Grading Deposition Patents (Class 209/208)
  • Patent number: 11872879
    Abstract: A fuel pick-up device (10) for a fuel tank (13) has a head (11) for fitting to a wall of the tank (13), and an elongate body (14) which extends from the head (11) into the tank (13). A water separator disposed in body comprises an axially-extending separation chamber (18), and a vane (21) for creating a helical flow of fuel flowing through the chamber between an inlet (17) and an outlet (23), wherein any water in the fuel entering the separation chamber through the inlet (17) moves radially outwardly in the helical flow away from the outlet (23), the outlet (23) being arranged such that fuel drawn from the chamber (18) is substantially free of water. Water separated from the fuel is collected in a chamber (25) and can be removed via a drain (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: FUEL ACTIVE LIMITED
    Inventors: Michael John James, Paul Graham Bateman
  • Patent number: 11684051
    Abstract: A rotating disc type continuous automated biological breeding apparatus includes a plurality of rotating disc type breeding boxes and a central rotating shaft. The rotating disc type breeding boxes are stacked on each other in a longitudinal direction to form a breeding tank. Each of the rotating disc type breeding boxes includes at least one pushing plate and a lower feeding port, and the at least one pushing plate is configured to divide one of the rotating disc type breeding boxes that corresponds to the at least one pushing plate into at least one breeding compartment. The central rotating shaft penetrates through the rotating disc type breeding boxes along the longitudinal direction. The pushing plate of each of the rotating disc type breeding boxes is fixedly connected to the central rotating shaft, and the central rotating shaft is configured to drive the pushing plate to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: STONBO CREATIVE CO. LTD
    Inventor: Cheng-Jen Shih
  • Patent number: 11549321
    Abstract: A shaker assembly and method, of which the shaker assembly includes a shaker tank, a mixing tank in fluid communication with the shaker tank and positioned adjacent thereto, an overflow weir positioned between and separating the shaker tank and the mixing tank, a first shaker positioned over the shaker tank, and a second shaker. The first and second shakers are configured to operate in parallel to partially separate a solid from a liquid of a drilling waste fluid. During normal operation, at least some of the liquid flows from the first and second shakers to the shaker tank, and from the shaker tank over the overflow weir and into the mixing tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: MILESTONE ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, LLC
    Inventor: Jason Larchar
  • Patent number: 11549862
    Abstract: A measuring device with at least one fluid channel for conveying a measuring fluid, wherein the fluid channel includes at least one inlet for the entry of the measuring fluid into the fluid channel and at least one outlet for the exit of the measuring fluid from the fluid channel. The fluid channel includes a diamond-shaped cross-section and includes a course from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet over which the measuring fluid entering the fluid channel is deflected by at least 90° before the measuring fluid exits the fluid channel at the at least one outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE DEUTSCHLAND LTD & CO KG
    Inventors: Carsten Clemen, Miklos Gerendas
  • Patent number: 11400085
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a cognitive impairment-related disease and a pharmaceutical composition for preventing or treating a cognitive impairment-related disease prepared by the same, and the pharmaceutical composition includes microparticles including donepezil and a biodegradable polymer, and the microparticles are in a form in which donepezil is uniformly distributed in a spherical biodegradable polymer. The present invention may maintain the effect of preventing or treating the cognitive impairment-related disease for 1 month by a single injection in order to eliminate the inconvenience of having to take the composition daily, and as the present invention is prepared by maintaining the average diameters of the particles at a predetermined micrometer size, a foreign body sensation and pain during administration into a patient as an injection is reduced, thereby enabling administration as an injection to be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: INVENTAGE LAB INC.
    Inventors: Ju Hee Kim, Sang No Lee
  • Patent number: 10994230
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating out and removing screenings from wastewater includes a screening device having a screen surface through which the wastewater flows during operation of the screening device and screenings carried along in the wastewater are at least intermittently retained. The apparatus includes a sensor and a controller. The sensor monitors the screenings in the area upstream from the screen surface and/or in the area of the screen surface. The controller outputs a message when the screenings have one or several properties which have been defined and have been recognized by the sensor. In addition, a method for operating the apparatus and a system including the apparatus are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: HUBER SE
    Inventors: Nikica Starcevic, Juergen Kerschensteiner, Anton Neger
  • Patent number: 10656069
    Abstract: A flow cell including a flow channel through which a sample fluid and a sheath fluid flow, a sample flow channel that introduces the sample fluid into the flow channel, and at least one sheath flow channel that introduces the sheath fluid into the flow channel. The flow channel includes a flow merging section where the sample flow channel and the sheath flow channel merge, a flattened section that is disposed downstream of the flow merging section, that is formed in line with one wall face of wall faces facing across the flow merging section, and that is shallower in depth than the flow merging section, and a tapered section that connects the flow merging section with the flattened section and that gradually decreases in depth on progression downstream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: ARKRAY, Inc.
    Inventor: Shigeki Masuda
  • Patent number: 10144009
    Abstract: A microfluidic device is disclosed. The device comprises at least one inlet for receiving circulating tumor cells and other cells in a sample; at least one curvilinear and/or spiral channel through which the sample is caused to undergo partial or complete Dean cycles to isolate the circulating tumor cells from the other cells; and at least one outlet configured to communicate with the channel for providing the isolated circulating tumor cells. The channel is configured to provide a predetermined Force ratio based on a desired threshold cell size of the circulating tumor cells. A corresponding method of manufacturing of the device, and a related diagnostic system are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: CLEARBRIDGE BIOMEDICS PTE LTD
    Inventors: Ali Asgar Bhagat, Guofeng Guan
  • Patent number: 9458489
    Abstract: A method of detecting one or more diseased blood cells in a blood sample includes introducing a blood sample into at least one inlet of a microfluidic device comprising one or more linear channels wherein each channel has a length and a cross-section of a height and a width defining an aspect ratio adapted to isolate diseased blood cells along at least one portion of the cross-section of the channel based on reduced deformability of diseased blood cells as compared to non-diseased blood cells, wherein diseased blood cells flow along a first portion of the channel to a first outlet and non-diseased blood cells flow along a second portion of the channel to a second outlet. The one or more channels can be adapted to isolate cells along portions of the cross-section of the channel based on cell size. In some embodiments, the one or more channels can be spiral channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, National University of Singapore
    Inventors: Chwee Teck Lim, Jongyoon Han, Han Wei Hou, Ali Asgar Bhagat, Krystyn J. Van Vliet, Wong Cheng Lee
  • Patent number: 8869987
    Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Ashutosh Kole, Jeonggi Seo
  • Patent number: 8807343
    Abstract: An apparatus (25) for use in screening a liquid and solids mixture feed (2) comprises a conduit (18), including a screening portion (22) that is formed and arranged to divide a liquid and solids mixture feed flowing through the conduit. The feed (2) is divided into a first, cleaned stream (C1) comprising liquid and solid particles of below a selected size limit, and a second, concentrated, stream (24) comprising liquid, and particles above the selected size limit. The apparatus (25) may be a stand alone module, part of a system with other solids and liquids separating equipment or an integral part of a solids and liquid separator such as a shale shaker. Methods of using the apparatus (25) are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventor: Marshall G. Bailey
  • Patent number: 8783467
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to obstacle array devices (also known as bump array devices) for separating populations of particles by size. Improvements over previous obstacle array devices are realized by causing the fluid velocity profile across gaps between obstacles to be asymmetrical with respect to the plane that bisects the gap and is parallel to the direction of bulk fluid flow. Such asymmetry can be achieved by selecting the shape(s) of the obstacles bounding the gap such that the portions of the obstacles upstream from, downstream from or bridging the narrowest portion of the gap are asymmetrical with respect to that plane. Improvements are also realized by using obstacles that have sharp edges bounding the gaps. Other improvements are realized by selecting obstacle shapes such that the critical particle dimensions defined by the gaps in two different fluid flow directions differ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Kevin Loutherback, James C. Sturm, Robert Austin, Keith Morton, Jason Puchalla
  • Patent number: 8579117
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to obstacle array devices (also known as bump array devices) for separating populations of particles by size. Improvements over previous obstacle array devices are realized by causing the fluid velocity profile across gaps between obstacles to be asymmetrical with respect to the plane that bisects the gap and is parallel to the direction of bulk fluid flow. Such asymmetry can be achieved by selecting the shape(s) of the obstacles bounding the gap such that the portions of the obstacles upstream from, downstream from, or bridging the narrowest portion of the gap are asymmetrical with respect to that plane. Improvements are also realized by using obstacles that have sharp edges bounding the gaps. Other improvements are realized by selecting obstacle shapes such that the critical particle dimensions defined by the gaps in two different fluid flow directions differ.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Kevin Loutherback, James C. Sturm, Robert Austin, Keith Morton, Jason Puchalla
  • Patent number: 8380475
    Abstract: Method in an oil and/or a gas production system including a plurality of oil and/or gas wells each producing a multiphase fluid stream, adapted for predicting change in produced fluids resulting from change in manipulated variables. Fitted model parameters which express the relationship between the change in manipulated variables and the produced fluids are determined from a set of historical production measurements. The method includes the steps of choosing a model structure which predicts change in produced fluids as a function of the change in manipulated variables, where the predicted change in produced fluids depends on the value of fitted model parameters, determining fitted model parameters so that predictions of produced fluids match said historical production measurements as closely as possible, and determining a quality tag that describes the uncertainty of the predictions of change in produced fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: ABB AS
    Inventors: Olav Slupphaug, Steinar Elgsaeter
  • Patent number: 8360243
    Abstract: A liquid transporting apparatus includes: a microchannel; a transporting liquid supply port through which transporting liquid is supplied to the microchannel; a partition wall as defined herein, and that has an opening; a first split channel that is provided on an upper side of the partition wall; a second split channel that is provided on a lower side of the partition wall; a particle dispersion supply port through which a particle dispersion is supplied to a middle portion of a width direction of the first split channel; and at least one drain port through which the fluid is discharged from downstreams of the first and second split channels, and a pattern that generates an upward-directed flow with respect to a vertical direction in a middle portion of a section of the microchannel is formed in an inner wall of the microchannel or in the partition wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Yamada, Hiroshi Kojima, Kazuaki Tabata, Masaki Hirota, Kazuya Hongo
  • Patent number: 8307988
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating components and a method of separating components using the apparatus are provided. The apparatus includes: a main chamber which contains a sample that is separated into a plurality of layers by a centrifugal force; a component separating chamber which is connected to the main chamber, and receives a specific layer including specific components among the plurality of layers; a first channel which connects the component separating chamber to the main chamber; and a first channel valve which is disposed in the first channel to control a liquid flowing through the first channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong-myeon Park, Byung-chul Kim
  • Patent number: 8276760
    Abstract: An improved technique for particle separation is provided. A serpentine structure is utilized in a continuous fluid flow environment to allow for suitable separation of particles to occur in a manner that does not require external application of forces to initiate the separation. The geometry of the serpentine structure and associated forces generated in connection with fluid flow therein suffice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Ashutosh Kole, Jeonggi Seo
  • Patent number: 8197679
    Abstract: A particle separation assembly comprises a vessel provided with an inlet, a first outlet and a second outlet. The assembly is arranged such that the flow rate of fluid through the inlet is greater than the flow rate of fluid through the first outlet such that there is a resultant fluid flow of lighter particles up the vessel and through the second outlet. Flow adjustment means are provided to enable the velocity of this resultant fluid flow to be adjusted, said means comprising a pivotable flap in one example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Vapormatt Limited
    Inventor: Terence Ives Ashworth
  • Patent number: 8120770
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprises inlets for a sample flow and an out-of-plane focusing sheath flow, and a curved channel section configured to receive the sample flow and out-of-plane focusing sheath and to provide hydrodynamic focusing of the sample flow in an out-of-plane direction, the out-of-plane direction being normal to a plane including the curved channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: The Penn State Research Foundation
    Inventors: Tony Jun Huang, Xiaole Mao
  • Publication number: 20120024761
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for recovering silicon from saw kerf, or an exhausted abrasive slurry, resulting from the cutting of a silicon ingot, such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingot. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for isolating and purifying silicon from saw kerf or the exhausted slurry, such that the resulting silicon may be used as a raw material, such as a solar grade silicon raw material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexis Grabbe, Tracy M. Ragan
  • Publication number: 20120027660
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods for recovering silicon from saw kerf, or an exhausted abrasive slurry, resulting from the cutting of a silicon ingot, such as a single crystal or polycrystalline silicon ingot. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods for isolating and purifying silicon from saw kerf or the exhausted slurry, such that the resulting silicon may be used as a raw material, such as a solar grade silicon raw material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexis Grabbe, Tracy M. Ragan
  • 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: 8033399
    Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal separator with an inlet channel for a flow containing coarse and fine particles, a first outlet channel for a flow containing predominantly coarse particles, a second outlet channel for a flow containing predominantly fine particles and a separator chamber with at least one separator device, wherein the separator chamber connects the inlet channel to the first outlet channel and the second outlet channel, and wherein the inlet channel, the separator channel and the two outlet channels form a flow path. To improve the degree of efficiency, as a first separator device, one or more separator pockets are arranged in the separator chamber, which project into the flow path. Also disclosed is a corresponding method for the separation of a flow containing coarse and fine particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Babcock Borsig Service GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Pistorius, Christian Storm
  • Patent number: 7892434
    Abstract: Improved systems and methods are provided herein for passively filtering out droplets of different size such as satellite droplets from the generation of primary droplets and use these satellite droplets as the source for monodispersed production of submicron emulsions. The systems and methods described use active flow control to sort droplets of different size into desired collecting zones and use conventional shearing principles, and, as a result, provide 100% filtration of satellite droplets regardless of size differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Abraham P. Lee, Yung-Cheih Tan
  • Patent number: 7844400
    Abstract: A low maintenance adjustable system for sampling gas from a well using a gas analyzer; a conditioning and filtering device; a gas trap having a plurality of couplings, a plurality of hammer unions, a plurality of base manifold pipes, a base manifold flow line, a chimney pipe connected to the base manifold flow line, a controllable valve, a reducer connected to the chimney, an expansion chamber component connected to the reducer, a restrictor mounted to the expansion chamber component, and a conduit connection connected to the restrictor for engaging a conduit to flow a gas sample from the gas trap to a gas analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Selman and Associates, Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas H. Selman, Juanita C. Selman, Matthew J. Jennings, Richard James Gonzales, Brian A. Jennings, Stephen M. Bergman
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20100166637
    Abstract: The subject invention provides a two-phase liquid-liquid extraction process that enables sorting and separation of single-walled carbon nanotubes based on (n, m) type and/or diameter. The two-phase liquid extraction method of the invention is based upon the selective reaction of certain types of nanotubes with electron withdrawing functional groups as well as the interaction between a phase transfer agent and ionic moieties on the functionalized nanotubes when combined in a two-phase liquid solution. Preferably, the subject invention enables efficient, bulk separation of metallic/semi-metallic nanotubes from semi-conducting nanotubes. More preferably, the subject invention enables efficient, bulk separation of specific (n, m) types of nanotubes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Inventor: Kirk Jeremy Ziegler
  • Patent number: 7648033
    Abstract: A method of producing a particle-dispersed liquid, using a channel of micro width having a core flow channel, includes: sending the particle-dispersed liquid containing larger particles to an inner portion of the core flow channel; separating and removing the larger particles from the particle-dispersed liquid; and sending the removed larger particles to an outermost part of the core flow channel. An outer diameter of the core flow channel is 50 to 5,000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Takagi, Tetsuo Ohta
  • Patent number: 7627627
    Abstract: A method for controlling command message flow in a network including a server and a client. A command window, comprising a maximum number of command messages that may be outstanding at the server, is included in messages sent from the server to the client. The value of the command window at the server is modified in accordance with available server resources for receiving command messages. When there are insufficient resources at the server to process one of the command messages delivered to the server, then a pause message is sent to the client indicating which said command message cannot be received; indicia is stored that indicates the command message initially discarded; and subsequent said command messages delivered to the server are discarded until an initially discarded said command message is again delivered to the server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Richard Perham Helliwell, Richard Fitzhugh Wrenn, Edward A. Gardner
  • Patent number: 7582482
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for treating a liquid sample stream including at least one analyte ion species and matrix ion species of opposite charge to said one analyte ion species. The liquid sample stream flows through a treatment channel. A carrier liquid stream including a matrix ion species capture material flows substantially parallel to the sample stream in the treatment channel forms a liquid interface between them. The matrix ion species diffuses through the interface to contact and become bound by the capture material in said carrier liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Dionex Corporation
    Inventors: Parnendu K. Dasgupta, Petr Kuban, Jordan M. Berg
  • Patent number: 7572375
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for treating fine particles contained in a first fluid comprising: feeding the first fluid containing the fine particles and a second fluid to generate two laminar flows; migrating a diffusible substance contained in the first fluid into the second fluid at an interface between the first fluid and the second fluid in the laminar flows; and separating the laminar flows into the first fluid containing the fine particles and the second fluid in a diverging region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Takagi, Kazuya Hongo, Hiroshi Miyamoto, Tetsuo Ohta, Kazuki Inami
  • Publication number: 20090159512
    Abstract: Present invention relates to a method and apparatus for separating particles from a fluid; particles are dispersed in the fluid and consist of lighter particles with lower density than the bulk, and heavier particles with a density higher than the bulk, method comprises the following steps: feeding the particle containing fluid to a separation device, evenly distribute the fluid over at least parts of the cross-sectional area by flowing through a distribution device (12) in an inlet chamber (11) providing the particle containing fluid with a specific velocity and leading the fluid to one or more collecting surfaces (5, 9) coalesce the lighter particles on the collecting surface (5, 9) remove the coalesced lighter particles from the collecting surface (5, 9) remove the particle depleted fluid and the lighter coalesced particles in at least two separate streams (2, 3) optionally remove the heavier particles from the bottom of the separation device in at least one separate stream
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2006
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: Brattested Engineering AS
    Inventor: Knut Brattested
  • Publication number: 20090014360
    Abstract: Various systems, methods, and devices are provided for focusing particles suspended within a moving fluid into one or more localized stream lines. The system can include a substrate and at least one channel provided on the substrate having an inlet and an outlet. The system can further include a fluid moving along the channel in a laminar flow having suspended particles and a pumping element driving the laminar flow of the fluid. The fluid, the channel, and the pumping element can be configured to cause inertial forces to act on the particles and to focus the particles into one or more stream lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2008
    Publication date: January 15, 2009
    Applicant: The General Hospital Corporation d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital
    Inventors: Mehmet Toner, Dino DiCarlo, Jon Edd, Daniel Irimia
  • Publication number: 20080302706
    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: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: Holm Christensen Biosystemer ApS
    Inventors: Borge H. Christensen, Lena H. Christensen
  • Patent number: 7428971
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fine-particle sorting technique that uses optical pressure (optical force) and that can be applied in place of heretofore known cell sorting techniques; and a fine-particle recovering technique therefor. The fine-particle recovering method of the present invention comprises directing a laser beam toward a flow path of fine particles in such a manner that the laser beam crosses the flow direction of the fine particles to thereby deflect the direction of movement of the fine particles to be recovered, in the direction of convergence of the laser beam. The sorting method of the present invention comprises performing flow cytometric sorting of fine particles according to the above recovering method of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Techno Network Shikoku Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Hirano, Yoshinobu Baba
  • Patent number: 7404492
    Abstract: A hydrocyclone unit for separating a fibre pulp suspension containing relatively heavy contaminants has an elongate tapering separation chamber, an inlet member that feeds the suspension tangentially into the separation chamber at a base end, so as to form a vortex in the separation chamber, a reject fraction outlet at the apex end of the separation chamber for discharging a reject fraction containing heavy contaminants, and a central accept fraction outlet at the base end for discharging a central fraction containing fibres. A fluid injection member is adapted to inject a fluid tangentially into the separation chamber at a distance from the apex end which is at least 40% of the length of the separation chamber, such that the injected fluid increases the rotational speed of a portion of the vortex in the chamber to increase the separation efficiency with respect to fibres existing in the vortex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: GLV Finance Hungary KFT
    Inventors: Valentina Kucher, Jan Backman
  • Patent number: 7404490
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved apparatus and method for assembly for a cylindrical split-flow thin separation channel that is capable of continuously separating particles of interest from a suspension flowing through the channel. The apparatus provides better precision in the separation process by providing better flow characteristics at the inlet, outlet, and in the zone of separation. Splitter surfaces are provided that match the calculated theoretical Inlet Splitter Surface (ISS) and Outlet Splitter Surface (OSS). A flow distributor diverts the inlet carrier flow into a stable, circumferentially uniform, laminar annular flow. The design enables manufacturing and assembly methods to ensure precise alignment of the components to further improve the flow profiles within the separation channel and to ensure repeatability device-to-device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: SHOT, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Kennedy, Eric W. Taylor, John C. Vellinger
  • Publication number: 20080164186
    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: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Heon-Chan Kang, Kyoung-Rok Kong
  • Patent number: 7360655
    Abstract: A material handling system is provided. The material handling system includes a tank defining a reservoir for receiving a solid material, and a wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping solid material from the tank and subsequently discharging scooped solid material from the tank during rotation of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Thor Global Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Thor J. Johannsen
  • Patent number: 7357259
    Abstract: A material classifier for classifying a liquid-solid mixture containing solid material to be separated is provided. The material classifier includes a tank defining a reservoir for receiving the liquid-solid mixture, and a scoop wheel including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart scoops for scooping material from the tank and subsequently discharging the scooped material from the tank during rotation of the scoop wheel. A classification system and method of classifying material is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Thor Global Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Thor J. Johannsen
  • Patent number: 7341154
    Abstract: A water bath separator includes a tank for receiving a volume of water for forming a water bath having a top water surface and a light material conveyor path extending from the tank such that an upstream end of the light material conveyor path is closely below the top water surface when the tank is in filled operating condition. The light material conveyor path includes a sorting conveyor provided with a row of rotatable, driven shafts mutually spaced in a conveying direction and each extending transversally to that conveying direction. The shafts each carry a row of radially extending impellers for intermittently urging material on the sorting conveyor upward and in conveying direction, the impellers of each of said rows being mutually spaced in longitudinal direction of the respective shaft. The sorting conveyor has an upstream portion located in the tank such that an upstream end of the sorting conveyor is immersed in the water bath when the tank is in filled operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Bollegraaf Beheer Appingedam B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Boer
  • Patent number: 6827221
    Abstract: A mill classifier, particularly a roller mill classifier, has a strip rotor and a concentrically arranged guide vane ring with flow-optimized guide vanes and flow channels for a parallel incoming and outgoing flow without constriction or with widening and a diffuser effect. The flow-optimized guide vanes with an incident flow tube with vertical rotation axis and at least one guide plate are arranged adjustably for a tangential to radial incident flow of the strip rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Loesche GmbH
    Inventors: Horst Brundiek, Winfried Ruhkamp
  • Patent number: 6695147
    Abstract: This invention provides an extraction device and a method for extracting desired particles from a sample stream containing the desired particles. The device has a sample stream inlet, an extraction stream inlet, and an extraction channel in fluid communication with the sample stream inlet and the extraction stream inlet. The extraction channel is for receiving a sample stream from the sample stream inlet in adjacent laminar flow with an extraction stream from the extraction stream inlet. A sequestering material within the extraction channel captures desired particles in the extraction stream. A by-product stream outlet in fluid communication with the extraction channel receives a by-product stream comprising at least a portion of the sample stream form which desired particles have been extracted. A product outlet in fluid communication with the extraction channel receives a product which has the sequestering material and at least a portion of the desired particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Paul Yager, James P. Brody
  • Patent number: 6666338
    Abstract: A device for the separation of solid objects (9) from fluid flowing in a conduit tube (2) includes a housing that includes a tubular outer wall (3) and a tubular inner wall (4). Between these is delimited a collecting space (8). Concentrically relative to the inner wall (4) is provided a rotation-symmetrical central body (12) which at opposing ends cooperates with flow converting devices (15, 16), which transform incoming flow to a rotative motion and outgoing flow to an axial motion. In the inner wall (4) are recessed tangentially separated holes (20) of elongated shape, through which the scrap objects may pass and be collected in a collecting space (8). In the collecting space (8) a calm flow operation is obtained which guarantees that collected scrap objects are not carried away and returned to the main fluid flow through the separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Vattenfall AB
    Inventors: Mats Henriksson, Anders Lundström, Rolf Karlsson, Tapio Kaipanen, Johan Westin
  • Publication number: 20030019595
    Abstract: A method of draining water from low-consistency water-fiber suspensions, in which the water-fiber suspension is fed to a filtering surface comprising holes. The rougher fibers are first separated from the water-fiber suspension and fed to the filtering surface to form a separate filtering layer and the water-fiber suspension is led to flow through the filtering layer formed by the rougher fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Metso Paper, Inc.
    Inventor: Vesa Juutinen
  • Publication number: 20010022283
    Abstract: Dense, tramp material, is efficiently separated in a comminuted cellulosic fibrous material feed system, for example in a chemical cellulose digester feed system, in a simple but effective matter. By merely utilizing a generally vertical conduit and a slurry flow within it (which may be augmented by high speed liquid introduction), that is caused to turn in a radiused path, centrifugal force allows separation of the tramp material into a cavity beneath the radius transition without requiring any mechanical element to engage the slurry. Appropriate purges, baffles, and discharge mechanisms may be provided. Alternatively, a tramp material separator may be built into an otherwise conventional metering screw in a digester feed system, or one or more centrifugal separators can be provided downstream of the slurry pump in a chip slurry transport system or digester feed system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Applicant: Andritz-Ahlstrom Inc.
    Inventors: Vic L. Bilodeau, R. Fred Chasse, James R. Prough, C. Bertil Stromberg, Craig A. Walley
  • Patent number: 6273262
    Abstract: A device comprises a means for radiating ultrasound from one face of a chamber holding a sample solution containing particles to be concentrated, and a reflective face inclined to the face irradiated with the ultrasound. The frequency of the ultrasound radiated from the ultrasound radiating means is changed periodically and asymmetrically with the passage of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Yasuda, Takeshi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6193070
    Abstract: A solids separation system may be used to separate solids, such as cuttings from drilling fluids used in well drilling operations. The system includes a settling tank having transverse baffles defining a fluid receiving chamber, a fluid output chamber and one or more intermediate chambers. Fluid introduced into the fluid receiving chamber can flow in a sinuous path through apertures in the baffles to the fluid output chamber. Solids settle to the bottom of the settling tank. A material conveyor, preferably an auger, extends along a bottom surface of the settling tank to an outlet port in the fluid receiving chamber. A centrifuge is connected to the output port to receive fluid in which solids have been concentrated. Fluid output from the centrifuge is reintroduced into the settling tank. The apparatus and method of the invention permit a single centrifuge to be used to handle a higher volume of fluid than is possible with conventional methods and apparatus. This provides significant cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Grand Tank (International) Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Raymond Rowney, David King
  • Patent number: RE41762
    Abstract: The present invention provides a nanostructured 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 substrate 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: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: STC.UNM
    Inventors: Gabriel P. Lopez, Steven R. J. Brueck, Linnea K. Ista
  • 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