Including A Filter Patents (Class 210/295)
  • Patent number: 8440082
    Abstract: Method for the liquid solid separation of material mixtures and suspensions in which the material mixture under pressure is fed into a closed chamber having at least one filter surface and a hydrostatic pressure is generated within said chamber for separating the liquid phase. After separating the liquid phase the chamber is opened and the filter surface together with the filter cake is removed from said chamber. The material mixture firstly is treated by the means of hydrostatic pressure of about up to 0.2 bar, wherein 80 to 90% of the fed volume is removed as filtrate. Thereafter the concentrated remaining volume is drawn off and is further treated in the closed chamber with a pressure of up to 5 bar. By reducing the volume of the chamber finally with a pressure of up to 50 bar the remaining filtrate is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Inventor: Albert Bahr
  • Publication number: 20130086981
    Abstract: The invention provides an apparatus for discontinuous filtration of a liquid, having a filter station for filtration, a feed line for supplying the liquid to the filter station, and a filter medium movable relative to the station, the filter medium comprising at least two different membranes, which together in the filter station effect multistage filtration. The invention additionally relates to a method for discontinuous filtration of a liquid or for filtering isolated quantities of liquid, comprising: providing a filter station for filtration, the filter station comprising a chamber in which filtration is carried out; moving or transporting a filter medium from a stock into the filter station, the filter medium comprising at least two membranes which are arranged next to one another in the chamber; and supplying the liquid to the chamber, such that the liquid is subjected to multistage filtration through the membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: BAYER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Steigmiller, Karsten Sommer, Christoph Knappe
  • Publication number: 20130082012
    Abstract: Systems and methods are used to concentrate and extract platelets from blood, where an aggregation arrangement is configured to aggregate red blood cells in the blood. The aggregated red blood cells are provided to a separation arrangement which is configured to separate the aggregated red blood cells from platelets in the blood plasma. Finally a concentration arrangement is configured to concentrate the platelets for extraction and further use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Meng H. Lean, Armin R. Volkel, Huangpin B. Hsieh
  • Publication number: 20130081997
    Abstract: The separation membrane for seawater desalination pretreatment is a separation membrane for seawater desalination pretreatment used in pretreatment for seawater desalination with a reverse osmosis membrane, wherein a standard flux A is 2 m/d or more, which is defined as a maximum value of a flux that can satisfy P2?1.5×P1 where P1 and P2 represent an average intermembrane differential pressure, and a saccharide removal rate B or a granular carbon removal rate C expressed by a prescribed equation is 0.3 or more, and desirably 0.5 or more.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki KASHIHARA, Satoshi Yahagi, Shuji Hahakura
  • Patent number: 8409500
    Abstract: A bottle, a system and a method sterilize a liquid. The bottle has an interior to hold the liquid and an ultraviolet light emitting lamp that extends into the interior. A cord may be attached to the bottle so that pulling the cord may power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp and/or charge a battery used to power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp. The bottle may have a status light that indicates that the ultraviolet light emitting lamp may have an amount of power equal to or greater than a threshold value, such as, for example, an amount of power necessary for the ultraviolet light emitting lamp to operate for ninety seconds. The bottle may have a removable lid located opposite to the ultraviolet light emitting lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Neverest Travel Solutions
    Inventor: Eric James
  • Publication number: 20130075320
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus including an annular filter surrounding a waste treatment chamber, a first turbine drawing liquid up within the chamber and a second turbine driving liquid outwardly through the filter. In the method of treating organic waste, the chamber includes an ultraviolet lamp and a cylindrical baffle surrounding the chamber having a mirrored surface. The disclosed apparatus further includes anodic and cathodic plates surrounding the filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventor: E. Bayne Carew
  • Publication number: 20130075333
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for use in the treatment of produced water, e.g., water treatment in connection with hydrocarbon production operations. Silica in produced water produces undesirable scaling in processing equipment, which causes excess energy usage and maintenance problems. Electrocoagulation (EC) at relatively high water temperature, followed by any of membrane distillation (MD) or forward osmosis (FO), may be combined with a process of ceramic ultra-filtration (UF filtration) to treat water. Water to be treated may be produced water that has been pumped from a subterranean reservoir. The treated water may be employed to generate steam. The system comprises a plurality of units (e.g., EC, forward osmosis, membrane distillation unit, UF filtration, etc) which can be configured as an on-site installation or a mobile unit for on-site or off-site water treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Randall B. Pruet, De Quang Vu, Prakhar Prakash
  • Publication number: 20130071350
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a system for inducing an immune response against transformed, infected, or diseased tissue comprising a device for removing only components present in blood or plasma having a molecular weight of 120,000 daltons or less, having an inlet and outlet for connection to a pump and tubing to recirculate the blood or plasma of a patient through the device. Further, the present invention refers to methods of inducing an immune response against transformed, infected, or diseased tissue comprising administering to a patient blood, plasma, or a blood fraction from which only components having a molecular weight of 120,000 daltons or less have been removed, whereby administration of said blood, plasma, or blood fraction induces an immune response against transformed, infected, or diseased tissue in the patient until the transformed, infected, or diseased tissue is reduced in amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: Biopheresis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: M. Rigdon Lentz
  • Publication number: 20130068677
    Abstract: A filter cartridge for fuel, includes a first filter element and a second filter element, which is of a flat type and is located downstream of the first filter element with reference to a direction of the fuel, the filter elements are configured such as to be crossed in series by the fuel, in which the first filter element is a depth filter and has a mean porosity value which is greater than the porosity of the second filter element and which is such as to retain large-dimension paraffins and a part of smaller-dimension particulates, while enabling passage of small-dimension paraffins.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: UFI INNOVATION CENTER S.R.L.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Patent number: 8398864
    Abstract: A driven decanter assembly for a wastewater primary treatment system, comprising a longitudinal decanter disposable in the wastewater and having a longitudinal trough and a horizontal entrance weir, a polygonal or arcuate screen attached to the decanter and having at least two screen surfaces disposable below the surface of the wastewater outside of the trough, and a floating baffle pivotably mounted to the decanter and disposable in the wastewater outside of the screen. The driven decanter assembly can directly replace a prior art driven decanter in any waste water primary treatment system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Trans Terra Corporation
    Inventor: Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 8394241
    Abstract: A distillation-type drinking fountain includes a liquid providing unit having a liquid entry; a heat-exchanging tube having a liquid-incoming end, a liquid-outgoing end and a heat-exchanging room; a hot water tank having a body and a heating unit. The body has a heating room communicating with the liquid-outgoing end. A steam pipe has a first end and a second end, with the first end communicating with the heating room. A condensing unit has a condenser tube having one end communicating with the second end. A water-collecting container has a water-storing room communicating with another end of the condenser tube. An energy-saving heating unit includes an energy-saving heat-exchanging tube and a heating device. The energy-saving heat-exchanging tube includes a water-incoming end, a water-outgoing end and an energy-saving heat-exchanging room. An outlet valve communicates with the water-outgoing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Ariba Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Long-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 8377301
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating solids from a fluid. The apparatus includes a first container for receiving solids and fluid and a second container adjacently disposed to the first container in fluid communication therewith. The apparatus includes a conveying member extending upwardly from the bottom of the first container and angling upwardly through the second container such that the conveying member transports solids that settle to the sloped bottom portion of the first container from the first container and through the second container. A conveyor member housing may be disposed in the second container so as to provide an enclosure about the conveyor member to prevent solids that are being transported through the second container by the conveyor member from being deposited into the second container while permitting fluid that separates from the solids during transport to pass from the conveyor member housing and into the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: 4 M Welding, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas D. Miller
  • Publication number: 20130032542
    Abstract: The emergency personal portable water purifying apparatus can be used by individuals to purify water that has become contaminated by natural or man-made disasters. The apparatus is lightweight, self-contained, fits on most standard bottlenecks by using an expanding sealing collar integrated into the purifier and needs to extra power supply. The water is forced through the filter by pressure on the sides of the bottle or suction from the mouthpiece. The water purifier has a water inlet with a residue collection area and quick fitting changeable mouthpiece valve on the water outlet. Water is flocculated and large particles, residue and sediments are contained in the particular residue collection area. Water then passes through the micron net to remove remaining particles and is forced through the active carbon chamber via the spiral form to the water outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Moshe Golan
  • Publication number: 20130032518
    Abstract: A combination of a single-station reverse-osmosis (RO) device comprising a hemodialysis device (HD device) is characterized in that at least one cleaning chamber for the raw water and/or for the permeate is arranged, and that upon request by the HD device the permeate flows either via the water inlet valve into the HD device or via a flushing valve of the HD device to an outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventor: Manfred VÖLKER
  • Publication number: 20130020260
    Abstract: A device for the electrodeionisation of an aqueous electrolyte solution, comprising an electrodeionisation module (1), an ultrafiltration module (21, 22, 1201, 1202, 1203) and a connection piece (3, 10) which connects the electrodeionisation module (1) and the ultrafiltration module (21, 22, 1201, 1202, 1203) such as to be able to guide a diluate produced from said electrolyte solution during operation of said device in said electrodeionisation module (1) from said electrodeionisation module (1) to said ultrafiltration module (21, 22, 1201, 1202, 1203); wherein said connection piece (3, 10) comprises no adjustable pressure-maintaining valve. By means of the pressure drop occurring in the ultrafiltration modules (21, 22, 1201, 1202, 1203) these devices build up a counter pressure behind the electrodeionisation module (1) which is sufficient to ensure the packing density of the ion exchanger in the electrodeionisation module (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Christ Water Technology AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Johann, Thomas Menzel, Monique Bissen, Thomas Schramm, Christian Brand
  • Publication number: 20130023849
    Abstract: The present technology relates to methods and systems for the removal of pathogens and fragments thereof in hemodialysis patients. In particular, methods and systems are described where lectins can be used to remove the Hepatitis C virus and fragments thereof in hemodialysis patients, and to provide a sustained reduction in viral load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventor: AETHLON MEDICAL, INC.
  • Patent number: 8354030
    Abstract: A system for removing cyanotoxins and excess ions from contaminated water. Contaminated water passes from a storage tank (200), through a sand filter (210), through a reaction chamber (230), and finally through a carbon filter (270). The sand filter removes particulates and bacteria. The reaction chamber first destroys cyanotoxins, algae, and bacteria through the use of high voltage shocks applied between two groups of electrodes (285, 285? then the voltage on the electrodes is lowered and electrolysis is used to sequester free ions in the water in the region near the electrodes. Partially treated water is removed from the upper portion of the reaction chamber and passed through a carbon filter (270) to remove radiation, and improve taste and smell. The water is then potable. The water remaining in the reaction chamber is discarded into a reservoir (265).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Inventor: Allen John Schuh
  • Publication number: 20130001162
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for desalinating water is presented. The invention relates to recovery of water from impaired water sources by using FO and seawater as draw solution (DS). The seawater becomes diluted over time and can be easily desalinated at very low pressures. Thus, a device consumes less energy when recovering water. The apparatus, system and method comprise an immersed forward osmosis cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: Victor Yangali-Quintanilla, Zhenyu Li, Rodrigo Valladares Linares, Gary Amy
  • Patent number: 8337704
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for the manipulation of a liquid sample material in which magnetic microparticles are suspended whereby the microparticles have a functionalized surface and an analyte is bound to the surface. The sample material is introduced into a device with a liquid system through an injection device (50) and in a first mobile phase the sample material is carried to an extractor (90). In a first section (97a) of the extractor (90) the microparticles are immobilized by means of a magnetic field of a controllable device (96) and separated from the remaining sample material. By switching over of a switching unit (110) a second mobile phase (75) is carried to the extractor (90) and the second mobile phase (75) detaches the adsorbed analyte from the surface of the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vogeser
  • Patent number: 8337705
    Abstract: Described are a device and a method for the manipulation of a liquid sample material in which magnetic microparticles are suspended whereby the microparticles have a functionalized surface and an analyte is bound to the surface. The sample material is introduced into a device with a liquid system through an injection device (50) and in a first mobile phase the sample material is carried to an extractor (90). In a section (97) of the extractor (90) the microparticles are immobilized by means of a magnetic field of a controllable means (96) and separated from the remaining sample material. By switching over of a switching unit (110) a second mobile phase (75) is carried to the extractor (90) and the second mobile phase (75) detaches the adsorbed analyte from the surface of the microparticles. The second mobile phase (75) with the dissolved analyte(s) can be analyzed by way of chromatographic separation (130) and subsequent detection (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vogeser
  • Publication number: 20120312732
    Abstract: It is described a kit for treating a systemic inflammatory related disease comprising a) a high permeability filter having a pore size designed to let inflammatory mediators to pass and b) means to retain said mediators but not serum albumin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: BELLCO S.r.l.
    Inventors: Mauro Atti, Mary Lou Wratten
  • Publication number: 20120305468
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes: a mixing element having a mixing tank in which water is mixed with a flocculant added thereto; a flocculation element having a cylindrical flocculation tank into which the water discharged from the mixing element is introduced, and in which the water is kept unexposed to the atmosphere, a for-treatment water inlet which introduces the water to be treated into the flocculation tank from a lower part of the flocculation tank in a tangential direction so as to produce a swirl flow, and a for-treatment water outlet discharging the water to be treated from the upper part of the flocculation tank; and a solid-liquid separation element into which the water to be treated after discharge from the flocculation element is introduced from the flocculation element without being exposed to the atmosphere, and in which the water to be treated is subjected to solid-liquid separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Shigeru Sato, Yoshiaki Obune
  • Patent number: 8318017
    Abstract: A membrane distillation bioreactor (100) is provided for treating contaminated inflow such as wastewater. A contaminated inflow may be treated by biodegrading a contaminant in the inflow with a biological agent in the bioreactor to produce a lower contaminant inflow, which may be distilled, by membrane distillation, through a distillation membrane (108) in fluid communication with the bioreactor, to produce an outflow. The inflow may be wastewater. The outflow may be purified water. In one embodiment, the membrane may be located in the reaction chamber of the bioreactor vessel (102) and may be submerged in the mixed liquor. In a different embodiment suitable for wastewater treatment, the membrane may be located external to the bioreactor. The bioreactor may be aerobic or anaerobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Nanyang Technological University
    Inventors: Anthony G. Fane, Jirachote Phattaranawik, Fook-Sin Wong
  • Publication number: 20120292241
    Abstract: A plant for the treatment of biological sludges with recovery of secondary raw materials and energy including, in a system architecture, a feed section (1) of biological sludges and a feed section (2) of primary and secondary raw materials required for operation of the plant, characterized in that it includes a section (3) for the treatment of biological sludges wherein, through a reactor (303), a process of alkaline protein lysis is performed at medium-low temperature, through dosage of a calcium or sodium hydroxide, obtaining a suspension including a protein broth and a suspended body composed of the calcium or sodium hydroxide, of the non-solubilized organic fraction and of the particulate of the hydroxides of the polluting metals contained in the sludges and wherein, through a forced filtration device (304) of the suspension, separation of the liquid protein lysate from the cake of suspended particulate is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: D.T.A. SRL
    Inventors: Giorgio Bertanza, Maria Cristina Collivignarelli, Pier Francesco Ravasio
  • Publication number: 20120292235
    Abstract: A treatment device for stormwater is provided that comprises a container which in use contains a growing medium and a hydrodynamic separator located within the container. The hydrodynamic separator comprises a separation chamber, an inlet duct extending from the outside of the container to the separation chamber, a solids outlet; and a liquid outlet that opens into the container. In use, liquid flow containing solids enters the separation chamber through the inlet duct and is caused to swirl within the separation chamber, thereby causing solids to exit the separation chamber through the solids outlet and liquid to exit the separation chamber through the liquid outlet and to flow into the growing medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Jeremy FINK, Andrew Pearson Nancollis, Robert Yaw Gyamfi Andoh, Keith Garry Hutchings
  • Patent number: 8313649
    Abstract: A method of starting up a filtration plant for the filtration of a process liquid, after cleaning of the filtration plant, and a filtration plant which is arranged to be able to started up in accordance with this method. A secondary liquid supply unit connected to the post-treatment equipment during the starting up of the plant provides a flow of e.g. sterilized water to the post-treatment equipment, so that this can be held in a condition in which it is ready for operation. Thereafter, the process liquid is led to the filtration equipment, and the flow of liquid from the secondary liquid supply unit to the post-treatment equipment is shut off when a flow of filtered process liquid is obtained, and which thereafter replaces the liquid from the secondary liquid supply unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Svend Emil Himmelstrup Hansen
  • Publication number: 20120261340
    Abstract: A process of producing an injection water stream of controlled salinity and controlled sulfate anion content that is suitable for injection into an oil bearing formation of an oil reservoir, the process comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a source water having a total dissolved solids content in the range of 20,000 to 45,000 ppm and a sulfate anion concentration in the range of 1,000 to 4,000 ppm, preferably, 1,500 ppm to 4,000 ppm to a desalination plant that comprises a plurality of reverse osmosis (RO) membrane units and a plurality of nanofiltration (NF) membrane units wherein the source water is pressurised to a pressure in the range of 350 to 1250 psi absolute, and dividing the source water to provide a feed water for the RO membrane units (hereinafter “RO feed water”) and a feed water for the NF membrane units (hereinafter “NF feed water”); (b) if necessary, increasing the pressure of the RO feed water to a value in the range of 900 to 1250 psi absolute before introducing the RO feed water to the RO m
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 8282824
    Abstract: A fuel filter having a filter element for filtering out particles and water from a fuel flowing through the fuel filter and having a water drainage unit for conveying filtered-out water out of the fuel filter, in which the water drainage unit is embodied as a stand-alone unit that may be separated from the filter element as needed. Also a semipermeable membrane that is permeable to water rests flat on a support. Alternatively or in addition, the water drainage unit is provided with a porous element for the evaporation of the separated water. In another embodiment two water-permeable semipermeable and hydrophilic membranes are provided. Finally, the filter element is embodied essentially in the form of a hollow cylinder in which at least part of the water drainage unit may be situated on the interior of the hollow cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Brielmann, Carlos J. Blasco Remacha, Miguel Granda, Matthias Gaenswein, Vasco Gomes Gama
  • Patent number: 8282880
    Abstract: A bottle, a system and a method sterilize a liquid. The bottle has an interior to hold the liquid and an ultraviolet light emitting lamp that extends into the interior. A cord may be attached to the bottle so that pulling the cord may power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp and/or charge a battery used to power the ultraviolet light emitting lamp. The bottle may have a status light that indicates that the ultraviolet light emitting lamp may have an amount of power equal to or greater than a threshold value, such as, for example, an amount of power necessary for the ultraviolet light emitting lamp to operate for ninety seconds. The bottle may have a removable lid located opposite to the ultraviolet light emitting lamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Neverest Travel Solutions
    Inventor: Eric James
  • Patent number: 8277407
    Abstract: Artificial kidney for gradual, and at least semi-continuous, blood treatment, wherein a blood stream is fed from a body of a living human or animal being into the artificial kidney, where anticoagulation is first effected, blood cells and molecules of large and medium molecular weight, such as proteins, are then primarily separated from plasma and fed back to the blood stream, regulating a water and salt balance by diverting excess plasma water and further removing from the blood stream, plasma or plasma water accumulated and toxic substances, by removal of specific electrolytes and waste products and wherein purified or partially purified plasma and plasma water is being carried back to the blood tract of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Relitech B.V.
    Inventors: Henk van Middendorp, Jacobus Cornelis Musters, Franciscus Peter Houwen
  • Publication number: 20120241376
    Abstract: A process for removing selenium is described in which selenium is removed from an aqueous source for discharge into a lake, pond, river or stream by a combination of biological reduction of selenium followed by adsorption. The aqueous source first passes through a bioreactor which reduces the selenium compounds in solution to organic selenium and selenide. An adsorber, such as activated carbon, is then used to remove the organic selenium and selenide from solution. Optionally, a pump introduces a carbon source such as molasses to the bioreactor to initiate and sustain microbiological metabolic processes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Louis Baldwin, JR., Robert Louis Baldwin, SR., Thomas Charles Jageman, JR., John Andrew Owsiany, Ryan Michael Schubenski, Joseph Wayne Swearman
  • Publication number: 20120234744
    Abstract: A filtration system for a container, such as a fish pond, can include mechanical and biological filtering in a self-contained apparatus for attachment to a submersible centrifugal pump. The filtration system includes a base assembly, to which at least one mechanical filter can be attached, and which can accommodate biological media such as Bio-Balls. The mechanical filters can be a foam material, cylindrically shaped and detachable from a lid portion of the base for easy access without disturbing the biological media. A fountain sprayer mechanism, controlled by a two-way control valve, can optionally be used to provide a decorative effect. The filtration system and pump are easily separated when the pump requires maintenance without disturbing the natural ecosystem. By connecting two or more base assemblies in series, via a base coupling mechanism, the user can achieve increased filtering without the necessity to purchase and install additional pumps.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Applicant: General Foam Plastics Corporation
    Inventor: GARY LAWSON
  • Publication number: 20120228207
    Abstract: A plasma filter is provided for separating aggregates and targeted blood cell species from plasma comprising a filter housing with an inlet and an outlet and an internal flow path between the inlet and outlet. A filter media is disposed in the flowpath between the inlet and the outlet for filtering plasma that passes therethrough. The filter media comprises a filter configured to substantially remove targeted blood cell types from the plasma and a prefilter upstream of the filter, the prefilter having at least one reinforcement layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Inventors: Jean Marie Mathias, Yves Poubeau
  • Patent number: 8262640
    Abstract: An improved biological fluid filtration system is shown having, seriatim, a blood container, a biological fluid filtration device downstream of the blood container, and a blood receiving container downstream of the biological fluid filtration device; a bypass line is provided to allow fluid communication between the blood container and the blood receiving container, the bypass line includes a loop, the loop of the bypass line being configured to be disposed above the blood container at a sufficient height to prevent the passage of fluid around the leukocyte depletion device; the loop of the bypass line being disposed in a tube support device, the tube support device being configured to support substantially the entire weight of the biological fluid filtration system without substantially crimping said bypass line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hemerus Medical LLC
    Inventors: Majid Zia, Anthony J. Angelo, Craig M. Wilson
  • Publication number: 20120205309
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a method for separating a solvent from an object solution includes the solvent and a solute is provided. The method includes preparing a forward osmosis membrane having a first surface and a second surface, and contacting the first surface of the membrane with the object solution and contacting the second surface with a liquid for collection. A substance having solidity is configured to exert a force for transferring the solvent in the object solution to the membrane, and disposed on the second surface of the membrane and/or dispersed in the liquid for collection to transfer the solvent in the object solution from the first surface to the liquid for collection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Kenji Sano, Hideyuki Tsuji
  • Publication number: 20120201938
    Abstract: Systems and methods remove and manage heavy metals. In one implementation, an exemplary method can be applied to food processing and food consumption to remove heavy metals such as mercury, lead, uranium and cadmium before absorption by a living organism. The exemplary method exposes the food to a heavy-metal binding ligand, such as a concentrated protein or phytic acid, to form a heavy-metal chelate, and then allows the chelate to separate from the food. In another implementation, an exemplary probe possesses innovative molecular layers on its surface to detect and quantify heavy metals by attracting and binding traces of the heavy metals on a ligand layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: ANNE SCHWARTZ
  • Publication number: 20120197174
    Abstract: An extracorporeal filtration and detoxification system and method generally comprise separating ultrafiltrate from cellular components of blood, treating the ultrafiltrate independently of the cellular components in a recirculation circuit, recombining treated ultrafiltrate and the cellular components, and returning whole blood to the patient. A recirculation circuit generally comprises an active cartridge including active cells operative to effectuate a selected treatment; in some embodiments, the active cells are the C3A cell line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: John D. Brotherton, Dar He
  • Publication number: 20120184940
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to improved bioartificial kidneys (BAKs), and in certain embodiments to improved bioartificial kidneys that are portable and/or wearable by a user. In some embodiments, the BAKs may comprise an ultrafiltration unit and a reabsorption unit. The reabsorption unit may contain a reabsorption membrane having a layer of renal proximal tubule cells disposed thereon, where the renal proximal tubule cells selectively allow solutes to pass through the reabsorption membrane. In some embodiments, at least the reabsorption unit may be configured as a substantially flat-plate filtration device, which can impart advantageous properties such as improved maintenance of the renal proximal tubule cell layer, more facile monitoring of the renal proximal tubule cell layer as well as enhanced profile for wearability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Jackie Y. Ying, Edwin Pei Yong Chow, Jeremy C.M. Teo, Karl Schumacher, Jeremy Ming Hock Loh, Rosa Yue Qi, Qunya Ong
  • Patent number: 8211304
    Abstract: A coolant filtration system and method for use with one or more metal working machines. The system includes a housing, pump, conveyer assembly, drum assembly, and centrifugal separator. The housing includes a tank that receives and holds coolant coming out of the one or more metal working machines. The pump is used to drive the coolant through the coolant filtration system. A part of the conveyer assembly is disposed within the housing in order to carry-away workpiece chips from the coolant. The drum assembly is located near the conveyer assembly in order to filter the coolant. The centrifugal separator receives coolant processed by the conveyor and drum assemblies. The system can further include one or more fine filters for additional filtering of the coolant outputted by the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: JK Industries, LLC
    Inventor: Keith Alan Urban
  • Patent number: 8206558
    Abstract: A processing apparatus (1) for the processing of process or industrial wastewaters is provided. The processing apparatus (1) has an evaporator (4) in which a tube bundle heat exchanger is provided, whose pure distillate side is connected to a separating apparatus for separating the distillate from floating organic phase or similar free liquid constituents. This separating apparatus is intended to collect the floating organic phase from the condensate, in order that this phase can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). In addition, the vapor mixture is conducted from the separating apparatus (8) to a recuperator (3) and cooled to such an extent that the water, the volatile solvents and the organic material dissolved in the vapor can be condensed and discharged separately or can be sucked back into the evaporator (4). This allows significantly better distillate qualities to be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: H20 GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Fickenscher, Daniel Ladenberger
  • Publication number: 20120145624
    Abstract: A water filter cartridge includes a hollow cylindrical first filter for removing particulates and other foreign matter from the water and comprising an axial space, an open outlet at one end, and a closing cap at the other end; a second filter for filtering chlorine, odor, color, and organic contaminants from the water and disposed in a lower portion of the space, the second filter being a hollow cylinder and comprising an open bottom, an open top, and an axial space; and a cylindrical filtering block for removing microorganisms from the water and disposed between the outlet and the second filter, the filtering block comprising a waterproof layer on an outer surface and a sponge member filled in a space defined by the waterproof layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventor: Min-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 8197684
    Abstract: Device designed to desalinate brackish water which performs said function by the combined action of magnetic fields generated inside the device and ion-selective membranes, thus obtaining two separate water currents, one with a low salt concentration and the other reject current with a high salt concentration. It comprises an external cylindrical body of magnetized iron (1), an inner body also cylindrical and made of the same material (2) and an intermediate chamber (3) in which are placed a series of ion-selective membranes (6 and 7) arranged radially around the axle common to all of the bodies, and placed alternately such that each negative-ion selective membrane has a positive-ion selective membrane on either side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Inventors: Pedro Penas Ballester, Francisco Javier Abad Garrido
  • Patent number: 8187474
    Abstract: In at least some embodiments, a system for removing contaminants from fluids includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The system also includes a fluid pump between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet and a filter material between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The filter material comprises a dual-valence polymer with negative valence monomer groups and positive valence monomer groups, the negative valence being stronger than the positive valence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventors: Mark C. Freeman, Jon J. Freeman, Clarence S. Freeman
  • Publication number: 20120125841
    Abstract: Filtration apparatus (102) is provided for the treatment of waste water, sewage and/or effluent. The apparatus includes a housing (4) having at least a first filter layer (16) provided therein. The first filter layer (16) includes biological filtration-means including one or more organisms and a substrate material to filter waste water, sewage and/or effluent located thereon, passing thereover or therethrough in use. The apparatus includes at least a second filter layer (20) for filtering fluid that has passed through the at least first filter layer. The second filter layer (20) includes an absorbent material that is different to the substrate material of the at least first filter layer (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Inventor: Colin Gavin Edward Webb
  • Publication number: 20120103905
    Abstract: A microfiltration method and system for treating production water, for example, from oil and gas operations so that the treated water can be put to a beneficial user(s) such as agriculture, irrigation, industrial or municipal or potable applications. The production water is treated using a ceramic microfilter after pretreatment, for example, to remove volatile hydrocarbons and heavier oils, such as paraffins and asphaltenes, that could foul the ceramic filter. The effluent from the ceramic microfiltration can be further treated, for example, with activated charcoal or otherwise for the intended end use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Applicant: PRODUCED WATER DEVELOPMENT, LLC
    Inventor: David Rakestraw Stewart
  • Publication number: 20120097585
    Abstract: A filter canister is described that includes at least one filter element and a casing formed about the filter element and having sufficient strength to be used in place of a pressure vessel. The filter canister can have first and second ends. A collector tube can be disposed within the filter element to collect permeate from the filtered fluid. Two or more of the filter canisters can be fluidly coupled in a filtration system. The filter canister can be produced by spool winding a material about the filter element and an end piece to form a casing that can harden in place.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Applicant: ADVANCED ENERGY SAVING SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Dennis Chancellor, John Blackman
  • Publication number: 20120097616
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a hydrocyclone for cleaning cellulose suspensions from light impurities i.e. a so called reverse hydrocyclone, having a base end and an apex end and a separation chamber having an elongated shape between the base end and the apex end, at least one inlet arranged at the base end and at least one underflow outlet at the apex end and at least one overflow outlet at the base end. The overflow outlet is provided with an additional, light reject outlet arranged concentrically to a length axis of the hydrocyclone. The invention also concerns a system and a method for producing and/or treating cellulose suspension comprising at least a reverse cleaning stage and at least a dewatering stage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventors: Jan Backman, Valentina Kucher
  • Publication number: 20120085712
    Abstract: A filter apparatus includes a first sample material section. A second filter section, with a second filter, is connected with the first sample material section and a third filter section, with a third filter, is connected with the second filter section. A retaining vessel is provided within which the first sample material section, the second filter section and the third filter section fit and a lid is included that is conformed to connect with the retaining vessel such that the lid seals the retaining vessel when connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Moss
  • Publication number: 20120055888
    Abstract: Removable and replaceable outlets for point-of-use showers or faucets, filter devices, and methods and systems including the outlets and/or filter devices, are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: PALL EUROPE LIMITED
    Inventors: Alastair J. Hunter, Timothy J. Wilkinson
  • Publication number: 20120048790
    Abstract: The device for producing ultrapure water according to the reverse osmosis principle, comprising a reverse osmosis filter which is subdivided by the RO membrane into a primary circuit and into a secondary circuit, and a pump for the primary circuit, and a flow resistance means required downstream of the RO membrane for pressure build-up in the primary circuit, is characterized in that at least one cleaning chamber with decalcification means and a discharge valve are located in the primary circuit and that the flow in the primary circuit is adjustable via a valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventor: Manfred Völker