Patents Examined by Joseph Drodge
  • Patent number: 9643103
    Abstract: A method of preparing a liquid mixture for use in a liquid chromatography system is provided. The mixture comprises one or more acids, one or more bases, one or more salts, and one or more solvents, and the method comprises the steps of: i) calculating pH and/or salt concentration at a particular time t from a user-determined gradient function; and ii) based on the values obtained in step (i), calculating percent acid, percent base, percent salt and percent solvent in the liquid mixture at time t. A liquid chromatography system incorporating such method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Richard W. Andrews, John Heden, Michael Jackson, John Lamoureux, Guo-Zhong Li, Barry Sunray, Thomas E. Wheat
  • Patent number: 9636447
    Abstract: A device removes first pulses in a pressure signal of a pressure sensor which is arranged in a fluid containing system to detect the first pulses, which originate from a first pulse generator, and second pulses, which originate from a second pulse generator. The first pulse generator operates in a sequence of pulse cycles, each pulse cycle resulting in at least one first pulse. The device repetitively obtains a current data sample, calculates a corresponding reference value and subtracts the reference value from the current data sample. The reference value is calculated as a function of other data sample(s) in the same pressure signal. The fluid containing system may include an extracorporeal blood flow circuit, e.g. as part of a dialysis machine, and a cardiovascular system of a human patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Bo Olde, Kristian Solem, Mattias Holmer, Jan Sternby
  • Patent number: 9630861
    Abstract: A forward osmosis apparatus includes a diluting means for bringing a feed solution and a draw solution containing a cation source and an anion source in an ionized state into contact through a semi-permeable membrane and diluting the draw solution with water separated from the feed solution by means of the semi-permeable membrane; a separating means for separating the diluted draw solution into the cation source and anion source and into water; and a dissolving means, returning the separated cation source and the separated anion source to, and dissolving the cation source and anion source in, the draw solution that has been diluted. The molecular weight of the cation source in an uncharged state is 31 or greater and the Henry's law constant of each of the anion source and cation source is 1.0×104 (Pa/mol·fraction) or greater in a standard state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Morihito Ikeda, Kimiaki Miyamoto
  • Patent number: 9617175
    Abstract: The invention provides an efficient method to purify an aqueous solution, typically mine drainage water, especially of anions and cations present in the aqueous solution as dissolved solids, the anions and cations are removed by treatment with a positively charged extractant having at least eight carbon atoms, whereby an unstable emulsion is formed; the unstable emulsion is allowed to break into an extract phase loaded with the anions and cations, and a water phase depleted in anions and cations; a floc inherently forms in the loaded extractant phase and then the loaded extractant phase and floc are separated from the purified water and treated to remove the anions and cations as concentrated useful products; the treated aqueous phase now reduced in anion and/or cation content is also separated from the emulsion as a purified aqueous solution. The extractant phase is preferably recycled. A continuous water purification process is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Winner Water Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce F. Monzyk, F. Michael Von Fahnestock, James K. Rose, H. Nick Conkle, Ming Wang, Satya P. Chauhan, Ruey K. Bruce, Tenisha Highsmith
  • Patent number: 9616361
    Abstract: A system is provided for separating particulates dispersed within a base fluid wherein at least one of the particulates and the base fluid is an organic liquid. The system relies on a microfluidic separation device comprising a microchannel in fluid communication across a microporous body with a collection chamber. Particulates and a portion of the base fluid traverse the microporous body under the influence of an external force field and are collected in the collection chamber. A first fluid flow having a first flow rate through the microchannel together with the microporous body operationally generate a second fluid flow within the collection chamber as base fluid and particulates traverse the microporous body and enter the collection chamber, and as base fluid re-traverses the microporous body and re-enters the microchannel, the second fluid flow having a flow rate which is a fraction of the first flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christopher Michael Puleo, Jason Louis Davis, Jason M. Nichols
  • Patent number: 9618487
    Abstract: Prefilled liquid cartridge for fluidically connecting to a sample separation device for separating of components of a fluidic sample by using liquid of the liquid cartridge, wherein the liquid cartridge comprises a liquid container which is prefilled with liquid and a liquid removal access provided at the liquid container, adapted to be fluidically coupled with at least one liquid conduit of the sample separation device by only inserting the liquid cartridge in a corresponding liquid cartridge accommodation of the sample separation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: Agilent Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Manuela Senf, Daniela Loraing, Qi Siegmundt-Pan
  • Patent number: 9611607
    Abstract: A power plant which operationally combines a downstream turbine unit (7) and an upstream grating assembly (8), includes a grating (16), a supporting structure (17), and an element (18) for associating the grating (16), which has a structure that enables movement of at least the upper portion of the grating (16) between an upright position for the debris-stopping function and a folded-down position for discharging the floating debris stopped by the grating (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: MJ2 TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Jacques Fonkenell
  • Patent number: 9611156
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are systems for removing particulate matter from a fluid, comprising a particle functionalized by attachment of at least one activating group or amine functional group, wherein the modified particle complexes with the particulate matter within the fluid to form a removable complex therein. The particulate matter has preferably been contacted, complexed or reacted with a tethering agent. The system is particularly advantageous to removing particulate matter from a tailing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Soane Mining, LLC
    Inventors: Michael C. Berg, John H. Dise, Kevin T. Petersen, David S. Soane, Kristoffer K. Stokes, William Ware, Jr., Atul C. Thakrar
  • Patent number: 9610519
    Abstract: An apparatus for automated decantation of a multi-phase fluid mixture comprising a decantation container, a floating marker, a sensor, a plurality of engines and a plurality of micro-switches. The decantation container comprises an inlet valve and at-least two outlet valves. The floating marker is housed within the decantation container. The floating marker is of a selective density. The sensor is attached at a bottom surface of the decantation container. The plurality of engines are connected with the sensor. The plurality of engines controls an opening and a closing of the at-least two outlet valves. The plurality of micro-switches are connected to the plurality of engines. The plurality of micro-switches control an amount of power supplied to the plurality of engines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Inventor: Mohammad Ghadyani
  • Patent number: 9611157
    Abstract: Disclosed are a plant-derived flocculant and a flocculant mixture having a higher flocculation capacity. The plant-derived flocculant comprises at least one of a dried matter of Corchorus olitorius, a dried matter of Begonia fimbristipula, a dried matter of bananas, and a dried matter of Corchorus capsularis; the plant-derived flocculant has a colloid equivalent of ?1.5 mEq/g to ?0.20 mEq/g, and the 2 weight % aqueous solution of the plant-derived flocculant has a viscosity of at least 6.0×10?3 Pa·s (6.0 cP). The flocculant mixture of the invention comprises the plant-derived flocculant described above and a synthetic polymer flocculant having a colloid equivalent of ?4.5 mEq/g to ?1.2 mEq/g, whose 0.2 weight % aqueous solution has a viscosity of 1.3×10?1Pa·s to 4×10?1 Pa·s (130 cP to 400 cP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignees: SONY CORPORATION, DEXERIALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yasuhito Inagaki, Kohei Shimizu, Masato Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9604864
    Abstract: The method include (a) compressing the feed water at a low pressure; (b) filtering the feed water; (c) compressing the filtered water stream at a medium pressure; (d) supplying the filtered water stream, compressed at a medium pressure, in the liquid phase of an instant expansion tank; (e) in the tank, heating the stream of step (d) by mixing with the recycled stream (h); (f) compressing again at a high pressure the liquid fraction in the tank and supplying it to the heat exchanger inlet; (g) heating the liquid fraction in the exchanger while maintaining the liquid fraction in the liquid state; (h) recycling the fraction from the step (g) in the tank; and (i) expanding the stream of the step (h) in the expansion tank, generating by instant expansion the searched steam; and (j) separating the solid particles formed as a second blowdown containing water and the particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignees: INGENICA INGENIERIE INDUSTRIELLE, BRAIS MALOUIN AND ASSOCIATES INC.
    Inventors: Jeremy Berros, Peter Tye
  • Patent number: 9604861
    Abstract: A method for providing a safe and healthy water and water-based product, comprising: testing pretreated reverse osmosis water to determine whether it meets a first set of pre-defined specifications; introducing a pre-defined nutrient composition into the water, wherein the predefined nutrient composition comprising one or more of mineral nutrients, trace elements and nutritional supplements; testing the water to determine whether it meets a second set of pre-defined specifications; and disinfecting the water along with its container by UV irradiation from a UV light source to obtain a water product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: A. O. Smith Corporation
    Inventor: Hai-Feng Zhang
  • Patent number: 9604168
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to compositions for use in biological and chemical separations, as well as other applications. More specifically, the present invention relates to hybrid felts fabricated from electrospun nanofibers with high permeance and high capacity. Such hybrid felts utilize derivatized cellulose, and at least one non-cellulose-based polymer that may be removed from the felt by subjecting it to moderately elevated temperatures and/or solvents capable of dissolving the non-cellulose-based polymer to leave behind a porous nanofiber felt having more uniform pore sizes and other enhanced properties when compared to single component nanofiber felts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nanopareil, LLC
    Inventors: Todd Menkhaus, Hao Fong
  • Patent number: 9604178
    Abstract: Integrated, sequential stages of nanofiltration, forward osmosis, and reverse osmosis and related membranes provide an Integrated Osmosis structure, systems and methods. By optimally placing and using the desired characteristics of each membrane, performance and cost effectiveness not attainable individually is obtained. Integrated Osmosis systems provide high diffusive and osmotic permeability, high rejection, low power consumption, high mass transfer, and favorable Peclet number, by manipulating convection, advection and diffusion, low concentration polarization gradients, low reverse salt flux and effective restoration of performance after cleaning fouled membranes. Benefits include increased permeate recovery and decreased waste concentrate volume from reverse osmosis processes or other elevated osmotic pressure solutions. Integrated Osmosis first employs nanofiltration for selective harvesting of solutes, proffering a reduced osmotic pressure permeate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Inventors: Upen Jayant Bharwada, Kenneth R. Ward
  • Patent number: 9597620
    Abstract: A process, system, and component configuration are described that discourages customer acceptance/use of will-fit, reconditioned, and counterfeit product components, by determining whether or not a serviceable product component is genuine. If a component is determined to not be genuine, then appropriate action may be taken to warn operators and document such findings. For example, one or more markers are disposed or otherwise put on the subject serviceable product component and serves as a targeted feature, and/or a particular characteristic of the filter itself is identified as the targeted feature. A sensor is used to detect the targeted feature and obtain information unique to the serviceable product component. The targeted feature(s) identifies the particular serviceable component as genuine and forms the basis for determining whether a genuine component has been installed. In some circumstances, a fluid filter product is the component that is the subject detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Barry M. Verdegan, John T. Carroll, III, Matthew L. Schneider, Michael T. Zuroski, Nathan A. Whitaker, James L. Walls
  • Patent number: 9598297
    Abstract: Disclosed is a treatment apparatus capable of inhibiting growth of microorganisms and carrying out long-term stable treatment in an activated carbon tower and a reverse osmosis membrane separation device during processes including activated carbon treatment and RO membrane separation treatment of a later step in a system for manufacturing ultrapure water used in an electronic device factory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventor: Nozomu Ikuno
  • Patent number: 9591948
    Abstract: Method of collecting used cooking oil includes extracting used cooking oil from at least one deep fryer to a container, storing and separating said used cooking oil within the container which is located within the cooking area. The oil from the deep fat fryer is periodically pumped to the container and allowed to settle. The unwanted sludge is then tapped off into a portable container and the wanted oil is pumped to an exterior transportation container. The container is triangular shaped with rear walls converging into a corner of the cooking area and a diagonal front face with side flanges and a bottom flap such that it is located in the corner of an interior wall of a building and contains the pipes and plumbing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventor: Stuart Vogt
  • Patent number: 9594071
    Abstract: A device and method for particle separation. The device includes at least one collimated light source operable to generate at least one collimated light source beam. The device further includes a first channel in a first plane and a focused particle stream nozzle operably connected to the first channel. The device further includes a second channel in a second plane orthogonal to the first plane. The second channel communicates with the first channel. The second channel comprises a second channel cross-section. The second channel is oriented to receive the collimated light source beam. The device further includes a third channel in a third plane orthogonal to the second plane. The third channel communicates with the second channel. The collimated light source beam is oriented to enter a cross-section of the first channel, then to pass through the second channel, and then to enter a cross-section of the third channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: Sean J. Hart, Alexander V. Terray, Colin G. Hebert
  • Patent number: 9586844
    Abstract: Provided is a method for treating an arsenic-containing aqueous solution by water treatment employing a titanium dioxide photocatalyst that is excellent in both photocatalytic activity and solid-liquid separation performance. The method according to the present disclosure includes the steps: of adding catalyst particles to the aqueous solution; oxidizing trivalent arsenic by irradiating the aqueous solution with light having a wavelength of 200 nanometers or more and 400 nanometers or less while stirring the catalyst particles in the aqueous solution; and stopping the stirring and separating the catalyst particles from the aqueous solution by sedimentation. Each catalyst particle is composed only of a titanium dioxide particle and a zeolite particle, the titanium dioxide particle is adsorbed on the outer surface of the zeolite particle, the zeolite particle has a silica/alumina molar ratio of 10 or more, and the catalyst particles are contained in the aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yuko Maruo, Daisuke Ino
  • Patent number: 9582645
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes (i) a first home dialysis machine located at a first patient's home; (ii) a second home dialysis machine located at a second patient's home; (iii) a first modem in data communication with the first home dialysis machine; (iv) a second modem in data communication with the second home dialysis machine; (v) a clinician server associated with a dialysis center; (vi) a first clinician computer in data communication with the clinician server; (vii) a second clinician computer in data communication with the clinician server; (viii) a dialysis center modem in data communication with the clinician server; and (ix) a network in data communication with the first modem, the second modem and the dialysis center modem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare SA
    Inventors: Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman