Patents Examined by Neil McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5667697
    Abstract: This invention relates to the clarification of natural waters containing turbidity-causing components. This method comprises the addition of a stable colloidal silica suspension and water based polymeric coagulant to the turbid water. The components of the invention may be added independently, or blended together so that addition is simultaneous. The colloidal silica may also be conditioned by passing over a cationic exchange resin prior to addition of cationic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Kristine S. Salmen, Pek Lee Choo, David A. Picco, Michio Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 5667698
    Abstract: A supercritical water oxidation reactor is described having first and second reaction zones connected in series and through which an aqueous feed stream to be oxidized can be passed in either direction. A self-contained heat exchange fluid system allows supercritical and subcritical temperatures to be maintained in either reaction zone. When supercritical water oxidation is occuring in one reaction zone the effluent is being cooled to a subcritical temperature and used to flush the second reaction zone to remove inorganic scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Abitibi-Price Inc.
    Inventor: Philip Whiting
  • Patent number: 5667672
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an aquarium undergravel filter. In particular, the undergravel filter of the present invention contains chambers on its underside. The chambers, which are roughly equal in size, are separated by baffles and have openings which allow water to flow into flow channels which lead to the lift tube holes. The chambers and flow channels provide for equal filtration over the entire surface of the filter plate. In a preferred embodiment, the undergravel filter of the present invention also contains an anti-dig grid which prevents fish from digging the gravel on the plate of the filter by use of an anti-dig grid. The anti-dig grid is located on the top surface of the filter and prevents fish from removing the gravel and exposing the openings in the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Warner-Lambert Company
    Inventors: Steven Convertino, Jonas Ivasauskas
  • Patent number: 5667690
    Abstract: A process is described for removing noxious compounds such as hydrocarbons which may or may not contain halogen and/or may or may not be aromatic, from solids (soil), water or gas, according to which process the solid, the water or the gas is treated with a complex of a transition metal and an alkaline polyamine in the presence of a peroxide. The complex is, for example, a complex of iron chloride and 1,4,7-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazonane. The peroxide is preferably electrochemically produced hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor Toegepast - Natuurwetenschappelijk
    Inventors: Harmannus Johannes Doddema, Arie Cornelis Besemer, Marinus Pieter Harkes
  • Patent number: 5667696
    Abstract: This invention relates to the treatment of lead based paint mixtures by treating the lead based paint mixture with an additive from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, monocalcium phosphate, monoammonium phosphate and diammonium phosphate, either alone or in combination with Portland Cement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Entact, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kell Studer, Philip J. Pisani
  • Patent number: 5667673
    Abstract: Generation of Fe.sup.+2 for water treatment and treatment process using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Inventors: Delman R. Hogen, James R. Robin
  • Patent number: 5662808
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for disinfecting water which provides a visual indication after the disinfection is complete. First, the water to be disinfected is generally simultaneously intermixed with at least three items. The items are: (1) a disinfectant which is adapted to render harmless substantially all pathogens present in the water upon the disinfectant being intermixed with the water for a time period T.sub.k ; (2) a colorant; and (3) a material which can remove substantially all of the disinfectant and colorant from the water over a time period T.sub.r, where T.sub.r is greater than T.sub.k. Secondly, the water, disinfectant, colorant and the removing material are allowed to remain intermixed for a time period of T.sub.r or greater. At the end of the time period T.sub.r, substantially all pathogens in the water will be rendered harmless, substantially all of the disinfectant will be removed from the water and substantially all of the colorant will be removed from the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol Ann Blaney, Kristi Lynn Kiick-Fischer, Rosann Marie Kaylor
  • Patent number: 5662805
    Abstract: The addition of polymeric flocculant or other chemical dewatering modifier to a suspension flowing through a service line to a dewatering plant is controlled automatically in response to automatic determination of a filtration rate parameter. This may be determined using novel apparatus which includes a filtration assembly comprising a chamber with a filter element mounted across its open end and water sprays for washing the filter element. In one embodiment it is preferred to assist back-washing with an air purge while in another embodiment there are means for disassembling the filtration assembly to permit cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Allied Colloids, Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy Ian Cameron, John Rodney Field, Mark Stephen Glachan, Peter James Tovey
  • Patent number: 5662795
    Abstract: Describes apparatus for dispensing a sanitizing chemical into a swimming pool. The apparatus is a container having a closed bottom, a lid with a dispensing opening, and a plate with colored markings that is larger than the dispensing opening and freely moveable vertically resting on the bottom of the container. The plate has a specific gravity of less than 1.0. In operation, the container is filled with solid sanitizing chemical, e.g., calcium hypochlorite, and placed in a skimmer basket associated with the pool. When the sanitizing chemical is completely dissolved by water pumped through the skimmer basket and recycled to the pool, the plate floats to the top of the container where it can be observed readily to indicate that the apparatus needs to be refilled with sanitizing chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stanley R. Pickens, Paul T. Rice, Richard H. Ferguson
  • Patent number: 5662796
    Abstract: A portable apparatus for the filtration and/or chemical treatment of make-up water for a pool or spa. The apparatus connects to the end of a make-up water fill hose using a non-metallic threaded connector. The apparatus also includes a hollow core for holding pool chemicals or diatomaceous earth, an inner filtration media surrounding the hollow core, and an outer filtration media enclosing the threaded connector, hollow core and inner filtration media. The lower end of the outer filtration media extends past the connection of the hose to the threaded connector to form a skirt, which prevents the connection from contacting the interior of the pool or spa. Additionally, buoyancy is provided such that the apparatus does not contact the bottom of the pool or spa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Robert Charles Jan Kerecz
  • Patent number: 5662792
    Abstract: A water purifier includes a body forming a horizontal support surface and a wall projecting upwardly from the support surface. A plurality of filtering members for purifying water are connected to the wall. A water storage tank for storing purified water is seated on the support surface and bears against the wall. A supporting structure supports the filters from beneath to reduce the load applied to the wall. A reinforcing member is connected to the wall for reinforcing the wall against deformation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-Wook Suh
  • Patent number: 5662791
    Abstract: A radiator cooling system filter assembly comprising a first housing member, a second housing member and a filter element. The first and second housing members are interconnectable with a snap fitting to form a filter element cavity into which the filter element is disposed during use. The first housing member includes a first cooling hose fitting at one end. The second housing member includes a second cooling hose fitting at one end. The first and second housing members are interconnectable in a manner such that when the first and second housing members are snapped together to form the filter element cavity, the filter element cavity provides a fluid pathway between the first and second cooling hose fitting. In addition, one of the first and second housing members is provided with a valve mechanism selectively operable by a user to provide a fluid pathway between the filter element cavity and the exterior of the cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventors: John P. Hurst, Jeanette W. Hurst
  • Patent number: 5662797
    Abstract: A fine mesh pre-filter for use in association with an exisiting swimming pool filter, the apparatus comprises a filter disc, the filter disc including a plurality of apertures extending therethrough; and an outer binding being affixed to the filter disc, in an operative orientation the filter disc being postioned upon an existing pool filter, the outer binding securing the filter disc to the pool filter, the filter disc filtering water before it is filtered by the pool filter thereby minimizing contamination of the existing pool filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventor: Anthony Varrassi
  • Patent number: 5660735
    Abstract: The present invention is a method to remove metals from solutions by precipitating the metals and adding cellulosic fiber to the solution. The precipitates attach to the cellulosic fibers to form products. The products may be removed from the solution by gravity separation techniques or by filtration. The removed products may be dewatered and incinerated. The method provides a simple and effective technique for removing low concentrations of metals from high volume solution streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignee: Hazen Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Enzo Coltrinari, Wayne C. Hazen
  • Patent number: 5660719
    Abstract: An apparatus for the treatment of a fluid is provided which includes a separate housing and enclosure for containing at least one ballast and electrical means, respectively, to power and control the operation of a plurality of vertically arranged UV lamps that are immersed in a fluid to be treated. Each compartment serves as an individually isolated area for offering greatly enhanced accessibility, maintenance and maximum performance of the various components of an ultraviolet light purification apparatus in the environment intended for its operation and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Inventors: Mark E. Kurtz, Paul Albertazzi
  • Patent number: 5658487
    Abstract: A contaminant precipitating composition and method are disclosed. The composition comprises a water soluble, branched, polydithiocarbamic acid salt effective for the purpose of precipitating contaminants from an aqueous solution. The method comprises adding an amount of the composition effective for the purpose to the aqueous solution so as to complex, precipitate and remove contaminants from the aqueous solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Betz Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: William S. Carey, Ellen M. Meyer
  • Patent number: 5658467
    Abstract: The present invention provides a composition and method of administering same for inhibiting the growth of microorganisms. The composition of the present invention includes sufficient amounts of a peracetic acid and a non-oxidizing biocide. The method of the present invention includes the step of adding sufficient amounts of the peracetic acid and the non-oxidizing biocide to industrial process waters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Judy G. LaZonby, Robert E. McCarthy, Nancy L. Casselman
  • Patent number: 5656177
    Abstract: The present invention relates to oil-in-water emulsions for the prevention of slime formation and for the reduction of microbial growth in water carrying systems. The emulsions comprise as component of the oil phase at least one of the following active substances:a saturated or unsaturated, open-chain normal or isomeric hydrocarbon having 8-30 carbon atoms.The emulsions have a proportion of the oil phase of 1 to 90 %-wt. and are used in an amount of 1 to 200 ppm and are free of toxic microbiocides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Chemische Fabrik Stockhausen GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Werres
  • Patent number: 5656179
    Abstract: The device for continuous filtration and drying of a solid suspension comprises a belt filter (1) and downstream a belt drier (2). By means of a porous conveyor belt (3) the filter cake generated in the belt filter (1) is conveyed further into the belt drier (2) in which there are provided heating devices for heating and drying the filter cake (7) which is on the conveyor belt (3). After leaving the belt filter (1), the filter cake (7) is present on the conveyor belt (3) in the form of a gas-permeable bed of solids in layer form having a maximum layer thickness of 50 mm, preferably a maximum of 20 mm. The heating devices in the belt drier comprise, on the one hand, a hot gas chamber (8) disposed above the conveyor belt (3) to generate a hot gas which flows through the bed of solids downwardly from above and, on the other hand, one or more contact heating elements (10, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22) disposed above and/or below the conveyor belt (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Dietrich Gehrmann, Norbert Schweigler
  • Patent number: 5656160
    Abstract: A counter top water filter unit intended for domestic use to be placed adjacent to a sink and having an inlet at its lower end which is coupled to the sink faucet through a swivelly mounted 90 degree elbow capable of 360 degree rotation so as to facilitate the coupling of the filter to the faucet from either side. The filter unit includes a cylindrical-shaped carbon particle filter cartridge which has a longitudinal passage extending from one end to the other, and a removable pre-filter screen coaxial with the cartridge and surrounding the cartridge, both elements being removably mounted within a cylindrical filter housing, the housing being closed at its upper end and open at its lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Water Safety Corp. of America
    Inventors: Michael C. Parise, Rainer R. Schulz