Abstract: The invention is a kitchen utensil that aids in the removal of grease or oil from soups, sauces, etc. Specifically, the device is a ladle with an inverted funnel that when dipped into soup or sauce, it effectively removes the fat from the top of the soup or sauce. The invention works on the notion that oil and water do not mix, and as a result, the oil will float on the top of the water. When dipped into the soup, the fat is forced through the inverted funnel until it is forced out and then falls into the ladle device.

Abstract: A water valve assembly includes a valve body having defined therein a central cavity. The water valve assembly also includes an integrated filter and noise suppressor device having a component body which has defined therein (i) a number of screen members, (ii) a number of fluid channels, and (iii) a first flange secured around a periphery of the component body with each of the number of fluid channels extending through the first flange. The integrated filter and noise suppressor device is positioned within the central cavity of the valve body. A method of operating an appliance water valve assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A gravity-flow cyst-reducing water filtration device, comprising a removable high surface area cyst-reducing filtration member that provides at least 99.95% removal of 3-4 &mgr;m particles when tested in accordance with NSF standard 53, Drinking Water Treatment Units—Health Effects (September 1997). The cyst-reducing filtration member is adapted for connection to a bottom rim of a filtration cartridge sleeve of a water filter carafe, the cartridge sleeve being integral with a bottom surface of an untreated water reservoir of the water filter carafe. The cartridge sleeve further comprises an air vent hole that is located proximate to a top rim of the cartridge sleeve, wherein the cartridge sleeve further contains a filtration cartridge that is filled with an ion-exchange resin and carbon granules.

Abstract: A filter for removing solids from a liquid comprising a filter housing with an inlet and an outlet, a first filtration element nested within the filter housing and having a first plurality of openings, a second filtration element nested within the first filtration element and having a second plurality of openings for filtering grease and non-particulate substances, where the second filtration element has a shorter height with an upper end thereof being located below at least one opening of the first filtration element thereby allowing bypassing of the second filtration element. Alternatively, the filter may also include a third filtration element nested within the second filtration element and having a third plurality of openings where the second filtration element has a shorter height than the third filtration element, an upper end of the second filtration element being located below at least one opening of the third filtration element thereby allowing bypass of the second filtration element.

Abstract: A method for simultaneously processing a plural number of samples, each held in its own container and including a fluid containing particulate matter. Each of the containers with its respective sample therein is closed by a respective cover assembly comprising a pump, a filter interposed between the container and the pump, and an agitator projecting into its respective sample. Each container is engaged by a separate container receiver, each pump is engaged by a separate pump receiver, and the container receivers are moved relative to the pump receivers simultaneously to mix the samples. Thereafter all of the pump receivers are moved relative to the container receivers to operate all of the pumps simultaneously to move the fluid of each sample through its respective filter.

Abstract: The present invention provides an ion exchange membrane having a porous polymeric support grafted with an organic moiety to which is covalently bonded at least one ion exchange group, and methods for preparing the ion exchange membrane. A method for treating a fluid containing ions wherein ions are removed by contacting the fluid with an ion exchange membrane of the present invention is also provided. In addition, the present invention provides a filtration apparatus for removing ions from a fluid, which filtration apparatus utilizes an ion exchange membrane of the present invention.

Abstract: In accordance with this invention, an improved filter resembling an envelope is disclosed. The filter envelope for the filter frame element includes an enclosure, the enclosure being constructed from planar first and second filter paper members lying atop one another. The first and second filter paper members each have a lateral, medial, base, and top sides, the lateral, medial, and base sides being connected to each other, respectively, to define the enclosure. The top side of the first member is not connected to the top side of the second member so as to define an opening in the enclosure to receive the frame. A closure is formed from a planar third filter paper member which is connected to a portion of the enclosure being proximate to the opening. The third filter paper member is movable between a first position and a second position, the second position being suited to close the opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a filtered fluid dispensing system. The invention may replace the sprayer provided with the faucet assembly of a conventional sink and may, in certain embodiments, be adapted to selectively dispense filtered and unfiltered fluid.

Abstract: The invention relates to a filter, especially an oil filter, comprising a carrier casing which borders a clean room/chamber. The filter also has a filter element which encloses the carrier casing. The filter element is comprised of zigzag shaped folded strip material, whereby the end folds of the filter element are adjacently held together. In order to construct the filter in such a way that a mass-production with a high operational reliability is guaranteed, a clamping strip which fastens the end folds of the filter element is arranged on the exterior surface of the carrier casing.

Abstract: A fryer system has a tub and a filter screen assembly located in the tub to filter cooking fluid. A filter pan or crumb catcher having a perforated surface is positioned above the tub to receive cooking fluid from a cooking vat of the fryer system. A pan is positioned between the filter pan or crumb catcher and the tub to receive cooking fluid and direct it to the tub, with the pan extending beyond outer edges of the filter screen assembly to substantially prevent the flow of cooking fluid from the filter pan or crumb catcher directly onto the filter screen assembly.

Abstract: A filter and housing for waste water treatment includes a housing having a plurality of coaxially mounted vertically extending sections adaptable to receive a filter cartridge therein. An upper section is provided with an outlet consisting of at least two coaxially aligned rings of preselected diameters wherein the thickness of the rings and the spacing between the rings is sufficient to receive waste water treatment outlets of different diameters. The filter cartridge is comprised of a stacked arrangement of a plurality of disc-dam units wherein each disc-dam unit is provided with a serpentine configured first dam, the first dam extending upwardly from an upper surface of the disc-dam unit, the first dam having terminating ends spaced at outer terminating edges of the disc dam unit to define a cord segment therebetween. The terminating ends are connected by a second dam having a height less than the first dam.

Abstract: A new non-woven depth filter element is formed in a continuous process whereby a mass of very fine diameter polymer filaments overlaid by mass of larger diameter polymer filaments are continuously accumulated on a spinning mandrel and advanced along and off of the mandrel by a press roller. An inner cylindrical surface of the cumulative filament mass forming the depth filter element is calendered, which facilitates insertion of a core member.

Abstract: An assembly and method for collecting and releasing magnetic materials includes an elongated permanent magnet (A) within an elongated cover (B) constructed from non-magnetic material for providing a collection area for the magnetic materials thereon opposite the magnet. Apparatus (C) separates the magnet to a more remote position in relation to the collection area for releasing magnetic materials from the elongated cover. The magnet and the cover may be moved while in superposed closely adjacent relation for collecting magnetic material and thereafter separated for releasing magnetic material collected on the cover. A driven conveyor (D) may be included Ln the assembly for transporting the magnet and the cover through a coolant liquid containing magnetic materials in the form of particulate matter formed during a machining operation.

Abstract: A filter for filtering a fluid, such as lubricating oil for an engine, has a full flow filter element and a bypass filter element stacked on the full flow filter element. A flow-deflecting element is disposed between the full flow filter element and bypass filter element to provide a spinning motion to oil flowing from the bypass element as that oil joins oil which is passed through the full flow filter element. The spinning motion of the oil from the bypass filter element encourages mixing of the oil from the bypass filter element with the oil filtered by the full filter element. During operation of the engine this arrangement tends to provide cleaner lubricating oil and therefore reduces engine wear while increasing the time interval between scheduled maintenance.

Abstract: A centrifuge with an associated container system in the form of cassettes for separation and/or treatment of blood or blood components. The centrifuge comprises a rotor having a central compartment in the form of a tubular shaft cavity extending concentrically with the axis of rotation of the rotor and an annular separation compartment which is arranged around said cavity at the upper part thereof. A first container system arranged in the rotor for washing of blood cells comprises a round bag with two or more flexible secondary containers connected thereto, of which at least one contains a treatment liquid, and a tubular sleeve adapted to the shaft cavity of the rotor. The secondary containers stand in the sleeve resting against each other, and the round bag is mounted on a projecting flange at the upper part of the sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods to remove metals from water in a cost effective and efficient manner using an inorganic cross-flow filter.

Abstract: A filter device, particularly for filtering melt-type fluids, such as polymer melts, includes at least one filter disk having two filter disk halves connected to each other by their edges and provided with filter material on their exterior surfaces. The filter disk halves are held apart by a supporting device delimiting a substantially free hollow area between them, through which a fluid can flow freely. Inwardly, they delimit an outflow opening for the melt-type filtered fluid. The supporting device has individual supporting cams of substantially equal outer dimensions and arranged in several groups. Separated from each other, the supporting cams extend radially outwardly form the outflow opening, are rigidly connected to at least one of the two halves, and traverse the hollow area in such a way as to rest against the other filter disk half. This results in a filter device which is economical to produce and which has enhanced filter performance when in operation.

Abstract: A multi-segment filter system is provided for continuous filtration of high viscosity materials, such as polymer melts. In particular, each segment comprises a filter screen positioned between a bottom breaker plate and a top cover plate. The filter screen has a fixed alignment in relation to the breaker plate and cover plate, to prevent the formation of undesirable gaps. In one example, the alignment is fixed through positioning of pins extending from the breaker plate and passing through apertures in the filter screen and cover plate. Two pins are preferably positioned on the breaker plate in a nonsymmetric manner to ensure that a multilayered filter screen is positioned adjacent the breaker plate in a desired orientation. Successive segments are positioned on end and preferably include overlapped filter screen portions, thus eliminating any gaps between each segment. Overlapping coupling connections may also be provided in adjacent breaker plates.

Abstract: An improved underdrain block for an underdrain system supporting a filter media bed in a liquid filtration system is provided. The underdrain blocks are preferably made of an extrudable polymeric material that is extruded in relatively long sections to provide light weight, strong, easily manufactured underdrain systems having a lower profile than prior art underdrain blocks. The underdrain block comprises an upper wall, side walls, a lower wall, at least one lateral member between the upper wall and the lower wall, at least two chambers within the underdrain block, each chamber being defined by the lateral member, a plurality of upper orifices in the upper wall of the underdrain block, and a plurality of internal orifices in the lateral member. The underdrain block is substantially greater in longitudinal length than a longitudinal distance between the upper orifices.

Abstract: A waste water treating device can be simply installed in a small area and destroy combustible wastes and sludge to reduce fuel consumption cost of a burner. Moreover, the waste water treating device can increase a treating amount of the waste water per unit time to thereby reduce an activation time thereof and decrease installation and maintenance cost, to thereby obtain an economic advantage.