Patents Examined by Charles A Bushey
-
Patent number: 9587844Abstract: The present invention relates to a humidifier and a method of monitoring the water level in the humidifier, the method comprising the steps of: detecting the temperature at the air outlet of the humidifier and generating temperature signals indicating the temperature thereof (310, 410); determining the water level in the humidifier according to the generated temperature signals (330, 430). The water level in the humidifier can be monitored using a rather simple structure yielding a high accuracy.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 2012Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.Inventors: Geert-Jan Darwinkel, Timothy Van Der Graaf, Wilhelmina Johanna Gerarda Van De Wassenberg, Jan Buffinga, Jacob Dijkstra
-
Patent number: 9586160Abstract: A valve-tray assembly and method for lighter fluid heavier fluid contact towers. The active area of the tray is constructed with valves having multiple lighter fluid discharge areas facilitating improved mass transfer efficiency. The valves include first and second support legs oriented in line with the heavier fluid flow with both legs and the valve top constructed with apertures wherein the heavier fluid may flow into engagement with the lighter fluid passing from beneath the tray up, through and out of the valve.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2014Date of Patent: March 7, 2017Assignee: GTC Technology US LLCInventor: Michael J. Binkley
-
Patent number: 9579611Abstract: An aerator assembly for diffusing a gas in a liquid, including a gas supply conduit and at least one aerator, wherein the gas supply conduit and the aerator are releasably joined to each other by an attachment. The attachment includes a flexible body and a compressor, wherein the attachment is arranged to be reversibly set in an inactive mode, in which the gas supply conduit and the at least one aerator are in mutually released mode, as well as in an active mode in which the flexible body is compressed in its axial longitudinal direction by the compressor and clamps the at least one aerator and the gas supply conduit against each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2014Date of Patent: February 28, 2017Assignee: XYLEM IP MANAGEMENT S.à r.l.Inventor: Anders Berfner
-
Patent number: 9573101Abstract: The present invention is a micro-bubble generator including a housing, a bubble generator means and a seal means. The bubble generator is securedly received within the housing and has a top, a body positioned downstream from the top and having a diameter smaller than diameter of the inner wall of the housing so that a circumferential gap is formed between an outer lateral surface of the body and the inner wall of the housing, and a recess coaxially extending from the top to a portion of the body, wherein a plurality of water passages extend radially outward from the recess to the outer lateral surface of the body so that each of the water passages is in communication with the circumferential gap. The seal provides selective communication from the plurality of apertures to the top of the bubble generator.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: AQUAmate K&B LimitedInventor: Ransom Man Pan Lee
-
Patent number: 9573830Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlled ventilation and aeration of liquid medium includes a dome supported by a flotation device, a lower housing supported by the flotation device, the lower housing connected to the dome, wherein a sealed space is defined under the dome and above the flotation liquid, one or more orifices, the orifices configured in the dome, and an aeration apparatus positioned within the sealed space and partially submerged in the flotation liquid, wherein the aeration apparatus includes one or more parallel shafts, at least one first disc positioned axially on one of the shafts, at least one second disc positioned axially on another of the shafts, wherein the second disc is interleaved relative to the first disc, and wherein a surface of the first disc rotates in a direction opposite a surface of the second disc relative to each other resulting in a mixing area therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2015Date of Patent: February 21, 2017Assignee: REVO2 Solutions, LLCInventor: Robert J. Galletta, Jr.
-
Patent number: 9566554Abstract: The present invention provides an adjustable pulsed gas agitator including a gas accumulation chamber with a gas discharge pipe, a gas supply unit, and an adjustable gas discharge unit. The adjustable gas discharge unit has an elongatable gas pipe slidably disposed over the lower part of the gas discharge pipe, and a gas cap disposed underneath the elongatable gas pipe; so that when the adjustable gas discharge unit is moved upward or downward, the volume of the stirring gas accumulated within the gas accumulation chamber is decreased or increased; thereby the frequency and strength of the discharged pulsed gas flows is varied.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: MEMSTAR PTE LTDInventors: Xiangdong Wu, Hailin Ge
-
Patent number: 9567246Abstract: An air diffusion device is provided. The device includes a base coupled to an air supply pipe for supply of air. The base has an air discharge hole for discharge of air supplied from the air supply pipe. The device further includes a perforated cover in the form of a multi-layered stepped plate the height of which is reduced stepwise from the center to the edge. The perforated cover has a plurality of through-holes for discharge of air, and it is coupled to an upper surface of the base to cover the air discharge hole, thus defining an air guide chamber between the perforated cover and the base. The device further includes a securing mechanism configured to secure the perforated cover to the base.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2013Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignees: ANT21 CO., LTDInventors: Myung Han Ko, Nam Gyun Kim, Seung Jin Lee, Wook Bae, Dae Hwan Yoon, Joo Shin Park, Kyung Han Ko, Sang Woo Kim, Jae Kyung Yang, Kyoung Ryeol Baek, Kyu Cheol Lee, Byong Cheol Kwon, Hyun Kim, Jin Young Kwon, Dong Woo Kim
-
Patent number: 9568248Abstract: A cooling tower is provided with a housing containing a fan at the bottom of the tower, and a plurality of layers of water collection troughs or channels above the fan to capture water droplets sprayed downwardly from the top of the device through an evaporative cooling pad located above the collection troughs. The collection troughs extend from one side of the housing to the other in the form of a structural support for the housing and the equipment therein. The troughs have open ends which extend through the housing to discharge collected water to an adjacent vertical tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2016Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: Harold Dean Curtis Revocable TrustInventor: Harold Dean Curtis
-
Patent number: 9566555Abstract: A self-pressurization gas-liquid mixing device used for making a beverage is provided. The self-pressurization gas-liquid mixing device includes a container, a liquid inlet pipe configured to allow liquid to enter the container, a gas inlet pipe configured to allow gas to enter the container, and a liquid discharging pipe configured to discharge the liquid; a partition plate is arranged in the container to divide the container into a premixing chamber and a mixing chamber, the premixing chamber is arranged at the side of the liquid inlet pipe and the gas inlet pipe, the partition plate is provided with a plurality of premixing through holes, a mixing layer is further arranged between the mixing chamber and the liquid discharging pipe and includes a plurality of miniature pipes, and whisker holes which are opened and closed in one direction are formed in pipe walls of the miniature pipes.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2015Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: ADT (China) Ltd.Inventors: Max Taha, Ruofeng Weng
-
Patent number: 9566595Abstract: A foam-forming assembly includes a housing having an air passage and a liquid passage, each ending in a mouth and being in communication with a dispensing passage having a dispensing opening, and a valve body which, in a rest position, covers the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in a sealing manner in order to prevent a flow from the liquid passage and the air passage to the dispensing passage. During dispensing, the valve body opens the mouth of the liquid passage and the mouth of the air passage in order to allow mixing of air and liquid to take place in the dispensing passage. The mouth of the air passage is substantially annular, and the air passage includes a pressure balance chamber to divide the air pressure substantially equally over the substantially annular mouth.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2014Date of Patent: February 14, 2017Assignee: REXAM AIRSPRAY N.V.Inventors: Marcus Cornelis Jacobus Tepas, Shivan Ramdhiansing, Arjen Haisma, Kim Deiman, Peter Jozef Jan Albertz
-
Patent number: 9562729Abstract: A water collector for use in fluid coolers, cooling towers and the like is provided with fans at the bottom of the collector, and a plurality of layers of water collection troughs or channels above the fans to capture water droplets sprayed downwardly from the top of the device through a heat exchanger or fill media above the collection troughs. In one embodiment the collection troughs supply the collected water to one or more gutters inside the housing which lead the water to an external collection tank from which the water is recirculated through the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: Munters CorporationInventor: Harold Dean Curtis
-
Patent number: 9555390Abstract: A packing element has components that form snap-lock connections with like packing elements used to form a contact assembly. The packing elements can be readily and easily assembled together using little force by connecting the packing elements with connectors in a snap-lock manner. The packing elements are retained by the snap-lock connectors in the contact assembly such that the packing elements cannot be separated without such force that the material forming at least one of components of the snap-lock connections or the packing element will fail to the extent that a contact assembly made using the packing elements would not be functional.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2015Date of Patent: January 31, 2017Assignee: Brentwood Industries, Inc.Inventors: Timothy E. Krell, Frank M. Kulick, III, Scott Shoemaker, Boris Yanovsky
-
Patent number: 9546830Abstract: A composite hanger grid for supporting splash bars in a cooling tower uses separate vertical suspension members and horizontal beams by which all of the operational loads imposed on the splash bars are transferred to the horizontal beams, which then transfer the load to the vertical suspension members. Since all of the horizontal beams are independent of each other and separate components from the vertical suspension members, the horizontal beams will be loaded equally throughout the entire hanger grid. Also disclosed are components of the composite hanger grid, splash bars adapted for use with specific embodiments of the composite hanger grid, assemblies of the composite hanger grid with its supported splash bars, a method of assembling a composite hanger grid and a method of assembling an evaporative cooler fill assembly, including hanger grids and splash bars, in a cooling tower.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2014Date of Patent: January 17, 2017Assignee: Brentwood Industries, Inc.Inventors: Timothy E. Krell, Frank M. Kulick, III, Scott C. Shoemaker
-
Patent number: 9539550Abstract: An apparatus is presented that includes a body and a membrane. The body defines an externally hemispherical body portion with an orifice, as well as a channel passing through the body and terminating in the orifice. The membrane is formed at least in part of an elastomeric material and overlies a portion of the externally hemispherical body portion. The membrane defines a plurality of holes therein, and a plug that is inserted into the orifice and the channel. When submerged at the bottom of a wastewater treatment tank and in gaseous communication with a distribution conduit providing compressed gas, the apparatus may function to release bubbles into the wastewater. When the compressed gas is turned off, the apparatus acts as a check valve that stops water from entering the diffuser and the distribution conduit.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2015Date of Patent: January 10, 2017Inventors: Thomas E. Frankel, Seoungil Kang, Todd D. Ritter
-
Patent number: 9533267Abstract: A multi-stage aeration apparatus includes at least two vertically oriented aeration modules. Each aeration module defines a vertically elongated aeration chamber having a top inlet and a bottom outlet. The bottom outlet of each of the aeration modules feeds a fluid stream comprising liquid and gas into the top inlet of an underlying one of the aeration modules. Each aeration module has an aeration head connected to the top inlet, such that the fluid stream passing through the top inlet into the aeration chamber must pass through the aeration head, the aeration head aerating the liquid with the gas in the fluid stream.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2013Date of Patent: January 3, 2017Assignee: Seair Inc.Inventors: Kyle Greene, Todd Webb
-
Patent number: 9518735Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are disclosed that relate to one or more aspects of an abatement system. In various aspects a nozzle assembly of an abatement system includes at least one rotationally adjustable nozzle tubing having at least one nozzle coupled thereto.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2014Date of Patent: December 13, 2016Assignee: Caldwell Tanks, Inc.Inventors: Donald W. Shepherd, Mark Ammons
-
Patent number: 9492796Abstract: A refrigerator is disclosed. The refrigerator includes a body, a storage chamber defined in the body while having an opened front side, a door to open or close the opened front side of the storage chamber, a water tank to store clean water, a carbonated water production module mounted to a back surface of the door, the carbonated water production module including a carbon dioxide gas cylinder stored with carbon dioxide gas, a carbonated water tank to produce carbonated water through mixing of the clean water with the carbon dioxide gas, and a gas regulator to adjust a pressure of the carbon dioxide gas flowing from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder to the carbonated water tank, and a safety device to selectively move the carbon dioxide gas cylinder toward or away from the gas regulator, thereby coupling or separating the carbon dioxide gas cylinder to or from the gas regulator.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2014Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.Inventors: Jae Koog An, Ji Hoon Kim, Sang Joe Choi
-
Patent number: 9491973Abstract: The invention is a method of air humidification and injection delivery that humidifies air to a specific selected relative humidity and injects the humidified air into a container to establish the specific selected relative humidity throughout the container. The method includes the facilitation of ambient supply air into a liquid medium for humidification to a specific selected relative humidity. The resulting humidified air is released from the liquid medium and routed for injection into the container. The injected humidified air infiltrates the container and sustains the selected relative humidity throughout the container. Contents of the container are thus maintained at the selected relative humidity.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2015Date of Patent: November 15, 2016Inventor: Keith S. Reed
-
Patent number: 9486753Abstract: An aqueous stream is pumped through a vortex cylinder. The aqueous stream is rotated in a downwardly moving spiral stream within the vortex cylinder at a high downward velocity. The downward velocity of the aqueous stream increases as it flows through a discharge conduit concentrically located within a mixing chamber of the vortex cylinder. An adjustable inlet tube open to atmospheric pressure extends through the vortex chamber and into the discharge conduit. A negative pressure zone is created at the discharge end of the discharge conduit for drawing fluid into the aqueous stream for mixing therewith and dissolving oxygen in the aqueous solution.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2015Date of Patent: November 8, 2016Inventor: Todd Vlasak
-
Patent number: 9480767Abstract: An air treatment appliance is provided which includes an appliance housing and a removable cartridge received therein. The removable cartridge includes a receptacle containing a liquid compound to be aerosolized within an interior thereof and a cap assembly coupled to the receptacle. The cap assembly includes a cap, a venturi insert, and a base attached together without welds or separate fasteners to define an air inlet chamber on one side of the venturi insert, a venturi outlet passage on the other side of the venturi insert in fluid communication with the interior of the receptacle, and an aerosol outlet chamber partitioned from the interior of the receptacle by the base and in fluid communication with an outlet of the cap through which aerosolized compound generated by the venturi insert is discharged during operation.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 1, 2016Assignee: Prolitec Inc.Inventors: Matthew Ansley, Nathan Sward, Andrew Williams
