Patents Examined by David C Mellon
  • Patent number: 10350520
    Abstract: A shaker separates components of a slurry. The shaker has a screen with a pressure differential applied to the screen to remove a portion of a slurry. The pressure differential across the screen can be toggled or pulsed. Generally, various types of separators are used to separate liquids and solids. For example, oil-field drilling operations use separators with screens to remove solids from a slurry. One type of apparatus used to remove solids from drilling mud is commonly referred to in the industry as a “shale shaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventor: Eric Cady
  • Patent number: 10342322
    Abstract: A waterproof dry bag with water potable material that utilizes a sealable connection to enable the user the option of collecting water and dispersing it through a bottom of the bag and which can be filtered with a water filter device. The bag can also be used to pump an air mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Jason B. Evatt
  • Patent number: 10335722
    Abstract: A filter cartridge (30) comprising a substantially tubular filter wall (33) and a support plate (32) fixed to an end of the filter wall (33), where the support plate (32) comprises a hooking body (34, 2120) rising from a surface of the support plate (32) opposite the filter wall (30) and defining a profiled surface (3410,3411;2130,2131) substantially perpendicular to the central axis of the filter wall (33) and defining at least two corners (3412,3413;2132,2133) proximal to the central axis, which exhibit different distances from the central axis of the filter wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: UFI FILTERS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Patent number: 10329170
    Abstract: A liquid purification apparatus is disclosed, along with methods of producing and using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Nestec S. A.
    Inventors: Litao Yu, Fenghua Wu, Ruguo Hu
  • Patent number: 10322417
    Abstract: Briefly, the invention provides a method for magnetically assisting demulsification of extraction phases, the method having the steps of contacting a first solution of a first solvent and a solvated paramagnetic metal ion with a second solvent, where the second solvent is immiscible with the first solvent; mixing the first and second solutions to create an emulsion having a first phase of the first solvent and second phase comprising the second solvent where the phases of the emulsion contain different concentrations of the paramagnetic metal ion; and applying a magnetic field gradient to the first and second phases of the emulsion to accelerate separation of the first phase from the second phase. Also provided is a system for demulsifying phases used in the extraction of paramagnetic moieties from solution having a lumen with an interior region, an interior surface, and exterior surface; and a magnetic field gradient present within the interior region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
    Inventor: Ross J. Ellis
  • Patent number: 10322951
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 17 including an RO membrane 17a that yields recycled water 18 and concentrated water 19 from pre-treated raw water (inflow water 16), salts being removed in the recycled water and salts being concentrated in industrial park waste water 11; monitoring apparatuses 21A and 21B disposed at an inflow water line L1 through which the inflow water 16 flows into the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 17 or a concentrated water line L2 through which the concentrated water 19 flows out from the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 17, which monitor the presence of chemical fouling causal substances in the inflow water 16 or the concentrated water 19; and a chemical supply section 22, which is a removal apparatus that removes the chemical fouling causal substances from the inflow water 16 on the front upstream side of the inflow into the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 17, upon the presence of chemical fouling causal substances in the inflow water 16 or the concentrated water 19 bein
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Ukai, Hideo Suzuki, Hiroshi Nakashoji, Shigeru Yoshioka, Masayuki Eda
  • Patent number: 10315173
    Abstract: Problem: A mixing device is provided which can solve problems resulting from friction between a vessel and a stirrer, which can generate a circulatory flow even below the stirrer, and which allows a desired number of stirrers to be arranged at desired positions. A discharge device provided with the mixing device, and a discharge method are also provided. Solution: The mixing device includes a stirrer incorporating a magnet, a stirrer holding mechanism that specifies a position of the stirrer by exerting a magnetic force on the stirrer from the lateral side, and a rotation mechanism that rotates the stirrer holding mechanism, wherein the rotation mechanism rotates the stirrer holding mechanism, thereby rotating the stirrer. The discharge device includes the mixing device, and the discharge method is carried out using the discharge device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: MUSASHI ENGINEERING, INC.
    Inventor: Kazumasa Ikushima
  • Patent number: 10314962
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hemodialysis machine comprising a removably mountable cartridge having at least one inlet and at least one outlet, the cartridge defining a fluid pathway between said at least one inlet and said at least one outlet, a sanitisation device having an inlet and an outlet, a conduit connected between an outlet of the cartridge and the inlet of the sanitisation device and, a conduit connected between the outlet of the sanitisation device and an inlet of the cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Quanta Dialysis Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Clive Henry Buckberry
  • Patent number: 10307696
    Abstract: The present invention supplies partitioned water treatment systems that possess a plurality of chambers and vertical filtration units, and are operative to control and filter surface runoff water. Such systems are typically placed inline with surface runoff water conveyance system infrastructure, such as pipes, channels, and water storage units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Bio Clean Environmental Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Zachariha J. Kent
  • Patent number: 10309090
    Abstract: A grit removal unit for a wastewater system including a grit removal chamber with a substantially annular vertical wall. A horizontal annular ring above the chamber bottom extends inwardly from the annular vertical wall, with an influent channel extending into the chamber beneath the ring and an effluent channel above the rim and extending out of the chamber. The influent and effluent channels both have inner side walls with a curved portion, with both curved portions extending through an arc of at least 90 degrees within the chamber annular vertical wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Smith & Loveless Inc.
    Inventors: Francis M. Noonan, Dale White, Rodney S. Mrkvicka
  • Patent number: 10300412
    Abstract: A pool cleaner that may include a drive mechanism for moving the pool cleaner; a housing that has a first fluid opening and a second fluid opening; a filtering unit that comprises a filter enclosure, a cleaning element and a filtering element; and a rotating mechanism that is configured to introduce a relative rotation between the cleaning element and the filtering element thereby causing the cleaning element to clean the filtering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: MAYTRONICS LTD.
    Inventors: Shay Witelson, Oded Golan
  • Patent number: 10294127
    Abstract: To enable energy-saving operation and stable supply of permeate water while water quality level of the permeate water is satisfied during operation, clarified seawater sw subjected to pretreatment and stored in to-be-treated water tank 12 is supplied to reverse osmosis membrane module 14 via clarified seawater supply passage 16. Permeate water pw obtained by an earlier stage element of the reverse osmosis membrane elements 36 of the reverse osmosis membrane module 14 is sent to a subsequent process from permeate water sending passage 46, and permeate water pw obtained by the reverse osmosis membrane element 36 is circulated into the to-be-treated water tank 12 via permeate water circulation passage 48.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventors: Kiichi Tokunaga, Takeshi Yasunaga
  • Patent number: 10293344
    Abstract: This invention relates to a sample holder for isolating magnetically labelled particles from a non-magnetic medium in a plurality of samples. The holder comprises a magnetic base for applying a magnetic force to the magnetically labelled particles and a body which is mountable on the base and demountable therefrom. The body comprises an array of sample holding portions and a magnetizable member which is magnetically urged towards the magnetic base when the body is seated on the base, whereby the body is urged to remain seated on the base. The invention also relates to use of the sample holder to separate magnetic particles from a non-magnetic medium and methods of performing such a separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES AS
    Inventors: Lars Nokleby, Berit Reed, Tine Hildisch, Axl Neurauter
  • Patent number: 10293284
    Abstract: In a water treatment system, which may be a wastewater treatment plant, a single-inlet drum screen is installed with its rotation axis perpendicular to the pattern of flow in a channel. Retrofitting of an existing screening system with a different form of screen, residing in an existing concrete channel is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: Ovivo Inc.
    Inventors: Jared Holindrake, Abner Aviles, Christopher Keever
  • Patent number: 10286338
    Abstract: A fluid filtration device is provided that can be used for separating solids from fluids. In some embodiments, the fluid filtration device comprises a hollow housing and a hollow filter assembly located within the housing. Fluid to be filtered is provided to the inside of a filter material in the filter assembly and passes outward toward the housing. In some embodiments one or more flow-directing features are located between the filter assembly and the housing, and may aid in the flow of fluid to a filtered outlet after passing through the filter. The flow-directing features may comprise, for example, channels that extend the length of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Spiral Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Levitt
  • Patent number: 10286340
    Abstract: A feed system for a rotary screen separator has a feed housing and at least one feed lid movably attached to the feed housing. The feed housing has a feed chamber, an inlet opening, and at least one outlet opening. The feed chamber defines a proximal portion adjacent to the inlet opening and a distal portion at least a portion of which is adjacent to the at least one outlet opening. A cross-sectional area of at least a portion of the proximal portion is greater than a cross-sectional area of the distal portion. The at least one feed lid is movably attached to the feed housing such that the at least one feed lid covers the at least one outlet opening in a closed position, and does not cover the at least one outlet opening in at least one open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Daritech, Inc.
    Inventor: David DeWaard
  • Patent number: 10279286
    Abstract: A vacuum belt filter device includes an endless moving filter belt, a vacuum arrangement having a vacuum box having suction openings, and a guide part on opposite sides of the suction openings. Each guide part is arranged between the vacuum box and the endless moving filter belt. Each guide part has a first groove, and an endless seal belt configured to run in the first groove in contact with the low pressure side. A detachable wear strip is arranged in the first groove of each guide part between the endless seal belt and the guide part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: OUTOTEC (FINLAND) OY
    Inventors: Harri Mikkola, Pekka Suihkonen, Matti Luoma
  • Patent number: 10265647
    Abstract: Disclosed is a centrifugal microfluidic device comprising a piezoelectric substrate; a rotatable platform device on the substrate; and at least one transducer on the substrate, the transducer being configured to generate a surface acoustic wave that propagates on the surface of the substrate and contacts the rotatable platform device asymmetrically to transfer energy thereto with a lateral distribution to cause rotation of the rotatable platform device. The device may be a microfluidic valve, a microfluidic mixer or a microfluidic particle concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leslie Yu-Ming Yeo, Peggy Chan, Nicholas Glass, Richard Shilton
  • Patent number: 10258927
    Abstract: The present invention directs to a centrifugal filtration device, for separating living cells, including a spindle (28), a rotary arm (211) which is connected vertically to the spindle (28), a microporous membrane filter (31A;31B) which is mounted on the rotary arm (211), and a liquid distributor (4) arranged above the spindle (28). The microporous membrane filter (31A;31B) includes an inlet (311A;311B), an outlet (312A;312B), a front cavity (313A;313B) having the inlet (311A;311B) formed thereon, a rear cavity having the outlet (312A;312B) formed thereon, and a filter membrane (315A;315B) arranged between the front cavity and the rear cavity; the diameter of each filter pore formed in the filter membrane is smaller than that of the cell which needs to be separated. The present invention also discloses a cell separation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Inventors: Chong Zheng, Zhengyu Zhou
  • Patent number: 10260031
    Abstract: This disclosure describes techniques to optimize dewatering process in a production facility. A process separates components in a mixture by using a separation device and a dewatering device. The process receives the mixture of liquids and solids, and separates out suspended solids from the mixture of liquids and solids by using the separation device, wherein a liquid with insoluble solids stream is created. The process dewaters the liquid with insoluble solids stream by using the dewatering device to produce a liquid with small particles stream and insoluble solids having particle sizes that are greater than about 20 microns to about 1000 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: ICM, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles C. Gallop, Kurt A. Dieker