Patents Examined by Katherine Zalasky
  • Patent number: 9662599
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a drilling fluid reclaimer. The reclaimer has at least one adjustable screen assembly for providing a leveling filter for reclaimed drill fluid. Used drill fluid is placed at the screen assembly at the front the of the screen assembly. The at least one screen is vibrated to separate large particulate matter from liquid drilling fluid. A second screen is provided for additional filtering. Large particulate matter is expelled by a chute at the back of the screen assembly. Drilling fluid passing through the screen is “reclaimed” for use with a drilling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: The Charles Machine Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody L. Sewell, Brant Douglas Kukuk
  • Patent number: 9656192
    Abstract: A filter element for cleaning liquids, having a stack of at least two filter membrane pockets, which are substantially flat and include a flexible, liquid-permeable filter material for retaining waste particles and/or microbes, wherein each filter membrane pocket has a substantially polygonal shape with at least three corners and a corresponding number of edges, wherein the filter membrane pockets are stacked with a defined distance and aligned with each other, wherein aligned corners of the filter membrane pockets are embedded in a casting covering only part of the adjacent edges such that the casting for each corner is spaced from the castings of the neighboring corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: WTA Vogtland GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Voigt, Kurt Bock, Eberhard Semmler, Volker Albrecht, Barbara Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9656883
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for separating a product contained as solvent in a solution to be processed, comprising at least one forward osmosis device (816) through which the solution to be processed and a draw solution flow, and a device connected downstream thereof for obtaining the product (56, 62) from the diluted draw solution exiting the forward osmosis device, wherein the forward osmosis device comprises at least one flow channel conducting the solution to be processed and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution, the inner space of a respective flow channel conducting the solution to be processed is delimited at least partially by a semi-permeable membrane wall that is permeable to the solvent of the solution to be processed but not to the substance dissolved therein, and at least one flow channel conducting the draw solution is delimited on opposite sides by membrane walls that are associated with two adjoining flow channels conducting the solution to be processed, such that solv
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: AAA WATER TECHNOLOGIES AG
    Inventor: Wolfgang Heinzl
  • Patent number: 9655937
    Abstract: Extraction devices, methods, and systems are disclosed. Example devices have a solvent chamber, a plant material chamber, a collection chamber, and a solvent return that create a sealed, closed-cycle extraction and/or solvent purification process. Any extractable plant material can be used in the disclosed devices, methods, and systems although in some examples some form of the cannabis plant is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Connoisseur Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Andrew Jones
  • Patent number: 9643115
    Abstract: A vibrating screen is provided for separating excess water from particulate materials such as sand, gravel, iron ore, sludge or other particulate material and/or for grading, classifying or sorting particulate material by size. The vibrating screen includes a frame upon which is mounted a deck having a plurality of apertures therein, the frame being mounted on a base and being provided with vibration generating means for imparting vibration to the deck, wherein the frame includes pair of substantially parallel side walls between which the screen is mounted, each side wall including a pair of spaced apart side members defining outer faces of the side wall, at least one intermediate member being located between the side members, wherein the at least one intermediate member incorporates a plurality of apertures and/or cut-outs therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: CDE Global Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Convery
  • Patent number: 9636444
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices for preparation of purified water and medicaments for various uses including blood treatment are described. Methods, devices, and systems for creating multiple-treatment batches are described. For example, a medicament fluid circuit can include a container with an interior chamber. The container can have a fluid filling port and a fluid extraction port. Both ports can be connected to the interior chamber. The filling port can have two sterilizing filters, each of which has a membrane. The sterilizing filters can be connected in series the membranes are separated by a distance of at least 0.5 cm. A first of the sterilizing filters can have a sealed inlet. The fluid extraction port can be sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: NXSTAGE MEDICAL, INC.
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Burbank, James M. Brugger
  • Patent number: 9631246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of processing lignocellulosic material to obtain hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose and other high-value products. Also provided are hemicellulose sugars, cellulose sugars, lignin, cellulose, and other high-value products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Virdia, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Jansen, Claire Gregoire, Philip Travisano, Lee Madsen, Neta Matis, Yael Miriam Har-Tal, Shay Eliahu, James Alan Lawson, Noa Lapidot, Luke Burke, Aharon M. Eyal, Timothy Allen Bauer, Hagit Sade, Paul McWilliams, Michael Zviely, Adam Carden
  • Patent number: 9610576
    Abstract: The invention provides novel ion-exchange media and related methods for their preparation and use. Ion-exchange stationary phases according to the invention are suitable for chromatographic separation of a variety of biomolecules. Distinguishing characteristics of ion-exchange media according to this invention includes, for example, their ability to separate variants of monoclonal antibodies via cation-exchange liquid chromatography using porous substrates with particle sizes <5 ?m. The ion-exchange stationary media include a hydrolytically stable layer, which inhibits surface degradation of the particles in 100% aqueous media. Another unique feature is low molecular weight building blocks used to functionalize the particles with ion-exchange groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrei Bordunov
  • Patent number: 9599594
    Abstract: Adsorptive bed devices include a scaffold in housing having a stress absorbing rigid structure and open cells filled with adsorptive beads. The scaffold restricts movement of the plurality of adsorptive beads, absorbs stress induced by a hydraulic pressure gradient along a direction of liquid flow and transfers a portion of the induced compressive stress to the housing. In one embodiment the adsorptive bed is packed into a chromatography column, and in another embodiment the adsorptive bed is sealed in a monolithic block. In another embodiment, the adsorptive bed device includes an adsorptive block, first and second planar distributors and peripheral seal. The adsorptive media includes multiple layers of planarly cohesive media and when operated in a shallow bed configuration possesses significant tensile strength along its planar dimensions enabling it to support the hydraulic pressures that will be generated by the fluids being processed through the adsorptive devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: SPF TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventor: Gaston de los Reyes
  • Patent number: 9597610
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for packing chromatography columns with a chromatography medium and packing method for use in such columns. In particular, the invention relates to a method and system for packing chromatography columns where the column and chromatography media are pre-sterilized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE Healthcare BioProcess R&D AB
    Inventor: Klaus Gebauer
  • Patent number: 9597611
    Abstract: A method for providing an aseptic chromatography column includes the steps of pre-sterilizing an empty chromatography column, pre-sterilizing a chromatography medium, introducing the pre-sterilized chromatography medium into the pre-sterilized chromatography column using aseptic equipment, thus providing an aseptic chromatography column comprising chromatography medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE Healthcare BioProcess R&D AB
    Inventor: Klaus Gebauer
  • Patent number: 9592500
    Abstract: Among other things, in general, a two-stage filtration and extraction assembly is described, as well as methods of use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Inventors: Alan A. Doucette, Mark James Wall
  • Patent number: 9580337
    Abstract: A pressurized forward osmotic separation process is disclosed. Generally there are two processes described. One process involves the concentration of a target solute in the first solution; the other process involves the extraction of a solvent from a first solution both by a second solution comprising of water and soluble gas or water, soluble gas, and a compound by creating an osmotic concentration gradient across the semi permeable membrane. The first solution is under pressure from an inert gas and the second solution is under pressure from a soluble gas with equal system pressures greater than 1 atmosphere. The increase or decrease of partial pressure of the soluble gas in the second solution increases or decreases the chemical potential of the second solution to achieve different solution properties. The soluble gas may be carbon dioxide and the compound may be magnesium hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Arup SenGupta, Robert Creighton, Ryan Smith
  • Patent number: 9573824
    Abstract: A method of cleaning a membrane surface immersed in a liquid medium with a fluid flow, including the steps of providing a randomly generated intermittent or pulsed fluid flow along the membrane surface to dislodge fouling materials therefrom. A membrane module is also disclosed comprising a plurality of porous membranes (6) or a set of membrane modules (5) and a device (11) for providing a generally randomly generated, pulsed fluid flow such that, in use, said fluid flow moves past the surfaces of said membranes (6) to dislodge fouling materials therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Gerin James, Joseph E. Zuback, Peter Zauner, Roger W. Phelps
  • Patent number: 9574799
    Abstract: Extraction units are constructed having at least one extraction chamber containing extractable material. The extract is continuously separated from the solvent in an expansion chamber where it is continuously or periodically removed from the unit. One or more means for fluid flow can be used to circulate the fluid through the extraction chambers and the expansion chamber, where the expansion chamber and a condenser or the output of the means for fluid flow are coupled as a heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Inventors: Mark A. Buese, Rudy Strohschein
  • Patent number: 9555373
    Abstract: Desalination plant containing a plurality of membrane trains each having a plurality of RO membrane units and a plurality of NF membrane units. The ratio of RO membrane units to NF membrane units in each membrane train is in the range of 2:1 to 40:1, and each membrane train is provided with (a) a feed line for a source water that divides to provide a feed line for the RO membrane units and a feed line for the NF membrane units, (b) a permeate line for the RO membrane units and a permeate line for the NF membrane units that combine to provide an injection water line; (c) a retentate line for the RO membrane units and a retentate line for the NF membrane units; and (d) a flow controller and pressure let-down valve on the NF feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: John Dale Williams
  • Patent number: 9545583
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of extracting water from a composition of an organic liquid and water, using a polyol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Seton Hall University
    Inventors: John R. Sowa, Jr., Wyatt R. Murphy, Jr., Mithilesh Deshpande
  • Patent number: 9527072
    Abstract: A solid composition comprises: MnO2; and a compound represented by the general formula (I) wherein: R is a polymer; each Y is independently a hydrogen or a negative charge; Z is either hydrogen or is not present; each n is independently 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6; wherein the MnO2 is bound to the compound of formula (I) so as to coat the surface thereof. Such a composition may be used for the separation of polyvalent metal species, such as Mo, from one or more accompanying impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Mallinckrodt LLC
    Inventor: Luis Antonio Miguel Marques Barbosa
  • Patent number: 9527009
    Abstract: The present invention relates to axial flow chromatography columns, methods for separating one or more analytes in a liquid by the use of such columns, and systems employing such columns. The column comprises a first port and a second port, the first port and said second port being at essentially the same level or elevation above the level of the bed space on the chromatography column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: GE Healthcare BioProcess R&D AB
    Inventor: Klaus Gebauer
  • Patent number: 9523662
    Abstract: A liquid chromatography system includes an autosampler with an injector valve by which a sample at low pressure within a sample loop is introduced into a high-pressure solvent mixture stream. A solvent delivery system includes a pump in fluidic communication with the injector valve of the autosampler to deliver the solvent mixture stream thereto. The solvent delivery system further comprises a processor that calculates a number of strokes of the pump needed to deliver the solvent mixture stream to the injector valve of the autosampler. The processor counts strokes of the pump during delivery of the solvent mixture stream. In response to a stroke count equaling the calculated number of strokes, the processor signals the autosampler to switch the injector valve to introduce the sample to the solvent mixture stream during a pump transfer period within which the pump performs pressure control to compensate for a drop in pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John Heden, John Lamoureux, Miguel Soares, Guo-Zhong Li