Patents Examined by Matthew O. Savage
  • Patent number: 10427951
    Abstract: In one example, a filter cartridge includes a housing having a fluid entry port and a fluid exit port, and the housing has a chamber in fluid communication with the fluid entry port and the fluid exit port. A first medium is disposed within the chamber and includes a material that serves to change the pH of a fluid passing through the first medium. A filtration medium is disposed in the chamber downstream of the first medium and arranged to receive effluent of the first medium. The filtration medium includes a material configured to remove a metal from a fluid passing through the filtration medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Brita LP
    Inventors: Nikhil P. Dani, Andrea Diaz, Jonathan McDonald, David Lyons
  • Patent number: 10414671
    Abstract: Modular pure water systems are provided that have a tank and a cover assembly, wherein the tank and cover assembly are configured to removably receive therebetween one or more expansion tubes in a fluid tight manner to allow for selective volume expansion of the pure water system. Also provided are purification media bags for pure water systems that have a shape, construction, and/or material that mitigates the flow of water between the outer wall of the bag and an inner wall of the pure water systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: UNGER MARKETING INTERNATIONAL, LLC
    Inventors: Kai Hirsch, Paul Adams, Anthony Sgroi, Jr., Bryan Lee Roberts, Jr., Robert Camp, Michael Blum
  • Patent number: 10406456
    Abstract: A modular distribution assembly comprises a top plate and a bottom plate, each of the top plate and the bottom plate comprises a plurality of recesses. A plurality of support members are slidably coupled to each of the top plate and the bottom plate, each support member of the plurality of support members comprising a protrusion on each of opposing sides thereof, each protrusion slidably coupled to a corresponding recess of the top plate and a corresponding recess of the bottom plate. Related assemblies comprising the modular distribution assembly and related methods of forming the modular distribution assembly and the assembly are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Intuitech, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Hoopes
  • Patent number: 10376875
    Abstract: The invention relates to a compressed salt block and a liquid treatment apparatus provided therein with at least one such compressed salt block. The liquid treatment apparatus comprises a housing adapted to accommodate at least one liquid treatment tank and at least one compressed salt block. The housing comprises a first space portion for accommodating the at least one liquid treatment tank, and a second space portion for accommodating at least partially the at least one compressed salt block; wherein the at least one compressed salt block comprises an extension portion which extends into a space in the first space portion between an external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank and an inner wall surface of the housing adjacent the external surface of the at least one liquid treatment tank to thereby position the at least one compressed salt block within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Harvey Water Softeners Limited
    Inventor: Ann Patricia Bowden
  • Patent number: 10376900
    Abstract: A filter that contains an adsorbent to remove the soluble portion of the contaminant, and then some form of electrostatic attraction additive. The electrostatic attraction additive would serve to pull the colloidal and particulate portion of the contaminant out of fluid, which could be held indefinitely, or be used to hold while the contaminant is allowed to solubilize and then be removed by the adsorbent. The electrostatic attraction additive could either be positively or negatively charged depending on the surface charge of the particulates that are in the fluid, and includes particles or fibers charged with charged polymers, zeolites, cation or anion exchange resin, powdered alumina, or nano-alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: KX Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Andrew Lombardo, Rezan Kareem
  • Patent number: 10376817
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing impurities from water and/or wastewater and a method of installing a fluid distribution system in the apparatus. In the most preferred form of the invention, the fluid distribution system is an air scour system for directing air through the filter bed to assist in cleaning of the filter bed to remove impurities trapped in the filter bed during a service run. In the most preferred form, the method of installing the fluid distribution system in the filter bed is performed by imparting a force to the filter bed to permit the fluid distribution system to be installed in the filter bed without removing media. The fluid distribution system is preferably configured to permit the fluid distribution system to be readily installed in the filter bed and at an optimum orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Roberts Marketing DE, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Lee Roberts
  • Patent number: 10368557
    Abstract: A substance is treated using a device having: (a) a volute or cyclone head, (b) a throat connected to the volute or cyclone head, (c) a parabolic reflector connected to the throat, (d) a first wave energy source comprising a first electrode within the volute or cyclone head that extends through the outlet into the opening of the throat along the central axis, and a second electrode extending into the parabolic reflector and spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode, and (e) a second wave energy source disposed inside the throat, embedded within the throat or disposed around the throat. The substance is directed to the inlet of the volute or cyclone head and irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the first and second wave energy sources as the substance passes through the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 10364903
    Abstract: A multifunctional softening valve and a water processing apparatus thereof. The multifunctional softening valve comprises a valve body, an ejector, a movable valve plate, a fixed valve plate, and a saline water control valve. The valve body is provided with a water inlet, a water outlet, a water drainage port, and a salt absorbing branch runner. The valve body is provided with a through-hole in communication with a filter element upper portion, a filter element lower portion and an ejector inlet. An ejector outlet is in communication with the filter element lower portion. The salt absorbing branch runner is provided with a saline water inlet. The saline water inlet is provided with a saline water control valve. The fixed valve plate is provided with a plurality of through-holes, and the through-holes are distributed according to a distribution mode of equally dividing the cross section of the fixed valve plate into six parts, and the movable valve plate is fitted to the fixed valve plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: WENZHOU RUNXIN MANUFACTURING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao-Rong Wu, Hai-Lin Yuan
  • Patent number: 10359122
    Abstract: A control valve with a planar seal structure having a valve body with a water inlet, water outlet, and water drainage port. A spool with a planar seal structure and having fixed valve plate and movable valve plate is disposed in the valve body. The movable valve plate is rotationally fitted to the fixed valve plate. The fixed valve plate has a plurality of through-holes. One through-hole with an arc and fan shape is in communication with the water outlet. The outer diameter of the through-hole with an arc and fan shape is greater than that of another through-hole of the fixed valve plate. The through-hole is in communication with the valve body's water inlet. The fixed valve plate has at least one arc communicating blind hole. The through-holes of the fixed valve plate are mutually fitted with the communicating blind hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: WENZHOU RUNXIN MANUFACTURING MACHINE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao-Rong Wu, Hai-Lin Yuan, Xian-Shui Wu
  • Patent number: 10343155
    Abstract: A continuous resin regeneration system includes a process by which resin in need of being recharged is continuously cycled out of a filtration “column” as new resin is flowed in. Downstream filtration columns also undergo this cycling but at slower and related rates as the first column with the dirtiest water will naturally degrade resin faster than the downstream columns. Contaminated water is cleaned by the continuously cycled resin in multiple columns. The degree of cleaning of earlier filtration columns affects the resin flow rate of later filtration columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Inventor: Earl Maltbie
  • Patent number: 10336629
    Abstract: Embodiments of a gravity filter for potable water comprise a loose filter bed comprising ion exchange resin particles and activated carbon particles, and a porous non-woven filter substrate disposed downstream of the loose filter bed, wherein the porous non-woven filter substrate comprises an impregnated heavy metal scavenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventor: Michael Donovan Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10322360
    Abstract: A coated granular filtration medium is formed by the deposition of an electrolyte layer onto core particles. The electrolyte layer comprises a cationic polyelectrolyte. The coated granular filtration medium provides a synergistic combination of filtration and in situ coagulation that enables efficient, effective, and economical decontamination of industrial and other wastewaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: TELEDYNE SCIENTIFIC & IMAGING, LLC
    Inventors: Rahul Ganguli, Vivek Mehrotra, Dennis Strauss
  • Patent number: 10294126
    Abstract: A method for removing chromium from a water source can include delivering source water having a hexavalent chromium oxyanion into contact with an ion exchange resin to exchange the hexavalent chromium oxyanion for an anion and convert the source water to treated water, discharging the treated water, rinsing the ion exchange resin with a brine solution to remove the hexavalent chromium oxyanion from the ion exchange resin, converting the hexavalent chromium oxyanion to a trivalent chromium cation, binding the trivalent chromium cation to a chelating resin, and removing the trivalent chromium cation bound to the chelating resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: U.S. Water Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Kelly
  • Patent number: 10293283
    Abstract: A filter for separating contaminants from fluids. The filter includes stages of differing materials arranged one after another wherein the first stage blocks and captures contaminants of a selected size and passes everything smaller than this selected size. The next stage captures contaminants of a selected size which is smaller than those blocked by the first stage. The subsequent stages capture smaller and smaller contaminants. The layers comprise various materials including stranded meshes, fibrous tissues, metallic screens and ceramic discs and tubes. Some of the ceramic discs and tubes include a downstream coating to capture further contaminants such as water droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Inventor: Gary D. Hanks
  • Patent number: 10287184
    Abstract: A water filtration apparatus and a method of using thereof, wherein the water filtration apparatus includes a nanoparticle layer which comprises polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles that are capable of absorbing heavy metals selected from the group consisting of Pb2+, As5+, Cd2+, Hg2+, Cr6+, Cu2+, and Zn2+, as well as organic materials. Various embodiments of the water filtration apparatus, the method of using the apparatus, and a method of producing the polypeptide-functionalized nanoparticles are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: University of Dammam
    Inventors: Loay Awad, Fawaz Ali Al Muaddi, Mohammed Abdullah Alamri, Majed Mulfi Alotaibi, Abdullah Mazyad Alotaibi, Badr Saleh Alzahrani, Talal Fahad Alotaebi
  • Patent number: 10266427
    Abstract: An apparatus for water purification comprising a flexible, collapsible water container (2a, 2b) to which a purification unit (4) is connected by a tube (3) for purification of water driven through the purification unit (4) by gravity. The container is produced by welding or gluing a laminate with an overlay region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Vastergaard SA
    Inventors: Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, Jean-Luc Madier de Champvermeil, Jean-Marc Pascal
  • Patent number: 10246347
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to the treatment of water using biochar. More specifically, the treatment of flowback water from drilling operations such as hydraulic fracturing or the treatment of tailing water from tar sands production. Such treatment results in the reduction of various constituents such as metal ions, organic compounds and various metals to provide recycled water suitable for reuse or discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Maoqi Feng
  • Patent number: 10247455
    Abstract: A receiver drier comprises a housing and a filter unit. The housing includes a moisture absorbing chamber and a longitudinally spaced filter chamber. The filter chamber includes an inlet formed adjacent a first portion of an inner circumferential surface thereof and an outlet formed adjacent a second portion of the inner circumferential surface. The filter unit is received within the filter chamber and includes a main body defining a first filter compartment therein. A first surface of the first filter compartment is defined by a first screen element fluidly coupling an interior of the first filter compartment to an exterior thereof. The flow of the refrigerant enters and exits the first filter compartment while flowing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the receiver drier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: HANON SYSTEMS
    Inventors: Alex Dziubinschi, Kastriot Shaska, James L. Smitterberg, Brennan Sicks
  • Patent number: 10239042
    Abstract: A functional ceramic material made from a raw material mixture which includes 0.1-0.5 wt % iron powder, 20-25 wt % bentonite, and a remainder of sludge (based on dry weight) which contains bacteria. To make the functional ceramic material, the raw material mixture is calcined at low temperature and anaerobic conditions. Use of the material for purifying a medium is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Assignee: Shenzhen New-Ceramics Environmental Material LLC
    Inventor: Liangjie Dong
  • Patent number: 10221082
    Abstract: A process for the amelioration of acid mine drainage useful in shale hydrolyic fracturing operations for the production of natural gas involving the exchange of sulfate and chloride ions by an ion exchange resin so as to produce hydrochloric acid and water for use in hydrolyic fracturing operations from acid mine drainage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: LANXESS Sybron Chemicals Inc.
    Inventors: Philip W. Fatula, Anthony P. Tirio, Lillianne Falco, Wilwood Matthews