Patents Examined by Jonathan Miller
  • Patent number: 11724210
    Abstract: An evaporator apparatus, system, and method can be utilized for separating, purifying, and refining contaminated fluids. The evaporator comprises a burner, a conically shaped heat sink to form an evaporate from the fluids with profiles arranged on the liquid contacting surface a unique multiple surfaced apparatus for collecting the evaporate, condensing the evaporate as purified water separating it from the evaporator, a device for collecting the unevaporated brine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Katz Water Tech, LLC
    Inventors: Paul L. Smith, Gary P. Katz
  • Patent number: 11717772
    Abstract: This invention was designed to condense, separate and collect volatile compounds from the vapor steam as they exit the dehydrator. Bulk condensate is allowed to accumulate and separate in a separator vessel under vacuum. The undesirable water phase condensate is periodically drained into a water vessel, which is also held under vacuum instead of atmospheric pressure to avoid agitation and mixing of the contents of the separator vessel arising from purging the separator vessel to atmosphere. The separated and desirable oily condensates can then be easily recovered from the separator vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: 1140522 B.C. Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Sandberg, Timothy Durance
  • Patent number: 11708533
    Abstract: Plastic conversion vessels such as pyrolytic reactors convert plastic waste materials such as polymers, or hydrocarboneous material, or both, via in situ chemical reactions comprising cracking, recombination, reforming, recracking, and the like, to usable chemical compounds such as naphtha, diesel fuel, heavy oil, wax, and the like. Inherent within the polymers and/or carbonaceous material are generally solid, inert residues such as various fillers, pigments, flame retardants, silica, aluminum, talc, glass, clay, and so forth. Such solid inert residues (SIR) must be treated to remove residual volatile organic material therefrom in order to meet acceptable environmental standards and/or limits. A heated dryer for treating the SIR comprises heating units to remove excessive volatile organic material therefrom as when moved along a conveyor that transfers said material to a collection area. The collection area comprises one or more pistons that are capable of compacting and discharging said SIR material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: RES Polyflow LLC
    Inventors: George W. Strekal, Jay Schabel, Richard A. Schwarz, Mehmet A. Gencer, Richard K. Peterson, Cassten Everidge
  • Patent number: 11697771
    Abstract: A system for producing biomass vinegar and charcoal includes a furnace, which has an outer shell defining a lower combustion chamber and an upper heating chamber, and an inner tank removably received in the heating chamber. A cooling pond has a cooling region to accommodate the inner tank. A condenser in a collection barrel condenses smoke gases from the inner tank to produce biomass vinegar. A first temperature sensing pipeline removably connects the inner tank, After the biomass is carbonized, the first temperature sensing pipeline is removed from the inner tank, and the inner tank is moved to the cooling region to be cooled by a sprinkler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: NATIONAL CHUNG CHENG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shi-Ming Huang, Chih-Yuan Kuo
  • Patent number: 11697077
    Abstract: Methods and systems for separating a first metal from a metal-containing feed stream are provided. The method can include applying solar energy, for example, by focusing one or more mirrors in one or more heliostats, to heat a metal-containing feed stream in a heating zone to a first temperature to produce a first vapor including the first metal. The first vapor can be condensed in a condensation zone to produce a first liquid including the first metal, and the first liquid can be collected. The system can include a separation unit include a heating zone in fluid communication with a condensation zone and a means for applying solar energy to heat a metal-containing feed stream disposed in the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: NANT HOLDINGS IP, LLC
    Inventor: Patrick Soon-Shiong
  • Patent number: 11691895
    Abstract: Multi-chamber Compressor (6, 206, 506) of Mechanical Vapor re-Compression (MVC) and water treatment methods, the compressor bearing independent compression chambers of positive displacement, for heat-pumps, of two main variants: a) reciprocating-rotary motion (6, 206) wherein the compression chambers (7V) are radially arranged cylindrical sectors based on concentric circular sectors of the same angle, with, pistons of radially arranged vanes (20, 220) of respective surface and with the plane of the vanes passing through the axis of the common rotor (14) and the shaft (16) and b) reciprocating-linear motion (506) wherein the compression chambers (52v) are in series arranged cylinders with pistons/vanes (50v) of corresponding circular surfaces and with the plane of the vanes perpendicular to the common shaft (51). In both cases, the shaft (16, 51) and the motor are common to all the vanes (20v, 50v), which follow identical strokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventors: Emmanuil Dermitzakis, Aristeidis Dermitzakis
  • Patent number: 11679338
    Abstract: A distillation and desalination system can include a refrigeration unit, a distillation unit, and a vacuum source positioned in the refrigeration unit. The distillation unit may include a distillation chamber containing a saline liquid and a headspace above the saline liquid, the headspace comprising a gas. The vacuum source may include a first chamber defining a first chamber volume, where gas transport is permitted into and out of the first chamber and the first chamber is fluidically coupled to the headspace of the distillation unit, and a second chamber defining a second chamber volume, wherein the first chamber and the second chamber are fluidically isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Dhaval T. Patel
  • Patent number: 11673072
    Abstract: A process of mass transfer is described which utilises latent heat transfer with little or sensible heat transfer. In a preferred process microbubbles are used under certain conditions of contact with a liquid phase to ensure highly effective mass transfer between a gaseous and liquid phase with significantly less than expected or little or no sensible heat transfer. The present invention in part provides a means by which the known state of a cold liquid of varying depths can be changed using a hot gas injected via a micro bubble inducing internal mixing without allowing the resultant mixture to reach equilibrium thereby ensuring the transfer process becomes continuous. Thus a process is described wherein at least one gaseous phase is contacted with at least one liquid phase such that the heat ratio of the system (AA) is maintained at an a value of greater than 0.5, and the mass transfer is effected by passing a gaseous phase comprising microbubbles through a liquid phase of thickness no more than 10 cm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: PERLEMAX LIMITED
    Inventor: William Bauer Jay Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 11667544
    Abstract: The present disclosure is concerned with sea water demineralization. More specifically, to systems, methods, and apparatus for water demineralization and purification, including the removal of dissolved solids and contaminants from sea water, industrial water with mineral content, and brackish water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: EFFLUENT FREE DESALINATION CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shahram Shafie, Roberta S. Magnuson
  • Patent number: 11667543
    Abstract: A process for decontaminating a fluid and recovered vapor, particularly processing and recycling contaminated water, utilizing a vaporizer-desalination unit to separate a contaminated water flow into a contaminated disposal flow and a clean water vapor flow. The contaminated disposal flow may be dried and separated into recovered minerals utilizing heat from the clean water vapor flow to dry the contaminated disposal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Verno Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: John D. Riley, Dana L. Johnson, Harry Patrick Barnum
  • Patent number: 11666835
    Abstract: A multi-functional distiller for separating target compounds from a base material. The distiller has a basket, boiling tank, and sealable cap. The basket has at least one selectively sealable port for holding the base material. The boiling tank is adapted for containing a solvent, and the basket is attachable above the solvent. The sealable cap may be removeably attachable to the boiling tank to provide a sealed chamber. The sealable cap can be fitted with multiple condensers. One possible condenser is positionable exterior to the boiling tank and functions to condense vapors produced by the boiling tank. A second such condenser is an inverted condenser which is positionable interior to the tank so as to condense vapors produced by the boiling tank and cause the condensate to drip through the base material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Frederick Jackson Chess
  • Patent number: 11642813
    Abstract: A method and extrusion die to form a laminar integral skin of a honeycomb structure is provided. The method includes extruding a ceramic precursor batch through a die with feedholes in entry side and slots in exit face of the die to form the honeycomb structure. In a region on the periphery of the die configured to form the cell matrix, a series of concentric slots around the matrix in the exit face of the die are configured to feed skin onto the matrix. Ring sections between concentric slots are angled away from the center and a mask is disposed on top of the periphery producing a channel for extruded skin to meet and bond to extruded matrix. Optionally, slots in the skin-forming ring sections enhance knitting between laminar skin layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas Munroe Beall, Dana Craig Bookbinder, Thomas William Brew, Kenneth Richard Miller
  • Patent number: 11634644
    Abstract: A fast pyrolysis heat exchanger system for economically and efficiently converting biomass and other combustible materials into bio-oil. The system employs multiple closed loop tubes situated inside the heat exchanger. As a granular solid heat carrier is deposited at the top of the heat exchanger and caused to move downwardly therethrough, heat is transferred from the tubes to the heat carrier which is then transferred to a reactor where it is placed in contact with the combustible materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Inventor: Kenneth D. Moss
  • Patent number: 11633687
    Abstract: An air purifier including a fan having a plurality of fan speeds; a filter, wherein the fan draws air through the filter; a user interface in communication with a control system; wherein upon activation of the control system, the control system identifies an initial air quality index (AQI) based upon a geographic location of the air purifier, a room size based upon the type of room in which the air purifier is placed, and identifies a fan speed set by a user through the user interface, and determines a target air quality index achievable in thirty minutes of fan operation is provided. Further provided is an air purifier capable of predicting and updating time to achieve a target air quality and a target air quality based on a number of environmental factors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Vitality Ventures HK Company Limited
    Inventors: Grant Prigge, Yordan Konstantinov Kralev
  • Patent number: 11628399
    Abstract: An improved system for separating gas from a process stream by providing a stripping unit at the overhead stream of a fractionation column to selectively and effectively remove the gas using a stripping fluid without providing a dedicated light-ends separations unit. The stripper unit may be connected to the reflux drum at the overhead stream. The system for separating gas further achieves greater thermodynamic efficiency by means of a split column design using mechanical vapor recompression with the reboiler and condenser integrated in a falling-film evaporator- or thermosiphon-type vapo-condenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: CRI, EHF
    Inventors: Emeric Sarron, Húni Sighvatsson, Ásgeir Ívarsson
  • Patent number: 11629452
    Abstract: A clothes treatment apparatus comprises: a cabinet forming a treatment space for storing clothes; a filter module having a filter portion for filtering out dust from air passing therethrough; an air flow path having a plurality of preset flow paths for directing air to be discharged into the treatment space; a fan for moving the air in the air flow path; at least one valve disposed on the air flow path; a valve actuating module for actuating the valve; and a control part for controlling the valve actuating module so as to select one of the plurality of flow paths. The plurality of flow paths comprise: at least one bypass flow path for directing the air to bypass the filter portion; and at least one filtering flow path for directing the air to pass through the filter portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hyungha Kang, Jaehyung Kim, Semin Jang, Joosik Jung
  • Patent number: 11624038
    Abstract: A method for producing valuable organic liquid from a biomass wherein a heated gas is mixed with a biomass to produce an enriched organic vapor and a biomass waste product. The biomass waste product is separated from the enriched organic vapor. The enriched organic vapor is cooled to produce a liquid organic oil and the liquid organic oil is collected. A system for producing the liquid organic oil including a first separation unit to separate an enriched organic vapor and a biomass waste product. The enriched organic vapor and the biomass waste product are generated from mixing a heated gas and a biomass. The system also includes a wet scrubber for cooling the enriched organic vapor to generate an enriched organic smoke. The organic smoke can be transformed to the liquid organic oil in an electrostatic precipitator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Boulder Creek Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven E. Bonde, Amara Hazlewood, Steve Jaasund
  • Patent number: 11624097
    Abstract: Evaporator system used for the production of maple syrup. The evaporator system includes at least one receptacle, a combustion chamber, an evacuation port and an air supply system. The evaporator system also includes a door assembly being configured for removably mounting onto a corresponding support frame of the evaporator system, and being operable between an opened configuration for allowing access to the combustion chamber and to be able to selectively feed biomass into the combustion chamber via the inlet thereof, and a closed configuration for preventing access to and closing off the inlet of the combustion chamber, the door assembly being provided with at least one aeration passage extending between an outer portion of the door assembly and an inner portion therefor, for providing a supply of secondary air to the combustion chamber via said at least one aeration passage of the door assembly when operated in the closed configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: LES EQUIPEMENTS LAPIERRE INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Granger, Luc Briere, Louis Lacasse, Gabriel Boucher
  • Patent number: 11623163
    Abstract: Falling film evaporator systems, devices, and methods are disclosed in the present application. In some embodiments, the falling film evaporator system can include a hollow cylindrical glass tube configured to enclose the major parts of the falling film evaporator system. Furthermore, in some embodiments, inserted into the cylindrical glass tube is another hollow evaporator tube with a dispensing bowl at the top, a reservoir of the dispending bowl facing the inside top of the cylindrical glass tube. Inserted into the hollow evaporator tube is a heating element configured to heat the hollow evaporator tube such that an outside surface of the evaporator tube is heated. At the top of the hollow cylindrical glass is an inlet where liquid flows into the dispensing bowl, spilling over the edges of the bowl, generating a thin film of liquid that is evaporated as it falls down the outside surface of the evaporator tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: Ecodyst, Inc.
    Inventor: George Adjabeng
  • Patent number: 11618692
    Abstract: A cooling and desalination system includes a humidification-dehumidification (HDH) system and an ejector cooling cycle (ECC) system. The HDH system includes a heater for heating saline water, a humidifier for humidifying a carrier gas using the saline water, and a dehumidifier for dehumidifying the carrier gas to obtain desalinated water. The ECC system includes a generator for generating a primary flow of a refrigerant, an evaporator for cooling and providing a secondary flow of the refrigerant, an ejector for the primary flow and the secondary flow to pass through to obtain a super-heated stream, and a condenser. The heater and the generator are configured to connect to a heat source. The ECC system and the HDH system are connected at the condenser for heat exchange between the super-heated stream and the saline water to pre-heat the saline water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Fahad A. Al-Sulaiman, Nasiru I. Ibrahim, Hamad A. Al-Mahmoud, Yousif M. Alkhulaifi