Divided Filtered, And Unfiltered Liquid Passages Patents (Class 210/433.1)
  • Patent number: 11738352
    Abstract: A system and method sorts particles suspended in a fluid. The system includes a transverse flow filter and a microfluidic sorter. The transverse flow filter concentrates the particles in a retained portion of the fluid. The microfluidic sorter sorts the particles and includes a delivery channel and at least one sorting stage. The delivery channel is dimensioned to permit passage of all the particles in the retained fluid from the transverse flow filter. The delivery channel delivers the particles in the retained fluid to a respective input for each sorting stage and exhausts a remainder of both the particles and the retained fluid at a drain output. Each sorting stage has a labyrinth of interconnected passageways dimensioned to permit passage from the respective input to a respective output for the sorting stage of those of the particles smaller than a respective size for the sorting stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Patrick Craig Sims, Teresa Emery-Adleman, Andrew B. Sabater, Robert D. George, Kara C. Sorensen, Anna Obraztsova, Pamela A. Boss
  • Patent number: 11565262
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising a channel within a substrate and a condenser or a hydrodynamic focusing chamber along the channel, configured to focus a fluid containing particles of a plurality of sizes. A negative angle deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) array is configured to receive the focused fluid and separate the particles in the focused fluid into three sizes ranges. The negative angle DLD array comprises a plurality of rows of pillars, wherein the rows of pillars are positioned to repeat a pattern every N rows with a shift of M columns, N and M are relatively coprime, and N is greater than 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Sung-Cheol Kim, Stacey Gifford, Benjamin Hardy Wunsch, Joshua T. Smith
  • Patent number: 10086123
    Abstract: An extracorporeal system for liver dialysis comprises a filter device having hollow fibers with integrated ion-exchange particles and hydrophobic adsorbent particles in the filtrate space. The system can be used for the treatment of acute liver failure and acute-on-chronic liver failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Arne Welzel, Markus Storr, Bernd Krause, Hermann Goehl, Ralf Flieg
  • Patent number: 9782694
    Abstract: Systems and methods for treating a stream comprising hydrocarbons and an aqueous-based liquid are provided. The systems and methods may utilize a media composite comprising a mixture of a cellulose-based material and a polymer. In certain systems and methods, the media composite is capable of being backwashed. The stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be separated by contacting the stream with the media composite. In certain system and methods, the stream comprising the hydrocarbons and aqueous-based liquid may be coalesced by contacting the stream with the media composite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: SIEMENS ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Chad L. Felch, Matthew R. Patterson, Shane P. Wiercinski, Eric A. Lorge
  • Patent number: 9687770
    Abstract: A fluid filtering device includes a casing, a fluid filter, an input pipe, an output pipe, an input pressure gauge, an output pressure gauge, and an automated fluid drain controller. The outer input and output ends of the input and output pipes, and the control output end of the automated fluid drain controller are located outside the outer surface of the plates, and the input and output gauge heads are mounted at the outer surface of the plates. By such arrangements, the pressure difference between input and output pressure can be checked readily, so as to maintain the filtering efficiency while reducing the risk of danger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Inventor: Po-Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 9039899
    Abstract: Separation processes using osmotically driven membrane systems are disclosed generally involving the extraction of solvent from a first solution to concentrate solute by using a second concentrated solution to draw the solvent from the first solution across a semi-permeable membrane. Enhanced efficiency may result from using low grade waste heat from industrial or commercial sources. Pre-treatment and post-treatment may also enhance the osmotically driven membrane processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: OASYS WATER, INC.
    Inventor: Robert L. McGinnis
  • Patent number: 8999153
    Abstract: A liquid waste treatment system is described. The system may include a first treatment conduit, a second treatment conduit, and at least one junction pipe disposed there between. In some instances, the system may include an upper junction pipe and a lower junction pipe disposed between a first and a second treatment conduit. In one or more embodiments, the system may be arranged in a substantially linear arrangement, such as a straight trench arrangement or a serial distribution arrangement. The system may reduce the need for additional treatment conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Presby Patent Trust
    Inventor: David W. Presby
  • Publication number: 20150075494
    Abstract: A filter device is provided with a housing and an absorption material received in the housing. The absorption material absorbs and stores a water fraction of a liquid being passed through the absorption material. A bypass is arranged in the housing so that the absorption material can be bypassed. A throttling device correlated with the bypass controls flow through the bypass. The throttling device is a passive throttling element or an adjustable valve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Sascha Bauer, Markus Beylich, Karlheinz Muenkel
  • Publication number: 20150068987
    Abstract: Fluid filtration systems that have openings in their sump closures are provided. Spouts for processed fluid may be added to direct flow of processed fluid. The spouts may be attached, permanently or removably, to the sump closures or to media cartridges. The system comprises: an inlet, an unprocessed fluid outlet, and a processed fluid outlet; a sump housing and a sump closure operatively associated therewith, the processed fluid outlet being located through the sump closure; a media cartridge located in the sump housing, the media cartridge providing processed fluid upon contact with unprocessed fluid; and a diverter. Flow of processed fluid may be directed through any desired angle when a rotatable structure is included in the system. Filtration systems may easily be cleaned and/or sanitized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Laurence W. Bassett, Thomas J. Hamlin, Robert E. Astle
  • Patent number: 8956543
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein relate to a fluid distribution apparatus. The fluid distribution apparatus has a housing including an inlet configured to receive a drilling material, a first outlet configured to direct a first portion of the drilling material onto a first separatory surface, and a second outlet configured to direct a second portion of the drilling material onto a second separatory surface. The fluid distribution apparatus further includes a screen disposed within the housing and configured to separate solids from the second portion of the drilling material directed through the second outlet onto the second separatory surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Brian S. Carr, John Fedders
  • Patent number: 8951415
    Abstract: The present invention presents a filtration system with an integrated manifold valve. The filtration system employs only one pivotal component—the pivoting of the manifold. The manifold valve includes a dual aperture design for a two-fold alignment scheme with the ingress and egress lines of the fluid source. The invention is free of multi-component rotary valve with internal, rotatable parts, or an activation component, such as a handle, for initiating the rotary valve, allowing the user to rotate the rotational components thereof. The reduction in moveable components in this design reduces the likelihood of failure and increases the reliability of the filtration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: KX Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Sherman, Lori Foix, Steven J. Haehn, Erik R. Klimpel, David W. Fisher, David T. Bardwell, Steven K. Wilson, James B. Larson, Stephen P. Huda, Frank A. Brigano
  • Patent number: 8945383
    Abstract: The present invention presents a filtration system with an integrated manifold valve. The filtration system employs only one pivotal component—the pivoting of the manifold. The manifold valve includes a dual aperture design for a two-fold alignment scheme with the ingress and egress lines of the fluid source. The invention is free of multi-component rotary valve with internal, rotatable parts, or an activation component, such as a handle, for initiating the rotary valve, allowing the user to rotate the rotational components thereof. The reduction in moveable components in this design reduces the likelihood of failure and increases the reliability of the filtration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: KX Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Sherman, Lori Foix, Steven J. Haehn, Erik Robert Klimpel, David William Fisher, David T. Bardwell, Steven Karl Wilson, James Boyer Larson, Stephen P. Huda, Frank A. Brigano
  • Patent number: 8905960
    Abstract: A device for the filtration of a complex fluid composition such as blood, includes a base (12) with a bottom (18), a top (14) with a bottom (30), and a membrane (16) that is arranged between the base and the top so as to define a low chamber C1 and a high chamber C2, with an input tap (26) of the complex composition that is to be filtered emptying into the low chamber C1, an output tap (28) of the retentate with elements for adjusting the flow rate emptying into this same low chamber C1, and an output tap (36, 36-1) of the high chamber C2, whereby this output tap (36, 36-1) of the permeate is subjected to negative pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Direction et Priorites
    Inventors: Francis Gadrat, Bertrand Chastenet
  • Patent number: 8889071
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating plasma by which plasma can be separated from a small amount of whole blood cell sample without centrifugation is disclosed. This apparatus includes a blood channel through which blood flows; and a plasma channel through which plasma separated from said blood flows. The plasma channel is arranged at least partially in parallel with said blood channel and the blood channel and the plasma channel are at least partially in contact with each other along the longitudinal direction of the channels. Blood is made to flow at a flow rate at which blood cell components in the blood flowing through the blood channel axially accumulate and at which hemolysis does not occur. The plasma moves to the plasma channel after being separated into a blood cell layer and a plasma layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Institute of Microchemical Technology Co., Ltd., The University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Arata Aota, Takehiko Kitamori
  • Patent number: 8883006
    Abstract: A fluid treatment system for treating feed water includes a first tubular member having first and second ends, at least one second tubular member having first and second ends, a pump positioned within the first tubular member, a filtering membrane positioned within the second tubular member, a first end cap for receiving the first ends of the first and second tubular members, and a second end cap for receiving the second ends of the first and second tubular members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kinetico Incorporated
    Inventors: Jerome Kovach, Stuart L. Park, Peter R. Halemba
  • Patent number: 8852433
    Abstract: Device (5) for filtering blood including a filter unit (7) having a blood filter, an inlet (8) for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient and a blood outlet (9) for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient, and having a filtrate container (6,14), that encloses the filter unit (7), for receiving filtrate (12) passing through the blood filter during a filtering process and that the filtrate container (6,14) is a closed container, which in a filled state is arranged to establish a counter-pressure over the blood filter, whereby the filtering process is interrupted. The invention also concerns a system including the above device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Anders Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8828233
    Abstract: A multi-ported vessel system includes an outer pressure vessel containing a plurality of flow distribution tubes, each of which comprises a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements aligned serially within each tube. The outer pressure vessel includes bypass flow paths whereby feed water flows around each of the tubes within the vessel. Slots are disposed in the flow distribution tubes at the upstream end of each RO membrane element such that feed water reaches all RO membrane elements of the tubes in parallel. The serial alignment of the membranes also allows for serial water processing also. A product water tube collects the purified water from the reverse osmosis elements and provides it to a product water port. Brine water is provided to an output port to be discarded of for further processing. The parallel processing of feed water by all membrane elements results in increased productivity and reduced costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: MegaVessals, Inc.
    Inventor: Hany Armia Said
  • Patent number: 8764982
    Abstract: Disclosed is a membrane separation device comprising a plurality of flat membrane elements (52) arranged in parallel to one another so as to form channels for a solution to be treated therebetween, and a collecting case (59) having a collecting space that is formed internally and communicates with filtrate flow channels of the membrane elements (52). The collecting case (59) includes a membrane element holder (53) having a plurality of slits, into which the sides of respective membrane elements (52) are inserted, and a stopper (58) which abuts on the membrane element holder (53) in the collecting case (59), and a filler (55) is provided in the slits to attach and watertightly seal between the membrane elements (52) and the membrane element holder (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Tomokazu Kitano, Hidetoshi Masutani, Yasunobu Okajima
  • Patent number: 8746283
    Abstract: Faucet diverter valves for use, for example, with faucets and water filtration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Aquasana, Inc.
    Inventors: Steffen Koury, James McGee, Chien Hun Yang
  • Patent number: 8741132
    Abstract: Device (V) for catching rainwater from a downpipe (F) comprising an opening (11), a branch pipe (5) with a sickle-shaped water-catching blade (12) comprising two halves at the end, a support member (1) traversed by the branch pipe (5) and a retainer. The branch pipe (5) engaging into the opening (11) with the water-catching blade (12) placed in the downpipe, and wherein the downpipe (F) can be fixed in the area of the support member (1) covering the opening (11) by means of the retainer (H). The retainer (H) comprises at least one undercut engagement hook (17) that can be passed through the opening (11), and an engagement hook tensioning system (S) interconnected between the support member (1) and the engagement hook (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Otto Graf GmbH
    Inventor: Otto P. Graf
  • Patent number: 8715495
    Abstract: Included in this disclosure is a downspout drain filter for rain gutter downspouts. The downspout drain filer comprises elongated housing having an axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion. A transition portion connects the top portion to the bottom portion. The top portion includes an intake opening, a top portion perimeter, a debris opening, a filter attachment location, and a downspout attachment location. The downspout attachment location includes a flexible collar that defines a downspout attachment location perimeter that is less than the top portion perimeter. The bottom portion includes a flexible collapsible body that extends from the transition portion. A connection end is positioned opposite the transition portion as a part of the bottom portion. A filter is positioned in the top portion to direct debris out the debris opening and to permit liquid to pass to the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8663474
    Abstract: A non-blocking filtration system wherein the suspension filtered continuously scrubs the filter, keeping it free of deposits of solid deposits while the filtrate is removed in a variety of biological and chemical applications, substantially reducing the cost of unit operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Therapeutic Proteins International, LLC
    Inventor: Sarfaraz K. Niazi
  • Patent number: 8656947
    Abstract: A self-evacuating vertical downspout adapter includes an elongated adapter body defining open top and bottom ends, and an enlarged-volume debris trap with a debris outlet between the top and bottom ends. A drainage grate is located inside the adapter body and defines a drain-through floor of the debris trap angled downwardly towards the debris outlet. A hinged outlet door is attached to the adapter body adjacent the debris outlet, and is urged in a normally closed position to prevent substantial escape of rainwater through the debris outlet. The outlet door is adapted for being pivoted on-demand to a temporarily open position by debris captured on the drainage grate and gravity-fed towards the debris outlet for automatic evacuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Inventor: Lewis Barton
  • Patent number: 8647503
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a fuel delivery system for actuators and fuel control system of an aircraft engine includes a wash flow filter. Fuel flow velocity is increased through the filter through use of a recirculating passage that is effectively achieved through use of an ejector pump. A portion of the pressurized fuel delivered by the main fuel pump is diverted and serves as a motive fluid that scavenges unfiltered flow from downstream of the filter and recirculates or discharges the recirculated flow to an inlet of the filter. This provides increased velocity to maintain sufficient washing of the filter openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Industrial Corporation
    Inventors: Martin A. Clements, Robert Nyzen, John P. Ogger, William T. Flynn
  • Patent number: 8617392
    Abstract: Device (5) for filtering blood including a filter unit (7) having a blood filter, an inlet (8) for blood to be filtered and being connectable to an artery of a patient and a blood outlet (9) for filtered blood and being connectable to a vein of the patient, and having a filtrate container (6,14), that encloses the filter unit (7), for receiving filtrate (12) passing through the blood filter during a filtering process and that the filtrate container (6,14) is a closed container, which in a filled state is arranged to establish a counter-pressure over the blood filter, whereby the filtering process is interrupted. The invention also concerns a system including the above device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventor: Anders Nilsson
  • Patent number: 8617394
    Abstract: This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Nagare Membranes, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy V. Ratto, Jason K. Holt, Alan W. Szmodis
  • Patent number: 8608955
    Abstract: An automatic strainer assembly for straining a slurry comprises an inlet for receiving the slurry, a horizontally disposed strainer body in fluid communication with the inlet, and a rotatable strainer member received within the body having an inner surface and an outer surface. One or more scrapers are positioned for removing material from the outer surface of the strainer assembly. A collection vessel is positioned substantially below the body for receiving material scraped from the outer surface of the strainer member. A transport member can be provided for returning the scraped material to the slurry supply for reprocessing thereof. An outlet expels the strained slurry. A manual or automatic washdown system is provided for removing the slurry from the strainer member. A radial bearing assembly and radial seal are associated with the drive shaft of the strainer member to prevent galling. A method for processing a slurry is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: TM Industrial Supply, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl A. Steiner, Yousif A. Khalid Al-Abdullah, Ricky L. Jackson
  • Patent number: 8603021
    Abstract: An ultrafiltration filter for an extracorporeal blood circuit having an input for blood withdrawn from a human patient and a blood output for filtered blood to be infused into the patient including: a filter body having a length of at least 20 centimeters (cm) and an interior diameter of no greater than 1.5 cm; an input at a first end of the body to receive the withdrawn blood; an output at a second end of the body to discharge the filtered blood; a filter membrane in the body defining a blood passage through the body, wherein the membrane has an active filter membrane surface area of no greater than 0.2 meters squared (m2) and the filter membrane blocks passage of blood molecules having a molecular weight cut of greater than 60,000 Daltons and a volume of the blood passage in the filter being less than two percent of a cardiac output of the patient, and an ultrafiltrate output to the body and open to a side of the filter surface area opposite to the blood passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Gambro UF Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Howard R. Levin, Mark Gelfand, John O'Mahony, Hans-Dietrich Polaschegg
  • Patent number: 8568589
    Abstract: Provided are a connection member capable of preventing leakage from a supply side to a permeating side from occurring by a simple means; and a separation membrane module using the connection member. The connection member (20) is used to connect in series a plurality of separation membrane elements equipped with end surface holding members (36) and to install the separation membrane elements in a pressure-resistant vessel (38). The connection member (20) is characterized in that, when the separation membrane elements are connected to each other, the connection member is engaged with respective grooves (36b) of the end surface holding members (36) adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Uda, Toshimitsu Hamada, Masashi Beppu, Shinichi Chikura, Nobuharu Tahara, Masakatsu Takata
  • Patent number: 8557116
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for separating particles and dissolved matter from a fluid stream. Specifically, the present invention includes a first pressure source which transports untreated fluid into a separator annulus with a filter element disposed therein. The untreated fluid is placed under appropriate pressure sufficient to produce turbulent flow, increased particle kinetics and/or cavitation physics allowing the desired fluid to penetrate and pass into and through the filter media. The filtered fluid is then transported to a collection tank. The contaminant particulate matter retained by the filter media may be removed by the instantaneous reverse pressurization of the separator annulus by a second pressure source thereby removing the contaminant particles away from contact with the filter media, and which may then be transported to a waste collection tank or a concentrator for further treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Tervita, LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Ford Johnson, Markley Dean Johnson, Rodney Grage
  • Patent number: 8535536
    Abstract: A split thin-flow separations device can include a fluid channel having an inlet zone, an outlet zone, and a transport region between the inlet zone and outlet zone. The inlet zone includes a sample inlet and a carrier fluid inlet which are fluidly separated by an inlet splitter to minimize mixing of fluids from respective inlets in the inlet zone. The transport region can be a substantially open channel. Similar to the inlet zone, the outlet zone can include a sample outlet and a carrier outlet which are fluidly separated by an outlet splitter to segregate portions of a fluid into each of the two outlets as the fluid enters the outlet zone. A plurality of cross-flow inducers can also be oriented along a wall of the fluid channel in the transport region. The cross-flow inducers are oriented to form a cross-flow field across the transport region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: University of Utah Research Foundation
    Inventors: Bruce K. Gale, Himanshu Sant, Venu Madhav, Srinivas Merugu
  • Patent number: 8524083
    Abstract: A filter device and a method for the filtration of beer, where, for an improved and simplified filtration, the filter includes a nonfiltrate chamber having a nonfiltrate inlet and a nonfiltrate outlet, wherein the nonfiltrate flows into the nonfiltrate chamber substantially tangentially to the walls thereof, and the bottom of the nonfiltrate chamber is constructed at least partially as a filter. The filter also includes a filtrate chamber underneath the bottom, and a filtrate outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Inventors: Klaus-Karl Wasmuht, Cornelia Folz, Kurt Stippler, Thomas Albrecht, Heinz Humele, Michael Thomas Stein
  • Patent number: 8505741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water filter, having a filter head and an interchangeable filter cartridge, with a blend-adjusting element which is located on the filter cartridge. The water filter is distinguished in that during the operation of installing the interchangeable filter cartridge in the filter head, the blend-adjusting element is positioned together with the filter cartridge on the filter head via adjustable or fixed drivers. In a further embodiment, the water filter is distinguished in that an adjusting device comprises an untreated-water distribution element arranged in or on the filter head and a partial-flow channel guiding element which is complementary with respect thereto and is arranged in or on the filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme GmbH, Lindau Zweigniederlassung Rebstein
    Inventors: Roland Scholz, Andreas Wawrla
  • Patent number: 8496810
    Abstract: A device for being received within a downspout of a rain gutter assembly is provided. The device is configured for being received in a downspout of the type having an inlet at a top portion thereof and an outlet at a bottom portion thereof. The device includes a housing defining a longitudinally extending passageway for allowing flow of uncollected water therethrough, at least one laterally extending collection aperture defined in the housing for allowing flow of collected water therethrough, a collection chamber in communication with the at least one drain for collecting water, and a drain outlet in communication with the chamber for allowing flow of collected water therethrough. A storage tank such as a flexible bladder may also be provided. The storage tank may be in communication with a siphon pump assembly. The storage tank may also be provided with a camouflaging pattern and ultraviolet and rot resistant materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rainflex, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Bradley Forrest
  • Patent number: 8496118
    Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle de la Vallee de l'Aigues—S.I.V.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 8475654
    Abstract: Included in this disclosure is a downspout drain filter for rain gutter downspouts. The downspout drain filer comprises elongated housing having an axis, a top portion, and a bottom portion. A transition portion connects the top portion to the bottom portion. The top portion includes an intake opening, a top portion perimeter, a debris opening, a filter attachment location, and a downspout attachment location. The downspout attachment location includes a flexible collar that defines a downspout attachment location perimeter that is less than the top portion perimeter. The bottom portion includes a flexible collapsible body that extends from the transition portion. A connection end is positioned opposite the transition portion as a part of the bottom portion. A filter is positioned in the top portion to direct debris out the debris opening and to permit liquid to pass to the bottom portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey E. Smith
  • Patent number: 8470168
    Abstract: A heat exchanger system through which a liquid can flow, including a heat exchanger including a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a bypass valve including a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, and a self-cleaning filter including a liquid inlet and two liquid outlets, one being an outlet for filtered liquid and one being an outlet for non-filtered liquid. The outlet for filtered liquid is connected to the inlet of the exchanger and the outlet for non-filtered liquid is connected to the inlet of the valve. The outlet of the heat exchanger is connected downstream of the outlet of the valve. A fuel circuit of an airplane jet engine can include such a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: SNECMA
    Inventor: Gilles Brun
  • Patent number: 8440085
    Abstract: Devices and methods for separating plasma from biological fluids such as blood and blood products are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bormann, Mikhail Fomovsky, Galina Fomovska
  • Patent number: 8438788
    Abstract: A rainwater collection apparatus is formed with an outer sleeve member that is adapted to connect with upper and lower downspout portions, and with an internal colander that is operable to collect and filter the rainwater flowing through the upper downspout portion. The colander has an upper flanged edge that removes water flowing along the inside surface of the downspout, a filter area including a plurality of apertures for the passage of rainwater into a catch basin, and a support flange that rests on a base ledge formed on the outer sleeve to define the catch basin. A discharge spout drains the collected rainwater from the catch basin to a remote storage container. An internal opening in the colander allows the passage of debris and the overflow of rainwater from the catch basin through apertures in the colander for discharge through the lower downspout portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Euramax International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Bell, John J. McNichol, Joseph K. Wolf, J. Michael Connelly
  • Patent number: 8430835
    Abstract: A renal therapy blood cleaning system includes: a blood filtering device in communication with an extracorporeal circuit; a first pump configured to pump fluid to the blood filtering device; a second pump configured to pump fluid from the blood filtering device; a balance chamber in fluid communication with first and second lines, the first and second lines in fluid communication with the first and second pumps, respectively, the balance chamber configured to exchange like volumes of fresh and spent fluid; a plurality of valves; and a control scheme programmed to operate the plurality of valves to enable spent fluid taken from the balancing chamber through one of the first and second lines to be recirculated to the balance chamber through the other of the first and second lines to compensate for a volume of fresh fluid delivered to the blood filtering device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Kelly, Waleed M. El Sayyid
  • Publication number: 20130087496
    Abstract: A disposable filtering unit includes a tube having a connection portion and an outlet respectively located on two ends thereof, and the connection portion is connected to a faucet body. The tube has a first path unit and a second path unit which has a filtering unit. A valve unit is located on a side of the tube so as to change direction of water flow to guide water to enter the first path unit and flow out from the outlet, or to enter the second path unit and flow out from the outlet via the filtering unit. The tube can be disengaged from the faucet body and disposable, and the filtering unit filters water to ensure that the water is clean.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Yao-Tung Chen
  • Patent number: 8414515
    Abstract: A conduit tube (90) that communicates with an intracardiac blood inflow port (50) and a liquid medicine injection port (72) and allows blood from the intracardiac blood inflow port and a liquid medicine from the liquid medicine injection port to flow into a cardiotomy section (2) is inserted from above downward in the cardiotomy section 2. A blood flow channel (93) for the flow of blood and a liquid medicine flow channel (95) for the flow of a liquid medicine are formed independently of each other in the conduit tube. With respect to the vertical direction, the lower end of a blood conduit tube portion (94) that forms the blood flow channel is located at a lower position than the lower end of a liquid medicine conduit tube portion (96) that forms the liquid medicine flow channel. This prevents the generation of negative pressure in the liquid medicine flow channel due to the flow of blood. It also reduces the resistance to the inflow of a liquid medicine into the cardiotomy section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: JMS Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Katsuno, Minoru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8413817
    Abstract: A non-blocking filtration system wherein the suspension filtered continuously scrubs the filter, keeping it free of deposits of solid deposits while the filtrate is removed in a variety of biological and chemical applications, substantially reducing the cost of unit operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Therapeutic Proteins International, LLC
    Inventor: Sarfaraz Khan Niazi
  • Patent number: 8404118
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter unit for purification of impure water, which could be seawater intended for ballast water, pool water, waste water or the like. The purification is performed by means of filter modules comprising filter means with dead end filter elements of a sintered material, and the filter unit facilitates alternating backwashing of the filter means at the same time as the filter unit may perform filtration of the impure water. The invention likewise relates to use of a dead end filter element in a de-gassing version, the filter element comprising a top end, a bottom end and a plurality of substantially parallel arranged channels with blockings in different ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: S R Light APS
    Inventor: Povl Kaas
  • Patent number: 8404110
    Abstract: An apparatus for diverting rainwater includes a body having a top portion, a bottom portion, and a central portion. A diverter is disposed within the central portion, and has a lower portion and an upper portion. The lower portion of the diverter, together with one or more walls of the body, defines a containment configured to capture rainwater that enters through the top portion. An opening in at least one of the walls of the body is configured to divert rainwater from the containment. The body also includes a bypass flow area extending through the central portion adjacent to, and separate from, the containment, where the bypass flow area has a cross-sectional area that is substantially equal to or greater than a cross sectional area of the top and bottom portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Fiskars Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew P. Block
  • Publication number: 20130048552
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device, in particular for fluids polluted with admixtures of water, such as diesel oil, comprising a filter housing (1) which has a fluid inlet (43) and a fluid outlet (44) and in which at least one filter element (9) can be received. During the filtering process, the respective fluid can flow through the filter medium (11) of the filter element from the unfiltered side (14) to the filtered side (13) of the filter medium, which surrounds an inner filter cavity (17). On at least one side of the filter medium (11), a water-separating system (23) having a separating region (25) for separated water is present. The water separating system is connected via at least one water opening (35) that is open toward the separating region (25) to a water collecting chamber (45), and the filter element (9) has a passage (29) that forms a fluid connection to the inner filter cavity (17) and can be connected to an element receptacle (47) of the filter housing (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Richard Eberle, Micha Kreibig, Markus Dewes
  • Publication number: 20130020240
    Abstract: An appliance for washing objects is disclosed that effectively and energy-efficiently filters oil-based residue from a fluid such as washing fluid that drains from a basin in the appliance. In one illustrative embodiment, an appliance includes a novel filter assembly for filtering oil-based residue out of the washing fluid. The filter assembly includes a filter layer composed of a material that is both oleophilic and hydrophobic. The filter assembly forms part of a fluid distribution system that has different configurations. A first configuration allows for recirculating filtered wash fluid from an outlet of the filter assembly back into the basin of the appliance. A second configuration allows for draining both the washing fluid from the outlet of the filter assembly and the oil-based residue from a bypass zone of the filter assembly to an appliance outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Paul Matthew, Ramasamy Thiyagarajan, Nikhil Subhashchandra Tambe, Duraiswamy Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 8356714
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating particles includes a first planar wall and a spaced apart second planar wall parallel to the first planar wall. The first planar wall and the second planar wall define a passage therebetween, which is disposed along a fluid flow axis. A first plurality of spaced apart elongated ridges extends into the passage from the first planar wall. The first plurality of spaced apart elongated ridges is disposed along a diagonal direction relative to the fluid flow axis. When a fluid is moved through the passage in a direction corresponding to the fluid flow axis, particles of a first type will tend to move in a first direction that is diagonally away from the fluid flow axis and particles of a second type, different from the first type, will tend to move in a second direction that is different from the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Sulchek, Alexander Alexeev, Gonghao Wang
  • Publication number: 20120318728
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device, in particular for fluids polluted with admixtures of water, such as diesel oil, comprising a filter housing (1) which has fluid connections in the form of a fluid inlet (51) and a fluid outlet and in which at least one filter element (9) can be received. During the filtering process, fluid can flow through the filter medium (11) of the filter element from the unfiltered side (13) to the filtered side (19) of the filter medium, which surrounds an inner filter cavity (17). On one side of the filter medium (11), a water-separating device (26) and a separating region (27) for separated water are present, and the filter element (9) has a passage (43) that forms a fluid connection to the filter cavity (17) and at least one water opening (47) that is open toward the separating region (27). The filter element can be fixed to an element receptacle (29) of the filter housing (1) and can be connected to a water collecting chamber (33).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Richard Eberle, Micha Kreibig
  • Patent number: 8313656
    Abstract: A variable wash flow filter assembly includes guide that is operable to guide a wash velocity control cone between a minimal position and a maximum position. The guide defines at least one activation deltaP window downstream of a conical gap between the wash velocity control cone and a frusto-conical wash filter. The fuel flow through the conical gap and the activation deltaP window is operable to position the wash velocity control cone between the minimal position and maximum position to selectively split a fuel flow through an inlet into a burn flow through a thru flow port and a filtered flow thru the frusto-conical wash filter and filtered flow port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Gibbons, Francis P. Marocchini, Tomas R. Leutwiler