Patents Examined by Thomas M. Lithgow
  • Patent number: 11638923
    Abstract: The flotation reagents from acidic olive oil are made by transesterification of acidic olive oil. Acidic olive oil is olive oil having an acid value high enough to render it unsuitable for consumption, typically greater than 3.3% and/or between 3.3-7%. Transesterification of the olive oil with methanol converts fatty acids in the olive oil to an ester fraction and a glycerol fraction. The ester fraction may be sulfonated and used as the collector in a reverse flotation process, selectively removing the carbonate gangue from phosphate-carbonate rock in the froth, leaving phosphates in the sink. The glycerol fraction may be used without modification as the collector in the reverse flotation process. Both fractions are highly selective for carbonates, substantially reducing loss of phosphates in the froth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: KING SAUD UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Saeed Mohammed Al-Zahrani, Arfat Anis, Ranjan Kumar Dwari
  • Patent number: 11607630
    Abstract: A filter device has a filter housing (1) with a fluid inlet (13) for raw fluid, with a fluid outlet (3) for filtrate and with at least one one-piece or multi-piece filter insert (5, 7) received in the filter housing (1). The filter insert can be cleaned using at least one back-flushing member (21) in counter-current to the filtration direction. This back-flushing member can, by a fluid-guiding driveshaft (23) of a rotary drive (35), be moved along the inner side (19) of the respective filter insert (5, 7) and has, at its end adjacent to this inner side (19), a gap-shaped passage opening (39) that extends parallel to the axis of rotation of the driveshaft (23) and that discharges into a flow space (41; 57; 67) fluidically connected to the driveshaft (23). The flow space at least partially continuously narrows in the direction of the driveshaft (23) in a first plane in which the passage opening (39) lies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schlichter, Joerg Hermann Gerstner, Manfred Deutschmeyer
  • Patent number: 11512009
    Abstract: A floatation separation apparatus includes a stirring tank, a stirring pump installed in the stirring tank, a floatation tank into which flocculated water flows from the stirring tank through an overflow dam, a scraping device (scraper) configured to scrape floating substances in the floatation tank, a treated water tank into which treated water in the floatation tank flows, and a pump and a hose for returning the treated water in the treated water tank to a raw water tank. The stirring pump sucks air and water inside the stirring tank, and discharges water mixed with air bubbles to a lower part of the stirring tank. The height of the overflow dam is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Koichi Oki
  • Patent number: 11505479
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for removing contaminants from an industrial fluid waste. The method comprises the steps of ozofractionating the industrial fluid waste whereby contaminants are oxidised and a foam fractionate is formed; and separating at least a portion of the foam fractionate and any precipitate from the ozofractionated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: EVOCRA PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Michael David Dickson
  • Patent number: 11485662
    Abstract: A compact, portable system and process separates dissolved and suspended solids from water containing high levels of those solids. Gas flotation is used with and oxidant as an initial stage. The resulting foam is dewatered in a fluid conveyance, with the gas being recycled to the flotation column, the foam sent to a holding tank and the water passed through one of a number of filtration vessels having granular filter media. As at least one filtration vessel is kept in operation filtering, another filtration vessel can be backwashed when the flow therethrough is diminished of the fluid level inside rises. Treated water is used for backwashing and provided to a collection conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: GEMINI SCIENCE, LLC
    Inventor: Wayne Wolf
  • Patent number: 11472723
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for removing a dissolved heavy metal from an aqueous solution. The method comprises dissolving in the aqueous solution a foaming agent of formula (I) or a salt thereof. The method further comprises passing a gas through the aqueous solution to form a foam and separating the foam from the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: NewSouth Innovations Pty Limited
    Inventors: Richard Mark Pashley, Abul Fazal Mohammed Mokhlesur Rahman, Fatemeh Makavipour, Mojtaba Taseidifar
  • Patent number: 11458424
    Abstract: A filter device has a filter housing (1) having a fluid inlet (8) for unfiltered matter and having a fluid outlet (9) for filtrate, and has at least one one-piece or multi-part filter insert (15, 17) held in the filter housing (1). Filter insert (15, 17) can be cleaned using a backwash device (25) having at least one backwash element (31) in counter flow to the direction of filtration. The backwash element can be moved along the inside of the relevant filter insert (15, 17) by a fluid-conveying drive shaft (29) of a rotary drive (69, 71). The individual backwash element (31) has, at the end adjacent to this inside, at least one gap-shaped passage opening, which extends in parallel to the axis of rotation of the drive shaft (29) and which opens into a flow chamber connected to the drive shaft (29) in a fluid-conveying manner. At least one further backwash device (27) has a further backwash element (31). The fluid-conveying drive shaft (29) is divided into chambers (73, 75) separated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Bernhard Schlichter, Jörg Hermann Gerstner, Albert Kaints
  • Patent number: 11459257
    Abstract: A method of treating a liquid by creating nanobubbles of a desired gas within a target liquid and allowing the desired gas to react with a target component of the target liquid. The desired gas can be selected to be reactive with the target component, and a desired liquid can be formed after the desired gas reacts with the target component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Eco Environmental, LLC
    Inventor: Robert W. Troy
  • Patent number: 11413629
    Abstract: In one example, a method includes providing a pulp composed of a combination of particulate materials including particles of a target material. The pulp is mixed with a collector composed of anisotropic particles having at least two separate spatial domains that have different physiochemical properties, and the mixture of pulp and collector is fed into an aqueous solution containing air bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julia Baldauf, Alexe Bojovschi, Benjamin S. Mashford, Christine Schieber, George Yiapanis
  • Patent number: 11369902
    Abstract: A filter cap includes a first end and a second end facing away from the first end. A first cylindrical projection projects from the first end of the filter cap and a second cylindrical projection projects from the second end. An annular recess is formed around the first cylindrical projection. The second cylindrical projection includes at least one peripheral groove for an O-ring and a plurality of radially inward extending ridges. A passageway extends through the first and second projections. The passageway has a first dimension in the first projection, a second dimension greater than the first dimension in the second projection near a distal end of the second projection, and a third dimension smaller than the second dimension within the second projection between the plurality of ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: A. O. SMITH WATER TREATMENT (NORTH AMERICA), INC.
    Inventor: Wes Russell
  • Patent number: 11365657
    Abstract: A connection adapter for connecting a treatment apparatus to a connection head of a treatment device for a fluid is provided with a connecting section that connects to the connection head. A threaded socket section coaxial to an imaginary connecting axis is provided to screw on the treatment apparatus. The threaded socket section has at least one fluid passage channel connecting a fluid-conducting space of the treatment apparatus to a fluid-conducting space of the connection head. The connecting section has at least two screw holes for receiving screws or threaded bolts or the connecting section has a central thread that connects to a connection head-associated central thread. An assembly of connection head and connection adapter is provided. A treatment device provided with connection head and connection adapter is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Thalmann, Sangamesh Otageri, Mohan Bangalore Panneerselvam
  • Patent number: 11344822
    Abstract: A process for separation of a slurry by radially injecting a stream of a nanogas solution at a shear-focus volume within a pipe; passing an aqueous slurry through the pipe along a direction of flow and through the shear-focus volume; and shearing and/or admixing the slurry with the nanogas solution within the shear-focus volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NANO GAS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Rudy M Folds, Scott A Fiedler, Jeffrey K Hardin
  • Patent number: 11247214
    Abstract: A system for separating mineral particles of interest from an ore features mineral processing operations/stages/circuits configured to receive an ore, or mineral particles or concentrates formed by processing the ore, and provide processed mineral particles or concentrates, or a waste stream, for further enhanced mineral separation downstream processing; an enhanced mineral separation processor having a collection apparatus located therein, the collection apparatus having a collection surface configured with a functionalized polymer including molecules having a functional group configured to attract the mineral particles of interest to the collection surface, the enhanced mineral separation processor receive the processed mineral particles or concentrates, or the waste stream, and provide further enhanced downstream processed mineral particles or concentrates, or a further enhanced downstream processed waste stream; and a high intensity conditioning operation, stage or circuit configured to apply a high inten
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES LLC
    Inventors: Paul J. Rothman, Adam Michael Jordens, Peter A. Amelunxen
  • Patent number: 11247926
    Abstract: Some implementations can include method and system to collect and remove micro plastics from a water environment or ecosystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Inventor: Richard L. Edgell, II
  • Patent number: 11241700
    Abstract: Apparatus uses hydrophobic synthetic beads to recover mineral particles in a slurry. The synthetic beads and the slurry are mixed into a mixture for processing. The apparatus has an interaction vessel installed in a section of pipeline. The interaction vessel is made from a pipeline folded or coiled into a compact struction having a continuous flow path. The interaction vessel has an input to receive the mixture of slurry and synthetic beads. The folded or coiled structure is used to increase the residence time of the mixture in the flow path, allowing more time for the mineral particles in the slurry to attach to the surface of the synthetic bead, while maintaining a small footprint. The interaction vessel may be formed from a number of loops of pipe section. The interaction vessel may be formed from one or more folded structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Fernald, Paul J. Rothman, Alan D. Kersey
  • Patent number: 11235268
    Abstract: A filter cartridge including catches for ejecting the filter cartridge from a filter housing as the filter cartridge and filter housing are removed from a filter base is provided. The catches are configured to engage corresponding catches of the filter base to limit axial motion of the filter cartridge as the filter cartridge and filter housing are threadedly removed from the filter base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Beard, Stephen Schweitzer
  • Patent number: 11230476
    Abstract: In an effort in solving the difficulties with cleaning cationic metal processing fluids and/or emulsions, processes for cleaning a metal processing fluid which is substantially free of fatty acids is provided herein and includes treating the metal processing fluid with dissolved air floatation. Also provided are processes for deforming metals and removing suspended foreign matter from a contaminated metal processing fluid and/or emulsions which are substantially free of fatty acids is provided and include the use of DAF technology. In one embodiment, the process is performed in the absence of a filter. In another embodiment, the process is performed in the absence of a filter which is capable of removing suspended foreign material in the contaminated metal processing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: TOTAL MARKETING SERVICES
    Inventors: Alan E. Cross, John M. Burke, Robert L. Blithe
  • Patent number: 11219848
    Abstract: A housing module of a fluid treatment module of a fluid system is provided with a fluid housing with inlet and outlet for fluid. The fluid housing has a housing part with a receiving chamber for a fluid treatment component for treatment of fluid and an installation opening, closable by a housing closure part, for installation of the fluid treatment component in the receiving chamber. A housing connecting section is provided for connecting the housing part and the housing closure part to each other. The housing module has an externally positioned support structure that surrounds the housing part like a sleeve and has a reinforcement region that extends about the housing connecting section. The support structure has a fastening region for attachment of the housing module on a holding component of the fluid system. The connection of the housing part with the housing closure part is a direct connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Joerg Hammerschick, Pius Trautmann, Oliver Glueck, Tiago Felipe Wiedemann da Silva, Ulrich Dehnen, Stefan Kunze, Christopher Marc Sturgess, Alrun Spennemann, Andreas Kloz, Dietmar Talmon-Gros, Michael Fasold, Lars Bachmann
  • Patent number: 11203044
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore, including steps of crushing ore in a primary crusher (14) to a size of about 40 cm and less, passing the crushed ore through one or more of the following pre-beneficiation processes such as bulk sorting (16) and screening (20) followed by coarse floatation (46/50), or gravity separation or magnetic separation. A waste stream (54) from the pre-beneficiation process/es with a particle size greater than 100 ?m is stacked in a heap (26) and subjected to a heap leach. This integrated process utilises the pre-beneficiation techniques best suited to the characteristics of a particular orebody; and during the pre-beneficiation simultaneously creating a low grade stream that yields significantly higher recoveries than achievable by normal heap leaching of low grade run of mine ore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: ANGLO AMERICAN SERVICES (UK) LTD.
    Inventors: Anthony Owen Filmer, Daniel John Alexander
  • Patent number: 11185872
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an adapter (200) for converting a naturally-aspirated flotation cell (10) to a forced-gas flotation cell without replacing the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) with a specialized conversion reducer (103). The adapter (200) is designed to be located below the naturally-aspirated flotation cell reducer (21) and at a location along the drive shaft. The adapter (200) comprises an outer static casing (201) having a forced gas inlet (210); an inner rotating spanner (204) having at least one port (205) therein; sealing means (203, 224, 225, 226) provided between the static casing (201) and the spanner (204); and, a chamber (213) formed between the outer static casing (201) and the spanner (204). Related methods and apparatus incorporating the adapter (200) are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Inventor: Mathew Walker