Patents Examined by Cameron Allen
  • Patent number: 9726397
    Abstract: A device, method, and system may recover, treat, and reuse condensate that is produced by climate control equipment. Minerals that are beneficial for both the intended use of the condensate and the formation of persistent ozone containing bubbles may be introduced into the condensate. An ozone containing gas may be introduced in to the condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: DripCycle, LLC
    Inventors: Chad Martin, Robert Joseph Wieland
  • Patent number: 9725338
    Abstract: A method for treating effluent provides the effluent as an input to an apparatus having a vortex diode with aeration. The apparatus induces a cavitation assisted with aeration for the high rates of ammoniacal nitrogen in an orifice and the vortex diode with or without inserts/stabilizers to generate radicals, which reduce ammoniacal nitrogen of wastewater effectively during effluent treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Vivek Vinayak Ranade, Amol Arvind Kulkarni, Vinay Manoharrao Bhandari
  • Patent number: 9725690
    Abstract: An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as animal cells from fluid-cell mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of falling cells as the cells coalesce, agglomerate, and the weight of the agglomerated mass overcomes the drag and ultrasonic standing wave forces in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter M. Presz, Jr., Bart Lipkiens, Jason Dionne, Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 9718715
    Abstract: Provided is a water treatment device that suppresses the degradation of electrodes in a capacitive de-ionization treatment section and is capable of maintaining high water treatment capability. The water treatment device includes an activated carbon treatment section that receives an inflow of water having a total organic carbon concentration of 100 mg/l or less and adsorbs and removes organic matters contained in the water; and, on the downstream side of the activated carbon treatment section, a capacitive de-ionization treatment section including a pair of electrodes to which voltages having polarities opposite to each other are applied, a flow path, and ion exchange membranes. Ions contained in the water are adsorbed to the electrodes with voltages applied thereto, and voltages reverse to the voltages at the time of ions adsorption are applied to the electrodes to release the ions from the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HITACHI POWER SYSTEMS ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhide Kamimura, Hozumi Otozai, Kosuke Shigiishi, Hideo Suzuki, Hiroshi Nakashoji
  • Patent number: 9713803
    Abstract: Method and device for changing the properties of at least one liquid medium, in which method the liquid medium is exposed in at least one container to vibrations in the low-frequency power ultrasonic range and, to regulate the flow speed of the liquid material in the container in which the liquid medium is present for ultrasonic irradiation and/or to regulate the internal pressure of the container, the cross-section inside a line upstream of an inlet of the container in the direction of flow and/or downstream of an outlet of the container in the direction of flow is varied by means of at least one pinch valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: DR. HIELSCHER GMBH
    Inventors: Harald Hielscher, Thomas Hielscher, Holger Hielscher
  • Patent number: 9701955
    Abstract: A system having improved trapping force for acoustophoresis is described where the trapping force is improved by manipulation of the frequency of the ultrasonic transducer. The transducer includes a ceramic crystal. The crystal may be directly exposed to fluid flow. The crystal may be air backed, resulting in a higher Q factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: FloDesign Sonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Jason Dionne, Walter M. Presz, Jr., Thomas J. Kennedy, III
  • Patent number: 9688549
    Abstract: This disclosure of a liquid treatment device includes a first metal electrode having a part disposed in a reaction tank into which a water being treated is filled, a second metal electrode disposed in the reaction tank, an insulator having an opening portion disposed to surround the first metal electrode so that a closed space is formed. A bubble is generated from the closed space to the water being treated via the opening portion. The liquid treatment device also includes a gas supply device that supplies the space with a gas for generating the bubble, and a power supply that applies a voltage between the first metal electrode and the second metal electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shin-Ichi Imai, Hironori Kumagai, Mari Onodera
  • Patent number: 9689079
    Abstract: The present invention provides a permanent and cost-effective composite electrode for electrolytically producing alkaline water, comprising an electrode core made of steel, a filler densely packed around the electrode core, said filler capable of creating a mildly aqueous and alkaline environment to motivate formation of a layer of magnetite over a surface of the electrode core, and a housing enclosing the filler, said housing having a pore size selected such that very low permeation of gas and liquid takes place. The invention also provides an apparatus comprising the composite electrode, and the use of the alkaline water produced by the apparatus of the invention. According to the invention, no additional undesired side products, such as toxic chlorine gas and other pollutants, are produced and discharged to the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ECOSPEC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY PTE LTD.
    Inventor: Hwee Hong Chew
  • Patent number: 9688958
    Abstract: A series of multi-dimensional acoustic standing waves is set up inside a growth volume of a bioreactor. The acoustic standing waves are used to hold a cell culture in place as a nutrient fluid stream flows through the cell culture. The nutrient fluid stream dislodges some cells from the cell culture, which can then be recovered for cell therapy applications. The cell culture continues to expand and reproduce, permitting continuous recovery of cells from the bioreactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: FLODESIGN SONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Bart Lipkens, Louis Masi, Stanley Kowalski, Chris Leidel
  • Patent number: 9682875
    Abstract: Contaminants are removed from untreated raw water or discharge water by applying direct current through an array of spaced, alternately charged electrodes positioned within and electrically isolated from a housing to eliminate or minimize clogging of the electrodes with precipitated contaminants. The housing is surrounded with container structure that cooperates with the housing to define an inlet chamber positioned between the source of untreated water and the housing containing the spaced array of electrodes. The container structure further includes an outlet chamber defined between the housing and the container structure for accumulating and draining water treated by the spaced electrode array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ELECTRO CHEMISTRY, LLC
    Inventor: David J. Rigby
  • Patent number: 9686096
    Abstract: A method for separating a second fluid or a particulate from a host fluid is disclosed. The method includes flowing the mixture through an acoustophoretic device comprising an acoustic chamber, an ultrasonic transducer, and a reflector. The transducer includes a piezoelectric material driven by a voltage signal to create a multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber. A voltage signal is sent to drive the ultrasonic transducer in a displacement profile that is a superposition of a combination of different mode shapes that are the same order of magnitude to create the multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave in the acoustic chamber such that the second fluid or particulate is continuously trapped in the standing wave, and then agglomerates, aggregates, clumps, or coalesces together, and subsequently rises or settles out of the host fluid due to buoyancy or gravity forces, and exits the acoustic chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: FLODESIGN SONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Benjamin Ross-Johnsrud, Evgenia Zabolotskaya, Yurii Ilinskii
  • Patent number: 9675951
    Abstract: A slurry treatment material containing solid particles mixed in liquid is finely pulverized, without using dispersion media, by flowing the treatment material into a vessel and through an annular fine gap formed between an inner wall of the vessel and an outer periphery face of a rotatable body mounted within the vessel. Rotation of the rotatable body subjects the treatment material to compression, expansion and shearing treatments. After passing through the annular fine gap, the treatment material flows into an ultrasonic chamber where it is irradiated with ultrasonic waves that break up and disintegrate agglomerated clumps of solid particles that may be present in the treatment material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: INOUE MFG., INC.
    Inventors: Yoshitaka Inoue, Junichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9675902
    Abstract: An acoustic standing wave is utilized to separate components from a multi-component fluid, such as oil from an oil-water mixture, in a fluid flow scheme with an acoustophoresis device. For example, the flow scheme and device allows for trapping of the oil as the oil coalesces, agglomerates, and becomes more buoyant than the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FLODESIGN SONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Jason Dionne, Ari Mercado, Brian Dutra, Walter M. Presz, Jr., Thomas J. Kennedy, III, Louis Masi
  • Patent number: 9675906
    Abstract: Acoustophoretic devices for separating particles from a non-flowing host fluid are disclosed. The devices include a substantially acoustically transparent container and a separation unit, with the container being placed within the separation unit. An ultrasonic transducer in the separation unit creates a planar or multi-dimensional acoustic standing wave within the container, trapping particles disposed within the non-flowing fluid and causing them to coalesce or agglomerate, then separate due to buoyancy or gravity forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: FLODESIGN SONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Bart Lipkens, Jeff King, David Sokolowski, Anthony B. Masi, Brian T. Kennedy, Brian McCarthy, Benjamin Ross-Johnsrud, Jason Dionne, Dane Mealey, Jason Barnes
  • Patent number: 9670069
    Abstract: The disclosure provides relates to compositions and methods for water treatment. It also addresses a method for synthesizing TiO2 (and other metal oxides) with or without dopants. This method enables control over size, phase, morphology and porosity and specific surface area of these materials. The disclosure also provides metal oxide composites that can be used in photocatalysts, photovoltaics, and solar hydrogen applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: David Kisailus, Nichola Kinsinger
  • Patent number: 9663391
    Abstract: A liquid treatment device (100) including: a structure (10) having a first surface (10a) and a second surface (10b), the structure including: a conductor (11) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), the conductor including a first portion (11a) exposed to outside at the first surface (10a) and a second portion (11b) exposed to outside at the second surface (10b), and the conductor electrically connecting the first portion (11a) and the second portion (11b); and an ion transfer layer (15) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), the ion transfer layer (15) arranged between the first surface (10a) and the second surface (10b), allowing hydrogen ions to move therethrough; and a first treatment tank (12) for holding a first liquid to be treated (17) therein, wherein the first surface (10a) of the structure (10) is located inside the first treatment tank (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Yoshikawa, Shuji Nakanishi, Yuya Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9643108
    Abstract: A sedimentation device for separating a material mix, preferably plastic flakes, including a sedimentation basin configured to receive the material mix and a liquid, for example water; an inlet configured to introduce the material mix and/or the liquid into the sedimentation basin; an outlet configured to remove sediment from the sedimentation basin; at least one stilling plate within the sedimentation basin configured as an ultrasonic oscillating element. The invention moreover relates to a method for removing sediment from a sedimentation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventor: Thomas Friedlaender
  • Patent number: 9637398
    Abstract: A method for treating a swimming pool, including introducing Mg2+ to a level from 60 ppm to 300 ppm to the swimming pool by addition of a soluble magnesium compound to the swimming pool, or Mg2+ to a level from 60 ppm to 1000 ppm by addition of a magnesium halide in addition to a further soluble magnesium compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: ZODIAC GROUP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD.
    Inventors: Ross Leslie Palmer, Stuart Bruce Anderson
  • Patent number: 9630863
    Abstract: A system and method for applying an advanced oxidation process to a UV fluid reactor. An L-shaped electrode is connected to a UV reactor hatch and inserted into the reactor upstream from a UV radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Neptune-Benson, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Charles McClean
  • Patent number: 9630858
    Abstract: A method for treating ballast water to achieve IMO standards for ballast water includes a reactor fabricated of copper nickel for receiving and discharging ballast water, a UV source for irradiating the water in the presence of copper nickel thereby to generate free radicals for biocidal and bactericidal effects on organisms and microbes entering the reactor with ballast water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Inventors: Halvor Nilsen, Birgir Nilsen