Patents Examined by Walter D. Griffin
  • Patent number: 11786873
    Abstract: A submersible agitator device for circulating drinking water includes a submersible motor including a cylindrical housing, from one end of which there extends a shaft, a hyperboloid agitator mounted on the shaft, a frame with a plurality of supports extending along the housing and connected to the housing, wherein the supports have radially outwardly angled bend portions, which extend over a peripheral edge of the hyperboloid agitator body in order to support the frame on a base, and a flow-guiding element, which is annular in plan view and which is mounted on the bend portions of the supports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: INVENT UMWELT—UND VERFAHRENSTECHNIK AG
    Inventor: Marcus Höfken
  • Patent number: 11786916
    Abstract: A centrifuge basket includes a frustum-shaped hollow body defining a pair of opposed ends, being a larger end and a smaller end. The body defines an internal screening surface extending between the ends, the screening surface defining a plurality of apertures arranged to drain liquid from within the body. A plurality of ribs project into an interior of the body from the screening surface, the ribs being arranged in a plurality of annular arrays. The arrays are spaced axially along the screening surface and the ribs of at least one of the arrays are arranged transversely, at a defined included angle, relative to a generatrix line that forms a shape of the screening surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: FB Rice
    Inventor: Denys Visser
  • Patent number: 11786070
    Abstract: Described herein includes sample liquid purification apparatus, systems, and techniques of use. The purification apparatus generally can operate to reduce a temperature of a precursor liquid within a beverage machine or appliance. For example, a thermally conductive body can define a heat sink having a tortuous path for propagation of the precursor therethough, facilitating temperature reduction. The purification apparatus can further generally operate to sanitize or otherwise reduce a level of contaminants in the precursor liquid. For example, an energy source, such as a light emitting diode, can be arranged or integrated with the thermally conductive body to emit ultraviolet radiation toward the precursor liquid within the thermally conductive body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Bedford Systems LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Damigella
  • Patent number: 11780750
    Abstract: A fluid sterilization device according to an embodiment includes: a tube portion; a supply head in one end portion of the tube portion; a discharge head provided in the other end portion thereof and having a first hole penetrating a space between end faces on the tube portion side and the opposite side; a holder having a flange and a protruding portion projecting from one surface of the flange and provided in the first hole; a substrate on an end face of the protruding portion on a side opposite to the flange side; a light-emitting element provided on a surface of the substrate on a side opposite to the protruding portion side and emitting ultraviolet rays; a window provided in the first hole and facing the light-emitting element; and a desiccant provided outside the discharge head and in a space communicating with the first hole or in the first hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Takeo Kato, Atsushi Fujioka, Naoto Sakurai, Seiya Iida, Takanori Ochi
  • Patent number: 11781294
    Abstract: A water reclamation system includes a collection basin that collects greywater from non-toilet sources. The collection basin is part of a fluid path of the greywater. A plurality of sensors are disposed within the fluid path. The plurality of sensors monitor a particulate level within the greywater. The plurality of sensors include at least a turbidity sensor and a conductivity sensor. A coagulation and filtration system separates particulate from the greywater to define filtered greywater. A staging basin is included, where the filtered greywater is delivered from the coagulation and filtration system to the staging basin to define flush water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Robert R. Baer
  • Patent number: 11780755
    Abstract: A vortex flow inducer has inducer body with an interior end, an outer end and a length extending there between, and a longitudinal axis extending between the interior and the outer ends. A flow passage extends between the interior and outer ends of the inducer body. The flow passage has an inlet at the outer end and an exit at the interior end. The flow passage is swept laterally toward a side of the inducer body in a direction from the outer end toward the interior end such that the exit is laterally offset from the longitudinal axis. The interior end of the inducer body has a concave curvature. The swept flow passage and the curved interior end induce a vortex flow in a fluid flowing through the flow passage as it exits the flow passage and into a flow passage of a conduit the that extends at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the inducer body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Adrian A Preiss
  • Patent number: 11772991
    Abstract: An efficient, cost-effective, and efficacious technique for removing coal ash and other pollutants from waterways, ponds, marshes, holding tanks and other water sources and supplies. An apparatus comprising an open cage including electromagnets and/or permanent magnets and/or electrodes is supplied with electrical power to extract materials such as rare earth elements and/or heavy metals. The materials levitate to the surface, forming a slurry while leaving water substantially free of such materials. Rare earth magnets electrically connect electrolysis electrode structures and serve as electrolysis electrode segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: FisherH2O, LLC
    Inventor: David Keith Fisher
  • Patent number: 11774195
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cooling tower having a fill media, water distribution system, plenum, and an ultraviolet (UV) light emitter. The water distribution system distributes water to the fill media. A flow of air passes through the fill media and past a flow of the water and out of the cooling tower via an outlet. The plenum is defined by a volume between the fill media and the outlet. The UV light emitter is disposed in the plenum and configured to inactivate or kill organisms in a drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: SPX Cooling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth P. Mortensen, Joseph Evans
  • Patent number: 11773374
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing platelets, in which damage to platelets is suppressed compared with a method in which platelets are separated using a filter from a megakaryocyte culture, and then the platelets are concentrated using a hollow fiber membrane and are further washed using the hollow fiber membrane, and purified platelets can be produced in a shorter period of time compared with the time that is taken to perform the above-described method so as to reduce damage to platelets. The method for producing purified platelets of the present invention includes a concentrating step of concentrating a megakaryocyte culture, and a centrifuging step of centrifuging platelets from an obtained concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: MEGAKARYON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroya Takahara, Junko Tomizuka, Haruki Okamoto, Hidenori Hirose
  • Patent number: 11766670
    Abstract: An anion exchange membrane includes a porous structural framework and bismuth atoms bonded to pore surfaces of the porous structural framework. Each bismuth atom is bonded to a pore surface by way of one or two oxygen atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: 1s1 Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Sukanta Bhattacharyya, Daniel Sobek
  • Patent number: 11766647
    Abstract: A blender includes a blade assembly including a main blade shaft that is coupled to a first blade and a first main coupler so as to rotate in a forward direction and a reverse-rotation blade shaft that is coupled to a second blade and a first reverse-rotation coupler so as to rotate in a reverse direction, a gearbox assembly including a main gear shaft coupled to a second main coupler, which is engaged with the first main coupler, so as to rotate in the forward direction, a plurality of gears configured to convert the forward rotation of the main gear shaft to reverse rotation, and a second reverse-rotation coupler configured to transmit the reverse rotation transmitted through the plurality of gears to the first reverse-rotation coupler, and a case that has the gearbox assembly provided therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: CUCKOO ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Chul Son, Chul Soo Park, Youl Young Ju
  • Patent number: 11759795
    Abstract: A blood washing system (20) having a rotor (22) defining an internal chamber for receiving a multi-component fluid and a skimmer assembly (24) including a moveable buoy (28) having an orifice (32) fluidly connected to an access port for the rotor for selectively withdrawing separated fractions of the multi-component fluid. The multi-component fluid can be fed into the internal chamber before the rotor (22) can be rotated at a first speed to fractionate the multi-component fluid. A brake can be applied to the rotor to slow rotation of the rotor to a slower second speed or stop rotation of the rotor causing the solid and denser fluid fractions to settle on the bottom wall (44) of the rotor (22). The buoy (28) can have a specific gravity corresponding to a selected fraction such that the buoy floats on a surface of the selected fraction, wherein the fractions floating on the selected fraction can be withdrawn through the orifice (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Zimmer, Inc.
    Inventors: Randel E. Dorian, Matthew D. Landrigan, Kyle Kausch
  • Patent number: 11758834
    Abstract: An inclined belt conveyor capable of mixing particulate material, such as agricultural seed or fertilizer. Inserting a plurality of mixing baffles into the stream of the particulate material induces a backflow of the particulate material. In the case of wet, freshly treated plant seed, this backflow causes a mixing, polishing, and drying of the plant seed. The mixing distributes the seed treatment into an even coat by rubbing the individual seeds of the seed flow stream together. The inclined belt conveyor may also be used to blend multiple varieties or types of particulate material. The mixing baffles are oriented to induce backflow and sideways lateral movement and may incorporate a passage to allow increase particulate material flow rate. The mixing baffles can selectively deploy between an angle of 20 degrees to 70 degrees to enable the mixing inclined belt conveyor to have a transfer-speed-maximizing mode and a mixing mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: KSi Conveyor, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew J. Edelman, Jason P. Kaeb, Paul A. Kaeb
  • Patent number: 11760662
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention include a porous and water-permeable electrode for electrocatalysis comprising: a porous and water-permeable reactive electrochemical membrane (“REM”) comprising: a porous and water-permeable support membrane; wherein the support membrane comprises a titanium metal; and an electrocatalytic coating on at least a portion of the metal support membrane, the electrocatalytic coating being a tin oxide bilayer comprising: a first layer adjacent to and directly contacting the metal support membrane; wherein the first layer comprises tin oxide doped with antimony; and a second layer adjacent to and directly contacting the first layer; wherein the second layer forms a surface of the REM such that the second layer is in direct contact with an aqueous solution when the REM is in contact with the aqueous solution; wherein the second layer comprises tin oxide doped with antimony and nickel or cerium. Preferably, the support membrane is formed of a titanium metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignees: California Institute of Technology, Clarkson University
    Inventors: Yang Yang, Michael R. Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 11752457
    Abstract: A rotary vessel for a filter assembly is rotatably mountable in a housing of the filter assembly and has a body having an open end, a cover receivable on the body to close the open end, and a releasable locking device that is manually operable to selectively lock and unlock the cover relative to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Anthony W. Fell, Robin Nash, Tiago Marques, Angus Rouse, Andy Collins, Matthew Slade, Thomas Rowlands, Nigel Burford
  • Patent number: 11754778
    Abstract: A photoreactor including a reservoir configured to hold water, the reservoir defining an inlet and an outlet, and a multiplicity of optical fiber assemblies positioned in the reservoir. Each optical fiber assembly includes one or more optical fibers coated with a composition comprising a photoresponsive polymer and a light source optically coupled to the one or more optical fibers. The photoresponsive polymer undergoes a change from an initial state to an irradiated state when irradiated with light from the light source, and photoresponsive polymer in the irradiated state is adapted to bind an ion from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignees: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University, Board of Regents; The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Paul K. Westerhoff, Shahnawaz Sinha, Juan Noveron
  • Patent number: 11753315
    Abstract: A portable water bottle includes a water bottle body having water stored therein; and a sterilizing module for irradiating the inside of the water bottle body with sterilizing ultraviolet rays. The sterilizing module further includes a housing having an ultraviolet outlet through which the sterilizing ultraviolet rays pass; a light source module for emitting the sterilizing ultraviolet rays; and a power storage member for supplying power to the light source module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: SEOUL VIOSYS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Woong Ki Jung, Byeong Cheol Joo, Jae Young Choi
  • Patent number: 11753321
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electro-Fenton-like (EFL) platform wherein an electrochemically produced acidic environment supports heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction for high throughput water treatment. The platform enables treatment of contaminated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: Northeastern University
    Inventors: Akram Alshawabkeh, Long Chen
  • Patent number: 11752243
    Abstract: A blood component sampling cassette which can be more efficiently manufactured at lower cost as compared to a typical cassette, a blood sampling circuit set, and a blood component sampling system. A blood component sampling cassette (22) includes a cassette main body (23) made of a soft material to which heat sterilization is applicable. The cassette main body (23) is provided with a retransfusion line (44). The retransfusion line (44) is provided with a reservoir (47) configured to temporarily store a blood component to be returned to a blood donor. The reservoir (47) is pressed by a retransfusion pump (49) to discharge the blood component from the reservoir (47).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Masatsugu Igarashi
  • Patent number: 11746032
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater having one or more of suspended solids, dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand includes solids filtration followed by a bi-polar/bi-directional flow through ionic module fitted with anionically/cationically charged plates followed by a sub-sonic resonance module followed by another bi-polar/bi-directional flow through ionic module followed by a ultra-sonic resonance module followed by one or more anion/cation collection membrane modules. Recycle is provided in each step, wherein each step may be repeated, and wherein one or more of the steps can be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Fluent Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Philip C. Shehane