Patents Examined by Jonathan M Peo
  • Patent number: 10669174
    Abstract: A water purification device is provided in the form of a hydrogel matrix containing immobilized nanoparticles that are directly synthesized in-situ in the hydrogel matrix. The hydrogel matrix is temperature sensitive, such that swelling draws in pollutants that are captured by the nanoparticles, while deswelling releases purified water. A related method of decontaminating the water supply contaminated with a target pollutant is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Dibakar Bhattacharyya, Li Xiao
  • Patent number: 10662097
    Abstract: The invention discloses an apparatus for sewage deep denitrification with high pollutant carrying capacity and low energy consumption and a method for running the same, characterized in that: the apparatus mainly includes a settling tank, an electrodialysis device, a pH adjusting tank, a first chemical storage tank, a biofilter, a second chemical storage tank, a redox potential measuring device, a backwash pump, and a clean water tank, wherein the biofilter is provided with a gas collecting device, an uniform water distributor, a first filter bed, a second filter bed, a third filter bed, and a fourth filter bed sequentially from up to down, a second dosing port is arranged underneath the second filter bed, and the second chemical storage tank is communicated to the second dosing port respectively through a first flow path and a second flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hui Huang, Qing Wang, Hong-qiang Ren
  • Patent number: 10639568
    Abstract: The invention described is a pipe guard that prevents unwanted debris from entering a pipe while still allowing the flow of water. The pipe guard includes braces connecting a mounting flange on the outside of the pipe to a plate within the pipe having a plurality of holes. A bracket extends from one brace to the other between the flange and plate to provide additional support and rigidity to the pipe guard as well as acting as a handle that can be grasped by a worker to remove the pipe guard and material that may build up on the plate. The pipe guard is secured within the pipe by fasteners that extend through threaded holes in the braces and partially embed into the interior wall of the pipe. Accordingly, the pipe guard cannot be pulled free from or knocked loose from the pipe without loosening the screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Inventor: Allen Roy Carter
  • Patent number: 10618006
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system includes a multi-element membrane array having membrane elements disposed in series. Permeate pipes receive permeate from respective membrane elements. The connectors coupling the permeate pipes have a flow restrictor. The restrictors have an effective area that increases in subsequent connectors. The body has an outer wall and an orifice plug within a longitudinal passage. The orifice plug is separated from the body. Each orifice plug has a carrier body with a plug passage therethrough. Each carrier body has an orifice plate having an orifice disposed within the plug passage and a spring disposed within the carrier body resisting movement of the orifice plate, whereby movement of the orifice plate changes an amount of fluid flowing through each connector. Each spring in subsequent connectors provides a reduced amount of spring force for resisting movement of the orifice plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: FLUID EQUIPMENT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10617981
    Abstract: A filter device for fluids, in particular in the form of a tank-installation return filter, includes a filter element (27) accommodated in a housing (3) having a fluid inlet (17) for supplying unfiltered fluid to an inner cavity (31) of the filter element (27). The inner cavity is surrounded by a filter medium (29) through which unfiltered fluid can flow. A flow-conducting apparatus (13, 49, 77) orients the flow of the unfiltered fluid reaching the filter medium (29) and is provided between the fluid inlet (17) and the inner cavity (31) of the filter element (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: RT-FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Marco Bautz, Gerhard Stehle
  • Patent number: 10550022
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sewage/wastewater treatment system using granular activated sludge and a membrane bio-reactor and a sewage/wastewater treatment method using the same that are configured to effectively remove pollutants contained in raw water through a granulation tank in which the granular activated sludge is contained and to allow the raw water to be filtered through movable membranes located on the upper portion of the granulation tank. The system includes: an indirect aeration tank adapted to supply air thereto to allow dissolved oxygen contained in raw water to reach a saturation concentration; a granulation tank adapted to allow floating microorganisms contained in the treated water passing through the indirect aeration tank to be granulated and having a sludge blanket formed thereon; and movable membranes located on the upper portion of the granulation tank in such a manner as to be movable in the granulation tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Younggeun Lee, Hyungkeun Roh, Gunmyung Lee, Jaeho Ho
  • Patent number: 10549223
    Abstract: The filtering system comprises an inner flow or an outer flow, a shaft, a backwash outlet, a backwash valve, a volume separator rotating disk containing a backwash hole located between the insert and back wash outlet, and a filter cleaning mechanism enabling the cleaning of the dirt particles generated on the filter insert without opening the filter cover. The filtering system contains at least two flow cross-section reducing plates, realizing the speedy passage of the liquid in the insert through the plurality of gaps providing a plurality of reduced flow cross-sections created between the flow cross-section reducing plates and the surface of the insert. A pressure drop is generated during the speedy passage of a liquid through the plurality of gaps. The surface of the insert is cleaned with the passage of the liquid from outside of the insert to the inside of the insert or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: EKO MUHENDISLIK SANAYI VE TICARET LIMITED SIRKETI
    Inventor: M. Serdar Gurel
  • Patent number: 10525393
    Abstract: The present invention is a filter mechanism provided in a pump or the like, and the purpose thereof is to provide a filter mechanism that can eliminate foreign matter adhering to the surface of a filter and thereby can prevent clogging of filters because of foreign matter. According to the present invention, an area toward the inside in the direction of the radius of the filter is linked to an intake opening (235) of the pump (for example, a trochoid pump (22)) and, via the pump (22) to a pump ejection opening (trochoid pump ejection opening (215)), and an area between a filter (5) and (an inside wall surface (3i) of) a first casing (3) is linked to a low-pressure ejection opening (discharge opening (237)) for a working fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: NIPPON OIL PUMP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuji Kawano
  • Patent number: 10518224
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus (10) for filtering and separating flow medium (11) by means of membranes (13), in a substantially pressuretight housing (14), at least one inlet (15) for the flow medium (11) to be separated, and at least one outlet (16) for permeate (18) discharge and an outlet (17) for discharged retentate (19), is described. The membranes (13) being embodied as membrane cushions, which have an opening region (131) for emergence of permeate (18) collecting in the membrane interior (137). Various partial sets of the set of membranes (13), which form a membrane stack (12), utilize different separation techniques based on the flow medium (11) so that a respective partial set are each operated with a predetermined, different pressure of the medium (11) to be separated or with a different vacuum on the permeate side of the membranes (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: R.T.S. ROCHEM TECHNICAL SERVICES GMBH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Heine
  • Patent number: 10493197
    Abstract: A blood treatment apparatus comprising: a blood treatment unit; a blood line configured to extract blood from a blood source, pass the blood through the blood treatment unit and deliver treated blood to a target vessel; and a fluid line configured to pass treatment fluid through the blood treatment unit and deliver used treatment fluid to a fluid sink. A flow divider is arranged in the fluid line that separates treatment fluid into a first fluid section and a second fluid section, thereby electrically isolating the fluid sections such that electrical current flowing in the fluid line between the fluid sections is limited. Related manufacturing and verification methods are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: GAMBRO LUNDIA AB
    Inventors: Per Hansson, Thomas Hertz, Mattias Holmer, Lennart Jonsson, Anders Nilsson, Anders Wallenborg, Johan Andersson
  • Patent number: 10478756
    Abstract: A modularized system for conditioning liquid fuel is provided that includes a mobile trailer and a liquid fuel conditioning skid disposed on and secured to the mobile trailer. The modularized system includes a pre-filter sub-skid disposed on and secured to the liquid fuel conditioning skid that includes a pre-filter configured to remove impurities from a processed liquid fuel prior to providing the processed liquid fuel to a last chance filter. The modularized system includes a last chance filter sub-skid disposed on and secured to the liquid fuel conditioning skid that includes a last chance filter configured to remove impurities from the processed liquid fuel prior to providing the processed liquid fuel to a gas turbine engine. The pre-filter sub-skid and the last chance filter sub-skid are coupled together via piping enabling flow the processed liquid fuel between the pre-filter sub-skid and the last chance filter sub-skid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Clayton Nagata Yancy, Victor Henson, Joe Floyd Schornick, Michael Augustin, Ebony Wiley, Hamidreza Naasernakhaei
  • Patent number: 10479697
    Abstract: The invention relates to container bodies configured to be used in filter-as-you-pour systems, where filtering is achieved as the user pours water from the container. Such container bodies may have an undivided internal storage volume, so as to not include a reservoir compartment for unfiltered water. They may be part of systems configured to filter water both as water is introduced into a container body of the system and as water is poured from the container body of the system. The filter assembly may be attached to the container body at a location proximate the outlet of the system. Filter media of the filter assembly may comprise an activated carbon textile material that presents a curved surface to water passing through the filter assembly. The container body may be configured as a pitcher, carafe, water bottle, jug, or other shaped container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: BRITA LP
    Inventors: Nikhil P. Dani, Jonathan McDonald, Nicole Doan, Jonathan Taylor Wiegele
  • Patent number: 10456723
    Abstract: A fluid purification system capable of removing contaminants from significant volumes of fluids under low pressure conditions and at reasonable flow rates is provided. The system comprises a first fluid purification media comprising a rigid porous purification block. The rigid porous purification block includes a longitudinal first surface; a longitudinal second surface disposed inside the longitudinal first surface; and a porous high density polymer disposed between the longitudinal first surface and the longitudinal second surface. The system further includes a second fluid purification media, comprising a fibrous, nonwoven fabric disposed adjacent to the first surface of the first fluid purification media, the second surface of the first purification media, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SELECTO INCORPORATED
    Inventor: Ehud Levy
  • Patent number: 10457570
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a ballast water treatment system and method onboard ships or sea-going vessels. The system includes a filtration system, a UV disinfection system and a biofouling control system, which is adapted to provide continuous control of multiplication of marine organisms even during an absence of a ballasting and a de-ballasting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: SEMBCORP MARINE REPAIRS & UPGRADES PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Sow Hong Kuik, Tee Tank Chew, Hwee Hong Chew, Chee Yong Chua
  • Patent number: 10442713
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of water contaminated by polar and/or apolar organic compounds, and/or by heavy metal salts, and/or by oil dispersed or in emulsion, comprises sending said contaminated water to a system comprising: at least one adsorption (3) unit including at least one microporous or mesoporous alumina-silicate; at least one nanofiltration unit (7) including at least one hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane; wherein said hydrophilic nanofiltration membrane has a contact angle with water lower than or equal to 45°, preferably ranging from 25° to 40°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: ENI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Roberto Bagatin, Rodolfo Vignola, Raffaello Sisto, Marco Petrangeli Papini, Riccardo Tuffi, Alessandra De Folley D'Auris
  • Patent number: 10427953
    Abstract: A cross-linked polymeric resin which contains reacted monomer units of an aniline, a diaminoalkane, and an aldehyde, and which is functionalized with at least one dithiocarbamate moiety. A process for producing the cross-linked polymeric resin whereby an aniline and a diaminoalkane are linked together by Mannich-type polycondensation reactions with an aldehyde. The resulting Mannich-type polycondensation product is converted into the cross-linked polymeric resin through functionalization of one or more amine functional groups with dithiocarbamate moieties. A method for removing heavy metals, such as Hg(II), from an aqueous solution, whereby the cross-linked polymeric resin is contacted with the aqueous solution, and the heavy metal is thus adsorbed onto the cross-linked polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Oluwafemi S. Akintola, Tawfik Abdo Saleh Awadh, Mazen Mohammad Khaled, Othman Charles Sadeq Al Hamouz
  • Patent number: 10407318
    Abstract: A cross-linked polymeric resin which contains reacted monomer units of an aniline, a diaminoalkane, and an aldehyde, and which is functionalized with at least one dithiocarbamate moiety. A process for producing the cross-linked polymeric resin whereby an aniline and a diaminoalkane are linked together by Mannich-type polycondensation reactions with an aldehyde. The resulting Mannich-type polycondensation product is converted into the cross-linked polymeric resin through functionalization of one or more amine functional groups with dithiocarbamate moieties. A method for removing heavy metals, such as Hg(II), from an aqueous solution, whereby the cross-linked polymeric resin is contacted with the aqueous solution, and the heavy metal is thus adsorbed onto the cross-linked polymeric resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Oluwafemi S. Akintola, Tawfik Abdo Saleh Awadh, Mazen Mohammad Khaled, Othman Charles Sadeq Al Hamouz
  • Patent number: 10399018
    Abstract: A liquid supply system includes a container containing a liquid, a tank coupled to the container to receive the liquid from the container, and a dispensing mechanism coupled to the tank to receive the liquid to be dispensed. The dispensing mechanism comprises a filter configured to filter the liquid before dispensing. The filter comprises a first gas collection space configured to collect gas accompanying the liquid. The tank is controllably coupled to the first gas collection space of the filter to vent the collected gas from the filter to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Wen-Huang Liao
  • Patent number: 10392269
    Abstract: A portable water purification system is disclosed. The system can have a water storage receptacle, a reverse osmosis filter, a pump, and a solar panel array group. The reverse osmosis filter can be configurable to convert source water into drinkable water, and the pump can be configurable to provide the source water from a water source to the reverse osmosis filter. The array group can have at least one bi-fold solar panel array, and the array group can be configurable to provide power for the pump. The water storage receptacle can be configurable to contain the drinkable water in one configuration and configurable to contain at least one component of the purification system for storage in another configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Kevin E. Munro
  • Patent number: 10392282
    Abstract: A water treatment system using electrocoagulation is provided. One of the stages of the water treatment is subjecting the water to electrocoagulation so that colloidal solids can be reduced, emulsions broken, and hydrocarbons and complex organics removed, without the application of substantial chemical substances to the contaminated water or even the use of any chemical substances. An electrocoagulation apparatus can comprise: a tank having a first end and a second end; a plurality of electrolytic cells provided in the tank, each electrolytic cell having at least one anode electrode and at least one cathode electrode defining an anode/cathode electrode pair; and a voltage supply connected to each electrolytic cell to supply a voltage across each anode/cathode pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Inventor: Sean Frisky