Patents Examined by Denise R Anderson
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Patent number: 8025799Abstract: A maple sap reverse osmosis device has a support rack configured and sized to rest atop a tank. The support rack supporting a reverse osmosis device. The reverse osmosis device has a pump line and a dump line both located within the tub. The pump line being located at an upper region of the tank. A pumping means to pump the maple sap from the pump line. The pumping means pushing maple sap through an osmosis membrane. The dump pipe purging concentrate resulting from sap not passing through the osmosis membrane into the deepest region of the tub.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: September 27, 2011Inventor: Denis Cote
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Patent number: 8020709Abstract: A filter element (1) has a filter pot (3) delimiting a cylindrical interior (5) and has a bottom part (7) with a fluid connection (11). A lid part (37) is opposite the bottom part. A filter medium (29) is adjacent to the inner wall of the filter pot (3) in the form of a hollow cylindrical body leaving the central region of the interior (5) free. Fluid passages (31) in the wall of the filter pot (3) surround the filter medium (29). A ring body (53) as a connecting part 10 between filter pot (3) and lid part (37) and has a jacket part (55) extending axially along the end section (57) of the filter pot (3). An end part (51) extends radially inward and spans the edge of the filter pot (3) and the edge of the lid part (37). On the end part (51) of the ring body (53) and on the lid part (37), interacting snap connectors (59, 61) are provided to form a snap connection between end part (51) and lid part (37).Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2006Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: Hydac Filtertechnik GmbHInventor: Michael Sakraschinsky
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Patent number: 8016122Abstract: A culinary vessel lid in the form of a cover that is adapted for covering the vessel and that includes a transparent covering part, a metal covering part provided with through openings intended for draining foods and a silicone retaining ring.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2008Date of Patent: September 13, 2011Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Oliver Coudurier, Ludovic Pasquini
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Patent number: 7980396Abstract: A central support for a liquid filter is described. The support has a truss element disposable centrally in the liquid filter to provide a crush-resistant structure supporting a filter media of the liquid filter, elongated straight members of the truss element, connected at joints to form a coplanar cross section, and longitudinal members of the truss element, connecting the coplanar cross section and additional coplanar cross sections in a column-like configuration. The contact surfaces of the truss element for interfacing with the filter media are adapted to spread forces on the filter media over a desired surface area.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2008Date of Patent: July 19, 2011Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLCInventor: Brian Scott Crawford
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Patent number: 7972514Abstract: A method and system for performing maintenance on a membrane having semi-permeable properties and is used in a pressure retarded osmosis PRO, the membrane having a high pressure first side and second side of lower pressure. A time controllable first valve or pump (31; 41; 51; 61; 71; 81; 91) is connected between an input (12) to the low pressure side of the membrane (13?) and an input (11) to the high pressure side of the membrane (13?), said first valve or pump operable to selectively deliver a plug (21) of a second type of water (FW) to the first side of the membrane to lower concentration of dissolved substance (s) in water of a first type (SW) thereat, thereby creating a PRO pressure backwash function with the water of the second type (FW) from the first to the second side of the membrane pressurized on said first side by high pressure supply of water of the first type (SW) upstream of said plug (21) of water of the second type (SW).Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2006Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Statkraft Development ASInventors: Thor Thorsen, Torleif Holt
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Patent number: 7947177Abstract: A tubular pressure vessel for cross-flow filtration having two centrally located side ports that penetrate the sidewall and communicate with a central chamber that divides the pressure vessel bore into two axially separated sections that each contain a plurality of cylindrical, cross-flow filtration cartridges. The pair of diametrically opposed, central side ports are provided through the use of a short length of tubing that provides structural stability to the overall pressure vessel arrangement. A feedstream may enter the pressure vessel centrally and flow in both axial directions, creating two permeate streams and two concentrate streams, the latter of which might exit through horizontal side ports located near each end of the pressure vessel. Interconnecting such tubular side port structures in adjacent pressure vessels in a vertical stack provides a load-bearing vertical column and allows a single feed line to supply multiple pressure vessels.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2006Date of Patent: May 24, 2011Assignee: Protec Arisawa America, Inc.Inventors: Douglas W. Eisberg, Terry E. Gilbertson, Andrew Panlasigui, John Mazrum
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Patent number: 7938966Abstract: A filtration arrangement including one or more membrane modules (5) positioned vertically within a feed tank (6), each membrane module (5) having one or more membranes positioned therein. An aeration hood (10) having an upper wall (11) and one or more downwardly extending side walls (12, 13) is configured to at least partially shroud the membrane modules (5) within the tank (6). The aeration hood (10) includes a number of open-ended tubes (14), each extending downwardly from the upper wall (11) and forming a respective opening (15) therein. Each tube (14) is adapted to have at least one of the modules (5) mounted therein and extending through the respective openings (15) in the upper wall (11) so as to at least partially surround an outer periphery of an associated module or modules (5). One or more aeration openings (17) are provided in each tube (14) at a location spaced from a proximal end of the tube (16).Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: May 10, 2011Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.Inventor: Warren Thomas Johnson
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Patent number: 7935259Abstract: A filtering apparatus comprises a microporous membrane and an actuator. The membrane is positioned to traverse across the hollow interior of a conduit used for the transport of molecules in bulk. In one example, the pores of the membrane comprise a plurality of open-ended carbon nanotubes. The actuator comprises a transducing material such as a polyvinyledene fluoride film that is operatively positioned in contact with the membrane and is capable of propagating acoustic vibration onto the membrane at a particular frequency so as to hasten the movement of the molecules through the membrane. Similarly, a method of filtering water comprises the steps of: (a) sifting molecules of water through the membrane, the pores of the membrane comprising a plurality of carbon nanotubes; and (b) propagating acoustic vibration onto the microporous membrane at a libration frequency of ice so as to hasten movement of the water molecules within the carbon nanotubes.Type: GrantFiled: July 3, 2008Date of Patent: May 3, 2011Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationInventor: Lillian Susan Gavalas
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Patent number: 7901577Abstract: Desalination is carried out by a hybrid ion exchange-nanofiltration process in which ion exchange is followed by pressure-driven nanofiltration. Monovalent ions of sodium and chloride of saline water are exchanged for equivalent concentrations of poly-valent ions (for example, sodium ions for magnesium ions or chloride ions for sulfate ions) when passed through ion exchangers in the form of those poly-valent ions. The resultant solution has a lower osmotic pressure than the initial solution containing monovalent sodium and chloride ions, and requires less transmembrane pressure for membrane desalination compared to traditional reverse osmosis. The concentrated reject stream from the membrane process is used as regenerant for the exhausted ion exchanger, which has been converted to monovalent anionic or cationic form.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2008Date of Patent: March 8, 2011Inventors: Arup K. SenGupta, Sudipta Sarkar
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Patent number: 7867387Abstract: A “no filter, no run” filtration system that is designed to verify that a filter cartridge is present to safe-guard against damage to fuel injectors, associated fuel components, etc. and engine malfunctions. Fuel flow to the engine is prevented altogether or permitted in an amount insufficient to allow engine operation if a filter cartridge is not installed, and an appropriately designed filter cartridge is required to be used in order to permit sufficient fuel flow for engine operation. In one embodiment, a flow restriction valve is provided that includes a ball.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2007Date of Patent: January 11, 2011Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.Inventors: Zemin Jiang, Wassem Abdalla, Jeffrey B. Sharp, Hendrik Amirkhanian, Jeff Husband, Abby True-Dahl
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Patent number: 7857144Abstract: This invention relates to a liquid filter having a housing and a top. The housing includes an inwardly protruding annular shoulder which supports a filter basket. Forming a part of the housing and located above the annular shoulder is a tapered protrusion over which a filter bag is press fitted and snapped under so as to be suggested against the underlying annular shoulder.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2004Date of Patent: December 28, 2010Assignee: Filter Specialists, Inc.Inventor: Gunther E. Asterlin
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Patent number: 7790044Abstract: A method and apparatus for treatment of feces is present in which usable organic and inorganic chemical compounds and substances are extracted from the fecal material for reuse. The process and apparatus includes receiving a mixture of fecal material from various sources, separating the liquid from the solids for further processing or disposal, mixing the solids with an acid and/or solvent solution to break down the solids into components to be extracted, filtering solids from the mixture, distilling the filtrate to remove remaining solvents, reacting the remaining solids with a metal hydroxide solution to yield fats, fatty acids, oils, alcohols, sugars, and other minerals, and further processing these materials to produce lubricants, grease, emulsifiers, biodiesel, fuels and/or fertilizers.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 7, 2010Assignee: NOWA Technology, Inc.Inventor: Frank J. Canaleo
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Patent number: 7754078Abstract: The invention concerns a filter for liquids loaded with solid particles, comprising a vessel (52) provided with an inlet for the liquid to be filtered, an outlet for the filtrate emerging into a manifold and a discharge orifice for the sludge of solid particles and wherein is enclosed a plurality of filtering elements (10), each filtering element shaped like an elongated pocket (16) of fabric (12) of filtering media having an upper opening (10) in communication with the outlet and mounted around frames (18) provided with longitudinal drainage channels (30) and suspended to support elements housed in said vessel and comprising a radial pipe (20) forming a manifold wherein emerges the opening of the filtering elements. The invention is characterized in that the upper edge of said pockets is provided with a hem (17) receiving a stiffening element (19) and urged to be tightly fixed in a peripheral catching element (21) integral with said support elements.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2004Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Inventor: Guy Gaudfrin
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Patent number: 7736502Abstract: A temperature transfer filter plate assembly for a filter press includes a temperature transfer filter plate in a filter plate assembly having a plate chamber for receiving heating or cooling fluid. A plurality of apertures extend through the filter plate to enable the flow of liquid therethrough. A filter frame includes a web or divider wall that receives temperature transfer filter plates on opposing sides thereof. The apertures of each temperature transfer filter plate open into respective collecting chambers defined by the inner wall of the temperature transfer filter plate and the divider wall. A flow path arrangement allows removal of the liquid from the collecting chambers in the temperature transfer filter plate assembly. The temperature transfer filter plates generally have inner and outer walls with a wavy or undulating configuration to form the plate chamber therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2008Date of Patent: June 15, 2010Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.Inventor: Kenneth Marchek
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Patent number: 7708147Abstract: A fluid filter assembly comprises a filter and a case. The case defines a filter chamber receiving the filter. The case comprises a notch extending into the filter chamber and engaging the filter.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: Purolator Filters NA LLCInventors: Nishaj Attassery, Bruce Murray Roxburgh, Lorne Burry
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Patent number: 7708149Abstract: A large vault or tank receives the runoff water to be cleaned. There are one or more small tanks in the large tank (vault). Each small tank is inverted and receives water at its open lower end, from the large tank. The water entering the small tank rises, as the water level in the large tank rises, and flows upward through a filter. When the water level rises above the top of the filter it enters an outlet tube or pipe and then flows downwardly along the center-line of the filter. A float, a valve and a check valve may cause the system to function as a siphon and feed the filtered clean water to an outlet. Alternatively the siphoning effect will occur if the inside diameter of said outlet tube is small enough to form a partial vacuum.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Inventors: Thomas E. Pank, Austin T. Meyermann
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Patent number: 7699519Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus to carry out the method for extracting petroleum distillate products from alcohol. The inventive method capitalizes on the discovered property that petroleum distillates, such as xylene and limonene, can be dissociated from their tight molecular interaction with alcohol by their higher affinity for water. The method also capitalizes on the discovered property that limonene, in the presence of water, forms terpin hydrate, forming particles that can be removed by filtration. Other, non-limonene petroleum distillates, once dissociated from alcohol, can be removed by distillation.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2006Date of Patent: April 20, 2010Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventor: Mark H. Potts
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Patent number: 7686957Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating fluids, in particular waste waters involving coagulation/flocculation, clarification by filtration or flotation stages and a stage of filtration through micro-, ultra, and nanomembranes or of hyperfiltration. The inventive method consists in injecting two times several coagulating reagents in a quantity ranging from 75 to 125% of an optimal coagulation dose or a dose cancelling a Zeta potential (pz) in an area (area n° 1) situated upstream of the clarification stage (2) and from 0.1 to 25% of an optimal dose cancelling the pz in a second area (area n° 2) situated upstream of the stage of membrane filtration (4).Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2004Date of Patent: March 30, 2010Assignee: DegremontInventor: Chrystelle Langlais
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Patent number: 7658852Abstract: Direct-osmosis (DO) method for cleaning a semi-permeable membrane in a RO separation module, the membrane having a feed side with foulant located thereon, and an opposite permeate side. A normal RO separation process in the same module includes: feeding, under gauge pressure PGr, raw saline solution having osmotic pressure POr to the membrane feed side; collecting permeate (solvent) having osmotic pressure POp from the permeate side, under gauge pressure PGp; and removing residual brine from the membrane feed side. The method comprises feeding to the feed side of the membrane, for a predetermined injection time, super saline solution having osmotic pressure POs>POr, such that backward flow of permeate towards the feed side of the membrane is provided so as to lift the foulant from the feed side.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2005Date of Patent: February 9, 2010Assignee: Membrane Recovery LtdInventor: Igal Liberman
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Patent number: 7635429Abstract: A compact filter element with a large filter surface area having inner and outer rings of filter material with an annular space between them, such that fluid to be filtered can be introduced into the annular space between the rings of filter material and a portion thereof can flow through the outer ring of filter material to the periphery of the filter element and another portion thereof can flow through the inner ring of filter material to the center of the filter element; at least one fluid-permeable support member for the filter material, and at least one end disk on an axial end face of the filter element affixed to the rings of filter material in a sealed manner, in which the end disk has a centrally arranged inlet opening for the fluid to be filtered and one or more radially extending distributor channels leading from the central inlet opening to at least one eccentrically arranged outlet opening which opens into the annular space between the rings of filter material to admit fluid to be filtered to theType: GrantFiled: September 15, 2006Date of Patent: December 22, 2009Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbHInventors: Ralf Bauder, Michael Wolf, Karlheinz Muenkel, Joachim Stinzendoerfer, Duc Cuong Nguyen, Oliver Scherer, Martin Gruber