Patents Examined by Charles Bushey
  • Patent number: 9789447
    Abstract: An aeration cabinet is provided. The aeration cabinet secures a compressor within. The aeration cabinet includes a bottom portion operable to support the aeration cabinet in an upright position when resting on a surface. The bottom portion may include a base plate. The present invention further includes a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall and a second side wall extending vertically from the horizontal base plate. A lid covers an opening formed along an upper edge of the front wall, the rear wall, the first side wall and the second side wall. A plurality of first vent slots are formed through the aeration cabinet where the front wall and the base plate meet. A plurality of second vent slots are formed through the aeration cabinet where the lid and the rear wall meet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventor: Joel William Cordes
  • Patent number: 9788686
    Abstract: Electrically operated coffee machine, in particular espresso machine or fully automatic coffee machine, having a steam output device that can include a steam lance wherein the steam lance can include a milk inflow which is configured to supply milk into a steam output channel of the steam lance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: WMF Group GmBH
    Inventor: Alexander Schlee
  • Patent number: 9789419
    Abstract: The invented system used in wet cooling tower, restore outlet fog of cooling tower into collection basin and consequently cooling water cycle. This invention consists of three main components; pump and its pertaining piping, waterfall and micron fog eliminator. In the first stage, the air containing fog is passed through a waterfall before exhausting. This action causes some portions of fog to condensate and fall down, remaining droplets of the fog grow and together with air cross the fog eliminator blades. Fog's droplets are entrapped between blades, leave the air, and restore to the tower. Therefore, humidity of exhausted air from tower will be effectively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Inventors: Hossein Akhavi, Amir Ali Akhavi, Khosro Akhavi, Mohammad Sabouri Mizab
  • Patent number: 9790102
    Abstract: A feed liquid flows into a second-stage humidifier chamber to form a second-stage humidifier bath. A first remnant of the feed liquid from the second-stage humidifier chamber then flows into a first-stage humidifier chamber to form a first-stage humidifier bath having a temperature lower than that of the second-stage bath. A second remnant of the feed liquid is then removed from the first-stage humidifier. Meanwhile, a carrier gas is injected into and bubbled through the first-stage humidifier bath, collecting a vaporizable component in vapor form from the first remnant of the feed liquid to partially humidify the carrier gas. The partially humidified carrier gas is then bubbled through the second-stage humidifier bath, where the carrier gas collects more of the vaporizable component in vapor form from the feed liquid to further humidify the carrier gas before the humidified carrier gas is removed from the second-stage humidifier chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Prakash Narayan Govindan, Mostafa H. Elsharqawy, Steven Lam, Maximus G. St. John, John H. Lienhard
  • Patent number: 9777935
    Abstract: A humidifier, including: a flat humidification member formed of a water absorbing member and arranged in an upright posture; a nozzle serving as a water supply unit configured to supply water to the humidification member; and an airflow direction changing plate arranged with a clearance secured between the airflow direction changing plate and the humidification member. On a flat surface of the airflow direction changing plate opposed to the flat humidification member, an airflow direction changing portion is arranged to project toward the flat humidification member, the airflow direction changing portion being configured to change a direction of an air current flowing between the flat humidification member and the airflow direction changing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Akira Morikawa, Yasutaka Inanaga, Kazuya Michikami, Masaru Takada
  • Patent number: 9776128
    Abstract: A scrubber tower of a flue gas purification device, comprising: a flue gas entrance and a flue gas exit, a liquid entrance and a liquid exit, a contact area for said flue gas and said liquid between said flue gas entrance and said liquid entrance, at least one tray installation positioned within said contact area and across at least 50% of a horizontal extension of said contact area. The tray installation provides a multiplicity of through openings for said flue gas and said liquid respectively, which through openings being adjustable individually, in groups or all together in their respective cross sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Doosan Lentjes GmbH
    Inventors: Kai Kehrmann, Frank Oberheid, Oguzhan Narin, Annette Ziemann-Nothe
  • Patent number: 9770701
    Abstract: The invention relates to packed contact devices used in heat/mass exchange column apparatuses in which the processes of rectification, distillation, absorption, and extraction are run, and can be applied in the oil refining, petrochemical, chemical, gas-processing, and food-manufacturing industries. A contact device for carrying out heat/mass exchange and separation of phases in sectional cross-flow packed columns in gas/liquid and liquid/liquid systems comprises a plurality of identical contact elements assembled one upon another in one or more rows in blocks held together by spokes and vertical posts, with formation of walls in the column body that are restricted on horizontal end faces by horizontal segmental baffles conjugated in an arc with the column body; thereat, arranged between the walls are liquid distributors having a perforated part, an additional baffle, deflector plates, and vertical support plates. The space between the lower and upper walls is sealed by means of battens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Inventor: Igor Anatol'evich Mnushkin
  • Patent number: 9770696
    Abstract: A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PALL TECHNOLOGY UK LIMITED
    Inventors: Alexandre N. Terentiev, Sergey Terentiev
  • Patent number: 9765982
    Abstract: Provided is a refreshing device including a fan mounted onto a base. The base includes a main container for storing a fluid, a mini fan, and a nebulizer to set in motion the fluid nebulized outside of the main container toward a diffuser positioned downstream from the fan. The diffuser includes an outlet opening having a substantially annular shape, the outlet surface of the outlet opening being substantially perpendicular to the direction of airflow generated by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventors: Bertrand Escalettes, Sylvain Le Gall
  • Patent number: 9757663
    Abstract: Disclosed is a collector tray for collecting liquid in a pressure vessel such as a distillation column. The collector tray includes a liquid collecting surface having a curved shape such that the liquid collecting surface is generally upwardly concave or upwardly convex, and includes at least one chimney through the collector tray. The collector tray can be formed by attaching a plurality of collector tray panels to one another to form the collector tray having the liquid collecting surface. Methods for installing the collector tray and retrofitting a pressure vessel are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventor: Jaan Taagepera
  • Patent number: 9750916
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for delivering humidified gas to a user or patient during respiratory gas ventilation support, such as, but not limited to, mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, and bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing; the method comprising the steps of heating a humidified gas from a humidified gas reservoir; transferring the heated humidified gas to a patient; receiving expired gas from a patient; heating the expired gas; and transferring the heated expired gas to a gas outlet; wherein the humidified gas and the expired gas are heated to different temperatures. Also disclosed is a humidified gas delivery system, which finds utility as a breathing circuit of a respiratory gas humidification system by delivering humidified gases to a user or patient during mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing, or other mode of respiratory support provided to users or patients.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ARMSTRONG MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Ciarán Dominic Magee
  • Patent number: 9742014
    Abstract: A membrane humidifier assembly for a membrane humidifier for a fuel cell system and a method for making the same is disclosed, the method comprising the steps of providing a material for forming a diffusion medium; forming a plurality of channels in the material with one of a channel-forming roller, a means for etching the material, and a press for forming the diffusion medium; and providing a pair of membranes, wherein the diffusion medium is disposed between the pair of membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Guzda, David A. Martinchek
  • Patent number: 9735438
    Abstract: A humidifier for transferring water vapour from a first gas stream to a second gas stream in a fuel cell system comprises a stack of thin plates having planar sealing surfaces at their edges, along which they are sealed together. A water permeable membranes is provided between each pair of plates in the stack. Each plate defines a gas flow passage along its top and bottom surfaces, with an inlet and outlet defined along edges of the plate, and a flow field extending between the inlet and outlet openings. Inlet and outlet passages connect the inlet and outlet openings to the flow field, and the planar sealing surfaces on both sides of the plate include bridging portions which extend across the inlet and outlet passages. Support structures such as ribs are provided throughout the flow field and the inlet and outlet passages to support the membrane and diffusion medium layer(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Doug Vanderwees, Colin Arthur Shore
  • Patent number: 9731988
    Abstract: The invention relates to floating equipment, for injection of a gas into liquid effluents or waste water, and more particularly of a gas rich in oxygen into a basin from the surface. The floating equipment has the following elements: a driving device, intended to be disposed over the liquid, provided with a vertical output shaft (8), equipped at its end with a propeller (6) immersed in the liquid; a pre-mixing device (5) comprising an injection device (7) positioned above or below a mobile aerator (9) with inclined blades, the propeller being situated at the end of the shaft, under the pre-mixing reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude, Milton Roy Mixing
    Inventors: Guillaume Beaudouin, Robert Briend, Ulrich Butz, Philippe Campo, Frédéric Savreux, David Maret, Patrice Cognart
  • Patent number: 9724639
    Abstract: A system for contacting gases and liquids includes a vessel containing inert particles, wherein the total volume of the inert particles is from 1 to 20% of the total working volume of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignees: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY, ABU DHABI OIL REFINING COMPANY (TAKREER)
    Inventor: Muftah El-Naas
  • Patent number: 9726390
    Abstract: The electrical connections of a chamber or enclosure for a water tub can be protected through the use of spill element sensors. The spill element sensors can help to disable the delivery of power to the heater of a water tub in the event that the electrical connections become wet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Jeremy Livingston Miller
  • Patent number: 9724460
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system to generate bubbles. The bubbles may be formed to include a substantially or medically pure gas. The bubbles may be formed on demand and in a selected small size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Oakwood Healthcare, Inc.
    Inventor: James Richard Spears
  • Patent number: 9718035
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water dispensing machine and a carbonated beverage dispensing system which facilitates a combination of carbon dioxide with water in a configuration which provides a smaller footprint and reduces or eliminates dependency on remotely located carbon dioxide tanks and flavoring systems. The system may be configured to produce only carbonated water or to allow the user to select carbonated water or chilled water, and, alternatively, ambient, unchilled water. A carbonator of the system introduces carbon dioxide to a chilled water stream using an injector with slots. This inline, on demand carbonation system provides benefits over carbonator tank systems which carbonate large volumes of carbonated water in bulk.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Bandixen, Sheryl Dyer, Donald E. Wiley
  • Patent number: 9719726
    Abstract: Cooling towers and cooling tower fill configured for the cooling of process water with air by indirect heat exchange, in which the fill is configured with a first set of channels and a second set of channels, said first and second set of channels interleaved with one-another so that heat exchange occurs across material separating said channels from one-another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Davey J. Vadder, Sarah L. Ferrari, John W. Lane, Jean-Pierre Libert, Thomas W. Bugler
  • Patent number: 9718034
    Abstract: An aeration device includes a pipe, connection members and a first connection unit which is connected to the connection member. The first connection unit includes a first connector, a first connection part, a one-way member, a second connector, a turbine unit and a shell. When air enters into the pipe, the shell guides the air and liquid in the pound into the turbine unit via the second and third rooms so as to increase the mixing feature of the air and the liquid in the pound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Hung-Shing Lai, Ken-An Chen