Patents Examined by Claire Norris
  • Patent number: 10494279
    Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for the biological cleaning of wastewater in an activated-sludge plant including at least one activated-sludge tank, the method including: contacting, in the plant, the wastewater with activated sludge in the activated-sludge tank so as to clean the wastewater; and after the cleaning of the wastewater, separating, in the plant, the suspended activated sludge from the cleaned wastewater by sedimentation in a secondary clarification tank downstream of the activated-sludge tank or in the activated-sludge tank. The activated sludge suspended in the wastewater is admixed with growth bodies in the activated-sludge tank in order to contact the growth bodies with the microorganisms present in the activated sludge and to bring about formation of a biofilm of microorganisms on the growth bodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: ESSDE GMBH
    Inventor: Geert Nyhuis
  • Patent number: 10494272
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-regenerating biofilter. The biofilter tank receives untreated water through an intake inlet, filters it through a filtration mass and expels purified water through an output outlet. The filtration mass includes gravel and activated carbon layers separated by a mesh screen. A compressed air line is located below the mesh screen. Periodically, the biofilter self-cleans by opening a flush valve that expels a flush water stream carrying debris. The biofilter self-regenerates by periodically stopping filtration for a time, allowing biological matter left on the activated carbon to degrade into biomass. Periodically, the biofilter removes and flushes out biomass by application of water or a combination of air and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE ARMY
    Inventors: Martin Page, Andrew J. Nelson, Benjamin C. Masters
  • Patent number: 10486086
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the separation of at least one first material from a mixture comprising this at least one first material and at least one second material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Gerardo Incera Garrido, Michael Mentges
  • Patent number: 10479709
    Abstract: A water treatment system comprising a first reactor and a second reactor arranged to be placed in series in a body of water, the first and/or second reactor comprising at least one cell for housing biomedia. A mid-settling zone is provided between the first and second reactors for separating solids in the water. A method of treating water, the method comprising passing water to be treated through a first reactor and then a second reactor arranged in series in a body of water, the first and/or second reactors comprising at least one cell for housing biomedia, wherein the water is passed through a mid-settling zone between the first and second reactors before passing through the second reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: BIONEST TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Boutet, Serge Baillargeon, Garfield R. Lord
  • Patent number: 10457581
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a water treatment module, a bioreactor comprising one or more of such modules and a receptive water treatment system. Also provided herein is a method making use of the above module, bioreactor and system. The water treatment module comprises (i) at least one elongated gas enclosure comprising a gas inlet and two vertical walls, at least one vertical wall comprising a water-impermeable and gas-permeable membrane having a water-facing side and a gas-facing side, the two vertical walls separating between water external to said enclosure and gas within said enclosure, the gas enclosure being in a rolled or folded configuration to thereby define a convoluted horizontal path and one or more water-treatment spaces formed between opposite water facing sides of the enclosure; and (ii) a diffuser arrangement comprising gas diffusers configured for introducing a stream of gas into the one or more water treatment spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: EMEFCY LTD.
    Inventors: Ronen-Itzhak Shechter, Eytan Baruch Levy, Lior Eshed, Yaron Bar-Tal, Tomer Spector, Noam Mordechai Siegel
  • Patent number: 10457580
    Abstract: The present application provides a device for treating a black and odorous water body comprising a pre-treatment unit, a biomimetic intestine tubular purification system which imitates a digestion of small intestine, a microbial fuel cell which imitates a digestion of large intestine, and an inclined tube sedimentation tank which imitates human excretion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
    Inventors: Lieyu Zhang, Donghai Yuan, Jiaxi Li, Ying Xiong, Guowen Li, Caole Li
  • Patent number: 10450769
    Abstract: A docking station which can releasably engage and hold a robotic pool cleaner, the docking station optionally including a pre-filter for coarse debris, the pool cleaner including an internal filter and a pump to suction in, filter and eject filtered water while the pool cleaner is coupled to the docking station. The pool cleaner's pump creates water jets to provide propulsion for the pool cleaner and to aid in decoupling the pool cleaner from the docking station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: AQUA PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: William Londono, Ethan Hanan, Aleksandr Klebanov, Glenn Weismann
  • Patent number: 10441957
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic particle separating device, and a method of separating and purifying nucleic acid or protein using the same. The device comprises: induction magnets (100); an induction magnet fixing part (200) having induction magnet fixing holes (210) for fixing the induction magnets (100); and a body (300) in which entry holes (310) are formed into which tubes (T) are inserted. Thus, the application and removal of a magnetic field to and from the body is made very convenient, so that the device can be very advantageously used in the separation and purification of nucleic acid or protein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BIONEER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Han Oh Park, Jong Kab Kim
  • Patent number: 10442405
    Abstract: The present application is directed to a system and method for processing fluid captured from a vehicle surface and routing the fluid to one or more fluid reservoirs of the vehicle. The system includes one or more reservoirs for storing captured fluid and one or more reservoirs for storing chemical based fluids such as antifreeze fluids. The system is operationally configured to convey chemical based fluid to the captured fluid reservoir(s) according to one or more preset ambient temperatures of the system prior to routing fluid to one or more fluid reservoirs of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: BRIMTECH, LLC
    Inventor: James K Weigle
  • Patent number: 10436390
    Abstract: Enhanced fluid filtration methods, systems, and techniques are disclosed that can leverage the function of a supplemental pump in combination with the existing components of a machine, such as the main pump of an electrically-powered machine with an engine. In various embodiments, a supplemental filter apparatus may be operatively associated with the supplemental pump to provide filtration of fluid flowing through the machine. A control module may be operatively associated with the supplemental pump and/or various components of the machine. The control module may be programmed to activate or deactivate the supplemental pump, a valve, or take other actions in association with detecting the existence of one or more filter triggering conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: RPM INDUSTRIES, LLC
    Inventors: John K. Apostolides, John J. McCosby
  • Patent number: 10427962
    Abstract: The present application provides a method for treating a black and odorous water body comprising the following steps: pre-treating the black and odorous water body; passing the pre-treated water body through a biomimetic intestine tubular purification system which imitates a digestion of small intestine; passing the tubular purification system-treated water body into a microbial fuel cell which imitates a digestion of large intestine to treat the water body; and pumping the microbial fuel cell-treated water body into an upward flow inclined tube sedimentation tank to treat the water body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
    Inventors: Lieyu Zhang, Donghai Yuan, Jiaxi Li, Ying Xiong, Guowen Li, Caole Li
  • Patent number: 10421680
    Abstract: Described herein are attached growth reactor systems which increase nitrifying bacteria biomass through a variety of means during warm weather. As a consequence, the attached growth reactor system contains sufficient nitrifying bacteria biomass to remove ammonia from wastewater in cold to moderate climates. In one example, there are two attached growth reactors into which wastewater is distributed discontinuously. Specifically, wastewater is transferred to the first attached growth reactor for a first period of time and then is transferred to the second attached growth reactor for a second period of time during warm weather which effectively doubles the nitrifying bacteria biomass in the system. During cold weather, approximately half of the wastewater is applied to each reactor simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: Nexom
    Inventors: Martin Hildebrand, Merle Kroeker
  • Patent number: 10421679
    Abstract: Aerobic processes are disclosed for the treatment of wastewater which contains at least one substrate comprising at least one of organocarbon component and ammonium cation. A bioreactor is used for the treatment which contains ME biocatalysts to provide high bioreactor bioactivity density. The processes reduce sludge generated and are capable of effecting the metabolic oxidation at low dissolved oxygen concentrations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: MICROVI BIOTECH, INC.
    Inventors: Fatemeh Razavi-Shirazi, Ameen Razavi
  • Patent number: 10414679
    Abstract: An integrated eliminating device and its method for initial runoff pollution is provided, wherein a plurality of the water receiving pipes for collecting initial runoff are gathered and connected to the first water reservoir, one end of the water inlet pump is connected with the first water reservoir via the water receiving pipes, and the other end of the intake pump is connected with an water inlet opening of the rice field; the rice field is divided into a plurality of sub-parcels in a shape of long stripes, a regulating gate is set. An outlet of the rice field is communicated with the second water reservoir and which is communicated with the water inlet opening of the rice field via the reflux pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xinqiang Liang, Guifen Hua, Zhirong Wang, Kejin Zhou, Meiru Li, Yulei Yu, Yi Jin, Liping Lou, Qi Lin, Hua Li, Guangming Tian
  • Patent number: 10407329
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes: an acid fermentation tank; a methane fermentation tank positioned under the acid fermentation tank, and configured to produce biogas, and an upper portion of the methane fermentation tank including an opening that communicates with the acid fermentation tank; and a gas type liquid partition valve provided at the opening, including a gas storage portion configured to store a predetermined amount of the biogas and discharge the biogas exceeding the predetermined amount to the acid fermentation tank, and configured to block the opening with the biogas stored in the gas storage portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: National Institute for Environmental Studies
    Inventors: Takashi Onodera, Kazuaki Syutsubo, Motoyuki Mizuochi
  • Patent number: 10407933
    Abstract: A method and a pool cleaning robot that may include (i) a turbine that is at least partially disposed within a fluid path of the robot to extract energy from flow of fluid through the fluid path; (ii) an electrical generator for providing electrical power thereto and adapted to be driven by the turbine; (iii) a rechargeable power source arranged to be charged by the electrical generator, and (iv) a controller that is arranged to direct the pool cleaning robot to be positioned in a certain location in which a flow level of fluid that is circulated by a pool fluid circulation system is higher than a flow level of the fluid within a majority of the pool, wherein when positioned at the certain location the fluid that is circulated by the pool fluid circulation system passes through the fluid path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: .Maytronics Ltd
    Inventor: Yaniv Tamar
  • Patent number: 10406533
    Abstract: In at least one illustrative embodiment, an electromagnetic filter may include a transfer pipe and multiple electromagnetic filter elements positioned in an interior volume of the pipe. Each electromagnetic filter element includes a support comb, a solenoid coupled to the support comb, and multiple magnetic members arranged in a planar array positioned within an opening of the support comb. Each magnetic member may rotate about an end that is coupled to the support comb. The magnetic members may be magnetostrictive sensors and may include a biorecognition element to bind with a target microorganism. A method for fluid filtration includes coupling the electromagnetic filter between a fluid source and a fluid destination, energizing the solenoids of each electromagnetic filter elements, and flowing a fluid media through the transfer pipe of the electromagnetic filter. The fluid media may be liquid food such as fruit juice. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Auburn University
    Inventors: Bryan A. Chin, Shin Horikawa, Steve R. Best, I-Hsuan Chen, Zhongyang Cheng, Songtao Du
  • Patent number: 10399875
    Abstract: The invention concerns a wastewater treatment plant and a method for it. The plant comprising at least one main reactor module (30) having a plurality of stackable filter-modules (50), each filter-module purifying wastewater independently by being individually charged batchwise with wastewater. The wastewater is discharged on each filter-module by means of a deflector (44) referenced to a filter-module (50), the deflector creating a back pressure in dependency of the gravity-flow-force of the wastewater leading to that the wastewater is spilled from the deflector (44) in an angle of discharge relative to a horizontal plane evenly onto every independent filter-module, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Inventors: Tariq Kaddoura, Moritz König, Julius Jacob
  • Patent number: 10392277
    Abstract: A media bed in a biological reactor is backwashed in a plurality of short pulses. An outlet of the reactor is preferably located above, but close to, the top of the bed. During a pulse, the outlet is closed and the bed may be fluidized or otherwise expanded to above the level of the outlet. Between pulses, the bed settles to below the level of the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: BL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Minggang Liu, Jake Goldstein, Carsten Owerdieck, Nelson Fonseca
  • Patent number: 10384968
    Abstract: The invention relates to a ternary sewage treatment method integrating microbial fuel cells with anaerobic acidification and forward osmosis membrane, and belongs to the technical field of sewage treatment. The method of the invention comprises the following steps: Sewage is driven into the anaerobic acidification device for mixture with the NaOH solution. The mixed liquid enters into the MFC for converting the enriched organics to bioelectricity and then flows back to the anaerobic acidification device. A part of the mixed liquid passes through the MF membrane module to form effluent and enters into the sedimentation basin for phosphate removal and finally passes through activated carbon adsorption column, another part passes through the FO membrane module to form effluent and obtain high quality recycled water after the RO membrane processing. The method is a new coupled model of FO membrane and MFC and it provide a ternary combined technique integrating MFCs with anaerobic acidification and FO membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Xinhua Wang, Jinmeng Liu, Yuqin Lu, Xiufen Li