Plural, Diverse Separating Operations Patents (Class 209/12.1)
  • Patent number: 8348065
    Abstract: A separation apparatus for separating mud from water has an input tank device, a pipe device and a first separating assembly. The input tank device has an input tank. The pipe device has a first pipe having a first end and a second end. The first end of the first pipe is connected securely to the input tank. The first separating assembly has a main structure having a hydrocyclone. The hydrocyclone is connected to the second end of the first pipe. Accordingly, the hydrocyclone can efficiently and quickly separate mud from liquid of the raw water in the input tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Shun-Tsung Lu
  • Patent number: 8307986
    Abstract: The invention relates to a material separator for conveyor systems, in particular for machines processing plastics pellets. A container provided with a covering hood or a lid (2) is provided with a laterally arranged material feed connection (3) and a suction connection (4) arranged laterally above it as well as preferably a closure device (5) arranged at the lower end of the container (5). In the interior of the container (1) a screen (11) extending over the cross section of the container (1) is provided between the material feed connection (3) and the suction connection (4). The container (1) or the container upper edge (9) is beveled on the covering hood side or the lid side according to a flat cut. The screen (11) extends from the region between the material feed connection (3) and the suction connection (4) in the interior of the container in the direction of the lid (2) up to the region of the container upper edge (9) and is preferably bent in a roof-shaped manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Wittmann Kunststoffgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Erhard Fux
  • Patent number: 8304457
    Abstract: A method and device for reprocessing used plastic containers, especially PET bottles, by analyzing the degree of contamination of the plastic, determining the decontamination process parameters as a function of the degree of contamination found in the analyzing step, and conducting a controlled decontamination of the plastic according to the decontamination process parameters thus determined. With this method and this device, it is thus possible to perform the decontamination process step in a controlled manner, yielding a more economical reprocessing method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Thomas Friedlaender, Maren Hofferbert, Hans-Jurgen Straubinger
  • Publication number: 20120234731
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods are described for the discrimination of particles using sedimentation field-flow fractionation operating without the use of rotating seals. Multiple lines of fluid and electrical communication are provided through a centrifugation unit comprising a fishhook-shaped umbilical conduit traveling from a stationary frame through a rotating guide frame to the separation channel. Twisting and tangling of the umbilical conduit enclosed communication lines are prevented by rotating the guide frame and separation channel in the same direction about an axis at an angular velocity ratio of 1:2. The design eliminates maintenance problems associated with rotating seals, simplifies channel installation and adjustment, and enables the use of multiple channels and the simultaneous application of multiple modes of field-flow fractionation either in concert or in a two-dimensional format.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: FRED C. SENFTLEBER
  • Patent number: 8252179
    Abstract: A liquid cyclone is configured for inflowing raw water containing impurities as targets of collection to be forced to swirl inside to spin down impurities contained in raw water, an inflow pipe is connected with an upper portion of the liquid cyclone to supply the liquid cyclone with raw water, and configured for supplied raw water to be forced to swirl inside the liquid cyclone, a connecting portion is connected with a lower portion of the liquid cyclone, and configured with a discharge port to discharge spun down impurities from the liquid cyclone, an impurity collector is connected to the liquid cyclone with the connecting portion in between, and configured to collect impurities discharged from the liquid cyclone, an obstacle is disposed in or near the discharge port, , and configured to prevent impurities collected in the impurity collector from backing up into the liquid cyclone, and an outflow pipe is connected with a top portion of the liquid cyclone, and configured for raw water having got rid of impu
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Aoki, Yasushi Yamamoto, Takashi Menju, Mii Fukuda, Atsushi Yukawa
  • Patent number: 8252187
    Abstract: A method and apparatus (10) for separating magnetic and non-magnetic particles from water in a domestic central heating system is disclosed. A magnet (60) is located in the housing and the inlet and the outlet are arranged so that, in use, water flows through the apparatus in a cyclonic motion from the inlet downwardly proximate the walls of the housing, and then upwardly within the downwardly flowing water, to the outlet. Particles entrained within the water separate out by vortex separation as the water flows downwardly. Also, magnetic particles entrained within the water are collected on the magnet as the water flows upwardly. The apparatus also comprises a sleeve (30) located within the housing such that an outer circulation channel (31) is defined between the housing and the sleeve. The magnet is located within the sleeve such that an inner circulation channel (61) is defined between the sleeve and the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Alpha Fry Limited
    Inventors: Mukash Jassal, Neil Watson
  • Publication number: 20120211404
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for recovering spent machining slurries and to an apparatus for carrying out the method. The spent machining slurry that contains a machining medium, a carrier fluid for the machining medium, material stemming from the machined articles, particles stemming from the machining tools and optionally additives, is recovered by centrifugation in the undiluted state, thereby allowing an especially effective recovery according to materials and without much effort. The used apparatus is characterized in that it comprises a centrifuge having a suspended centrifugal drum or a stationary centrifuge having a floating centrifuging drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Inventor: Guntram Krettek
  • Patent number: 8222305
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon synthesis process (10) includes feeding gaseous reactants (18) into a slurry bed (14), allowing the gaseous reactants (18) to react catalytically, thereby to form liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products, and subjecting a product mixture comprising liquid product and catalyst particles in a filtration stage to filtration, by passing the liquid product through a filtering medium (30) to separate catalyst particles from the liquid product. The gaseous products are withdrawn (23) and cooled to form a multi-phase product which is separated to produce at least a hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) and a tail-gas stream (84). At least a portion of the hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) is treated (96) to remove oxygenated components therefrom, producing a backflush condensate. From time to time, the filtering medium (30) of the filtration stage is backflushed by passing the backflush condensate through the filtering medium (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Sasol Technology (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventors: Paul Jacobson, Philip Alex Vogel
  • Patent number: 8201692
    Abstract: An automated system for sorting dissimilar materials, and in particular for sorting plastics from other materials and for sorting different types of plastics from one another comprises, depending upon the embodiment, combinations of a sizing mechanism, a friction separation, an air separator, a magnetic separator, a dielectric sensor sortation bed, shaker screening, a ballistic separator, an inductive sensor sortation system and a float/sink tank. The dielectric sensor sortation system may be either analog or digital, depending upon the particular implementation. One or more float/sink tanks can be used, depending upon the embodiment, each with a media of a different specific gravity. The media may be water, or water plus a compound such as calcium chloride. In addition, multiples of the same general type of module can be used for particular configurations. A heavy media system or a sand float process can be used either alternatively or additionally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 8201697
    Abstract: A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, the filter is a stepped filter. In another aspect of the invention, the filter is an surface filter, as for example, an electroformed metal surface filter. In some preferred embodiments, the openings in the filter are arranged as slots that extend substantially vertically so that they are oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow path of fluid flowing in the adjacent portion of the vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Dow Global Technologies LLC
    Inventors: David J. Levitt, Frank Dutro
  • Patent number: 8187470
    Abstract: Some mineral processing plants encounter difficulties in dewatering pulps using clarifier/thickener (C/T) equipment due to a layer of fine particles, air bubbles and chemicals formed at the top of the liquid in the thickener. Such layers are very stable and form a cap on the C/T. The dewatering performance of the C/T then deteriorates under these conditions, and a high percentage of solids is contained in the thickener overflow. A process for removing water from rock slurry containing a wide range of particle sizes in mineral processing operations has been developed. The process includes: (a) classifying the feed slurry into two size fractions, namely a coarse fraction and a fine fraction, (b) treating the fine fraction (and the coarse fraction if required) with a selected flocculant, and (3) thickening the flocculated slurry in sedimentation equipment to separate liquid from solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ARR-MAZ Custom Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoxin Wang, Zhengxing Gu, Edward W. Gannon
  • Patent number: 8182684
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone separator includes a separator body having an upper body part and a lower body part narrower than the upper body part in diameter; a feeder connected helically to the upper body part from a lateral side for feeding in a raw liquid; an upstream outlet disposed axially within the separator body, having an upper part projecting upward and axially from the upper body part and a lower part extending into the lower body part; a downstream outlet attached axially to the lower body part in spatially communication therewith; and a filtering unit disposed axially within an inner wall confining the upstream outlet. The filtering unit has an upper part projecting upwardly and outwardly from a top end of the upstream outlet and a lower part extending into the downstream outlet. The filtering unit consists of a filtering membrane having an inner wall confining the filtering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tamkang University Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering
    Inventor: Rome-Ming Wu
  • Patent number: 8127933
    Abstract: Systems and methods for providing a quantity of cullet having at least two colors of glass from an input stream of recyclable material and non-recyclable material. In an embodiment, the system includes a sortation station, a screening apparatus, an air classifier, and a crushing apparatus to provide as output substantially pure cullet having at least two colors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Re Community Holdings II, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Bohlig, Sean P. Duffy
  • Patent number: 8106103
    Abstract: A method for reformulating reclaimed, contaminated mixed waste plastics into useful articles wherein a plurality of batches of the mixed waste plastics are preprocessed to produce substantially homogeneous mixtures of a desired particle size range that are characterized according to their respective apparent densities, and are thereafter blended to produce a mixed plastic feed material having a color predetermined to be desirable for reprocessing into at least one of such useful articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joe G. Brooks, Christopher Lynn Becker
  • Patent number: 8097051
    Abstract: A separator for liquids, in particular condensate, from liquid-loaded compressed gases-generally serves, by coarse separation of condensate from the compressed gases, to protect downstream prefilters of cold dryers or adsorption dryers against overload due to condensate. In the separator of the invention, in a pot-shaped housing, a separator element in the form of a hollow cylinder is arranged, which consists of a multiplicity of flow chicanes formed from guiding bodies and impact bodies. The moisture-loaded gases are passed from the interior of the hollow cylinder to the exterior via these flow chicanes, condensate separating off on the chicanes and collecting in the collecting space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Parker Hannifin Manufacturing Germany GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Alexandros Zachos
  • Patent number: 8051985
    Abstract: A method comprising; a step in which unburned carbon contained in coal ash is mechanically separated with a classifier; a step in which the coal ash from which part of the unburned carbon has been removed with the classifier is pulverized or disaggregated with a pulverizer; a step in which water is added to the coal ash pulverized or disaggregated with the pulverizer to obtain a slurry; a step in which a scavenger is added to the slurried coal ash; a step in which a shear force is applied to the slurry containing the scavenger to cause the scavenger to selectively adhere to the unburned carbon contained in the coal ash; a step in which a foaming agent is added to the slurry in which the scavenger has adhered to the unburned carbon; and a step in which the unburned carbon is floated on the slurry containing the foaming agent together with bubbles and is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Matsuo, Kazuo Abe, Takao Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8042691
    Abstract: A method of heavy particle separation, including a primary separation stage which includes the steps of dropping, accumulating, concentrating and discharging of heavy particles and/or a secondary separation stage for concentrating heavy particles which includes the steps of infeeding, stilling and retaining such particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: IE-TEC Licensing Limited
    Inventors: Raymond Brian Brosseuk, Greig Oppenheimer
  • Publication number: 20110247968
    Abstract: A material sorting apparatus comprises a perforated screen (3), for example a drum, adapted to be moved around an endless track. Means are provided for sucking air through the screen (3) inwardly of the track in a predetermined area (7) thereof. A material to be sorted is supplied to the apparatus such that it falls under gravity in close proximity to said predetermined area (7) of the track in order that laminar material is selectively sucked towards the surface of the screen (3). This material is transported in contact with the screen (3) while the screen is moving through and out of the predetermined area (7) but is released from the suction forces when the screen (3) moves out of said predetermined area (7). A first collection region is located beneath a region (8) of the apparatus adjacent the predetermined region (7) of the track into which material not transported by the screen (3) can fall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: KEN MILLS ENGINEERING LIMITED
    Inventor: Andrew Mills
  • Patent number: 7973258
    Abstract: A lifting electrode for a high-tension electrostatic separator. The high tension electrostatic separator having a rotating drum that is connected to ground and an ionizing electrode that generates a corona discharge of charged ions. The lifting electrode comprising a composite of a non-conductive polymer impregnated with conductive particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Eriez Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Eric S. Yan, Michael Mankosa, Jaisen Kohmuench
  • Patent number: 7938271
    Abstract: This consists of the preparation of powdered still slops from concentrated liquid still slops dried and converted into a powder in a conventional dryer (1) and then fed to a powder collecting cyclone (4), featuring at the lower outlet aperture of the collecting cyclone (4) a circular or snail-shaped or logarithmic spiral-shaped device (7) fed with a cool, dry air draught which generates a downward suction effect counter to the upward suction effect of the collecting cyclone (4), bringing about the falling and separation of the powder from the draught of hot air which carries the same. The cool, dry air carries the powder to the exterior for bagging, and the hot air exits upwards via the collecting cyclone (4) towards the flue (6), using a device for the recovery of the heat which it still bears as much as possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: HPD Process Engineering, S.A.
    Inventor: Daniel Irisarri Navalpotro
  • Publication number: 20110094942
    Abstract: There is provided a method for separating an arsenic mineral from a copper-bearing material containing arsenic, such as a copper ore or a copper concentrate, to obtain a copper concentrate with low arsenic grade. The method for separating an arsenic mineral from a copper-bearing material by flotation includes adding a flotation agent containing a depressant, a frother, and a collector to a slurry composed of a copper-bearing material containing arsenic, and blowing air into the slurry to float a copper concentrate, wherein the depressant is sodium thiosulfate. The sodium thiosulfate is preferably added in an amount of 10 kg or more and 200 kg or less in terms of sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate per ton of copper-bearing material to be subjected to flotation. Further, the oxidation-reduction potential of the slurry to be subjected to flotation, as measured against a silver/silver chloride reference electrode, is preferably ?10 mV or more and 50 mV or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Inventors: Daishi Ochi, Hideyuki Okamoto, Yoshihisa Takahashi, Yuji Aoki, Hiroichi Miyashita, Shigeto Kuroiwa
  • Patent number: 7923039
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for the extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plants. Specifically, invention described herein relates to the commercial processing of plant material, including that from desert plants native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, such as the guayule plant (Parthenium argentatum), for the extraction of biopolymers, including natural rubbers. More specifically, the invention relates to laboratory to commercial scale extraction of high molecular weight biopolymers from plant materials including the chemical and mechanical processing of the plants and purification of the extracted biopolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Yulex Corporation
    Inventors: Katrina Cornish, Raymond G. McCoy, III, Jeffrey A. Martin, Jali Williams, Anthony Nocera, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7918343
    Abstract: The invention provides systems and methods for obtaining recycled mixed cullet at a beneficiator. The recycled mixed cullet can be used by glass plants to make new glass articles, such as beverage bottles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Casella Waste Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Bohlig, Sean P. Duffy
  • Patent number: 7896169
    Abstract: A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, the filter is a stepped filter. In another aspect of the invention, the filter is an surface filter, as for example, an electroformed metal surface filter. In some preferred embodiments, the openings in the filter are arranged as slots that extend substantially vertically so that they are oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow path of fluid flowing in the adjacent portion of the vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Clean Filtration Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Levitt, Frank Dutro
  • Publication number: 20110042495
    Abstract: In a method and equipment for conditioning a heavy fraction high in plastics, which is obtained by conditioning low-metal scrap high in plastics, which originate at least in part from shredder processes of scrap vehicles, the method includes: isolating metal parts from the heavy fraction high in plastics; reducing the size of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics that remains after the isolation of the metal parts; splitting up of the metal-reduced heavy fraction high in plastics, that remains after the isolation of the metal parts, into fractions high in plastics having different grain sizes; conditioning the separated fractions high in plastics at least partially in separate processes. The equipment includes appropriate devices for carrying out the foregoing processes. A highly pure granulate fraction may be obtained, which may be fed to material utilization.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Michael KNUST, Bram den Dunnen, Heiner Guschall, Daniel Goldman
  • Publication number: 20110042277
    Abstract: Wood ash residues are a complex ternary mixture of small stones, biochar particles and ash. The present application shows how a combination of physical separation processes can be applied to the efficient extraction of a biochar-rich fraction. Two different techniques were tested: segregation and elutriation. The effects of the fluidization velocity on both of the processes were investigated respectively. Either technique happened to be ineffective, on its own, to obtain high purity biochar. However, a combination of segregation and elutriation proved to recover 78% of the biochar with a purity of 90%.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Cedric BRIENS, Franco Berruti, Lorenzo Ferrante
  • Publication number: 20110024531
    Abstract: Processing waste materials to recover valuable metals, such as copper, from the materials. The disclosed systems and methods employ processes that further refine the waste materials to concentrate the metallic material after the waste materials are initially processed. Processes include employing air separation and screening. Processes also include employing a dynamic sensor and a vacuum pressure separator to separate metals from other materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Thomas A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 7877157
    Abstract: A design support apparatus includes an evaluation unit that evaluates a recyclability of the product, using evaluation condition and parts/material data, an analysis unit that analyzes a factor obstructing the recyclability based on an evaluation result of the evaluating unit, and a display unit that displays a remedy against an obstruction factor provided as an analysis result of the analysis unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Naohiko Oyasato, Toshimitsu Kumazawa
  • Publication number: 20100282646
    Abstract: A method and unit for the separation of non-ferrous, ferrous and non-metal portions in bulk material handling, particularly for the recycling of materials for subsequent use, wherein the method comprises: the application of eddy currents for the separation of portions of non-ferrous and conductive materials that jump with respect to portions of the remaining material stream; the detection of metals in portions of materials by means of an analysis of the metals using electromagnetic sensors, and the separation of said metals by mechanical expulsion means, achieving the separation of metallic material portions, such as stainless steel, and others from the portions of non-metals. The unit comprises a first conveyor belt of the portions and eddy current (Foucault) separators, while a second conveyor belt includes electromagnetic metal sensors and selective expulsion means which are controlled by said electromagnetic metal sensors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Eric Van Looy, Eva-Maria Gerosch
  • Patent number: 7802685
    Abstract: Multistep recycling processes for preparing recycled plastic materials. The processes feature a sequence of operations selected from the group consisting of preprocessing operations, size reduction operations, gravity concentration operations, color sorting, sorting by thickness, friction, or differential terminal velocity or drag in air, surface to mass control operations, separation processes enhanced by narrow surface to mass distributions, blending operations, and extrusion and compounding operations. Plastic-rich mixtures are subjected to the process, and one or more recycled plastic materials are collected as outputs of the sequence of processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: MBA Polymers, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurence E. Allen, Brian L. Riise, Paul C. Allen, Ron C. Rau, Michael B. Biddle
  • Patent number: 7736501
    Abstract: A system and process for concentrating hydrocarbons in a bitumen feed comprising bitumen, water and solids. The system comprises an inclined plate separator, a hydrocarbon cyclone and a centrifuge. The inclined plate separator separates the bitumen feed into a first overflow stream and a first underflow stream, the first overflow stream having a first bitumen concentration greater than that of the first underflow stream. The hydrocarbon cyclone separates the first underflow stream into a second overflow stream and a second underflow stream. The centrifuge separates the second overflow stream into a third overflow stream and a third underflow stream, the third overflow stream having a third bitumen concentration that is greater than that of the third underflow stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Kim Jonathan Wiwchar, Ian Mackay Noble, Iain William Elder, Michael Fong-Yin Lam
  • Patent number: 7726491
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing bitumen froth comprising a cyclone body having an elongated conical inner surface defining a cyclone cavity extending from an upper inlet region with a diameter DC to a lower apex outlet with a diameter DU of not less than about 40 mm; an inlet means forming an inlet channel extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity; and a vortex finder forming an overflow outlet of a diameter DO extending into the upper inlet region of said cyclone cavity toward said lower apex outlet and having a lower end extending an excursion distance below said inlet channel, said excursion distance being operable to permit a portion of bitumen that passes through said inlet channel to exit said overflow outlet without having to make a spiral journey down said cyclone cavity, wherein a lower end of the vortex finder within the cyclone cavity is disposed a free vortex height (FVH) distance from said lower apex outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 7726493
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the recovery of non-ferrous metal-comprising particles from a particle stream. According to the invention, the particle stream is put onto a conveyor belt in the form of a monolayer such that with the aid of a liquid, at least the non-ferrous metal comprising particles will adhere to the conveyor belt, and the mono-layer is subjected to a magnetic field rotating in the same direction as the belt, for the separation of non-ferrous metal-comprising particles, yielding the non-ferrous-enriched fraction, and subsequent to which the metal particles that are not nonferrous adhering to the conveyor belt are removed, yielding the non-ferrous metal-depleted fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Renata Dorothea Van Der Weijden, Peter Carlo Rem
  • Publication number: 20100078363
    Abstract: An elutriation column is installed in a separation tank. The elutriation column includes a vertical separation column having a first side feed arm and a second side overflow arm spaced above the first side feed arm. Water is forced upwardly through the vertical separation column at a controllable velocity. A solid feed mixture is fed through the first side feed arm to the vertical separation column. Water from the tank rising in the vertical separation column at the controlled velocity causes targeted floater materials to move upwardly in the vertical separation column and heavier sinker materials to continue to sink. The floater materials flow from an outlet in the side of the separation tank into the recovery tank. At a discharge, lower end of the vertical separation column, the heavier sinker materials are removed from the separation tank. A mechanism is provided for purging undesirable materials that can cause plugging from the feed arm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventors: Bassam J. Jody, Jeffrey S. Spangenberger, Joseph A. Pomykala, JR., Edwards J. Daniels, Scott T. Lockwood
  • Patent number: 7632416
    Abstract: A variety of improved hydroclone based fluid filtering systems are described. The hydroclones generally include a tank having an internal chamber and a filter (preferably a surface filter) that is positioned within the internal chamber. The filter defines a filtered fluid chamber within the internal chamber of the tank. The hydroclone may be operated such that a vortex of flowing fluid is formed between the chamber wall and the filter with the filter being located in the center of the vortex. With this arrangement, the filter acts as a cross-flow filter. In one aspect of the invention, the filter is a stepped filter. In another aspect of the invention, the filter is an surface filter, as for example, an electroformed metal surface filter. In some preferred embodiments, the openings in the filter are arranged as slots that extend substantially vertically so that they are oriented substantially perpendicular to the flow path of fluid flowing in the adjacent portion of the vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Clean Filtration Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Levitt
  • Publication number: 20090283455
    Abstract: Fluidic structures for facilitating particle separation in curved or spiral devices are provided. The contemplated systems relate to various fluidic structures, implementations and selected fabrication techniques to realize construction of fluidic separation structures that are of a stacked and/or parallel configuration. These contemplated systems provide for efficient input of fluid to be processed, improved throughput, and, in some variations, adjustable and efficient treatment of output fluid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Jeonggi Seo, Ashutosh Kole, Armin R. Volkel
  • Patent number: 7618601
    Abstract: A process for the enrichment of anatase mechanical concentrates, in order to obtain synthetic rutile with low contents of rare earth and radioactive elements, comprising the steps of: calcination of the anatase concentrate; reduction of the calcined product; dry or wet low-intensity magnetic separation of the reduced product; dry, high-intensity, high-gradient magnetic separation of the non-magnetic fraction from the low-intensity separation; leaching of the high-intensity magnetic fraction; oxidation of the dried product; leaching of the quenched product; filtering of the product from the second leaching; drying of the filtered product; and dry, high-intensity, high-gradient magnetic separation of the product of the second leaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Companhia Vale Do Rio Doce
    Inventors: Lino Rodrigues De Freitas, Ronaldo Moreira De Horta, Joao Alberto Lessa Tude
  • Patent number: 7591376
    Abstract: The invention relates to a matrix liquid for producing machining suspensions, a machining suspension produced with the matrix and a method of fractionating the used machining suspension yielded after use. The invention also relates to a homogeneous mixture of a polymer or various polymers and water. The mixture can be used especially advantageously in all technical applications requiring a liquid with lubricating properties. In the present invention, a mixture of water and a thickening agent, respectively a polymer or a multiplicity of polymers, is utilized as the matrix liquid or lubricating liquid. The cutting grains can be separated very easily and quickly from the used machining suspension produced with this matrix liquid; for reuse. Less process water is required and the process water can be simply purified as there is no complicated getting rid of an alcohol charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Peter Eisner, Michael Menner
  • Patent number: 7556715
    Abstract: An inline bitumen froth steam heater system is comprised of steam injection and static mixing devices. The steam heater system heats and de-aerates an input bitumen froth without creating downstream processing problems with the bitumen froth such as emulsification or live steam entrainment. The inline bitumen froth steam heater is a multistage unit that injects and thoroughly mixes the steam with bitumen resulting in an output bitumen material having a homogenous temperature of about 190° F. The heating system conditions a superheated steam supply to obtain saturated steam at about 300° F. The saturated steam is contacted with a bitumen froth flow and mixed in a static mixer stage. The static mixers provide a surface area and rotating action that allows the injected steam to condense and transfer its heat to the bitumen froth. The mixing action and the increase in temperature of the bitumen froth results in reduction in bitumen viscosity and also allows the release of entrapped air from the bitumen froth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Suncor Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Les Gaston, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand, Ian Noble, William Nicholas Garner, Mike Lam
  • Patent number: 7553793
    Abstract: A method for recovering a catalyst for a fuel cell includes a collection step in which a catalyst is collected by attracting, using a magnetic force, a magnetic material contained in at least one of the catalyst and a carrier on which the catalyst is supported. A system for recovering a catalyst for a fuel cell includes a collection device that attracts, using a magnetic force, a magnetic material contained in at least one of a catalyst and a carrier on which the catalyst is supported.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Taniwaki
  • Publication number: 20090145066
    Abstract: Recycling of laminate flooring based on a separation of the panels into particles which are connected with a binder and formed to a new sheet shaped material. A building panel includes a surface layer and a wood fiber based core, and the wood fiber based core includes aluminium oxide particles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Applicant: VALINGE INNOVATION BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Darko PERVAN, Kent Lindgren, Jan Jacobsson, Niclas Hakansson, Eddy Boucke, Goran Ziegler
  • Patent number: 7523570
    Abstract: A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus includes a truck having an internal combustion engine and a truck frame. A vacuum source, a solids collection container and a separator assembly are all mounted on the truck frame. The separator assembly is adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source. The separator assembly has a pivotally mounted discharge, which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position. In the closed discharge position, the discharge discharges solids into the solids collection container. In the open discharge position, the discharge discharges solids externally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Non Stop Hydro Excavation Ltd.
    Inventor: Victor Pobihushchy
  • Publication number: 20090032442
    Abstract: A method, and associated system, of sorting municipal solid waste (120) into types of materials, the method including the steps of: sorting the solid waste (120) into an oversize fraction (180), a midsize fraction (170) and an undersize fraction (160); using at least manual-based (210, 330), density-based (234, 310), further size-based (346) and metal-based (318) sorting means to obtain a partial oversize fraction (236), a first partial midsize fraction (348) and a second partial midsize fraction (350); combining the partial oversize fraction (236) and the first partial midsize fraction (348) to produce an oversize-midsize combined fraction (237), and combining the undersize fraction (160) and the second partial midsize fraction (350) to produce an undersize-midsize combined fraction (412); and, using further sorting means to further sort the oversize-midsize combined fraction (237) and the undersize-mid-size combined fraction (412) into types of materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2004
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: GRL Investments Pty Limited
    Inventors: Naveen David Singh, Rodney Gerald France, Lance James Sambell, Patrick Thomas Poelzer
  • Patent number: 7469846
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for the wet-mechanical treatment of a substance mixture, particularly of refuse of all types, comprised of inert substances, water and of organic substances having a water-soluble and bioconvertible portion, whereby water is used as a solvent, washing agent and separating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Ecoenergy Gesellschaft fur Energie—und Umwelttechnik mbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Schu
  • Patent number: 7438189
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating bitumen from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process comprises an inclined plate separator (IPS) for providing a first bitumen separation stage and a cyclone for providing a second bitumen separation stage. The cyclone overflow is recycled to the IPS inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Suncor Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 7438807
    Abstract: Discloses apparatus to perform a process to remove water and minerals from a bitumen froth output of a oil sands hot water extraction process. A bitumen froth feed stream is diluted with a solvent and supplied to a primary inclined plate separator stage, which separates the bitumen into an overflow stream providing a bitumen product output from the circuit and a bitumen depleted underflow stream. A primary cyclone state, a secondary inclined plate separator stage and a secondary cyclone stage further process the underflow stream to produce a secondary bitumen recovery product stream and a recycle stream. The secondary bitumen recovery product stream is incorporated into and becomes part of the circuit bitumen product output stream. The recycle stream is incorporated into the bitumen froth feed stream for reprocessing by the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Suncor Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: William Nicholas Garner, Donald Norman Madge, William Lester Strand
  • Patent number: 7389880
    Abstract: A method and system are for sorting shredder residues of metal-containing wastes, in particular of body shells Shredder residues are separated into a shredder light fraction and a non-ferromagnetic fraction (shredder heavy fraction). During the sorting of the shredder light fraction and the shredder heavy fraction in preliminary processes and a main process, a crude-sand fraction is produced by separating out at least a ferromagnetic fraction, a fraction containing nonferrous metals, a fiber fraction, and a granulate fraction. In a refining process, the crude-sand fraction is separated into a residual fraction rich in organics, a dust fraction containing heavy metals, a sand fraction depleted in organics and metals, and a metallic fraction, using the sequential process steps of density separation and metal separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Volkswagen AG
    Inventors: Daniel Goldmann, Bram den Dunnen, Michael Knust
  • Patent number: 7383956
    Abstract: A woodwaste processing trommel apparatus has a rotating trommel for receiving and separating woodwaste by size. An elongated electrode is mounted within the trommel and has a polarized electric charge thereon for attracting plastic pieces having a static electric charge thereon. An elongated vacuum pipe is mounted in the trommel adjacent the electrode for removing plastic pieces clinging to the elongated electrode. An electrode and vacuum nozzle is also placed adjacent the end of the discharge conveyor to further remove plastic particles. A method of removing plastic intermixed with woodwaste in the trommel in accordance with the apparatus is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Inventor: Jimmy L. Freeman
  • Patent number: 7380617
    Abstract: A drill cuttings handling system apparatus for use on an oil and gas drilling rig located on a drilling platform where the platform has drilling equipment that includes a system for circulating drilling mud through the borehole created by the drilling equipment that includes a drill cuttings shaker for removing drill cuttings from the circulating drilling mud and a drill cuttings collection trough. The drill cuttings handling system is comprised of a cyclone cuttings hopper, a vacuum pump, an engine and a solids pump. Conduit is attached to the cyclone cuttings hopper for delivering by vacuum flow a quantity of drill cuttings from the drill cuttings collection trough of the drilling mud system of the drilling rig to the cyclone cuttings hopper. Discharge conduit is connected to the solids pump to dispense drill cuttings from the solids pump to a desired location such as a cuttings box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Triton Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Michael H. James
  • Patent number: RE42249
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nonostructured device comprising a substrate including nanotroughs therein; and a lipid bilayer suspended on or supported in the substrate. A separation method is also provided comprising the steps of supporting or suspending a lipid bilayer on a substrate; wherein the subtrate comprises nanostructures and wherein the lipid bilayer comprises at least one membrane associated biomolecule; and applying a driving force to the lipid bilayer to separate the membrane associated biomolecule from the lipid bilayer and to drive the membrane associated biomolecule into the nanostructures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Gabriel P. Lopez, Steven R. J. Brueck, Linnea K. Ista