Patents by Inventor David M. Colby
David M. Colby has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20240109694Abstract: A drinking vessel including a beverage container and a closure assembly attachable to the beverage container. The beverage container has a spout defining a first drinking opening and a second drinking opening. The closure assembly includes a positioning member and a sealing member. When the positioning member is in a sealing orientation, the positioning member can extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening. When the positioning member is not in the sealing orientation, the positioning member cannot extend deep enough into the first drinking opening for the sealing member to seal the first drinking opening and the second drinking opening.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2023Publication date: April 4, 2024Inventors: David O. MEYERS, Jim Allen COLBY, John R. OMDAHL, II, Timothy Tyler BOND, Steven M. SORENSEN
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Patent number: 10702831Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2018Date of Patent: July 7, 2020Assignee: KOCH SEPARATION SOLUTIONS, INC.Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Publication number: 20180221826Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 3, 2018Publication date: August 9, 2018Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Patent number: 9956530Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2016Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Publication number: 20170173538Abstract: An enclosure assembly configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid may include an elongated tubular member including an elongated wall extending between first and second ends, and a removable hatch coupled to opposing side edges of the elongated wall, thereby forming a hollow enclosure having an interior. The interior of the elongated tubular member may be configured to receive a plurality of fiber membranes configured to filter fluid.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 6, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: Taylor Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Publication number: 20160220963Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2016Publication date: August 4, 2016Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: Taylour Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Patent number: 9333464Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: May 10, 2016Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: Taylour L. Johnson, David M. Colby, Manwinder Singh
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Publication number: 20160114292Abstract: A membrane filter module configured to treat a liquid contained in a tank at an ambient pressure. The module may have a header, with a bundle containing a plurality of substantially vertical hollow fiber membranes, wherein a lower end of each hollow fiber membrane is fixed in the header. The module may also have a gasification device adapted to periodically generate a gaseous bubble and configured to release the gaseous bubble within the bundle. The module may further have an enclosure that substantially surrounds the bundle that extends from a lower region to an upper region of the membrane bundle, wherein the enclosure is configured to retain the liquid introduced into the enclosure such that the liquid surrounds the membrane bundle. The gaseous bubble has a cross-sectional area that corresponds with a cross-sectional area of the enclosure, such that the cross-sectional area of the gaseous bubble occupies substantially the entire cross-sectional area of the enclosure as it flows along the bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 20, 2015Publication date: April 28, 2016Applicant: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: David M. Colby, Taylour Johnson, Manwinder Singh
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Publication number: 20160023165Abstract: A single header filter cartridge for removing contaminates from water using a plurality of hollow fiber membrane filters, and methods of using the same, is provided. The single header filter cartridge contains a plurality of hollow fiber membrane filters secured at the top of the cartridge in a header to form a fiber bundle, the filter ends designed to be freely suspended in the water, a central aeration tube positioned at the cartridge bottom, and a vent tube positioned near the cartridge top that creates a void space within the fiber bundle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 23, 2015Publication date: January 28, 2016Applicant: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: David M. Colby, Taylor Johnson
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Patent number: 7387731Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is place in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2005Date of Patent: June 17, 2008Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
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Patent number: 7311830Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is placed in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2006Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
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Patent number: 7063789Abstract: A coupler for a spiral membrane filtration element having a spiral membrane enclosed within a rigid outerwrap includes a center support, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the center support, a circular rim coupled with the spokes, with the face of the rim being perpendicular to the axis of the overwrap. The rim includes a channel on its face for receiving a compressible seal, and a plurality of receptacles around its outer surface for joining two face-to-face adjacent couplers when a pair of aligned keepers is place in each receptacle. Exemplary embodiments of the coupler and filtration elements and filtration assemblies are provided, as well as an associated method.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2004Date of Patent: June 20, 2006Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventors: David M. Colby, Frederick K. Lesan, Alan M. Franks, Chang-Li Hsieh, Anjan Kumar Mukherjee
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Patent number: 5470468Abstract: A membrane filtration module is provided incorporating a seal assembly to seal the annular space or bypass channel existing between the outer diameter of the filtration cartridge and the inner diameter of the housing in which it is disposed. The seal assembly prevents a feed stream from entering the bypass channel, and includes a pair of seals each having a flexible gasket and a sleeve extending perpendicularly therefrom, the sleeve being adapted to be positioned directly on the cartridge. This positioning prevents the feed stream from ever coming into contact with the housing.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1993Date of Patent: November 28, 1995Assignee: Koch Membrane Systems, Inc.Inventor: David M. Colby
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Patent number: 5073263Abstract: An ultrafiltration module and method of constructing same is the subject of the present invention. The module comprises a permeate collector tube and one or more membrane leaves wound around the tube together with a feed channel spacer so as to present spaced layers of membrane leaves or envelopes that are contacted by fluid flowing axially through the module in the channel provided by the feed spacer screen. The feed spacer screen projects beyond the terminal ends of the leaves to present an open mesh outerwrap screen circumscribing the wound leaves. A plurality of restraining bands are provided in longitudinally spaced relationship along the length of the module. These bands are designed to hold the entire module assembly in tight spiral relationship. Preferably, the bands are constructed of heat shrinkable material and are thus secured in place and tightened by the application of heat.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1990Date of Patent: December 17, 1991Inventors: Carlos A. Fagundes, Thomas C. McDermott, Jr., David M. Colby
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Patent number: D779631Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Taylour L Johnson, David M. Colby
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Patent number: D779632Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: KOCH MEMBRANE SYSTEMS, INC.Inventors: Taylour L Johnson, David M. Colby