Patents Examined by Matthew O. Savage
  • Patent number: 10126043
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a manifold having a male inlet port and the male outlet port and a filter cartridge having a female inlet port and a female outlet port. The male inlet port and the male outlet port are mounted to a spool body such that the male inlet port and the male outlet port extend away from the spool body. The female inlet port and the female outlet port are mounted to a casing at an end portion of the casing. A related refrigerator appliance is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10125033
    Abstract: The present invention includes an anion exchange method that uses sulfate-containing acid mine drainage (AMD), or any sulfate containing water resource, to remove strontium, barium, and/or radium from contaminated water sources, such as but not limited to hydraulic fracturing waste water, flowback, and/or produced water, without requiring any external regenerant. The removal process may be adopted with any waste water or impaired water source containing sulfate anions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Lehigh University
    Inventors: Arup K. Sengupta, Michael German, Jinze Li
  • Patent number: 10112132
    Abstract: An oil additive includes a hydrotalcite-like compound, and a radical trapping agent having a melting point of 130° C. or higher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ippei Fukutomi, Motoichi Murakami, Katsuichi Miyasaka, Hideto Morishita, Yasuhiro Saito
  • Patent number: 10112128
    Abstract: An underdrain filter block for use in draining and backwashing a filtering media in a filter bed including a top wall, a pair of side walls extending from the top wall, a bottom wall extending between the pair of side walls, and a transverse wall extending from one of the pair of side walls to the other of the pair of side walls. The top wall, the pair of side walls, and the bottom wall define an upper portion and a lower portion. The lower portion includes a grout chamber positioned between the bottom wall and the transverse wall and at least one of the bottom wall and said side walls contains an opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Xylem Water Solutions Zelienople LLC
    Inventors: Dean T. Berkebile, Christopher J. Ball, Daniel E. Bruce
  • Patent number: 10112125
    Abstract: A treatment method for a used ion exchange resin, includes: bringing a used ion exchange resin into contact with a reaction solution, the used ion exchange resin having an ion exchange group with at least a radionuclide or a heavy metal element adsorbed thereon, and the reaction solution containing an iron compound, hydrogen peroxide, and ozone; separating at least a part of the reaction solution in contact with the used ion exchange resin from the used ion exchange resin; and decomposing an organic component contained in the reaction solution separated from the used ion exchange resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA
    Inventors: Toshiaki Sugimori, Shinya Miyamoto, Seiichi Murayama, Takaaki Murata, Yumi Yaita, Masaaki Kaneko
  • Patent number: 10106435
    Abstract: A fluid treatment apparatus and a fluid treatment apparatus component include: a treatment chamber (1) having a permeable wall (13), with a fluid outlet section being formed on the permeable wall; the treatment chamber (1) being constructed as: under a working state, the fluid entering the treatment chamber moves at least part of treatment mediums (100) in a direction opposite to the direction in which the treatment mediums tend to move under a non-working state, and the moved treatment mediums are maintained to be a medium bed layer (101) adjoined to the permeable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Inventor: Yiu Chau Chau
  • Patent number: 10106434
    Abstract: A distributor plate for a fluid tank such as a water softener pressure vessel separates the resin bed from a lower end of the resin tank. The distributor plate includes an outer ring that is affixed to the wall of the tank and that is formed of a first thermoplastic material having a relatively low dimensional predictability, and an inner disk that is supported on the outer ring and that is formed from a second thermoplastic material having a relatively high dimensional predictability when compared to that of the first thermoplastic material, the inner disk being fluid permeable but fluid treatment media impermeable. The outer ring and inner disk may be made from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and unfilled or 30% glass-filled Noryl®, respectively. Also disclosed is a method of assembling a pressure vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Clack Corporation
    Inventor: Don Vaughan
  • Patent number: 10099942
    Abstract: Systems and methods of eliminate filter air locks by maintaining a constant water table at the water head layer of the filter. The constant water table eliminates air locks in the filter as the filter drains. Water flows from the water head layer through a filtration medium in a filter cartridge, and the filtered water is output from a water outlet at the top of the cartridge. For a water table retention filter, where the water (or other liquid) being filtered, is re-directed to the top of the filter to the water head layer to avoid drawing air into the filter. Unfiltered water drains down the center of the filter to the water head layer and then flows up through the filter and is directed out near or at the top of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: ZERO TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Doug Kellam, Rajan Rajan, Liu Guang Wei
  • Patent number: 10093555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for treatment and/or purification of water, in particular wastewater or drinking water, preferably for the adsorptive removal of inorganically or organically-based, impurities, such as trace substances and/or micropollutants, wherein, in a counterflow filter device, e.g. a counterflow adsorption filter column, the water that is to be treated and/or that is to be purified firstly, and, secondly, an, in particular particulate, adsorption material are conducted in a counterflow direction. In particular, a procedure is followed in such a manner that the water to be treated and/or purified is passed through a bed of the adsorption material present in the counterflow filter device for the adsorptive removal of impurities and the bed is exchanged and regenerated by preferably continuous removal and supply of the adsorption material in counterflow to the water that is to be treated and/or that is to be purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Blücher GmbH
    Inventors: Raik Schönfeld, Jan Raiser
  • Patent number: 10093557
    Abstract: A bio-inspired method for detoxifying contaminated water is disclosed. In the method, polydopamine, a mussel-inspired adhesive catecholamine was used as an adsorbent to effectively remove from contaminated water three major classes of toxic agents: heavy metal ions (e.g., Cr, Hg, Pb, Cu, and Cd), toxic organic species (e.g., 4-aminopyridine), and radioisotopes (e.g., Lutetium-177). Furthermore, the polydopamine adsorbent was regenerated by treatment with acid or hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Phillip B. Messersmith, Haeshin Lee
  • Patent number: 10096392
    Abstract: An ion exchange system includes one or more strategies to reduce the amount of hydrogen gas inside an ion exchange column when the column is offline or disposed of. The ion exchange system comprises an ion exchange column including a housing and ion exchange media positioned in the housing. The ion exchange column can include one or more of the following: (1) an oxide material that limits the production of hydrogen gas from radiolysis, (2) a hydrogen scavenging material that removes or scavenges hydrogen gas inside the column, and (3) a hydrogen catalytic material that catalyzes the reaction of hydrogen and oxygen inside the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: P&T Global Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Eric Smith
  • Patent number: 10093283
    Abstract: A system and method of collecting and conditioning rainwater and other moisture, such as dew, from a windshield of a vehicle and utilizing the collected fluid to replenish the fluids in the windshield washer reservoir. A collection funnel is positioned on a vehicle in order to collect rainwater and other moisture. Rainwater and other fluids from the collection funnel are directed to a conditioning chamber where the water is treated with a concentrate and filtered. The treated fluid is then directed to a pre-existing windshield washer reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: WiperFill Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Carroll
  • Patent number: 10087083
    Abstract: Provided is an underwater holding-type lithium recovering apparatus 1000 including: an underwater holder 100 installed on an offshore sea bed; a lithium adsorbent 200 held in the underwater holder 100 and adsorbing lithium ions contained in seawater; a moving ship 300 installed with a cleaning tank 320 cleaning the lithium adsorbent 200 transferred from the underwater holder 100 and a desorbing tank 330 desorbing lithium ions adsorbed in the lithium adsorbent 200 transferred from the cleaning tank 320, and moved to a coastline when lithium ions of a reference value or more are filled in the desorbing tank 330; and a transfer pump 400 transferring lithium ions filled in the desorbing tank 330 to a reservoir 500 installed at the coastline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF GEOSCIENCE AND MINERAL RESOURCES
    Inventors: Kang-Sup Chung, Byoung-Gyu Kim, Taegong Ryu, Jungho Ryu, In-Su Park, Hye-Jin Hong
  • Patent number: 10077537
    Abstract: Embodiments disclosed here include a buoyant filtration system and method including a buoyant inflatable segmented rim encircling a pollution source and attached to a submersible wall and floor. Some embodiments include the buoyant inflatable rim segments with an inflation/deflation valve, ballast attachment, a hose and pump to remove liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Innermost Containment Systems L.L.C.
    Inventor: Michael Zlotkin
  • Patent number: 10076741
    Abstract: The removal of cyclic hydrocarbons from water sources and systems using an active adsorptive nanocomposite comprising multi-walled carbon nanotubes impregnated with metal oxide nanoparticles on the surface of and/or within the carbon nanotubes. A process for producing the active adsorptive nanocomposite is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Aamir Abbas, Basim Ahmed Abussaud
  • Patent number: 10065870
    Abstract: Methods and nanocomposites for the adsorptive removal of aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene from contaminated water sources and systems are provided. The nanocomposites contain carbon nanotubes and metal oxide nanoparticles such as Al2O3, Fe2O3 and ZnO impregnated on a surface and/or in pore spaces of the carbon nanotubes. Methods of preparing and characterizing the nanocomposite adsorbents are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: King Fahd Unversity of Petroleum and Minerals
    Inventors: Muataz Ali Atieh, Aamir Abbas, Basim Ahmed Abussaud
  • Patent number: 10052566
    Abstract: A purification device (1), for the purification of a liquid-crystal mixture, has a flow chamber (2) which has an inlet opening (3) and an outlet opening (4), arranged opposite the inlet opening, in order to be able to introduce the liquid-crystal mixture into the flow chamber (2) and discharge it from the latter, and at least one flow distribution element (5) which is arranged in the flow chamber (2) in the region of the inlet opening (3), and at least one filter element (6) which is arranged in the region of the outlet opening (4), where a length of the flow chamber (2) measured in the flow direction is at least a factor of 2 greater than a greatest internal dimension of the flow chamber (2) transverse to the flow direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: MERCK PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Guenter Hauke, Sebastien Marie, Leticia Garcia Diez, Michael Ukelis, Andreas Beirau, Michael Haeberl
  • Patent number: 10053377
    Abstract: A water softening device for use for a pet is provided, comprising: a first chamber having a shape of a hollow container; a second chamber having a shape of a hollow container, the second chamber being detachably attached to an upper section inside the first chamber; and a filter cartridge having a plurality of openings and containing an ion exchange resin therein, the filter cartridge being detachably attached to a bottom section of the second chamber and positioned to protrude from the bottom section of the second chamber to a lower section inside the first chamber. The second chamber is configured to receive and contain first water including tap water, and the lower section inside the first chamber is configured to receive and contain second water that is the first water after passing through the filter cartridge based on gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Etec Inc.
    Inventor: Shiro Ono
  • Patent number: 10052572
    Abstract: An underdrain filter block includes a top wall, a pair of side walls extending from the top wall, a bottom wall extending between the pair of side walls, first and second ribs, and a wall segment extending between the first rib and the second rib to define a grout chamber configured to receive grout during installation of the underdrain filter block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS ZELIENOPLE LLC
    Inventors: Dean T. Berkebile, Daniel E. Bruce, Christopher J. Ball
  • Patent number: 10046999
    Abstract: Industrial and residential water treatment systems and devices are disclosed for use in preventing hard water buildup or in removing such buildup. The systems and devices include fixed and removable components for delivering water treatment composition. In addition, novel water treatment compositions and methods of treating water are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventors: Byron Laird Washburn, Sean Terry