Patents Examined by Bradley R Spies
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Patent number: 11478749Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method of use for concentrating a solution that is eluted from an ion exchange process (elution solution) during an ion exchange regeneration using the osmotic pressure of the salt saturator. This method recovers solvent from the elution solution that could be used in a future ion exchange regeneration process. The concentration of the elution solution may include the precipitation and removal of solids from the elution solution.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of ReclamationInventors: Miguel Salvador Arias-Paic, Julie Ann Korak
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Patent number: 11458240Abstract: A blood component collection system, which is one form of a biological component collection system, is equipped with a centrifugal separation device and a biological component collection device. The biological component collection device comprises a pressed soft portion pressed by a load detecting unit. The centrifugal separation device includes a collection and returning pump, and a control unit having an internal pressure computation unit which calculates a circuit internal pressure of the biological component collection device on the basis of a detection value of the load detecting unit. The internal pressure computation unit performs a zero reset process of setting a pressure value corresponding to the detection value of the load detecting unit, so as to become zero at each instance of a predetermined timing at which the collection and returning pump is stopped.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2018Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: TERUMO KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Masatsugu Igarashi
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Patent number: 11453601Abstract: A frac sand separator system includes a sand separator having an inlet fluidly connected to a well for receiving a fracking return mixture from the well. The sand separator is configured to separate water of the fracking return mixture from particulate matter of the fracking return mixture. The sand separator includes an outlet. The frac sand separator system includes a collection container fluidly connected to the outlet of the sand separator for receiving the particulate matter from the sand separator. At least one outlet valve is fluidly connected between the outlet of the sand separator and the collection container. The frac sand separator system includes a computing device operatively connected to the at least one outlet valve. The computing device includes a processor configured to automatically open the at least one outlet valve such that the particulate matter is released from the sand separator into the collection container.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: SPM Oil & Gas PC LLCInventors: Roger Johns, Eric Iwasenko, Matthew B. Green, Andres Felipe Perilla, Jeffery Shaun Daniels
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Patent number: 11447716Abstract: A system and method for extracting essential oils is provided. One embodiment comprises an extractor assembly with an extractor cover, an extractor container, and an extractor assembly base, wherein the extractor container is secured between the extractor cover and the extractor assembly base during an extraction process; a bowl cover assembly with a collection bowl, and a bowl cover assembly base, wherein the collection bowl is secured between the extractor assembly base and the bowl cover assembly base during the extraction process; and a canister compression holder assembly, wherein a cannister containing a solvent is secured within the canister compression holder assembly during the extraction process. A solvent that is released from the cannister passes into the extractor container that contains matter that is to have essential oils extracted therefrom. The extracted oils exits the extractor assembly base into the collection bowl that collects the solvent with the essential oils.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Inventor: Mark Herwig
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Patent number: 11447412Abstract: A portable, multi-step apparatus and method for producing potable water in remote locations.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: TANMAR RENTALS, LLCInventors: Steven Anton McCune, Jeffery Paul LeBlanc, Gary Wayne Bledsoe
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Patent number: 11446611Abstract: The present invention addresses the problem of providing a separating membrane mainly comprising a thermoplastic resin having high permeability. The present invention relates to a separating membrane including a thermoplastic resin, wherein the width of voids in the separating membrane is at least equal to 1 nm and at most equal to 1000 nm, and the curvature rate of the voids is at least equal to 1.0 and at most equal to 6.0.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2018Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.Inventors: Koichi Takada, Gohei Yamamura, Hiroki Eimura
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Patent number: 11440825Abstract: A waste treatment process utilizes a two-stage digestion process with a thermophilic digester, a heat exchanger, and a mesophilic digester. The pH of the thermophilic digestate is increased by removal of carbon dioxide with an air stripper, or by adding a pH increasing reagent upstream of the heat exchanger. The pH adjustment of the digestate protects the heat exchanger and downstream equipment and processes from struvite formation. A struvite reactor may be located in various locations downstream of the heat exchanger to produce a treated digestate or effluent that contains struvite, which can optionally be recovered for beneficial use.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2018Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Schwing Bioset, inc.Inventors: Charles M. Wanstrom, Thomas M. Anderson, Wim H. M. Moerman
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Patent number: 11440826Abstract: A process for purifying washing waters of a production plant of the cosmetics sector includes subjecting the washing waters to an ultrafiltration treatment that produces an ultrafiltration concentrate and ultrafiltration water, and subjecting ultrafiltration water to a biological treatment with separation of sludges to be disposed of or further treated and treated water to be disposed of or to undergo subsequent treatments.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2019Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: P.I.ECO S.R.L.Inventors: Pietro Medolago Albani, Giovanni Andrea Medolago Albani, Federico Alessandro Medolago Albani, Alessandro Medolago Albani
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Patent number: 11439953Abstract: A process for separating solvent from a feed solution, said process comprising: contacting a feed solution comprising solutes dissolved in a solvent with one side of a nanofiltration membrane, applying hydraulic pressure to the feed solution, such that solvent and some of the dissolved salts from the feed solution flow through the nanofiltration membrane to provide a permeate solution on the permeate-side of the nanofiltration membrane and a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the nanofiltration membrane; contacting the permeate solution from the nanofiltration membrane with one side of a reverse osmosis membrane and applying hydraulic pressure to the permeate solution, such that solvent from the permeate solution flows through the reverse osmosis membrane to leave a concentrated solution on the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane, using the concentrated solution from the retentate-side of the reverse osmosis membrane as at least part of the feed solution to the nanofiltration membrane;Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2020Date of Patent: September 13, 2022Assignee: Surrey Aquatechnology LimitedInventors: Peter George Nicoll, Brian James Moore
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Patent number: 11433358Abstract: The present application discloses a composite reverse osmosis membrane and a preparation method thereof. The method includes: uniformly mixing fluorine-containing polyaryletherketone of a certain concentration and silane-modified polyaryletherketone as a casting solution; coating a non-woven fabric, i.e., a substrate, with the casting solution to form a support layer; then coating the surface of the support layer with a solution A and a solution B sequentially for reaction to form a polyamide desalination layer; and coating the polyamide desalination layer with a modified polyvinyl alcohol anti-pollution layer. By means of the method, the composite reverse osmosis membrane is prepared.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2018Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Jiangsu Bangtech Environmental Sci-Tech Co. LTDInventor: Huiyu Zhao
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Patent number: 11434149Abstract: The devices, systems, and methods of the present disclosure are generally directed to using an increase in gas pressure (e.g., through an increase in heat) to move an actuator that at least partially defines a volume containing a feed fluid in fluid communication with a membrane. As the increase in gas pressure moves the actuator, pressure on the feed fluid in the volume may increase beyond a threshold pressure sufficient to move the feed fluid through the membrane. Movement of the feed fluid through the membrane may reduce a volumetric concentration of one or more components of the feed fluid to form a permeate. For example, the increase in pressure may drive the actuator to increase pressure on salt-water in the volume and, ultimately, move the salt-water through the membrane to form the permeate as part of a reverse osmosis process achieved without the use of a mechanical pump.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Peter Godart, Douglas P. Hart
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Patent number: 11433401Abstract: A purification system and method may include a container receiving portion, pump, and magnetic field generating element. The container receiving portion may be configured to receive and support a container containing a mixture. Magnetic beads may be added to the container for separating a target substance from a remainder of the mixture. The magnetic field generating element may be movable relative to the container receiving portion between a non-working position remote from the container receiving portion and a working position adjacent an outer periphery of the container receiving portion. In the working position, the magnetic field generating element may attract the magnetic beads and hold them firmly against an interior surface of the container. While the magnetic beads are immobilized by the magnetic field generating element, the pump may remove the mixture from the container, leaving behind the magnetic beads bound tightly but reversibly to the target substance.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2020Date of Patent: September 6, 2022Assignee: AMGEN INC.Inventors: Craig Michael Schulz, Justin James Provchy, John Kasajja Kawooya
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Patent number: 11426699Abstract: Many hand-held diagnostics are limited in their functionality due to the challenging physics associated with small dimensional systems. An example of this is capillary forces in hydrophilic systems, such as the tight retention of liquid passing through a small pore filtration membrane, or capillary force driven microfluidics where, to keep liquid flowing the dimensions of the system become so small that the flow rates are too low to be useful, or the manufacturing of such devices becomes uneconomical. This disclosure details methods to ‘reset’ the capillary force condition to avoid the requirement of transient pressure spikes associated with the breakthrough pressure of small pore membranes, and avoid the necessity of extremely small microfluidic channels, which can be useful in applications such as filtration of whole blood to plasma using only suction pressure or passive capillary pressure.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 30, 2022Assignee: GattaCo Inc.Inventor: Michael Ryan McNeely
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Patent number: 11419964Abstract: The present invention relates to a dialysis machine having an extracorporeal blood system; a dialysis fluid system having a dialyzer; having a control unit, wherein the dialysis machine furthermore comprises a balancing chamber having two balancing chamber halves for a balanced infeed and draining of dialysis fluid to and from the dialyzer, wherein a line is provided through which the dialysis fluid is conducted to the balancing chamber, and wherein a mixing chamber is provided in which the fresh dialysis fluid or a component thereof is located and which is directly or indirectly connected to a de-airing line closable by a valve; wherein the dialysis machine has a control unit that is configured such that the control unit opens and closes the valve once, or a number of times, in the operating state of the special air separation of the dialysis machine when the balancing chamber half of the balancing chamber in fluid communication with the named line is in its high-pressure phase.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2017Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignee: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBHInventor: Tobias Irrgang
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Patent number: 11413558Abstract: The instant invention, in one aspect, provides a process for decontaminating water to remove contaminants, said process comprising passing contaminated water through a filter comprising a plurality of filtering elements capable of lowering the contaminants by at least 70%. In another aspect is provides a filtering unit comprising a plurality of filtering elements arranged in individual layers, said individual layers independently selected from brick chips, hemp fibers, mixture of hemp fibers and charcoal, agave, jute fibers, sand, filter paper, and gravel.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Inventor: Gautham Parangusa Das
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Patent number: 11414626Abstract: Surfactants capable of releasing and/or dissolving polymers to form water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer solutions are disclosed. In addition, polymer compositions containing a water-in-oil emulsion comprising the surfactant are provided and can be used, for example, in methods of dissolving a polymer. Also disclosed are detergent compositions and methods of cleaning articles and/or membranes using the surfactants herein. These surfactants and polymer compositions can be used in various industries including for water clarification, papermaking, sewage and industrial water treatment, drilling mud stabilizers, and enhanced oil recovery.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2019Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.Inventors: Ashish Dhawan, Carter Martin Silvernail, Sukhwan Soontravanich, Keith Allen Monk, Michael L. Braden, Paige Mary Owens, Kerrie Elizabeth Walters, Ali Marie Bichler, Izabela A. Owsik, David Myers
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Patent number: 11406940Abstract: This specification describes a method for lowering the content of monovalent ions in a final concentrate of a nanofiltration system relative to a brine and a corresponding nanofiltration system. The nanofiltration system comprises at least three stages of nanofiltration, wherein the concentrate from each segment flows into the next segment. A feed stream is sent into one stage to generate a concentrate stream, and a first portion of the concentrate stream is recirculated to the one stage. The pH of the feed stream is controlled in a range of 2-7. The temperature of the feed stream is in a range of 20-60° C. The feed stream includes the recirculated concentrate stream and at least part of a concentrate generated from an upstream stage. The method and the system described herein can reduce the concentration of monovalent ions in the final concentrate during a nanofiltration separation process.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Jianwen Zhai, Min Luo
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Patent number: 11406744Abstract: The disclosed subject matter relates to extracorporeal blood processing or other processing of fluids. Volumetric fluid balance, a required element of many such processes, may be achieved with multiple pumps or other proportioning or balancing devices which are to some extent independent of each other. This need may arise in treatments that involve multiple fluids. Safe and secure mechanisms to ensure fluid balance in such systems are described.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, Dennis M. Treu, Daniel Joseph Rubery, Jr., Scott W. Newell, James M. Brugger, William J. Schnell, William K. Weigel, Steven A. White, Mark T. Wyeth, Jerome James, David Desouza, Joseph E. Turk, Jr., Garrett Casey
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Patent number: 11407667Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a system and methods for the separation and removal of carbon dioxide from seawater. The system includes an extraction system that collects carbon dioxide from the seawater through a medium, and removes carbon dioxide from the medium; the extraction system comprising a reactor and a membrane. Alternatively, the extraction system includes a reactor, a membrane and a catalyst.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Inventor: Christopher R. Moylan
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Patent number: 11407666Abstract: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are destroyed by oxidation in supercritical conditions. PFAS in water is concentrated in a reverse osmosis step and salt from the resulting solution is removed in supercritical conditions prior to destruction of PFAS in supercritical conditions.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Stephen H. Rosansky, Michael Miller, Patrick Norris, Darwin Argumedo, Douglas Hendry, Ian Haggerty, Keith Brown, Joshua James, Joseph Casciano, Slawomir Winecki, Vivek Lal, Tom McGuinness