Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Patent number: 12364992
    Abstract: Frother composition and method of concentrating minerals by flotation. The method comprises providing an aqueous slurry formed by the minerals in finely divided form in water; optionally adding a collector to render the mineral hydrophobic; subjecting the slurry thus obtained to flotation in a flotation cell aerated to form bubbles; and recovering the hydrophobic mineral particles together with the froth to form a concentrate. In the method, an amphiphilic cellulose derivative, is used as such or in combination with a second surfactant as a frother to promote the formation of a stable froth on top of the slurry in the flotation cell. Hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose or hydroxyethyl methyl cellulose are combined with at least one non-ionic organic surfactant or polyglycol esters, for providing a frother. The novel cellulose-based frothers can be used in mineral processing plants to allow for processing of larger quantities of minerals without significant modification of existing facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2025
    Assignee: Aalto University Foundation sr
    Inventors: Ted Nuorivaara, Rodrigo Serna Guerrero
  • Patent number: 12343682
    Abstract: An immersed membranes uses aeration (air bubbles rising past the membranes) as a means to scour the membrane surface and keep it clean from solids, or foulants, allowing for continuous and effective operation. In a module of flat sheet membranes, fine bubble aeration is used to create and maintain space between the membrane sheets. The bubbles inhibit the sheets from touching and clogging together, thus reducing their surface area and their productivity. The aeration may be used for scouring, to supply oxygen to biomass and as a spacer to maintain the working surface area of immersed flat sheet membranes. The face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets may be 4 mm or less. The bubbles may be less than twice the face-to-face spacing between the membrane sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: FIBRACAST LTD.
    Inventors: Diana Benedek, Babak Lakghomi, David M. Turnbull
  • Patent number: 12338144
    Abstract: A method of, and apparatus and system for, decontaminating a liquid containing dissolved solids including subjecting liquid containing dissolved solids to Joule heating under conditions effective to cause said dissolved solids to precipitate out of solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2025
    Assignee: Ohio University
    Inventors: Jason Patrick Trembly, David Drown Ogden
  • Patent number: 12330964
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling bio-organisms in bodies of water. The algae control system includes a power unit and a transducer unit that radiates in multiple directions. The transducer unit includes a variable power driver and a transducer subassembly. The power from the driver varies to maintain a maximum, constant transducer sonic output over its bandwidth. The transducer assembly includes at least one transducer that includes a pair of blocks with at least one piezoelectric element therebetween. One embodiment has a single, disc-shaped element adhesively secured between said blocks. The transducer is excited by applying power to the pair of blocks. Another embodiment has at least one ring-shaped elements compressed between the two blocks by way of a fastener. The transducer is excited by applying power, in one embodiment, between the blocks and a conductor between a pair of ring-shaped elements, or in another embodiment, between the pair of blocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2025
    Inventor: Antonio Davido Trigiani
  • Patent number: 12320122
    Abstract: A filtration device for filtering a fluid includes a first barrier member having a plurality of openings through which the fluid can penetrate the first barrier member, the first barrier member having a plurality of edges including a first edge; and a first ion-dispersing thread in the first barrier member. A portion of the first ion-dispersing thread extends in a direction, the direction is non-parallel to the first edge of the first barrier member, and the direction is non-perpendicular to the first edge of the first barrier member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2024
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Inventor: Karen M. Sager
  • Patent number: 12285722
    Abstract: A control method of a control system for controlling water purification module for processing water on two sides of a reverse osmosis membrane. The control system has a water purification module and a control module. The water purification module has a preliminary filter and a reverse osmosis filter. The control module regularly controls the purification and the drainage of the water purification module, and solves the problem that the TDS value of the water on both sides of the reverse osmosis membrane is too high after the water purifier is on standby for a period of time. The control system regularly drains high concentration water on both sides of the reverse osmosis membrane to improve water purification efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignees: KEMFLO (NANJING) ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD., KEMFLO INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yu Tan, Hao Zhang, Evan Zhou, Edison Fan
  • Patent number: 12285757
    Abstract: A modular cassette is provided for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation. The modular cassette includes: a housing defining a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a chamber for fluid separation; a fluidic channel configured to provide fluid communication between at least two components of the modular cassette; a heat expanding valve including: a flow pathway including undulations configured to facilitate closing of the fluidic channel, wherein the heat expanding valve occludes one or more of the undulations of the flow pathway to close the fluidic channel; and a heating element configured to actuate the heat expanding valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Ladtkow, Dennis J. Hlavinka, Thomas J. Felt, Andrew Gloor, Jesse Janzen, Taylor Polodna, Luke Edwin Storm
  • Patent number: 12264294
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to corn dry-milling, and more specifically, to methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct produced in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol and a system therefore. In one embodiment, a method for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct includes, in a corn dry-milling process for making ethanol, separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a thin stillage portion. The thin stillage portion is separated into a protein portion and a water soluble solids portion. Next, the protein portion is dewatered then dried to define a high protein corn meal that includes at least 40 wt % protein on a dry basis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2024
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 12246332
    Abstract: The presently claimed invention relates to a process for the beneficiation of coal and other hydrophobic materials, wherein a collector composition comprising by-products obtained by hydroformylation of octene isomers as a first component and diesel, kerosene and/or C8-C20 olefins as a second component is used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Scott Alexander Dickie, Qian Bai, Adrian Mauricio Villanueva Berindoague, Alexej Michailovski
  • Patent number: 12234171
    Abstract: A filter module for a water dispensing device according to the present disclosure includes a filter housing which has an inflow port and a discharge port, and a plurality of filters which includes a filtration member provided in the filter housing to purify water flowing therein through the inflow port and to supply purified water to the discharge port, and filtering raw water flowing therein from the outside into purified water, and the filter module includes a pre-filter through which raw water passes firstly and in which a first carbon block having a hollow shape is built-in, a hollow fiber membrane (UF membrane) filter through which water passes through the pre-filter passes secondly, a second carbon block having a hollow shape through which water passing through the hollow fiber membrane filter passes thirdly, and an electrostatic adsorption member through which water passing through the second carbon block passes fourthly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Youngjae Kim, Changhwan Yoon, Gyeonghwan Kweon
  • Patent number: 12213909
    Abstract: A system includes a filter device that has, in serial flow order, an adsorbent bed, a biocide filter, and a particle filter. The adsorbent bed includes adsorbent media that is configured to remove organic compounds from feed water that are capable of forming an adherent layer on a porous surface of a sublimator, and the biocide filter contains a halogen-release material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2025
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: John W. Steele, Peter A. Canga, Barbara M. Peyton, Tony Rector, Douglas Zupan
  • Patent number: 12172911
    Abstract: Methods for clarifying water, reducing turbidity of water, and removing phosphate from water include adding a water treatment composition having an aluminum-containing coagulant, and a natural non-charged polysaccharide, such as guar. The aluminum-containing compound can include polyaluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, polyaluminum chlorohydrate, aluminum sulfate, sodium aluminate, polyaluminum sulfate, polyaluminum silicate chloride, polyaluminum silicate sulfate, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: Dober Chemical Corp.
    Inventors: Francis Kneib, Everett J. Nichols, James R. Scott, Ryan Wietholter
  • Patent number: 12161958
    Abstract: A movable seal for interfacing between a first surface and a second surface includes a floating portion attached to a non-floating portion by a flexible coupling portion, wherein the non-floating portion is coupled to the first surface by nesting in a groove on the first surface, and wherein the non-floating portion forms a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a first direction, and wherein the non-floating portion does not form a seal between the first and second surfaces when the first surface moves relative to the second surface in a second opposite direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: GRAYL INC.
    Inventors: Nancie Weston, Travis Merrigan, Michael Bargiel
  • Patent number: 12163944
    Abstract: A multi-functional sensor assembly includes an electrically non-conductive substrate defining at least a distal region, intermediary region, and proximal region that are each covered with electrically conductive traces. The proximal region is configured to be exposed to a media to be sensed and the distal and intermediary regions are configured to be protected from the media. The electrically conductive traces are connected to one or more electrodes to sense one or more of alkalinity, cyanuric acid concentration, or oxidant concentration of the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Michigan, Masco Corporation
    Inventors: Klaus Brondum, Michael McCague, Mark A. Burns, Wen-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 12157680
    Abstract: A household water purifier includes a main unit and a filter assembly arranged in the main unit. The filter assembly includes a composite filter core. The composite filter core includes a filter bottle and a filter element located in the filter bottle. The filter element is of a separated structure. In the household water purifier, the filter element is located in the filer bottle; during use, when the filter element needs to be replaced, the filter element can be directly taken out of the filter bottle for replacement; Furthermore, the filter element itself is of a split structure There is no need to replace the filter element as a whole, just some failed components of the filter element need to be replaced, which further improves convenience of replacement and maintenance of the filter core of the water purifier, and saves maintenance and use costs of the water purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: YUNDA H&H TECH (TIANJIN) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Enyu Wei, Yinping Yuan, Hao Xu, Xu Yang
  • Patent number: 12151214
    Abstract: A separation membrane element including a pair of separation membranes containing two separation membranes arranged so that the filtrate-side surfaces thereof are disposed in mutually opposed relation, and a plurality of resin members bonded to both of the mutually opposed filtrate-side surfaces, a peripheral edge of the pair of separation membranes being sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Toray Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenta Iwai, Shuji Furuno, Yoshifumi Odaka, Kenji Komori, Yasuharu Watanabe, Atsushi Kitanaka, Seiko Kantani, Hideaki Ando
  • Patent number: 12145159
    Abstract: A flotation machine includes a wash water system that is connectable adjacent a tank to direct sprays of water into froth within a froth zone. Wash water panel assemblies of the system can be positioned adjacent the tank so that each of the wash water panel assemblies are moveable between an open position and a closed position. Each wash water panel assembly can include an outer panel body that at least partially defines a reservoir in which wash water is passable and a spray membrane positionable adjacent the outer panel body. The spray membrane can have a plurality of spray holes in fluid communication with the reservoir such that water is passable from the reservoir and through the spray membrane via the spray holes for spraying water into the froth in the froth zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: FLSmidth A/S
    Inventor: Mathew Walker
  • Patent number: 12138562
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for preparing a kaffir lime extract and compositions containing a kaffir lime extract. Specifically, the present invention relates to a deodorizing composition, a cleaning composition, a composition for removing scale, and a composition for removing green algae, which each contain the kaffir lime extract obtained by the method according to the present invention. The kaffir lime extract according to the present invention has an excellent deodorizing effect, cleaning effect, scale removing effect and green algae removing effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: KOREA BIO INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT, INC.
    Inventor: Hyun Je Han
  • Patent number: 12135000
    Abstract: A fuel filter includes: a casing having a chamber for collecting water separated from fuel; a water level sensor that extends into the casing and is provided with an electrical water level contact extending into the collection chamber and an intermediate electrical contact arranged inside the casing and outside the collection chamber; and a water separator element having: a filtering element; a filtering element support provided with a through opening crossed by the water level sensor so that the electrical water level contact extends into the collection chamber; and a conductive element provided on the filtering element support and provided with: a water level electrode extending into the collection chamber; and a contact electrode electrically connected with the water level electrode, spaced apart from it and in contact with the intermediate electrical contact of the water level sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2024
    Assignee: UFI FILTERS S.P.A.
    Inventor: Giorgio Girondi
  • Patent number: 12128360
    Abstract: A hollow fiber membrane module 100 includes: a plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10; a container 20 storing the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10; and a feed water inlet 201 provided at one end portion of the container 20 such that a direction in which feed water flows into the container 20 is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the plurality of hollow fiber membranes 10. A permeation flux of the hollow fiber membranes 10 at a transmembrane pressure difference of 0.1 MPa is higher than or equal to 850 liter/m2/h.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masamitsu Taguchi, Hiroki Fujioka