispensing at least one flocculant reagent, means for dispensing at least one ballast, means for extracting decantation sludge, means for discharging the treated water, means for separating said ballast contained in the ballasted sludge, and means for recycling the ballast that has been cleaned in this manner back into the flocculation-decantation device, characterised in that: said flocculation-decantation device has a single tank in the lower portion of which a stirring mechanism is arranged; wherein said single tank comprises slats in its upper portion; and said slats are separated from the stirring mechanism by a distance “d” which is between approximately 0.5 metres and approximately 3 metres. The invention also relates to a method using said plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Hervé Paillard, Philippe Sauvignet
  • Patent number: 11781414
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a modified MPD vessel which allows the coupling of identical secondary MPD vessels, which can house either sand filter and/or sand cyclonic MPD internals, to the vessel without the need for any vessel or pipework modifications whereby, a plurality of these MPD vessels can be further coupled using identical inlet and outlet configurations. This configuration of MPD vessels allows for improved means for removing produced solids from a hydrocarbon fluid stream and allows for a vastly more flexible system as a whole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: D & P INNOVATIONS SDN. BHD
    Inventors: Alastair Brenton Sinker, Dat Suan Goo, Ky Anthony Doucet
  • Patent number: 11738287
    Abstract: A high-performance seafloor flexible oil storage system, solving the existing problems of high storage cost and difficult maintenance of crude oil in offshore oilfields, comprises, sequentially connected, an oil-water separator, a pressure pump, and an input riser extending downward below the sealevel; and a pipeline and multiple flexible oil storage tanks having the same structure with each communicated therewith through a control valve are arranged below the sealevel. One end of the pipeline is communicated with the input riser through a blocking valve and an input valve, and the other end further sequentially connected with an outlet booster pump, an output valve, and an output riser extending upwards above the sealevel and connected to a tanker through a cooler and an output pump. The flexible oil storage tank has a concrete counterweight connected thereunder for fixing it to a seabed. The system has simple structure, convenient maintenance and good practicability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Petroliam Nasional Berhad (20076-K)
    Inventor: Liangbiao Xu
  • Patent number: 11739549
    Abstract: A smart pool skimmer is disclosed. In one embodiment, the pool skimmer includes a body housing having electronics and sensors extending from the body housing to monitor pool conditions. The sensors detect a plurality of pool condition, including but not limited to pH, ORP, temperature, water level, water movement, chlorine levels, and salt concentration. The smart pool skimmer receives data from the sensors and sends the information to a user computing device or a cloud-based analytics server, which tracks conditions of the pool water. A solar panel may be provided on the housing to enable the smart skimmer to run on renewable energy. Additionally, visual light indicators can be mounted on top of the cover plate to provide visual indications of pool conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: KETO A.I, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Jensen, Andrew D. Higgins
  • Patent number: 11712667
    Abstract: An anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to filter membranes for use in actively depressing microbial viability in filtration applications. The anti-microbial metal coating may be applied to substrates that are considered to be sensitive to damage by conventional metal coating techniques or resistant to metal bonding. The coating may be applied from a salt absorbed to the substrate in solution, converted to a reducible form with a conversion agent, and reduced to active metal format through a low temperature plasma treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Membrane Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok K. Sharma, Stephen P. Conover
  • Patent number: 11713259
    Abstract: A water desalination system includes a first set of ultrafiltration membranes, a second set of ultrafiltration membranes, a first backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with brine generated by a reverse osmosis process, and a second backwashing system configured to treat at least one of the first set of ultrafiltration membranes or the second set of ultrafiltration membranes with one or more chemicals and reverse osmosis permeate water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: FLUENCE WATER ISRAEL, LTD.
    Inventors: Avraham Israel Amaral, Ravid Levy, Phil Elovic
  • Patent number: 11707702
    Abstract: An automated sand separator discharge system includes a sand separator disposed downstream of a wellhead, an inlet conduit for transporting a process stream to the sand separator, a fluid outlet conduit for transporting a liquid and gas stream from the sand separator, a sand discharge conduit for removing sand from the sand separator, first, second, and third valves disposed along the sand discharge conduit, a first transducer connected between the first and second valves and operative to measure pressure in a portion of the sand discharge conduit and to produce a pressure reading, and a control panel operatively connected to the first, second, and third valves and the first transducer, the control panel being programmed to initiate and terminate discharge of sand from the sand separator, and to determine if the first and second valves are sealing completely when closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: ENERCORP ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS INC.
    Inventors: Brent James William Coombe, Ryan Thomas Bowley, Nikolay Spiridonov, Rory Nagge, Tien Nguyen
  • Patent number: 11673097
    Abstract: A filtration membrane is provided. It comprises a porous support substrate and a porous active layer on top of the support substrate, wherein the active layer is formed of a network of interconnected, randomly arranged ceramic splats with ceramic particles occupying interstices between the splats, and wherein free spaces between the particles define a network of interconnected pores extending through the thickness of the active layer. There are also provided a method of filtering a feed using the membrane and a method of manufacturing the membrane by suspension plasma spraying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: VALORBEC, SOCIETE EN COMMANDITE
    Inventors: Elnazsadat Ale Ebrahim, Christian Moreau, Ali Dolatabadi, Md. Saifur Rahaman, Fariba Tarasi
  • Patent number: 11673094
    Abstract: The present disclosure discusses a system and method that includes a microfluidic device that can be used in either an extracorporeal or implantable configuration. The device supports efficient and safe removal of carbon dioxide from the blood of patients suffering from respiratory disease or injury. The microfluidic device can be a multilayer device that includes gas channels and fluid channels. Distensible membranes within the device can affect a cross-sectional area of the blood channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Alla A. Gimbel, Jose A. Santos, James G. Truslow
  • Patent number: 11673076
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an immersed active infrared self-cleaning secondary sedimentation tank sludge blanket induction device and an application method thereof, the induction device comprises an upper sleeve and a lower sleeve that are connected up and down and form a communicated inner cavity, a set of infrared emitters and infrared receivers that are located on an inner wall of the upper sleeve and are oppositely arranged, a transparent hard ring that is annularly adhered to front sides of the infrared emitters and the infrared receivers, and a push rod assembly that can move up and down in the inner cavity and is used for cleaning the transparent hard ring; wherein a sludge outlet hole and a water outlet hole located below the sludge outlet hole are arranged on the upper sleeve, a bearing plate is arranged in the inner cavity of the lower sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: HOHAI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Ming Xu, Xiaoxiao Shen
  • Patent number: 11667672
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to filtration methods comprising: passing a first fluid that comprises cells, cell debris and targeted product produced by the cells through a first filter thereby separating the first fluid into a first retentate comprising cells and a first permeate comprising targeted product and cell debris; combining resin beads having affinity for targeted product with the first permeate to form a second fluid containing resin beads with bound target product and cell debris; passing the second fluid through a second filter thereby separating the second fluid into a second retentate comprising resin beads with bound target product and a second permeate comprising cell debris; combining an elution buffer with the second retentate to form a third fluid that comprises a mixture of resin beads and unbound targeted product; and passing the third fluid through a third filter thereby separating resin beads from targeted product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: REPLIGEN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Michael Bransby
  • Patent number: 11633528
    Abstract: A filter apparatus for removing small molecule chemotherapy agents from blood is provided. The filter apparatus comprises a housing with an extraction media comprised of polymer coated carbon cores. Also provided are methods of treating a subject with cancer of an organ or region comprising administering a chemotherapeutic agent to the organ or region, collecting blood laded with chemotherapeutic agent from the isolated organ, filtering the blood laden with chemotherapeutic agent to reduce the chemotherapeutic agent in the blood and returning the blood to the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Delcath Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel S. Johnston, Jacques Chammas, William M. Appling, Samantha J. Barton
  • Patent number: 11628405
    Abstract: A polyamide (PA) nanofiltration (NF) membrane and a preparation method thereof by regeneration from a scrapped microfiltration (MF) membrane are provided. The method adopts a cleaning-repairing-interfacial polymerization upgrading strategy, where, sodium hypochlorite and oxalic acid are used for deeply cleaning a scrapped MF membrane. PDA is used as a repairing agent to construct a reaction platform on the membrane surface, and finally a reaction system of piperazine and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) are used to form a PA NF membrane with a PA active layer. The repairing can construct a coating with a given thickness and prominent hydrophilicity on the membrane surface, which provides favorable base membrane conditions for upgrading and preparing an NF membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TONGJI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Zhiwei Wang, Hongyi Han, Ruobin Dai, Tianlin Wang, Chenxin Tian
  • Patent number: 11617967
    Abstract: The disclosure includes embodiments of systems and methods for removing moisture from an electric power transformer. According to an embodiment, a moisture removal system includes a pump to move oil from the transformer into the system; one or more incoming oil moisture and temperature sensors to detect a first moisture level and temperature of oil; a processor to receive the moisture and temperature and determine an estimated paper moisture value of the insulation of the transformer, and compare the estimate to a target paper moisture value; and an overdry prevention bypass valve positioned in a first position to divert oil without drying when the estimated paper moisture value is equal to or less than the target value, and in a second position to channel oil through one or more drying cylinders when the estimated paper moisture value exceeds the target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Inventor: Ed Vance
  • Patent number: 11612862
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide elements that are beneficial for use in fluid filtration. Embodiments provide elements that have variable feed spacer height, variable permeate spacer height, or both. The variable height allows flow properties to be matched to fluid volume as the filtration occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Aqua Membranes Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Roderick, Rodney Herrington
  • Patent number: 11602704
    Abstract: Disclosed is a rake-free thickening device including driving area. The device includes a feed assembly, a diversion assembly and a clean coal collection assembly. The clean coal collection assembly includes a driving area. The diversion assembly includes a central tank. Slime water passes through the feed assembly and flows with a medicament from an upper part of the central tank to a middle of the central tank, and then diffuses around. Bubbles carry the fine slime up after reacting. The driving zone drives the dispersed bubbles to a defoaming zone located in the middle of the central tank. The slime water in the central tank flows through the central tank after defoaming. With the continuously filling of slime water, the slime water above the central tank overflows the central tank to the clean coal collection assembly within the diversion and settlement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: ANHUI UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Hui Li, Chao Wang, Erning Zhao, Junlong Yang, Hui Shen, Biao Hu, Yu Zhang, Chengliang Qiu, Jiaqiang Zhou, Jin Zhang
  • Patent number: 11596882
    Abstract: A water filter system with a filter housing, a filter media, a filter coupling, and a dynamic seal. The filter housing has a top plate and a bottom plate which are both water-permeable, as well as a cavity between the top plate and the bottom plate. The filter media is within the cavity of the filter housing and extends through the bottom plate of the filter housing. The filter coupling extends upward from the top plate and is configured to attach to a float with at least one air chamber. The dynamic seal is coupled to the filter housing along a perimeter of the filter housing and is configured to extend beyond a perimeter of the float, maintain contact with a wall of a water container, and restrict water from passing between the dynamic seal and the wall of the water container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Plenty Company, LLC
    Inventors: Michael A. Mueller, Mark Yeary, George L. Hagen, Marcus J. Shotey, Kenneth C. Booth
  • Patent number: 11596724
    Abstract: A filter and a device including the filter may include a filter and a plurality of pores arranged two-dimensionally on the filter. The plurality of pores may include a plurality of first pores having a longer structure in a certain direction and a plurality of second pores having a longer structure in a direction different from that of the first pore. The first and second pores may have a two-dimensional arrangement in order to suppress or prevent the occurrence of cracks in the filter due to stress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinho Oh, Huisung Moon, Minyoung Lee, Manseung Heo