Patents Examined by Matthew Savage
  • Patent number: 8388839
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for skimming oil and other liquid hydrocarbons and contaminates floating at the surface of a body of water or other suspending liquid. A rigid skimming surface such as a drum or disc is floatably supported on pontoons. The skimming surface is rotatable about an axis substantially parallel to the water surface. The skimming surface is covered with removably attached sorbent material which improves the efficiency of the oil recovery operation and which, when worn or soggy, can be removed and discarded without discarding the skimming surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventors: M. Thomas Hobson, Brian Slone, Wallace J. Landry, III, Richard Forbes
  • Patent number: 8388841
    Abstract: A filter cartridge (1), particularly for percolating filter jugs, with a cartridge body (2) intended to contain a filter bed, provided with at least one inlet aperture (7) for the fluid to be filtered and at least one opposing outlet aperture (8) for the filtered fluid, with at least one grid (11) for retaining the filter bed inside the body and an element (12) for limiting the outflow of the filtered fluid at the outlet aperture (8), in which the grid (11) and the limiting element (12) are both placed in the same seat (10) provided in the outlet aperture (8) of the cartridge body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Laica S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Moretto
  • Patent number: 8388849
    Abstract: An adjustable and removable skimming assembly is provided for attaching to the bow of a watercraft. When mounted, the skimming assembly presents vertically orientated starboard, port and bow cages that house oil absorbent padding. The cages with the positioned pads are largely porous so that at slow watercraft velocities, the water flows through the pads but the oil is retained within the pads across a substantially horizontal plane. As the pads become oil saturated along this common plane, the vertical cages are adjusted to expose a section of the pad that is not saturated. This process is repeated until the entire pad surface is saturated. The resistance force created by the water against the starboard and port cages during movement is countered by a plurality of tethering cables extending from the structural members attached to the bow of the watercraft to the outer edges of the cages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Inventor: John Morgan Sherman
  • Patent number: 8382980
    Abstract: Apparatus for water purification and used in drinking water supply systems and individual filters. The apparatus allows an increase in quality of the water purification by means of a helical arrangement of a granular filter and an increase of the number of passages in which the water is purified. A household filter comprises a housing with distribution grids at the water inlet and outlet, two and more helical partitions having the form of a flat band or rod twisted around the longitudinal axis and having three or more beam profiles, and, optionally, comprise one or more flat partitions dividing the water inlet and outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: DWT Deutsche Wassertechnologien GmbH
    Inventors: Vladimir Mikhailovich Kulikov, Vladimir Alekseevich Zakharov
  • Patent number: 8382989
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for separating a charged species from an aqueous system, wherein the process comprises the following steps: (a) a first aqueous system comprising the charged species is contacted at a first temperature with an ampholytic polymeric 5 system comprising cationic and anionic domains, wherein the charged species is bonded to the ampholytic polymeric system; and (b) the ampholytic polymeric system is contacted with a second aqueous system at a second temperature, wherein the charged species is released to the second aqueous system, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and wherein the second 10 temperature is less than 60° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Afira IPR B.V.
    Inventors: Johannes Petrus Aldegonda Custers, Rafaël Jean Sablong, Franciscus Adrianus Maria Leermakers, Johannes Theodorus Faustinus Keurentjes, Dirk Theodorus Andreas Van Asseldonk
  • Patent number: 8382994
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composite pressure vessel containing a distributor plate. The distributor plate comprises a thermoplastic polymeric disk having a top side, a bottom side, a perimeter edge and a central opening. The disk is provided with a plurality of radial slits, which define fluid flow passages through the disk between the central opening and the perimeter edge. The fluid flow passages through the disk are adapted to swirl fluid flowing through the disk from the bottom side to the top side such that it swirls around the central opening. The perimeter edge of the distributor plate is joined to an inner side of a thermoplastic liner during or immediately after the thermoplastic liner is formed by a blow-molding process or a rotational molding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Enpress LLC
    Inventors: Douglas S. Stolarik, Douglas M. Horner, Michael P. Mormino
  • Patent number: 8366925
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for treating liquids flowing in a thin film around a source of wave energy to directly expose the liquid to the wave energy, preferably generated in whole or part by an electrical arc between carbon electrodes. In addition to the wave energy generated by the electrical arc, energy generated by cavitation of the flowing liquid may be used in treating the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 8354021
    Abstract: A system of water collecting, cleaning, and storing comprises a top-opened water storing container (1), with the wall of which a watertight structure; a collecting well (2) provided in the water storing container (1), which has a lid (6) and has a wall of permeable structure through which water exchange between the water storing container (1) and the collecting well (2) is achieved; filling elements (4) filled between the collecting well (2) and the water storing container (1), on top of which a pervious surface layer (5) is paved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing Rechsand Science & Technology Group Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Qin Shengyi
  • Patent number: 8349183
    Abstract: A distributor for use on a dip tube in the particulate bed of a water conditioner includes a sleeve mounted on the dip tube, a plurality of resilient vanes extending radially outwardly from the sleeve, thin membranes on the vanes, and holes in the membranes, whereby water flowing through the bed is evenly distributed throughout the bed and the bed is agitated by up and down flexing of the distributor in the bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: George Raymond Field
  • Patent number: 8349181
    Abstract: A filter cartridge, which is suitable in particular for purifying dental waste waters, has a housing with three different spatial regions which receive three different filter materials having different filter properties. The first filter material is preceded by a sedimentation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Duerr Dental AG
    Inventor: Eberhardt Nonnenmacher
  • Patent number: 8343343
    Abstract: An underdrain apparatus includes one or more underdrain blocks and an anchor assembly that includes one or more support members. Each of the underdrain blocks includes a top wall, a bottom wall, a pair of opposing side walls, a pair of opposing end walls, and a center separation wall that extends between the pair of opposing end walls. The center separation wall of at least one of the underdrain blocks may have one or more apertures formed therein, the apertures configured to receive at least one of the support members. One or more of the side walls of the pair of opposing side walls of the underdrain blocks may have one or more side clips. At least one of the side clips defines an aperture for receiving a support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: Navin Kadakia, Edward Kuchtjak, Keith Baker
  • Patent number: 8343341
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of sanitizing drinking water to be dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir includes the steps of providing the ozone gas generator that generates an ozone gas stream, transmitting the ozone gas stream from the generator to the water dispenser reservoir, mechanically breaking up the ozone gas stream inside the reservoir to produce ozone gas bubbles, and using the ozone gas bubbles to disinfect water in the reservoir. The ozone gas stream can be mechanically broken up using a pump such as, for example, an impeller type pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: S.I.P. Technologies L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Davis, James Jackson Shelton
  • Patent number: 8343342
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a liquid includes: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone head having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a throat having a first opening, a second opening and a central axis, wherein the first opening is connected to the outlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, (c) a tank connected to the second opening of the throat, and (d) a wave energy source having a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends through the outlet into the first opening of the throat along the central axis of the throat, and a second electrode within the tank that is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode. The liquid is supplied to the inlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, and is irradiated with one or more wave energies produced by the wave energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 8343345
    Abstract: A fluid filter is adapted for operatively mounting within a circuit of moving fluid in a machine. The fluid filter comprises a filter housing, and defines a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a filtration medium disposed within the filter housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. A temporary closure is designed for attachment at the fluid outlet of the fluid filter after the fluid filter is used and removed from the machine. The temporary closure functions to substantially contain residual fluid within the filter housing prior to subsequent processing of the used fluid filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventor: James A. Perryman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8337709
    Abstract: A method for treating a liquid using an apparatus includes: (a) a pump volute or hydrocyclone head having an inlet and an outlet, (b) a throat having a first opening, a second opening and a central axis, wherein the first opening is connected to the outlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, (c) a tank connected to the second opening of the throat, and (d) a wave energy source having a first electrode within the pump volute or hydrocyclone head that extends through the outlet into the first opening of the throat along the central axis of the throat, and a second electrode within the tank that is spaced apart and axially aligned with first electrode. The method includes the steps of providing the above-described apparatus, supplying the liquid to the inlet of the pump volute or hydrocyclone head, and irradiating the liquid with one or more wave energies produced by the wave energy source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Foret Plasma Labs, LLC
    Inventor: Todd Foret
  • Patent number: 8336717
    Abstract: A novel surface treatment is provided for portions of filter media coming in contact with the filter media holder, such as filter housing. In certain applications, the treatment is also applied to the filter media holder, depending on the application. Filter media having at least two distinct surface property modifications are provided in liquid filtration applications to enhance the performance of a filtration system, reduce the cost of the system, provided a visual means of detecting fluid bypass, and minimize fluid holdup volume within the filter media, all with substantially no loss of performance performances parameters, even in steam sterilization applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Hemerus Medical, LLC
    Inventor: Majid Zia
  • Patent number: 8337697
    Abstract: A bottle comprises a cap, a reservoir having an open top closeable by the cap, and a filter holder that houses a filter, the filter holder being coupled to the cap such that a liquid in the reservoir is filtered by the filter as the liquid is being consumed, and the filter is fluidly decoupled from the reservoir when the cap is disengaged from the reservoir. Preferred filters can be constructed out of high reactivity carbon mixture, activated carbon, iodinated resin, combinations thereof, or any other suitable compositions for filtering water or other liquids, and can be molded into any suitable size and shape. Preferred filter holder can have a top portion and a bottom portion that couple together via a snap fitting, mating threads, or any suitable means, which allow access to the filter, and which have numerous vents that allow liquid to freely flow through the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: SimpliPure, Inc.
    Inventor: Tareq Adel Risheq
  • Patent number: 8337703
    Abstract: Processes comprising: providing an anion exchanger at least partially loaded with hexachlorostannate; and contacting the at least partially loaded anion exchanger with a 1 to 10 wt. % hydrochloric acid solution to regenerate the anion exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Bayer MaterialScience AG
    Inventors: Torsten Erwe, Knud Werner, Dirk Weiβenberg
  • Patent number: 8333889
    Abstract: A filter system having a filter bed for filtering water or wastewater, where the filter bed is periodically washed between service runs by directing washing liquid and washing gas upwardly through the filter bed. The filter system includes a filter bed and at least one flume. The flume is in fluid communication with the filter bed. Preferably, the flume is configured such that no washing liquid and washing gas interface is present in the flume. The flume may be configured such that during washing of the filter bed between service runs the flume receives a washing gas and directs the washing gas upwardly through the filter bed to assist in cleaning the filter bed between service runs. The flume may further be configured such that during washing the only liquid directed from the flume to the filter bed is residual liquid that may be present in the flume from a prior service run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: RG Delaware, Inc.
    Inventors: R. Lee Roberts, Mark Kevin Addison, Andrew Scott Taylor, Jason Samuel Schmoyer
  • Patent number: 8329031
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus includes a first treatment tank forming thereon a first, fixed bed includes a powdery phosphorus adsorbent includes an inorganic layered compound, wherein the first bed separates phosphorus and solid matter from the water, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the first bed, a second treatment tank forming a second, fluidized or fixed bed includes the phosphorus adsorbent, wherein the second bed separates phosphorus from the water received from the first treatment tank, and recovers the phosphorus in a state adsorbed on the phosphorus adsorbent in the second bed, and a transferring line configured to transfer the phosphorus adsorbent, having phosphorus adsorbed thereon in the second treatment tank, from the second treatment tank to the first treatment tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Hidetake Shiire, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satomi Ebihara, Katsuya Yamamoto