Patents Examined by Douglas Theisen
  • Patent number: 8152904
    Abstract: A medical ultrasound system. A base unit is included having system electronics, a user interface and ultrasound control electronics. An ultrasound therapy head is in electronic communication with the base unit. The therapy head includes a replaceable, sealed transducer cartridge with a coupling fluid therein. A cooling system is provided for cooling the coupling fluid. A plurality of guide indicators are positioned around the therapy head to align with crossed lines on a patient so as to properly align the therapy head prior to use. The therapy head can provide variable treatments to an area while the therapy head is in contact with a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: LipoSonix, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan K. Slobodzian, Gregory T. Wing
  • Patent number: 8147600
    Abstract: A fuel gas removal system includes a venturi for reducing a pressure of the fuel, a bubble separator containing media to assist in the formation of gas bubbles within the fuel to separate the gas bubbles from the fuel, and a port to remove gas bubbles created by the reduction of pressure of the fuel and the bubble separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Neal R. Herring, Arindam Dasgupta, Haralambos Cordatos, Thomas G. Tillman, Jeremiah C. Lee
  • Patent number: 8128730
    Abstract: A sonotrode specially adapted for defoaming liquids during container filing operations, has an upper body portion having a first diameter and having an upper face adapted to be mounted to a driving transducer, a middle body portion having a second diameter larger than the first diameter situated below the upper body portion, a generally conical portion situated between the upper body portion the middle body portion, and a transition portion situated between the middle body portion and a lower face adapted to be directed toward a liquid upper surface within a container, the lower face being generally rectangular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: New Sonic Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: James T. Williamson
  • Patent number: 8118921
    Abstract: A unit (1) for accumulating and degassing oil in an oil system comprising a reservoir (2) provided with a first chamber (3) in which the oil is subjected to atmospheric pressure and in which the oil volume is allowed to vary, a second chamber (4) which is intended to be at least nearly completely filled with oil and in which the oil is kept separated from direct contact with surrounding air, and a flow passage (7) between the chambers. A air-tight flexible member (11) is arranged in the first oil accumulation chamber in order to keep the oil therein separated from direct contact with surrounding air. The unit also comprises an apparatus (20) for degassing oil, which is connected to the reservoir and comprises an entrance (21a) for feeding oil into the apparatus (20), an exit (22a) for oil connected to the reservoir, and a degassing room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Hydac Fluisteknik AB
    Inventors: Håkan Ingvast, Andreas Norberg
  • Patent number: 8114298
    Abstract: A device, system and method are provided for treating water, in which a water treating agent is prepared and dispensed to an untreated drinking water source in discrete and consecutive control volumes enabling untreated water in the untreated water source to be treated thereby to provide potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: Bromine Compounds Ltd., WDT-Werner Dosiertechnik GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Theodore Fishler, David Feldman, Dietmar Werner
  • Patent number: 8110024
    Abstract: A separator tank (1) comprising an essentially cylindrical vertical tank, a tangentially arranged inlet (3) in an upper part (9) of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) for oil and gas in the upper part of the tank, and at least one second outlet (5) for water in a lower part of the tank. A vortex zone (7) comprises a downward protruding conical frusta shaped wall (8) with an opening (11) at the lower end to allow communication between the upper and lower part of the tank. A helical spiralling vane is disposed on the upward directed part of said conical frusta shaped wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8105421
    Abstract: A well fluid separator tank comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank (1) having an upper part (6) and a lower part (7) divided by an upward protruding conical frusta shaped wall (5), a tangentially arranged inlet (2) for fluid in the upper part of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) in the upper part of the tank, at least one second outlet (3) in the lower part of the tank, and means (12) for calming a stream around the second outlet. The upward protruding conical frusta shaped wall (5) has a first opening (8) at an upper end of said upward protruding conical frusta shaped wall to allow communication between the upper part and the lower part of the tank. The conical frusta shaped wall (5) has an inclination (9) so that the angle between the wall of the tank and the upper side of the conical frusta shaped wall is in the range from 15° to 70°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8105422
    Abstract: The invention is a method and cyclonic separator for degassing a fluid mixture comprising a carrier liquid and gaseous or vaporizable components. In this method, the fluid mixture is accelerated in a throat section of a vortex tube such that the static pressure of the fluid mixture is decreased and vaporizable components evaporate into a gaseous phase and the fluid mixture flows as a substantially homogeneously dispersed gas-liquid mixture through the throat section; the accelerated fluid mixture is induced to swirl within a tubular mid section of the vortex tube such that the fluid mixture is separated by centrifugal forces into a degassed liquid fraction and a gas enriched fraction; the degassed liquid fraction is induced to flow into an annular liquid outlet conduit; and the gas enriched fraction is induced to flow into a central gas outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Marco Betting, Bart Prast, Helmar Van Santen, Cornelius Johannes Schellekens, Paulus Henricus Joannes Verbeek, Peter Mervyn Wilkinson
  • Patent number: 8097069
    Abstract: A pressurized container (10, 20) for containing oil and a gas dissolved therein at a constant overall average pressure at a pressure above atmospheric pressure comprising a means (11a, 11b, 11c, 11d, 21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) for introducing a local area of reduced pressure within the oil. Preferably the local area of reduced pressure result in the gas dissolved in the oil evolving from the oil. This enables gas to be evolved from the oil without needing to reduce the pressure of the entire volume of oil which the gas is to be evolved from. The evolved gas and remaining oil occupy a greater volume than did the gas containing oil and consequently the pressure in the vessel will increase. This will allow the gas to be drawn off while the overall pressure of the container (10, 20) is maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Inventor: David Morgan
  • Patent number: 8080091
    Abstract: A dialysis fluid system includes an instrument including a pump actuator and a fluid heater, and a dialysis fluid cassette. The dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining a pumping section for operation with the pump actuator and a heating section for operation with the fluid heater. The heating section includes a dialysis fluid inlet, a dialysis fluid outlet, and a dialysis fluid heating area located between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, the heating section further includes an air separation chamber for collecting air separated from the dialysis fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Donald D. Busby, Michael E. Hogard, Michael R. Prisco, Atif M. Yardimci, James C. Laird
  • Patent number: 8043419
    Abstract: A separator tank comprises an essentially cylindrical vertical tank (1) having an upper part (6) and a lower part (7), a tangentially arranged inlet (2) for fluid in the upper part of the tank, at least one first outlet (4) in the upper part of the tank, at least one second outlet (3) in the lower part of the tank, and means (12) for calming a stream around the second outlet. An inner annular wall (5) has a first opening (8) at an upper end of said inner annular wall to allow communication between the upper part and the lower part of the tank. The separator tank comprises a rod-shaped vortex eye breaker (11) extending vertically at the center of the tank in order to improve the capacity of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Schlumberger Norge AS
    Inventor: Jorn Folkvang
  • Patent number: 8043420
    Abstract: A fluid tank includes a tank main body that contains a fluid and a bubble removing device that is provided inside the main body and removes bubbles in the fluid. The main body includes a partition and a delivery port through which the fluid is fed to outside. The bubble removing device has an outflow port through which the fluid from which the bubbles have been removed flows to the inside of the main body and a bubble exhaust port through which the bubbles which have been removed are discharged to the inside of the main body. The delivery port is provided adjacent to the outflow port relative to the partition. The partition partitions the inside of the main body into a side in which the outflow port and the delivery port are provided and a side of the bubble exhaust port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Komatsu Ltd., Komatsu Utility Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Konishi, Tatsuro Nohara, Katsumi Yokoo, Shotaro Ishii, Noboru Kanayama
  • Patent number: 8025714
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialysis fluid disposable configured to hold and transport a dialysis fluid; an air separation chamber in fluid communication with the dialysis fluid disposable; and a dialysis instrument operable to pump dialysis fluid through the dialysis fluid disposable, the instrument including a vibrator configured to vibrate the air separation chamber to separate air from the dialysis fluid traveling through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Michael R. Prisco, Atif M. Yardimci, Serhan Acikgoz, James C. Laird, Shincy J. Maliekkal, Justin B. Rohde
  • Patent number: 8025716
    Abstract: A medical fluid delivery system includes a fluid disposable configured to hold and transport a medical fluid and an air separation chamber in fluid communication with the fluid disposable. The air separation chamber includes at least one fluid baffle floating within the air separation chamber and configured to separate air from medical fluid traveling through the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Michael R. Prisco, Atif M. Yardimci, Serhan Acikgoz, James C. Laird, Shincy J. Maliekkal, Justin B. Rohde
  • Patent number: 8016915
    Abstract: A method and system for degassing a resin is provided. A degassing trough retains the resin, and an ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the degassing trough and resin. The application of ultrasonic energy to the resin reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rebecca E. Hefner, Ronald R. Cairo
  • Patent number: 7998250
    Abstract: A multiple vortex separator for drawing a substantially moisture-free airstream from a waste stream having an annular channel defining a first vortex flow path for separating liquid and solid waste from this waste stream and an inverted conical cavity between nested inverted cones defining a second vortex flow path that is isolated from the first vortex flow path for separating additional liquid and solid waste from the waste stream before it exits the vortex separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Pondelick, Christopher Hardwick, Derek Vaughan, Thao Hoang, Michael Funk
  • Patent number: 7998251
    Abstract: A vortex separator for drawing a substantially moisture-free airstream from a waste stream having an annular channel defining a first vortex flow path for separating liquid and solid waste from this waste stream and preferably a filter unit with an inverted conical cavity between nested inverted cones defining a second vortex flow path that is isolated from the first vortex flow path for separating additional liquid and solid waste from the waste stream before it exits the vortex separator. In preferred embodiments, the separator includes a removable filter unit cartridge positioned within the outer cone and a helix isolator to respectively make use of the separator more convenient to use and more efficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: B/E Aerospace, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark A. Pondelick, Christopher Hardwick, Derek Vaughan, Thao Hoang, Michael Funk
  • Patent number: 7988768
    Abstract: A dialysis fluid cassette includes a rigid portion defining at least one valve chamber, the rigid portion further defining an air separation chamber, the air separation chamber when in an operating position including an inner surface, a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet and configured to cause a dialysis fluid to spiral around the inner surface toward the fluid outlet, such that air is removed from the dialysis fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Atif M. Yardimci, James C. Laird
  • Patent number: 7122071
    Abstract: A gas-liquid separator uses a helical passageway to impart a spiral motion to a fluid passing therethrough. The centrifugal force generated by the spiraling motion urges the liquid component of the fluid radially outward which forces the gas component radially inward. The gas component is then separated through a gas-permeable, liquid-impervious membrane and discharged through a central passageway. A filter material captures target substances contained in the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Steve R. Gonda, Yow-Min D. Tsao, Wenshan Lee
  • Patent number: 6866780
    Abstract: A heated ultrasonic treating device (6) comprising a sump (13) through which suspended matter-containing liquid passes, a temperature-controllable heater (14) disposes in the sump (13), and a ultrasonic vibrator (15) disposed in the sump (13). The heated ultrasonic treating device (6) uses the ultrasonic vibrator (15) to apply ultrasonic waves while heating organic drain passing the sump (13) with the heater (14), thereby pulverizing suspended matters and reducing the amount of SS. In addition, a treating column, where pulverized suspended matter-containing liquid is aerobically treated by aerobic microorganisms, is prevented from efficiency lowering due to clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamada