Patents Examined by Douglas J. Theisen
  • Patent number: 7378016
    Abstract: A device is provided for increasing the pH of an acidic aqueous stream, which may result from commercial activity in petroleum, mining, metal finishing and food processing sectors, among others. A container defines an upright reactor portion with a cross-section that increases upwardly, along with inlet and outlet conduits connected to an inlet and an outlet between which the reactor portion is located. The conical portion contains a bed of substantially water-insoluble alkaline salt particulate, such as MgSO, the bed being such that, when the pH of the inflowing aqueous stream is below 7, contact between the particulate and the aqueous stream will raise the pH of the outflowing stream to a level above that of the inflowing stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Green Turtle Americas Ltd.
    Inventor: Joseph Gordon Monteith
  • Patent number: 7374602
    Abstract: The present invention generally offers a system and a method that allows a vessel to treat water while providing corrosion inhibition. An oxygen stripping gas source produces oxygen stripping gas that may be pumped directly to, preferably but optionally, a venturi injector, or may first be pumped into an empty tank and then delivered to the injector means. Water being pumped through the injector via a transfer piping means comes into contact with the oxygen stripping gas, and dissolved oxygen in the water transfers to micro-fine stripping gas bubbles generated by the injector. The water and the micro-fine bubbles are pumped from the injector and into the tank, where the micro-fine bubbles float to the surface, and the oxygen is released into the tank's headspace. The deoxygenated water may be re-circulated through the system for additional deoxygenation or released from the tank into the surrounding waterways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NEI Treatment Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Peter McNulty
  • Patent number: 7368006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a deaeration device for deaerating water used during ultrasonic focusing tumour treatment. The said deaeration device includes water purifiers (2), a vacuum pump (32), a water heater (6), electromagnetic valves (3, 5, 7-9, 19-23, 25-26, 30-31), water tanks (10, 18), content gauges (11, 15, 17), a thermometer (13), vacuum gauges (12, 16), and an aqueous capsule (24). The said vacuum pump (32) is a water jet vacuum pump, and there are two water tanks (10, 18). The vacuum pump (32) is connected to the tops of two water tanks (10,18) via a valve assembly composed of four electromagnetic valves (19-22). Two atomizing nozzles (14) are respectively provided at the water inlets on the tops of two water tanks (10,18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Shanghai A&S Science Technology Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiwei Jiang, Jiaxian Dong, Baili Jin, Yisheng Chen, Guanlong Li
  • Patent number: 7368001
    Abstract: A vapor recovery system for use during filling of a tank installation with a volatile liquid. The tank has a fill-pipe for the introduction of the liquid into the tank wherein the exit to which fill-pipe is normally below the liquid level in the tank. The vapor recovery system includes a reduced cross-sectional area region of the fill-pipe and a duct extending from that region through the side wall of the fill-pipe into the ullage space above the liquid level in the tank. The system further has a valve assembly associated with the duct which valve assembly normally closes off the duct, but which valve assembly is opened by flow of liquid along the fill-pipe into the tank, such that vapor in the tank may be drawn along the duct from the ullage space by the reduced static pressure in the region of reduced cross-sectional area of the fill-pipe. A method of recovering vapor using such a system is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Petroman Limited
    Inventor: Rodney Carter
  • Patent number: 7364609
    Abstract: A kit for constructing a de-aerator for a fluid distribution system includes a gas concentrator adapted to be received in chamber of a T-coupling provided with the kit. A cap is provided that closes a cap connector integrally formed with the T-coupling. The cap supports a valve that opens and closes in response to fluctuations of a level of the fluid in the cavity as air is accumulated in the cavity and discharged by an opening of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Inventor: James MacDuff
  • Patent number: 7364604
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for gas/liquid separation on an array of jets or streams of liquid is provided. Layers of substantially spherical aggregates of meshed material are provided to “quiet” high-velocity liquid flow with entrained gas to provide a uniform flow at moderate or low velocity from which the gas has been substantially separated from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: David L. Wait
  • Patent number: 7361210
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for separating froth into liquid and gas components. One apparatus includes a container that is configured to hold froth therein and change at least a portion of the froth into substantially separate liquid and gas portions when an electrostatic charge is discharged through at least a portion of the froth between at least two electrodes at least partially arranged within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Inventor: David N. Olsen
  • Patent number: 7332018
    Abstract: The deaerator for liquid, comprises: a flow path in which the liquid flows; a pressure reducing deaerating device which removes dissolved gas contained in the liquid inside the flow path by reducing pressure of a deaerating section surrounding at least a portion of the flow path; and a variation device which varies a length of the flow path inside the deaerating section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroshi Inoue
  • Patent number: 7329305
    Abstract: An example system for processing a material stream includes a deoxygenator for removing dissolved oxygen. Removal of dissolved oxygen provides for the reduction of reactions and processes that can result in the generation of undesirable insoluble materials that can clog or otherwise foul the system. The deoxygenator includes an oxygen permeable membrane to remove dissolved oxygen from the flowing material stream. Because dissolved oxygen can be removed from the material stream essentially without disrupting flow, there is little affect on the overall process. The removal of dissolved oxygen provides significant increases in process efficiencies by reducing or eliminating the formation of undesirable by products within a material stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Michael A. Sloan
  • Patent number: 7329312
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying water containing dissolved gas comprising a flowmeter for measuring a flowrate of pure or ultra-pure water and a mechanism for controlling a flowrate, a means for adjusting an amount of water which adjusts an amount of the pure or ultra-pure water supplied to the apparatus for dissolving a gas, a tank which receives the water containing dissolved gas in an excessive amount which is not used at a point of use, a piping system through which the water containing dissolved gas glows from the tank towards the point of use and the water containing dissolved gas in an excessive amount returns to the tank, a piping system for supplying the water containing dissolved gas to the tank, and a controlling means for adjusting an amount of water based on a water level in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Kurita Water Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Morita, Junichi Ida, Kazumi Tsukamoto
  • Patent number: 7326283
    Abstract: A spinning impingement multiphase contacting device and method for heat or mass transfer are disclosed. A first fluid, from which the transfer is to occur, is caused to impinge and be entrained in a spinning permeable element, creating a highly dispersed phase. The highly dispersed phase contacts the second fluid to cause the desired heat or mass transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: Cleveland Gas Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Nelson C. Gardner, Xintian Zheng, Robert E. Harris
  • Patent number: 7323102
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering a liquid, with a housing, a liquid inlet arranged in the housing, a liquid outlet arranged in the housing, a filter for removing particles from a liquid stream arranged between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet, and at least one additive for functionally altering the liquid properties arranged in the apparatus, in which the additive is arranged in the interior volume of the apparatus and is shaped in a colloidally disperse, dimensionally stable, elastic form corresponding to at least one geometric space defined by an interior structure of the apparatus or of the filter for removing the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Gunnar-Marcel Klein, Markus Kolczyk, Guenter Jokschas, Michael Harenbrock, Joerg Kramer
  • Patent number: 7318855
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for gas/liquid separation on an array of jets or streams of liquid is provided. Layers of structured packing material are configured to “quiet” high-velocity liquid flow with entrained gas to provide a flow at moderate or low velocity from which the gas has been substantially separated from the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Clyde D. Newman, Albert D. Tomassian, Alan Z. Ullman, David L. Wait
  • Patent number: 7300579
    Abstract: A flush mixing tank is provided with a flocculant mixing section in which a raw water a to be treated is introduced and a flocculant such as known aluminum sulfate or polychlorinated aluminum is injected, and then they are agitated and mixed; and a floc growing section through which flocculant injected water mixed with the flocculant passes, and the flocculant injected water is discharged as a floc treated water, but a water passing member, which is provided with a plurality of water through-holes for promoting the growth of the flocs in the flocculant injected water, is disposed in the floc growing section. Flocs of flocculant injected water can be rapidly formed, and growth of the flocs can be accelerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yonekawa, Nobuhiro Aoki, Naoki Murata
  • Patent number: 7294171
    Abstract: A method of degassing a coating liquid, comprising the step of: irradiating the coating liquid with a plurality of ultrasonic waves of different frequency bands simultaneously to degass said coating liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventor: Hitoshi Yamada
  • Patent number: 7288138
    Abstract: An apparatus separates liquid, gas and solid components of a mixture in an engine lubricating system. An inlet for receiving the mixture opens tangentially into a separation chamber and a gas outlet has an opening in a first end wall adjacent the inlet to allow gas to exit the separator. A fluid outlet is in an opposing second end wall and opens into a lubricant reservoir of the engine lubricating system. Both liquid and gas flow through the fluid outlet between the separator and the reservoir. A particle collector is provided adjacent the second end wall to receive solids that become separated from the mixture. A baffle may be provided to direct the separated liquid from the separator into the reservoir while allowing gas in the reservoir to flow into the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Showalter, Edward G. Kosteski
  • Patent number: 7288192
    Abstract: A standard 20 ft or 40 ft sea-freight shipping container is configured as a septic tank, or as an aerobic trickle filter station. The shipping-container is lined with a watertight shell or liner. The liner may be a preferabricated separate structure inserted into the container, and supported from the container walls. Or, the liner may be actually constructed inside the container, again taking mechanical support from the container walls. The openable doors at the end of the standard container are retained, a wall being added to the shipping-container a foot or two inside the doors to form the tank, leaving a utility room for pipework, valves, pumps, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Inventor: E. Craig Jowett
  • Patent number: 7288139
    Abstract: An apparatus separates liquid, gas and solid components of a mixture in a fluid system. An inlet for receiving the mixture opens into a separation chamber tangentially with a cylindrical side wall and a gas outlet has an opening in a first end wall adjacent the inlet to allow gas to exit the separator. A fluid outlet is located in an opposing second end wall. A debris passage extends through the cylindrical side wall and oriented so that the radial velocity of the particles within the separation chamber directs the particles through the debris passage. The debris passage leads to a particle collection chamber in which the particles accumulate. Unlike prior separators that relied on the tangential velocity of the particles, the present apparatus utilizes the greater radial velocity to drive the particles from the separation chamber into the particle collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Stephen Showalter
  • Patent number: 7282081
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improve aeration system. The aeration system of the present invention more efficiently removes contaminates, such as hydrogen sulfide, from water. The increased efficiency is achieved by adjusting the pH level of the water in between sequential mass transfer media stages within the aerator. The present invention also relates to an aeration system wherein the forced or induced air is used to strip contaminants from the processed water is reutilized by one or more aeration towers connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: John A. Verscharen
  • Patent number: 7279030
    Abstract: A rotary filter is disclosed, comprising filtering cells rotating in a circular movement, including a fixed collector portion comprising at least two compartments each having arc-shaped upward opening and a central separator chamber, including a downward opening communicating the separator chamber with each of said compartments, said downward opening being arranged at a level lower than said upward opening of each of the compartments, the downward opening of the central separator chamber and the upward opening of each compartment of the collector portion partly overlapping in vertical projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Gevers & Vander Haeghen SA
    Inventor: Serge Kurowski