Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Patent number: 10668433
    Abstract: A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, and a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath, and a filtered-water discharge part discharging filtered water that has been filtered via the separation membrane module. The filtered-water discharge part is formed to be movable or stretchable in response to a reciprocating motion of the membrane support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Woo Nyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10668434
    Abstract: A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath, and a control part controlling a reciprocating distance or frequency of the separation membrane module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Woo Nyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10647596
    Abstract: The improved water purification system includes a water purification unit having a tap water inflow port for receiving a tap water inflow from a water supply system to produce relatively purified water and a brine water outflow having impurities concentrated therein. An RO filter having an RO membrane separates relatively unfiltered water flow into purified water and the brine water outflow. A flush flow activation chamber fluidly coupled to the brine water outflow includes a plunger for substantially occluding brine water outflow through the brine outflow port when seated, and substantially permits brine water outflow to exit the purification unit through the brine outflow port when unseated. Accordingly, the activation chamber generates back pressure within the water purification system to flash flow tap water inflow into the purification unit and through the RO membrane when the plunger moves from being seated to unseated, thereby substantially refreshing said RO membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: DS SERVICES OF AMERICA, INC.
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 10639589
    Abstract: A membrane filtration system, capable of effectively removing foreign matter attached to a separation membrane while saving energy by reciprocating the separation membrane, includes a treatment bath, a membrane support frame disposed in the treatment bath, a separation membrane module installed in the membrane support frame, a reciprocating part connected with the membrane support frame to reciprocate the membrane support frame, and a sludge floating part disposed on a lower end of the membrane support frame to float sludge accumulated in the treatment bath. The separation membrane module includes an upper frame, a lower frame, and a hollow fiber membrane provided between the upper frame and the lower frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Woo Nyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 10617976
    Abstract: A filter apparatus has a filter housing (1) accommodating at least one filter element (17) having an inner filter cavity (23) enclosed by a filter medium (27). The housing (1) contains an element bolder (19) that interacts with the filter element (17) located in its functional position. The element holder (19) has a projecting accommodating part (43) with an outer configuration adapted to the shape of an opening (37) located at the end of the filter element (17) to be secured to the element holder (19). The accommodating part (43) fits through the opening (37) of the filter element (17) located in the functional position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sann, Martin Braune
  • Patent number: 10604420
    Abstract: An on-demand filter structure including a first hydrophilic protective layer comprising a first surface exposable to a stream of water. A contact area on the first surface receives the stream. The first hydrophilic protective layer receives the stream and distributes water out a second surface, primarily using gravity. An activated carbon felt (ACF) layer is adjacent to the second surface, wherein the ACF layer is configured for water filtration, primarily using gravity. A second hydrophilic protective layer includes a third surface adjacent the ACF layer and a fourth surface. The third surface receives filtered water from the ACF layer, and the fourth surface expels the filtered water primarily using gravity, wherein the first and second hydrophilic protective layers sandwich the ACF layer. A cross section of the first hydrophilic protective layer, the ACF layer, and the second hydrophilic protective layer has a curvature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Brita LP
    Inventor: Jonathan Taylor Wiegele
  • Patent number: 10577267
    Abstract: The invention discloses a fast biofilm formation method for an organic filler during treatment of sewage with a low C/N ratio, and belongs to the field of biofilm process for sewage treatment. The invention improves the effect of biofilm culturing by changing the micro-interface acting force of the filler and accelerating the attachment and colonization of microorganisms on the filler through increase of bacterial quorum-sensing molecules. As compared with a conventional biofilm culturing method, in the invention the biofilm culturing is rapid and operated conveniently, has strong practicality, and is a fast biofilm formation method for an organic filler, which is adapted for treatment of sewage with a low C/N ratio under an aerobic, anoxic or anaerobic condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventors: Hui Huang, Qing Wang, Hong-qiang Ren
  • Patent number: 10577260
    Abstract: A method for operating a water softening plant includes an automatic blending device, an incoming flow of untreated water being divided into a first partial flow which is softened and a second partial flow which is not softened and then combined into a flow of blended water. The proportions of the two partial flows are adjusted by the automatic blending device such that a desired hardness DV results in the flow of blended water. The conductivity of the softened water and blended water are measured by conductivity sensors in their respective flows. The conductivity of the untreated water is calculated from the measured conductivity of the soft water, from the measured conductivity of the blended water and from the determined proportions of the partial flows. It is possible for the hardness of the blended water to be adjusted very reliably and with improved accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: JUDO WASSERAUFEREITUNG GMBH
    Inventors: Hartmut Dopslaff, Carsten H. Dopslaff
  • Patent number: 10561779
    Abstract: The invention relates to infusate containers and related systems and methods for housing infusates that can be added to a fluid flow path for use during dialysis. The infusate containers can include a filter partitioning the containers into a first and second compartment, a draw tube for drawing up fluid from a bottom portion, a cap, a fluid connector for delivery and withdrawal of fluid from the two compartments, and a fluid connector for connection to a dialysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: David B. Lura, Thomas E. Meyer, Jin Huang, Yue Qiang Xue
  • Patent number: 10537857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a nanocomposite membrane, comprising: (a) providing a nanocomposite solution comprising a polymer solution and nanomaterials; (b) subjecting the nanocomposite solution to a cold water bath to produce the nanocomposite membrane in a gel-like form; and (c) subjecting the gel nanocomposite membrane to a heat treatment to solidify the nanocomposite membrane, wherein the nanomaterials are dispersed within the polymer matrix of the nanocomposite membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Darren Delai Sun, Zhaoyang Liu
  • Patent number: 10538443
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for degrading and inactivating at least one xenobiotic, the at least one xenobiotic being present in an aqueous medium. The method comprises the steps of (a) grafting at least one enzyme onto a solid support, (b) incubating the solid support with the at least one enzyme into the aqueous medium and (c) measuring the evolution of the concentration of the at least one xenobiotic. The method is remarkable in that the at least one enzyme is New-Dehli metallo-?-lactamase 1, a laccase extracted from Pleurotus ostreatus and/or a ?-lactamase extracted from Pseudomonas aeruginosa and in that the solid support is a moving bed carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: LUXEMBOURG INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LIST)
    Inventors: Sebastien Bonot, Henry-Michel Cauchie
  • Patent number: 10519398
    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: August 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: Fluid Quip, Inc.
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 10512717
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a device and method to clear solutes from a patient's blood while maintaining fluid balance. In some implementations, the device and method is used to assist the filtration functions of a patient's liver or kidney. The device includes a plurality of hollow fibers that pass through a sequence of alternating filtration chambers and infusion chambers. The filtration chambers filter the patient's blood while the infusion chambers rehydrate the filtered blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph L. Charest, Christopher M. DiBiasio, Violet G. Finley, Jose A. Santos
  • Patent number: 10508044
    Abstract: A water purification system includes a high temperature water tank, a flameless heat source, a cylindrical vessel (hydrocyclone nest), a first pump, a steam production meter, and a steam condenser and heat exchanger. The contaminated water is heated within the high temperature water tank using the flameless heat source. The heated contaminated water heats the cylindrical vessel and one or more sets of hydrocyclones. The heated contaminated water is pumped into the cylindrical vessel such that the heated contaminated water enters a tangential inlet of the hydrocyclones, the hydrocyclones separate the heated contaminated water into steam and solids/concentrate, the steam exits through an overflow of the hydrocyclones and a first outlet of the cylindrical vessel, the solids/concentrate exit through an underflow of the hydrocyclones and a second outlet of the cylindrical vessel. The steam is condensed into purified water using the steam condenser and heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Cloudburst International, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 10441897
    Abstract: An arrangement for separating chemicals comprises a first distillation column (100) and the first distillation column (100) receives a mixture that comprises water and at least two organic acids and extractant that comprises at least one of the following: hexanol, an ester of hexanol with said at least one organic acid and 2-methylpentanol. The first distillation column (100) forms a heterogeneous azeotrope of water and extractant at its top (104) on the basis of reactive heteroazeotropic extractive distillation not controlling chemical reactions between the extractant and said at least two organic acids, said first distillation column (100) removing the azeotrope through its top (104) for separating water from the organic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: Chempolis Oy
    Inventors: Juha Tanskanen, Werner Marcelo Goldmann Valdes
  • Patent number: 10434444
    Abstract: A filter system for filtering solids includes a filtration tank for receiving a slurry containing the solids to be filtered. A filter assembly including a plurality of filter cells each having a filter medium at an exterior and a cavity at an interior is lowered into the filtration tank using a transport device carrying the filter assembly. A vacuum transfer system is connected to the filter assembly so as to transfer a vacuum to an interior of the filter cells. The vacuum transfer system is operable to perform the filtering and to retain the filtered solids while the transport device moves the filter assembly relative to the filtration tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2019
    Assignee: ENHANCED EQUIPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Mohammad Hossein Baniassadi
  • Patent number: 10010816
    Abstract: The invention relates to a filter device for filtering a hydraulic fluid comprising a housing having fluid through-openings for hydraulic fluid to be filtered to flow into the housing and for filtered hydraulic fluid to flow out of the housing, and having an assembly opening for inserting a filter element into the housing, the assembly opening being closable by a cover. In order to further develop the filter device such that it can be selectively configured in a cost-effective manner as a suction filter, return filter or return-suction filter, it is proposed in accordance with the invention that different filter elements be insertable into the housing, and that different functional modules be insertable into the housing or connectable to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: FSP Fluid Systems Partners Holding AG
    Inventors: Klaus Moessinger, Valentin Pichlmaier, Tobias Wendel
  • Patent number: 10010817
    Abstract: A top load liquid filter assembly includes a filter lockout mechanism to ensure that the filter base and cover are not connectable unless there is a proper filter cartridge installed therein. The filter system can also include an automatic drain mechanism and a cartridge retention mechanism. One example embodiment further includes an air bleed vent. A filter cartridge usable in the topload liquid filter assembly includes first and second protrusions and cover-gripper members. Methods of use, installing, servicing, and retaining can be practiced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley S. Honermann, John R. Hacker, Kathryn A. Legault, Mark S. Emery, Kurt B. Joscher, Jason Johnson
  • Patent number: 10010834
    Abstract: A membrane separation device includes a separation membrane immersed in water to be treated and an air diffusion device positioned below the separation membrane, and provides treated water that has permeated through the separation membrane while diffusing air from the air diffusion device towards the separation membrane. A target value setting step sets a target value of an amount of diffusion air diffused from the air diffusion device based on a transmembrane pressure difference, and the air diffusion device is controlled such that the amount of the diffusion air becomes the target value. In the target value setting step, an absolute value of a change or a rate of change in the target value for increasing the amount of the air diffusion is set greater than an absolute value of a change or a rate of change in the target value for decreasing the amount of the air diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Yoshida, Yuji Ohtsuka
  • Patent number: 10005009
    Abstract: A service port for a tank that receives a fluid, the service port including a body having a first end and a second end, the body defining a bore that opens at the first end and second end of the body; a strainer attached to the second end of the body, the strainer including a strainer element that has a first end and a second end, and a pair of sides; wherein the strainer element is closed at the first end and open at the second end defining a strainer volume therebetween; the strainer element being permeable to liquid; wherein the second end of the strainer element is attached about the bore and wherein a wall of the strainer element extending from the second end of the strainer element toward the first end of the strainer element is oriented generally parallel to a flow direction of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Shaw Development, LLC
    Inventors: Abdul Faheem Qureshi, Sree Hyma Sudhakar Paruchuri, Steven Milette