Patents Examined by David C Mellon
  • Patent number: 11053138
    Abstract: A method for removing arsenic from a liquid includes adding a two-dimensional metal carbide adsorbent to the liquid to adsorb the arsenic from the liquid. The two-dimensional metal carbide adsorbent can include at least one MXene, having the formula Mn+1Xn, where n=1, 2 or 3, where M is an early transition metal, such as scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), yttrium (Y), zirconium (Zr), niobium (Nb), molybdenum (Mo) or the like, and X is either carbon or nitrogen. The MXene may be Ti3C2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Assignee: QATAR FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
    Inventors: Muataz A. Hussien, Ahmed Mohammed Fard, Tarik Rhadfi, Hugues Preud'Homme, Marwan K. Khraisheh, Nidal Hilal
  • Patent number: 11045768
    Abstract: A method of operating an immersed microporous membrane module includes a step of monitoring membrane performance to sense the onset of sludging in the module. Differences in permeability between permeation in backwashes, or trends in permeability during backwashing and permeability during permeation, or both, are monitored. Solid deposits formed during the onset of sludging may be removed with an in situ de-sludging process. For example, the deposits may be removed by stopping permeation while aerating the module, optionally at an increased rate. At other times, the module is optionally aerated while permeate is withdrawn at an aeration rate correlated to flux. The method may be used in particular with a membrane module having parallel textured flat sheet membranes suspended between a pair of vertically oriented headers. An aerator may be made from an open bottomed channel having an array of holes rising and concentrated towards the center of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: FIBRACAST LTD.
    Inventor: Ionel John Tomescu
  • Patent number: 11047021
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is apparatus for recovering an acid or a base during a uranium extraction process. The apparatus contacts contacting a feed stream comprising the acid or base and the uranium with an ultrafiltration membrane to produce an ultrafiltration retentate and an ultrafiltration permeate, and contacting the ultrafiltration permeate with a nanofiltration membrane. The nanofiltration retentate produced comprises a majority of the uranium from the feed stream, and the nanofiltration permeate produced comprises a majority of the acid or base from the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Paladin Intellectual Property Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Paul Boshoff, Merrill Ford, Shana McDougall, Mark Peacock
  • Patent number: 11045591
    Abstract: A surgical evacuation system having dual in-series large and small droplet filters is provided. The surgical evacuation system comprises a pump, a motor operably coupled to the pump, and a flow path fluidically coupled to the pump. the flow path comprises a first fluid filter configured to extract a large droplet in a fluid moving through the flow path and a second fluid filter configured to extract a small droplet in the fluid moving through the flow path. the first fluid filter is coupled in series with the second fluid filter. The first fluid filter is positioned upstream of the second fluid filter. An outlet port of the second fluid filter is coupled to an inlet port of a non-fluid filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: Cilag GmbH International
    Inventors: Frederick E. Shelton, IV, David C. Yates, Kevin L. Houser
  • Patent number: 11040904
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed herein are directed to methods and systems for treating wastewater via forward osmosis. By way of example, the methods and systems disclosed herein may be used to filter one or more precipitated salts and/or other particles from wastewater generated by power plants such as flue gas wastewater, oil and gas wastewater, and other industrial processes. For example, the methods and systems disclosed herein may be used to filter one or more precipitated salts from a wastewater feed concentrate formed during the forward osmosis process that is recirculated through at least one membrane module to continue the forward osmosis process. Filtering the one or more precipitated salts from the wastewater feed concentrate helps limit clogging of open channel feed spacer(s) of the at least one membrane module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: FLUID TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS (FTS), INC.
    Inventors: John Herron, Edward Gerard Beaudry
  • Patent number: 11028124
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to filtration methods comprising: passing a first fluid that comprises cells, cell debris and targeted product produced by the cells through a first filter thereby separating the first fluid into a first retentate comprising cells and a first permeate comprising targeted product and cell debris; combining resin beads having affinity for targeted product with the first permeate to form a second fluid containing resin beads with bound target product and cell debris; passing the second fluid through a second filter thereby separating the second fluid into a second retentate comprising resin beads with bound target product and a second permeate comprising cell debris; combining an elution buffer with the second retentate to form a third fluid that comprises a mixture of resin beads and unbound targeted product; and passing the third fluid through a third filter thereby separating resin beads from targeted product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: Repligen Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Bransby
  • Patent number: 11020694
    Abstract: A mobile oil filtration system includes a mobile oil reservoir having a plurality of wheels; a housing secured to the mobile oil reservoir; an input conduit secured to the housing; a pump in fluid communication with the input conduit; a spring-loaded filter downstream from and in fluid communication with the pump; a bag filter downstream from and in fluid communication with the spring-loaded filter; and an output conduit secured to the housing and in fluid communication with the bag filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventor: Christopher S. Eakin
  • Patent number: 11017808
    Abstract: A fractionation method for magnetic recording-magnetic powder is provided. The method includes applying a magnetic field to a liquid that contains magnetic recording-magnetic powder dispersed therein, wherein the liquid is stored in a storage unit relatively shifting a position where the magnetic field is applied to the liquid; and separating the storage unit into two parts after the shift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kenji Katori
  • Patent number: 11009163
    Abstract: Steam cylinders for humidifiers require periodic replacement as well as replacement to address failures etc. However, field replacement of steam cylinders is not a straight-forward operation and there is significant risk and potential for damage to the replacement cylinder and the humidifier as fluidic seals for the water inlet and steam outlet must be unmade as well as electrical connections for heater elements, level sensors etc. Accordingly, embodiments of the invention provide solutions for the deployment of replacement cylinders etc. for domestic, retail, and commercial systems that reduce the likelihood of damage to the fluidic seals, electrical connectors etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: Condair Ltd.
    Inventors: Shahram Lotfi, Dmitry Elman
  • Patent number: 10981115
    Abstract: The present application includes a symbiotic reverse osmosis train system for maximizing desalinated water recovery, meanwhile yielding high salinity brine suitable for osmotic power generation or commercial salt production. The trains comprise a series of cells operating in an interrelated sequential pattern within a salinity field. Each cell forms a closed hydraulic brine loop having pumping means, power recovery means and shared semipermeable membranes between adjacent cells. Used are a semipermeable Flat Sheet or Hollow Fiber Membrane in desalination and osmotic power generation of brackish, seawater and brines of 15% salinity or more. Charging each cell in the train of cells with a formulated brine having a specified ionizable inorganic salt concentration and type, without permitting mixing of the given brines among adjacent cells. Allowing the train to achieve water recovery exceeding 85% with concentrated rejected brine of 28-30% salt content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Inventor: Maher Isaac Kelada
  • Patent number: 10981091
    Abstract: A regenerative filter that includes a filter housing having inlet and outlet zones; a fluid path provided between the inlet and outlet zones; a plurality of filter elements each having an outer surface filter media applied thereto and functioning to filter particulate or contaminants from the fluid path; and a tube sheet that is supported across the filter housing, that is disposed just before the outlet zone and that provides the support for the plurality of filter elements. The plurality of filter elements are disposed in an array and includes bridging members or elements that connect between adjacent filter elements, and that forms with the filter elements, a closed interstitial space between adjacent filter elements for liquid flow; a nanoscale barrier on interior surfaces, including that of the regenerative media itself, providing a mechanism to disrupt the cell wall of microscopic viruses and organisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: Blue Skies Global LLC
    Inventor: Paul F. Nehlen, III
  • Patent number: 10968252
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods of processing a fluid that include the use of one or both of a circuit system including a tangential flow filtration (TFF) unit and a circuit system including a tangential flow virus filtration (TFVF) unit. Also provided are integrated and continuous processes for manufacturing a therapeutic protein drug substance that include a step of processing a fluid including the recombinant therapeutic protein using any of the methods provided herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Genzyme Corporation
    Inventors: Tarl Vetter, Michael Coolbaugh, Veena Warikoo, Konstantin Konstantinov
  • Patent number: 10967332
    Abstract: The invention proceeds from a filter device which is provided for stabilising a liquid, having at least one filter unit, a membrane filter unit, which has at least one filter element and at least one integrated stabiliser. It is proposed that the filter unit has at least one further integrated stabiliser. It is proposed in a further aspect of the invention that the filter device comprises at least one first precursor which is provided for forming the filter element at least partially, and the same first precursor is provided for forming the stabiliser at least partially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventor: Dietmar Oechsle
  • Patent number: 10967296
    Abstract: A method of exchanging fluids with suspended particles includes providing a microfluidic device with a first inlet channel operatively coupled to a source of particles and a second inlet channel operatively coupled to an exchange fluid. A transfer channel is connected at a proximal end to the first inlet channel and the second inlet channel. First and second outlet channels are connected to a distal end of the transfer channel. The source of particles is flowed at a first flow rate into the first inlet channel while the exchange fluid is flowed at a second flow rate into the second inlet channel wherein the ratio of the second flow rate to the first flow rate is at least 1.5. Particles are collected in one of the first and second outlet channels while fluid substantially free of particles is collected in the other of the first and second outlet channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Dino Di Carlo, Daniel R. Gossett, Henry T. K. Tse
  • Patent number: 10967313
    Abstract: A filter cartridge for operatively coupling to an appliance interface to treat a fluid, such as water, being supplied to the appliance. The interface comprises a bypass valve for actuating the interface between a bypass mode in which the fluid flowing through the interface does not flow through the filter cartridge and a treatment mode in which the fluid flowing through the interface is directed through the filter cartridge for treatment by the filter cartridge. The filter cartridge comprises a cartridge housing having a first end and a second end and extending along a housing longitudinal axis through the first end and the second end. A filter media is contained within the cartridge housing between the first end and the second end. The filter cartridge also has a first end cap on the first end of the cartridge housing and a second end cap on the second end of the cartridge housing. A bypass valve actuator is attached to the cartridge housing and extends distally to an actuator distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Christopher M. Campbell
  • Patent number: 10946342
    Abstract: A membrane system including an anti-fouling layer and a method of applying an anti-fouling layer to a membrane surface are provided. In an embodiment, the surface is a microfiltration (MF) or an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane surface. The anti-fouling layer can include a stimuli responsive layer and a dynamic protective layer applied over the stimuli responsive layer that can be a coating on a surface of the membrane. The stimuli responsive polymer layer can act as an adhesive prior to coating with the dynamic protective layer to aid in adhering the dynamic protective layer to the membrane surface. The dynamic protective layer can be formed by suitable nanoparticles that can prevent adhesion of foulants directly to the membrane surface. The stimuli responsive layer can be responsive to physio-chemical stimuli to cause a release of the stimuli responsive layer and the dynamic protective layer including foulants from the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: S. Assiyeh Alizadeh Tabatabai, TorOve Leiknes
  • Patent number: 10913062
    Abstract: Digital microfluidics system with electrodes attached to a PCB has control unit for manipulating liquid droplets by electrowetting, cartridge accommodation site for taking up a disposable cartridge having a working gap in-between two hydrophobic surfaces, and magnetic conduit/backing combination. A barrier element on an individual electrode of the PCB for narrowing the working gap. A disposable cartridge is positioned at the cartridge accommodation site, its flexible working film touching there and of the barrier element an uppermost surface. In the working gap and above a path of selected electrodes a liquid portion or liquid droplet with magnetically responsive beads moves by electrowetting on the electrode path until a magnetic field of the magnetic conduit is reached. The backing magnet is activated before and during the moving to thereby attract and remove magnetically responsive beads therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: TECAN TRADING AG
    Inventors: Thomas Perroud, Daniel Tran, Daniel Hoffmeyer, Tiffany Lay, Manjeet Dhindsa
  • Patent number: 10905987
    Abstract: A water purifying apparatus including a head having a water inlet portion and a water outlet portion; a shaft provided in the head and rotatably mounted between the water inlet portion and the water outlet portion; a bypass flow path passing through a circumference of the shaft, and communicating the water inlet portion with the water outlet portion according to rotation of the shaft; a filter detachably mounted to the head, and having a filter inserting portion in which the shaft is inserted when being mounted on the head; and a filtering flow path in which an inlet port and an outlet port are formed on the circumference of the shaft in a direction intersecting the bypass flow path, and communicated between the filter, the water inlet portion and the water outlet portion with each other according to the rotation of the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Jimin You, Siyeon An, Uison Hwang, Youngjae Kim, Gyeonghwan Kweon
  • Patent number: 10899636
    Abstract: The present invention includes a method of controlling an oil spill through introduction of a plurality of magnetizable particles into the oil spill in an amount sufficient to form a colloidal mixture. An absorbent is, also introduced into the oil spill to form an absorbent mixture. A magnetic field can be applied to the system to move, manipulate, or otherwise control the absorbent mixture in response to movement of the magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Natural Science, LLC
    Inventor: Arden A. Warner
  • Patent number: 10888805
    Abstract: The present invention provides a heavy solids separator for separating solids from fluids, comprising a swirl-generating chamber (1) and a solids accumulation chamber (2), wherein the swirl-generating chamber (1) comprises an inlet (3), a solids outlet (4) and a fluid extraction pipe (5) arranged at the centerline (C) of the chamber (1), the inlet arranged at an upper part of the swirl-generating chamber, the solids outlet is fluidly connected to the solids accumulation chamber and arranged in the bottom of the swirl-generating chamber, and the fluid extraction pipe (5) has a fluid inlet (6,19) comprising an opening (6) arranged at the centerline of the fluid extraction pipe, the opening facing the solids outlet (4), and a fluid outlet (7) for extracting fluid out of the swirl-generating chamber; and the solids accumulation chamber (2) comprises a solids inlet (8) fluidly connected to the solids outlet (4) of the swirl-generating chamber, and a solids outlet (9) arranged in a lower part of the solids accumula
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: FMC Kongsberg Subsea AS
    Inventor: Adekunle Olutayo Opawale