Suspension Patents (Class 209/172.5)
  • Patent number: 11931669
    Abstract: The system and method of the present invention provides an automated washing and extraction system and method to removed trichomes from cannabis product to create hash resin. Inconsistency is removed from the hash extraction process by automating the washing and extraction cycles thereof. The system and method records the data and tracks all user functions. Manual labor is removed or significantly reduced and time to create the final product is greatly lessened. Thus, more hash can be produced in a shorter amount of time. Moreover, the present invention allows the end user a controlled and accurate and efficient way of producing large quantities of solvent-free hash in a short amount of time while doing so in a consistent, repeatable and cost-effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: John C. Digertt, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Digertt
  • Patent number: 11896973
    Abstract: A microfluidic chip assembly having a plurality of microfluidic flow channels is provided. Each channel has a switching region. The microfluidic chip may further include at least one bubble jet actuator configured to generate a pressure pulse in the switching regions of the channels to selectively deflect particles in the flow. The bubble jet actuator may be configured as a blind chamber, as an operative non-through flow chamber and/or as a self-replenishment chamber. The bubble jet actuator may include a trapped air bubble. The bubble jet actuator may include a plurality of heating elements individually controlled for pre-nucleation warmup and/or for triggering vapor bubble nucleation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Francis Perrault, Jr., Johnathan Charles Sharpe, Erin Koksal
  • Patent number: 11883830
    Abstract: A waste sorting system (1) comprising a tank (S) for collecting recyclable material (RM) and a sorting unit (U) comprising a first sorting station (10) connected to the tank (S) through a transport device (12) of the recyclable material and a first sorting basin (14) containing a first liquid solution (L1) of given density to separate, according to Archimedes' principle, the recyclable material (RM) into a first material phase (F1) of first selection and a second material phase (F2) of first submersion; the first sorting basin (14) is delimited at the bottom by a first lower collection portion (140), the sorting unit (U) comprising first scraper means (16) associated with the first sorting basin (14) for collecting the first phase (F1) from a free surface of the first liquid solution (L1) and first wash means (18) of this first phase (F1); the first lower collection portion (140) being passed through by a first conveyor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: WEBSPHERE IT & SOFT SOLUTIONS SRL
    Inventors: Maria Giovanna Gamberini, Giovanni Rolfini
  • Patent number: 11841377
    Abstract: A coal and gangue identification device is disclosed. The device includes a rotary supporting frame, a water injection unit, a weighing unit, a liquid level detection device and a processing module. The rotary supporting frame is provided with a loading unit used to load a mineral aggregate. The rotary supporting frame is used to drive the loading unit to rotate on a horizontal plane. In the rotating process of the rotary supporting frame, the loading unit cyclically passes through a water injection region, a material adding region, a volume measurement region and an unloading region which are sequentially disposed on a rotation trajectory of the rotary supporting frame. The water injection unit is used to inject water to the loading unit of the water injection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Inventors: Jinbo Zhu, Chao Wang, Yongcun Guo, Yong Zhang, Hongzheng Zhu, Wei Zhou, Ke Yang
  • Patent number: 11752506
    Abstract: A reactor system has a number of stations arranged to recover mineral particles in a slurry. The system includes a hopper to receive the slurry and barren media having hydrophobic coating to attract the mineral particles. The hopper provides a mixture of barren media and slurry to a tumbler arranged to stir the mixture in order to increase the contact between the slurry and the barren media so as to allow the mineral particles to attach to the barren media to form mineral laden media. The mineral laden media are conveyed to a rinsing station where water jets are used to wash the gangue materials off the mineral laden media. The rinsed mineral laden media are mixed with a surfactant so that the mineral particles are released from the mineral laden media. High-pressure water and air jets are then used to remove remaining surfactant from the released media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: CIDRA CORPORATE SERVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Mark R. Fernald, Paul J. Rothman, Paul Dolan, Kirk Johnson, Patrick Tuxbury, Sandeep Balasubramanyam, Peter A. Amelunxen, Timothy J. Bailey, Adam Jordens, Joseph Nord
  • Patent number: 11679394
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating heavier from lighter materials in mixed auto shredder residue (ASR) from end-of-life vehicles. Vehicles are shredded and the resulting mixed ASR is fed into a system that efficiently segregates heavier (typically metal) from lighter (typically plastic) pieces. The system has an inlet feed chute angled downward to a lower end over a separator tank filled with water. One or more nozzles configured to introduce water at a velocity into the separator tank create a flow of water across the tank to push smaller and lighter particles over an exit weir. Heavier particles sink toward a heavy matter removal conveyor having a lower end positioned within the separator tank so that the heavier particles are transported upward out of the separator tank. The heavy matter removal conveyor may be one or more Archimedes screws, a flat, ribbed or cleated conveyor, or a drag chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: SA Recycling LLC
    Inventors: George Adams, Alex Meza, Clifford Glen Newby, Mike Adams
  • Patent number: 11579603
    Abstract: A particle size tracking system for providing predictive maintenance and battery tuning of hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration, featuring a control having a signal processor configured to: receive signaling containing information about particle sizes of material flowing in pipes of hydrocyclones arranged in a battery configuration; and determine corresponding signaling containing information to control the operation of each hydrocyclone arranged in the battery configuration, based upon the signaling received. The signal processor may be configured to provide the corresponding signal as control signaling to control the operation of each hydrocyclone arranged in the battery configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: CiDRA Corporate Services Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Davis
  • Patent number: 11433400
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for washing and grading sand includes a first grading screen adapted to separate a feed material into a fine fraction and a coarse fraction, the coarse fraction having a greater particle size than the fine fraction. A first fines separation stage including one or more hydrocyclones is adapted to receive the fine fraction entrained in water, downstream of the first grading screen to thereby remove fine contaminants. A first dewatering screen includes a deck adapted to dewater the fine fraction downstream of the first fines separation stage to provide a fine sand product, and a second dewatering screen includes a deck adapted to dewater the coarse fraction downstream of the first grading screen to provide a coarse sand product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: CDE Global Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Convery
  • Patent number: 11358152
    Abstract: Disclosed is an underground coal preparation process adopting a water medium, comprising: feeding raw coal into a special underground compact jigging machine to discharge overflow clean coal being dewatered through a ?1 mm fixed screen and screened through a ?13 mm classifying screen, and dewatering powder clean coal with a particle size less than 13 mm to obtain powder clean coal and a centrifugate; grading jigging middling coal by means of a ?13 mm classifying screen into block middling coal and powder middling coal, and dewatering the powder middling coal to obtain powder middling coal and a centrifugal liquid; and sending produced coal slime water to a water medium classifying and separation cyclone, and the obtained coarse middling coal slime and coarse clean coal slime respectively passing through a coarse middling and clean coal slime sieve bends, and then being dewatered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: CHINA UNIVERSITY OF MINING AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xiahui Gui, Min Liu, Yaowen Xing, Yangchao Xia, Yijun Cao, Jiaqian Luo, Peikun Liu, Zhigang Wang
  • Patent number: 11198134
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as “a three-dimensional separation”.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: TAV HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 11001702
    Abstract: The herein application discloses an alternative construction system for buildings, facilities, accessories and products, with architectural elements of easy assembly, manufactured with recycled plastic improved materials, as well as the formulation of the material thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Big Belly Mèxico S.A. de C.V.
    Inventor: Luis Enrique Quinzaños Montes
  • Patent number: 10994273
    Abstract: An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Johnson, John R. Gilbert, Manish Deshpande, Hugh Lewis, Bernard Bunner
  • Patent number: 10960396
    Abstract: A microfluidic chip assembly having a plurality of microfluidic flow channels is provided. Each channel has a switching region. The microfluidic chip may further include at least one bubble jet actuator configured to generate a pressure pulse in the switching regions of the channels to selectively deflect particles in the flow. The bubble jet actuator may be configured as a blind chamber, as an operative non-through flow chamber and/or as a self-replenishment chamber. The bubble jet actuator may include a trapped air bubble. The bubble jet actuator may include a plurality of heating elements individually controlled for pre-nucleation warmup and/or for triggering vapor bubble nucleation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Donald Francis Perrault, Jr., Johnathan Charles Sharpe, Erin Koksal
  • Patent number: 10906048
    Abstract: Processes for macroscopically separating a maceral concentrate from raw coal are disclosed. In some embodiments, a process includes the following steps: crushing and sieving the raw coal to obtain a first coal sample and a second coal sample; subjecting the first coal sample to a heavy medium cyclone separation process; and subjecting the second coal sample to a froth flotation process. The first coal sample has a particle size within a first particle size range, and the second coal sample has a particle size within a second particle size range. In other embodiments, the froth flotation process uses a froth flotation agent including a foaming agent and a collector. The foaming agent includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of 2-octanol, terpenic oil, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The collector includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of kerosene, diethyl phthalate (BET), and diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Taiyuan University of Technology
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Dong Wang, Jun Wang, Chunyan Tu, Litong Liang, Zeyu Peng
  • Patent number: 10864555
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a robotic vacuum sorting system comprises: a suction gripper mechanism mounted to a sorting robot; a vacuum system coupled to the suction gripper mechanism; robot control logic and electronics coupled to the sorting robot and the vacuum system; and an imaging device coupled to the robot control logic and electronics. In response to an image signal from the imaging device, the robot control logic and electronics outputs robot control signals to control the sorting robot, and outputs one or more airflow control signals to the vacuum system to execute a capture action on a target object using the suction gripper. During the capture action, the robot control logic and electronics outputs control signals such that the vacuum system pulls a vacuum at the gripping port of the suction gripper mechanism as the suction gripper mechanism is applied to capture and hold the target object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: AMP Robotics Corporation
    Inventors: John C. McCoy, Jr., Matanya B. Horowitz, James A. Bailey
  • Patent number: 10814522
    Abstract: A screen assembly includes a housing defining a material flow chamber and having an inlet end and an outlet end, and a stucco discharge opening being located in the chamber between the inlet end and the outlet end. An auger shaft is located in the housing for axial rotation and having at least one first helical flight arranged in a flight pattern oriented so that material engaging the first helical flight is conveyed from the inlet end to the outlet end. A screen surrounds the at least one first helical flight for common rotation and extends generally from the inlet end to the outlet end. At least one second helical flight is disposed on an exterior surface of the screen and is arranged in a flight pattern oriented so that material engaging the second helical flight is conveyed in a direction from the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventors: Blair Walker, Erin Stewart
  • Patent number: 10712255
    Abstract: A system for orienting particles in a microfluidic system includes one or more radiation pressure sources arranged to expose particles to radiation pressure to cause the particles to adopt a particular orientation in the fluid. A system for sorting particles in a microfluidic system includes a detection stage arranged to detect at least one difference or discriminate between particles in the fluid flow past the detection stage, and one or more radiation pressure sources past which the particles move sequentially and a controller arranged to switch radiation energy to cause a change in direction of movement of selected particles in the fluid flow to sort the particles. The particles may be biological particles such as spermatazoa. The radiation pressure may be optical pressure and may be from one or more waveguides which may extend across a channel of the microfluidic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Engender Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Miriam Cather Simpson, Charles Alan Rohde
  • Patent number: 10512940
    Abstract: In order to provide an airflow sorting device having high accuracy and easy adjustment properties with a simple configuration, there are provided a conduit which has a central shaft line and which lets an object to be sorted to fall due to gravity on the inside of the conduit along the central shaft line; an air supply port which is provided at a lower part of the conduit and configured to blow air upward along the central shaft line; a suction port which is provided above the air supply port of the conduit and is an opening oriented downward of a suction pipe provided parallel to the central shaft line; and an input port provided above the suction port of the conduit through which the object to be sorted is input into the periphery of the suction pipe which is in the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Nishisu
  • Patent number: 10486164
    Abstract: A cyclonic separation and materials processing method and system is presented in which materials entry at one end and which is arranged so that the materials that enter will be given a tangential velocity component as they enter. Specific embodiments include a three-dimensional sorting system with the use of an outward centrifugal motion and up/down (or vertical) motion flow of water or other media, which can be thought of as “a three-dimensional separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: TAV HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas A. Valerio
  • Patent number: 10279510
    Abstract: A method of separating waste material to a plurality of separated materials is disclosed herein. The method is effected by subjecting the waste material to a separation according to specific gravity, to thereby obtain two or more fractions, and optionally subjecting one or more of said fractions to additional separation procedures, to thereby obtain two or more of a low-density polymeric material, a high-density polymeric material, a metal, a glass, an oil, and lignocelluloses. The disclosed method can further be effected by processing one or more of the separated materials to thereby obtain one or more processed materials of a beneficial use. Further disclose herein are separated and/or processed materials obtainable by the method, articles-of-manufacturing comprising same, and systems for separating and/or processing the waste material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Infimer Technologies Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuval Tamir
  • Patent number: 10265702
    Abstract: The present invention provides a dry method heavy medium separator adopting a dry method heavy medium separation bed and a separation device. According to the dry method heavy medium separator, a floating material end medium drum screen and a sediment end medium drum screen are arranged below a floating material discharge end and a sediment discharge end of the dry method heavy medium separator and used for separating products from media; a bag-type dust collector is used for collecting dust, a dust collector pipeline is arranged at the top of the dry method heavy medium separator, the air draft volume is larger than the air supply volume during working of the dry method heavy medium separator, the inside of the separator is in a negative pressure state, and therefore dust in the dry method heavy medium separator cannot escape; and the whole system is in a fully closed working state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Tangshan Shenzhou Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gongmin Li, Jing Li, Zhifu Cui
  • Patent number: 10189027
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating materials and recovery of valuable materials such as from end-of-life vehicles and appliances are disclosed. Vehicles are shredded and resulting pieces are dropped into a fluidic separator that separates the shredded vehicle scrap into heavier pieces and lighter pieces. The fluidic separator separates the bulk of the more valuable metals of the non-metals. The fluidic separator, which may be used for separating many kinds of mixtures of pieces of varying specific gravity, comprises a fluid-filled container in which the pieces and the fluid are stirred so that pieces of specific gravity greater than that of the fluid tend to sink and pieces of specific gravity less than that of the fluid tend to float.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: SA Recycling LLC
    Inventors: Mike Adams, Clifford Glen Newby, Alex Meza, George Adams
  • Patent number: 10124338
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to microbubble generator devices for deflecting objects in a liquid, systems for sorting objects that utilize such devices, and methods for fabricating such devices. At least one embodiment relates to a micro-fluidic device for deflecting objects in a liquid. The device includes a substrate for providing an object-containing liquid thereon. The device also includes a microbubble generator that includes at least one microbubble generating element. The microbubble generator is located on a surface of the substrate and in direct contact with the object-containing liquid when the object-containing liquid is provided on the substrate. The at least one microbubble generating element is configured to deflect a single object in the object-containing liquid through generation of a plurality of microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventors: Chengxun Liu, Peter Peumans, Liesbet Lagae, Bivragh Majeed
  • Patent number: 10065188
    Abstract: An improved actuator for use in a microfluidic particle sorting system utilizes a staggered packing scheme for a plurality of actuators used to selectively deflect a particle in an associated sorting channel from a stream of channels. An actuator block may be provided for housing a two-dimensional array of actuators, each configured to align with an actuation port in an associated sorting chip containing a plurality of sorting channels. The actuator block may include a built-in stressing means to pre-stress each actuator housed by the block. An actuator comprising a piezo-electric stack may employ contact-based electrical connection rather than soldered wires to improve packing density. The actuator may be an external actuator. That is, the external actuator is external to the substrate in which the sorting channels are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: CYTONOME/ST, LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Johnson, John R. Gilbert, Manish Deshpande, Hugh Lewis, Bernard Bunner
  • Patent number: 9968948
    Abstract: The present invention includes a mining system adapted to change underwater mining by selecting and harvesting only the target ore or gem. It eliminates costly displacement in mass of ore or material to the surface or shore, reduces pollution of the water column, and minimizes disturbance of the environment. The system includes a trommel fluidly coupled to separators, wherein each separator uses a vortex-like flow pattern to separate high-density sediment from lower density sediment based on flow rate. The present invention is the capable of separating and collecting various sized of desired ore in one pass. Additionally, the system is adapted to be coupled with a ROV dredge to reduce or eliminate diving time and risk of human life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Black Shell Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Laurent R. Olivier
  • Patent number: 9920928
    Abstract: This invention provides a system (10) for generating energy from waste material. The system comprises a first batch processing oven (12) for generating syngas and a second batch processing oven (14) for generating syngas. At least one thermal treatment chamber (20) heats the syngas after it is produced, and an energy converter (22) converts energy from the syngas to electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Chinook End-Stage Recycling Limited
    Inventors: Rifat Al Chalabi, Ophneil Henry Perry, John Turner, Stevan Tiepo
  • Patent number: 9855563
    Abstract: The value-minerals are captured by gravity-separation, from a low-grade slurry. The ratio of liquids-to-solids in the slurry affects the efficiency of capture, and an ideal liquids/solids ratio is the ratio at which the efficiency of capture is at a maximum. The ideal ratio is different for different particle-sizes. The procedure includes dewatering the slurry, dividing the dry particles by particle-size, and feeding the several size-divided dry-streams into respective capture-stations. Prior to each dry-stream entering its respective capture-station, make-up water is added to the dry-stream in such quantity as to bring the liquids/solids ratio up to the ideal, for that particle-size. The procedure makes it simple to provide accurate measurement of, and accurate control of, the liquids/solids ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Claudio Sasso
  • Patent number: 9700900
    Abstract: The present invention includes a mining system adapted to change underwater mining by selecting and harvesting only the target ore or gem. It eliminates costly displacement in mass of ore or material to the surface or shore, reduces pollution of the water column, and minimizes disturbance of the environment. The system includes a trommel fluidly coupled to separators, wherein each separator uses a vortex-like flow pattern to separate high-density sediment from lower density sediment based on flow rate. The present invention is the capable of separating and collecting various sized of desired ore in one pass. Additionally, the system is adapted to be coupled with a ROV dredge to reduce or eliminate diving time and risk of human life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Black Shell Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Laurent R. Olivier
  • Patent number: 9283570
    Abstract: Methods of separating one type of nanoparticle from another type of nanoparticle in a mixture including more than one type of nanoparticle are disclosed. The methods may include suspending a mixture of the various types of nanoparticles in a liquid and modifying a characteristic of the liquid. Thereafter, a force may be applied to the nanoparticles within the mixture causing one type of nanoparticles to separate from another type of nanoparticles. The applied force may be the force of gravity, or it may be an induced force such as a centrifugal force applied with a centrifuge or similar apparatus. Upon the occurrence physical separation, sub-populations of nanoparticles may be removed from the suspension or segregated. Alternatively the methods may include modifying a type of nanoparticle in suspension. Alternative embodiments include nanoparticles modified in suspension to provide for separation from other types of nanoparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: SICPA HOLDING SA
    Inventors: Borzoyeh Shojaei, George Hanki Chan
  • Patent number: 9243653
    Abstract: A vortex generator intended to create a controlled vortex in a fluid medium such as a gas or liquid. The upstream portion of the vortex generator includes an inlet section which directs the fluid into the vortex generator and creates a vortex therein by use of an internal rotational symmetric cavity with a curved geometry. Downstream from the inlet section is a vortex chamber having one of several shapes in which the vortex motion is established. The vortex generator may have one of two shapes, one being a trumpet shape or elongated, and the other being a more ovide or egg shape. Also included is a cavitation assembly at the outlet portion of the vortex generator which creates cavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2016
    Assignee: WATRECO IP AB
    Inventors: Curt Hallberg, Morten Ovesen
  • Publication number: 20150021237
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for sorting crushed material by gravitationally separating components of the crushed material according to component densities in a liquid column having a bottom layer of a heavy water-immiscible liquid, an intermediate layer of an aqueous salt solution and a top layer of a light water-immiscible liquid. The heavy water-immiscible liquid has a higher density than the aqueous salt solution, the aqueous salt solution has a higher density than the light water-immiscible liquid and the light water-immiscible liquid has a higher density than sea water to maintain the intermediate layer on top of the bottom layer, the top layer on top of the intermediate layer and the top layer in the liquid column.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Applicant: S.G.B.D. TECHNOLOGIES LTD.
    Inventor: Alexander Brodt
  • Patent number: 8657120
    Abstract: Trapping structures are provided for particle separation devices that make use of traveling wave fluid flow. These trapping structures are operative to capture and collect separated particles and present them for extraction. The extraction can be accomplished in conventional manners, such as through the use of suitable sized pipettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Jeonggi Seo
  • Patent number: 8584864
    Abstract: The present disclosure involves a system and methods for eliminating rinse and dewatering rescreens while cooling coarse aggregates, including in one embodiment a perforated wet belt conveyance system. According to another embodiment disclosed herein, a system and method for cooling cement is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Coldcrete, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Lee, Jarrett Andrew Grindlay, Deborah M. Aleksa
  • Patent number: 8485363
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for separating solid materials on the basis of a mutual difference in density, wherein the materials to be separated are brought into contact with a magnetic fluid across which fluid a density gradient is generated by means of a magnetic field such that fractions of solid materials of different densities are obtained, said device being provided with a magnet, an inflow chamber, a separation chamber, and means for discharging fractions of solid materials of different densities in separation, wherein the magnetic fluid flows from the inflow chamber to the separation chamber, wherein the magnet is arranged above the separation chamber, and wherein at least one duct for the supply of the solid materials to be separated is located below the inflow chamber and the separation chamber and encloses an angle with the inflow chamber and the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Bakker Holding Son B.V., AKG Polymers B.V.
    Inventors: Gerrit Dinand Klein Nagelvoort, Hendrik Jan Klein Nagelvoort, Erwin Johannes Bakker
  • Patent number: 8479923
    Abstract: Process for the selective separation, and for the simultaneous increase in purity, of two spent, fragmented, synthetic organic materials having different densities, mixed together or mixed with various contaminating materials to be eliminated, by means of dense aqueous media, each aqueous medium of which has a chosen density “ds” as threshold for separating said organic materials and contaminants, characterized in that the process comprises: a) a step of separating the mixture into two streams, a supernatant stream (a1) and a settled stream (a2); b) a step of separating the components of the supernatant stream (a1), by eliminating the supernatant fraction and collecting the settled fraction formed from the fragments of the first recyclable spent synthetic organic material; c) a step of separating the components of the settled stream (a2) by collecting the supernatant fraction and eliminating the settled fraction; and d) a step of separating the components of the supernatant stream by eliminating the supernata
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: Henri Seinera, Hughes De Feraudy
  • Publication number: 20130134460
    Abstract: Coated color-converting particles and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A coating of the coated color-converting particles can include, for example, a parylene, such as a fluorinated parylene. In particular embodiments, the coating can be configured to protect a color-converting material of a particle core of the coated color-converting particles from detrimental reactions. For example, the coating can prevent, slow, or otherwise inhibit detrimental reactions between the color-converting material and a matrix material or between the color-converting material and an environmental constituent that can diffuse through a matrix. In particular embodiments, the coated color-converting particles can be incorporated into a matrix to form a composite. The composite can be used, for example, with a radiation transducer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Charles M. Watkins
  • Patent number: 8215490
    Abstract: A classification device includes: a classification channel for classifying particles; a particle dispersion delivery channel as defined herein; a conveying fluid feed channel as defined herein; and at least one collection channel as defined herein, and the particle dispersion delivery channel satisfying relationship (1): A<B wherein A is a width of the particle dispersion inlet port as measured perpendicular to the flow in the classification channel on a cross-section taken parallel to the flow in the classification channel; and B is a width of the junction between the particle dispersion delivery channel and the classification channel as measured perpendicular to the flow in the classification channel on a cross-section taken parallel to the flow in the classification channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Hongo, Tetsuo Ohta, Hiroshi Kojima, Seiichi Takagi
  • Patent number: 8113354
    Abstract: A problem of the invention is to provide a method which targets on polyethylene terephthalate-made bottle scraps composed mainly of polyethylene and/or polypropylene, polystyrene and a polyester and which is able to treat continuously a large amount of the polyester component with a high purity and sort and recover it in a high recovery. The problem of the invention can be solved by a separation method of waste plastics, which is characterized by forming previously a crushed plastic into a water slurry, feeding the water slurry in a fixed rate range such that a swirling flow is generated within a cylindrical tank and that water rises in a fixed rate range and recovering a polyester with a high specific gravity as a precipitated component within the cylindrical tank and a plastic with a low specific gravity as an overflow component from the top of the cylindrical tank, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Teijin Fibers Limited
    Inventors: Kozo Toida, Kazumasa Mizuno, Minoru Nakashima, Hitoshi Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 8087515
    Abstract: A separation apparatus contains: a dispersion liquid introduction path to which a dispersion liquid containing particles is introduced; a separation path that has a inclined upper face inclined with respect to a direction of gravity and separates the particles; and a discharge path from which particles separated by the separation path are discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kojima, Kazuya Hongo, Seiichi Takagi, Tetsuo Ohta
  • Patent number: 8062519
    Abstract: A flange joint for connecting two objects in a fluid connection so that fluid can flow between the objects. The flange joint has a gasket, and the gasket is installed in the flange joint. The flange joint has at least one channel for feeding additional fluid from outside of the flange joint through the gasket into fluid flowing between the two objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Outotec Oyj
    Inventor: Timo Niitti
  • Patent number: 7992717
    Abstract: A housing adapted to receive a flow of slurry has a central section, an upper section, and a lower section. A clean water introduction assembly has a horizontal manifold, a plurality of horizontal apertured pipes and a plurality of vertical water lines. A valve assembly has an upper valve and a lower valve. The upper valve is normally open. The lower valve is normally closed to feed clean water from the manifold through the water lines and out of the apertured pipes into the housing. In this manner water entering the housing will cause a hindered settling. The valve assembly is also operable in a back flow mode with the upper valve being closed and the lower valve being opened. In this manner water from the housing will flow from the apertured pipes. In this manner clogs in the holes of the apertured pipe are cleared. A coupling assembly is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Inventor: Jay T. Hazen
  • Patent number: 7934599
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for separation of construction waste. In the method, the construction waste, crushed to a predetermined size, is added to liquid in a precipitation tank and separated into components in the tank according to specific gravity, in which the liquid has a reference specific gravity lower than that of a component to be recovered but higher than that of the remaining components, such that only the component to be recovered is separated by precipitation to the bottom of the precipitation tank. According to the method, high-quality recyclable aggregate contained in the construction waste can be easily separated from other impurities through a simple process. Particularly, the reference specific gravity of the separation liquid is suitably adjusted so that the recyclable aggregate can be easily separated even from impurities (tiles, red brick, asphalt concrete, cement paste mass, etc.) heavier than water, unlike the prior separation process using an aerated water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Seo Bong Recycling Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Heon-Chan Kang, Kyoung-Rok Kong
  • Patent number: 7905356
    Abstract: A method for separation of heterogeneous products included in household waste (HW) comprises separating the products in a fractionation vessel containing a liquid. The waste includes components, of which at least some are capable of floating in the liquid. The components are exposed to a first essentially horizontal force (P1) in a first direction (D1) enforced by a flow of the liquid in the fractionation vessel and to a second essentially horizontal force (P2) in a second direction (D2), which is substantially different from the first direction (D1). The combined impact of the forces (P1; P2) on the components spreads the components and leads them to at least two collection areas. Products of varying buoyancy may thus be treated separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: Holm Christensen Biosystemer APS
    Inventors: Borge H. Christensen, Lena H. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7875192
    Abstract: A slurry dividing apparatus is configured to divide a main slurry stream into smaller constituent slurry streams, wherein each stream contains a desired proportion of suspended solids. The dividing apparatus includes a main flow channel and a plurality of branch flow channels extending upward from a flow divider that terminates an upper end of the main flow channel. The main slurry stream enters the main flow channel, at an inlet opening thereof, and is decelerated, by an upward extension and expanding cross-section of the main flow channel, before reaching the flow divider and being divided into the smaller constituent slurry streams flowing within the plurality of branch flow channels. Each of the smaller streams flows up and then over a weir, which extends across an upper portion of each of the branch flow channels, and then down into a corresponding discharge flow channel of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Carter Day International, Inc.
    Inventors: Pius N. Eigenmann, Stephan Barclay Meydell, III, David A. Hauch
  • Patent number: 7807727
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selectively separating mixed synthetic organic materials such as filled or non-filled polymers and/or copolymers that are wastes, particularly used, for recycling in order to upgrade them. These synthetic organic materials result from the destruction by crushing of automobiles and durable consumer goods that have reached the end of their serviceable lives. Said selective separation method acts by separating these materials with regard to a density threshold selected in a dense medium consisting of separating fluid liquid suspensions composed of powdery particles dispersed in an aqueous phase. These suspensions are stabilized by using a dynamic stabilizing means at a density threshold value selected for causing the selective separation of a determined fraction from the mixture of the used materials to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Galloo Plastics
    Inventors: Hugues De Feraudy, Henri Seinera
  • Patent number: 7802686
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for classifying fine particles, the method comprising: introducing a fine particle dispersion in which fine particles are dispersed in a liquid medium into an inlet of a microchannel having the inlet and a recovery portion; and delivering the fine particle dispersion, which has been introduced through the inlet, to the recovery portion in laminar flow, wherein delivering the fine particle dispersion includes classifying the fine particles using the difference in sedimentation speed or floatation speed among the fine particles in the fine particle dispersion. The present invention also provides a device used in the method for classifying fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Takagi, Kazuki Imani, Tetsuo Ohta
  • Patent number: 7803848
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for selectively separating synthetic organic materials such as polymers and/or reinforced or non-reinforced copolymers in the form of wastes, in particular domestic wastes recyclable in order to be reused. Said synthetic organic materials are recuperated from broken used cars and obsolete consumer durable products. The inventive method for selective separation consists in separating materials which have an identical density threshold value and are selected from a dense medium comprising separate liquid fluid suspensions which consist of powdery disperses particles in an aqueous phase and are stabilized with respect to the density threshold value selected in such a way that a selective separation of a determined fraction of the mixture of separable used material is initiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Galloo Plastics
    Inventors: Hugues De Feraudy, Henri Seinera
  • Patent number: 7775371
    Abstract: A device for the separation of waste materials in accordance with their densities is provided and includes a vat which is fillable with a fluid for the separation of detritus by means of floatation and decantation. Conveyer belts are provided for the removal of the supernatant and decanted materials. A vibrating sieve is provided for the pre-separation of debris prior to introduction into the vat. The vibrating sieve extracts large materials and small materials which tend to produce silt in the vat. Means are provided for the removal of the decanted sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Inventor: Jesús Sánchez Torres
  • Publication number: 20100200474
    Abstract: A hindered-settling fluid classifier is adapted for processing material aggregate in a liquid medium. The fluid classifier includes a classifier tank defined by walls designed for holding the liquid medium, and comprising a sink fraction chamber and a float fraction chamber, and a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. An elongated rising current column is vertically mounted within the sink fraction chamber, and adapted for extending below a surface of the liquid medium held therein. The rising current column has open upper and lower ends, and defines an aggregate entry between its upper and lower ends for receiving material aggregate into the classifier tank. A float fraction reservoir is located above the sink fraction chamber, and communicates with the open upper end of the rising current column. An overflow passage communicates with the float fraction reservoir, and is adapted for directing the liquid medium outwardly from the reservoir and into the float fraction chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2009
    Publication date: August 12, 2010
    Inventor: Brian K. Fendley
  • Publication number: 20100155309
    Abstract: A method for separating particles in hydrous slurry comprises connecting at least one teeter water pipe of a teeter water distributor means of a hindered-bed separator in fluid connection with a teeter water discharging means, and discharging teeter water from the at least one teeter water pipe that is in fluid connection with the teeter water discharging means to the teeter water discharging means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: OUTOTEC OYJ
    Inventor: Timo Niitti