Patents Examined by Matthew Savage
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Patent number: 8192635Abstract: A method for improving the service life of passive filtration and infiltration devices. Contaminated water, such as stormwater runoff or wastewater, is filtered through a media comprising of a mixture of filter media and stimuli-responsive polymer particles. The polymer particles reversibly expand/contract in response to changes in certain environmental stimuli, resulting in increased macropores and breakup of sediment and crust that would otherwise reduce hydraulic flow. The method is effective in a variety of passive devices, including conventional particulate filters, infiltration systems, and high loading canister, cartridge and catch basin filter devices.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2009Date of Patent: June 5, 2012Inventor: Jayant M. Dholakia
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Patent number: 8182699Abstract: A filter assembly for filtering water from an external source, the filter assembly having a manifold assembly and a filter cartridge. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge engagement means while the manifold includes a manifold engagement means. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means cooperatively interfacing for removable attachment of the filter cartridge to the manifold assembly. The cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means oriented in a retaining relation during removal of the cartridge filter from the manifold assembly such that any entrained pressure within the cartridge filter is vented while the cartridge engagement means and manifold engagement means are in the retaining relation.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties CompanyInventor: Karl Fritze
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Patent number: 8182682Abstract: Fluid treatment elements and assemblies include a spring-biased electrical contact arrangement to dissipate electrical charge from the fluid treatment pack and/or the end caps to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2011Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Assignee: Pall CorporationInventors: Vijay Y. Rajadhyaksha, Leonard Bensch
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Patent number: 8182683Abstract: A portable fluid dispenser for transporting and optionally filtering a stored quantity of fluid as it is expelled from the dispenser is provided herein as having a dispenser body with a port and an aperture in communication with a fluid storage chamber with the aperture being disposed in a substantially rigid region of the dispenser body and at least partially covered by a depressable region that may be depressed to at least partially reduce the volume in the fluid storage chamber to force fluid stored in the fluid storage chamber out the port.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2009Date of Patent: May 22, 2012Inventor: Russell E. Allen
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Patent number: 8177981Abstract: An improved process for regenerating ion exchange resin, includes a regeneration step of displacing captured ions from the resin to regenerate its ion-capture functionality, followed by one or more fluid-employing post-regeneration steps such as a fluid displacement or rinse, a fluid transport or mixing, and a rinse down to quality. To avoid problems of early leakage of weakly held ions such as boron, the post-chemical or postdisplacement steps use water that is essentially free of boron, or otherwise avoid localized contamination in the regenerated resin which is used in bottles or beds (30). A two-stage polish may be operated with modified lead/lag bottles. A detector (D) for an indicator condition (conductivity, silica breakthrough) between stages determines when to shift the lag bottle forward, and periodically both bottles are replaced.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2003Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William W. Carson, Charles Dale, William D. McClain, Robert J. Ritz, Charles Swenson
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Methods especially useful for separating water-hydrocarbon emulsions having low interfacial tensions
Patent number: 8177984Abstract: Separation media, separation modules and methods are provided for separating water from a water and hydrocarbon emulsion and include a fibrous nonwoven coalescence layer for receiving the water and hydrocarbon emulsion and coalescing the water present therein as a discontinuous phase to achieve coalesced water droplets having a size of 1 mm or greater, and a fibrous nonwoven drop retention layer downstream of the coalescence layer having a high BET surface area of at least 90 m2/g or greater sufficient to retain the size of the coalesced water droplets to allow separation thereof from the hydrocarbon.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2011Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Ahlstrom CorporationInventors: Christine M. Stanfel, Farina Diani Pangestu -
Patent number: 8177970Abstract: A water filtration apparatus has at least one tank in fluid communication with a conduit through at least one aperture in a wall. Each tank uses filter blocks to support the filter medium and to direct the filtered water to the conduit via the aperture. An end plate for the filter block is provided, the end plate being adapted to seal against a free end of the filter block. The end plate also provides apertures for fluid flow into and out of the filter block, and a device for receiving a sealant to provide a seal between the end plate and the wall. The end plate improves the installation of the apparatus, and the sealant improves the reliability of the seal round the apertures, which in turn improves the efficiency of a backwash operation used to clean the filter medium.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2009Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Severn Trent Services, LimitedInventors: Nigel Paul Thoresby Bradley, Mark Hadley, Neil Dodsley
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Patent number: 8177969Abstract: The present invention relates to a filter cartridge for insertion into a water supply tank of a beverage dispenser, such as an espresso machine or the like, in which filter bed formed from filter material is arranged, wherein a connection to the outlet of the filter cartridge is provided to a connector element of the water tank. The invention is characterized in that in the filter bed (4) at least one region is provided through which flow passes from top to bottom.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2007Date of Patent: May 15, 2012Assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme GmbH, Lindau, Zweigniederlassung RebsteinInventor: Andreas Wawrla
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Patent number: 8168070Abstract: The invention includes ion exchange resins and their use in the removal of chromium from water. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for removing chromium from a water source by contacting the water with an ion exchange resin, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises particles of a crosslinked copolymer comprising: an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of at least two polymer components each having a styrenic content greater than 50 molar percent, and a quaternary ammonium functionality.Type: GrantFiled: December 10, 2009Date of Patent: May 1, 2012Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLCInventors: Daryl J. Gisch, Jing Jin
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Patent number: 8157998Abstract: Disclosed is a device for separating radioisotope thallium-201. The device includes an evaporation unit for a solution vial, a first glass vial connected to a first valve and a second valve, an ion exchange column connected to a third valve, a second glass vial connected to a fourth valve and a fifth valve, a collection vial for receiving solution from the fifth valve, a product vial with a membrane filter and a vacuum unit connected to the first valve, the fourth valve and a sixth valve. This device can separate out high-concentration thallium-201 solution from which radioisotope thallium-201 can be obtained.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Atomic Energy Council—Institute of Nuclear Energy ResearchInventors: Wuu-Jyh Lin, Jenn-Tzong Chen, Sun-Rong Huang, Ying-Ming Tsai, Jainn-Hsin Lu
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Patent number: 8158006Abstract: In order to remove fluorine from a zinc containing solution before zinc electro-refining in lower cost, fluorine is removed by adsorption from a zinc containing solution (leached solution) utilizing the character of the predetermined iron compound or zinc compound which can adsorb fluorine in an acid solution and desorb fluorine in an alkaline solution. The fluorine adsorbent/desorbent having adsorbed fluorine is treated in an alkaline solution, to desorb the fluorine. This makes it possible to regenerate the fluorine adsorbent/desorbent. Further, an electrolytic solution for zinc electro-refining can be prepared in lower cost, thus total zinc refining costs can be reduced.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2011Date of Patent: April 17, 2012Assignee: Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Hata, Kenji Haiki, Kazuhiko Nishina, Masatami Sakata
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Patent number: 8153002Abstract: A device for treating water, particularly a filtration device, including a cartridge, which has a receptacle for receiving treatment agents for water, particularly for receiving filtration agents, and a connecting head disposed on the receptacle, wherein the connecting head at the outer surface thereof has at least one inlet opening and at least one outlet opening. The device further includes a connecting element, which has a holder for the connecting head with at least one inflow opening and an outflow opening, which are connected to the inlet and outlet openings of the connecting head in a sealing manner by means of sealing elements. The connecting head is tapered toward the free end, wherein the outer surface has at least one first curved outer surface section, which is inclined toward the longitudinal axis of the cartridge, and a second outer surface section opposite from the first outer surface section. The inlet and outlet openings are located in the first and/or the second outer surface sections.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: April 10, 2012Assignee: Brita GmbHInventor: Marc Namur
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Patent number: 8142654Abstract: A disposable and recyclable water bottle formed of a non-toxic plastic composition includes a flexible sidewall, a neck with an open top and cap, and an open bottom end. A filter cartridge is received within the open bottom and contains activated carbon sandwiched between 0.7 to 50 microns filtration membranes, all contained between upper and lower perforated plates. A lower portion of the filtration cartridge provides a filling chamber for receiving a flow of unfiltered water on to the lower perforated plates for passage through the filter. An arrangement of slots in the walls of the filling chamber allows a portion of the flowing water to bypass the filter in order to prevent overflow when filling the bottle. A cap containing internal screw threads attaches to the external screw threads of the open bottom end, sealing the interior of the bottle. Once sealed, the contained water is allowed to move around in a fluid motion between the interior of the bottle and the filling chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Inventor: Abraham K. Kohl
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Patent number: 8142650Abstract: A water treatment system comprises: an oil removal apparatus including a fixed-bed reactor configured to hold an adsorption particles by use of a magnetic unit, the adsorption particles each including a base material containing magnetite, the adsorption particles configured to adsorb oil included in to-be-treated water; a pretreatment apparatus configured to recover the oil from the adsorption particles sent from the oil removal apparatus; and a thermal energy generating apparatus configured to obtain thermal energy from the oil recovered by the pretreatment apparatus.Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2009Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Tomoaki Kiuchi
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Patent number: 8142655Abstract: A filtration unit (A) is immersed in raw water (W) that is held inside a reservoir tank, and includes a membrane module (5) that filters the introduced raw water (W). This filtration unit (A) includes a casing (3) which is in the shape of a box having a bottom and includes the membrane module (5) housed therein, and an activated carbon cartridge (4) inside which activated carbon is provided in cartridge form. Inside the casing (3) are provided an intake port that is used to introduce the raw water into the interior of the casing, and an opening/closing device that is installed on this intake port and controls a flow of the raw water into the interior of the casing, and the activated carbon cartridge (4) side and the membrane module (5) side are separated so as to allow the raw water (W) introduced into the interior of the casing 3 to circulate from the activated carbon cartridge (4) side to the membrane module (5) side.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd.Inventor: Tsuyoshi Nakayama
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Patent number: 8142665Abstract: In a method of fast reduction of all iodine species, exclusively, including all volatile iodine species, into non-volatile iodide ions in an aqueous solution, a reducing agent and a co-agent with phase transfer catalyst—ion-exchanger property are simultaneously added to the aqueous solution and concurrently, thermal and radiolytic oxidation of iodide ions, otherwise yielding to revolatilzation, is suppressed producing an efficient retention of all iodide species in the aqueous solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2006Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: Paul Scherrer InstitutInventors: Horst Bruchertseifer, Salih Guentay
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Patent number: 8133397Abstract: A method and apparatus for filtering a slurry utilizing a displacement filtering principle. The filter apparatus desirably includes an inner filter and an outer filter. Both the inner and outer filters are preferably substantially annular in shape and positioned concentrically with respect to each other. A particulate collection volume is at least partially defined between the inner and outer filter. The method includes directing a flow of slurry into the particulate collection volume under sufficient pressure to force fluid within the particulate collection volume through one of the inner and outer filters and any particulate matter blocking a filtering surface of the inner and outer filters.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Inventor: Sean R. Duby
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Patent number: 8133385Abstract: A grey water treatment system for use in conjunction with a water softener, including a grey water holding tank including a first inlet configured to receive grey water and a second inlet configured to receive spent brine from the water softener. The spent brine is mixed with the grey water in the holding tank to flocculate suspended solids in the grey water for subsequent removal.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2009Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Culligan International CompanyInventors: Kumudika Premathilake, Gene Wayman, Sharyn Schnabel, Kerry Quinn
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Patent number: 8133459Abstract: A method for purifying an aqueous alkaline solution, which comprises: bringing a fibrous activated carbon into contact with an aqueous alkaline solution to remove a metal component other than alkali metals and alkaline earth metals from the aqueous alkaline solution.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: Asahi Kasei Chemicals CorporationInventor: Keiji Ando
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Patent number: 8128824Abstract: A filter module comprises a non-filtrate draining spacer element, a filter layer, a filtrate draining spacer element, a filter layer, a non-filtrate draining spacer element, a filter layer, and a filtrate draining spacer layer stacked on one another in an axial direction, wherein at least some of the draining spacer elements comprise connecting means around the outer circumference to compress and seal off the filter layers between the draining spacer elements.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2010Date of Patent: March 6, 2012Assignee: Pall CorporationInventors: Wolfgang Diemer, Martin Zeiler, Georg Schnieder, Gerhard Strohm