Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9975792
    Abstract: A device for the treatment of waste material in a waste water collection system includes an inner core and an outer portion partially surrounding the inner core such that at least one surface of the inner core is exposed. The inner core has a greater water solubility than the outer portion. In another aspect, a device for the treatment of waste material in a waste water collection system includes an outer portion defining a hollow core portion, the hollow core portion defining an interior and having at least one end plug sealing said interior against ambient atmosphere, the outer portion partially surrounding the hollow core portion such that only the end plug is exposed. The end plug has a greater water solubility than the outer portion. Methods of treating waste material in a waste water collection system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: UNITED LABORATORIES, INC.
    Inventors: Vincent J. Thorgersen, John H. Bacon, Eric D. Frazier
  • Patent number: 9938744
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a sweep tail for a pool cleaner including a hose, a connector coupled to a first end of the hose and connecting the hose to the pool cleaner, and a scrubber coupled to the hose near a second end of the hose. The scrubber can include a first bearing coupled to and positioned around the hose, a second bearing positioned around the first bearing, and a scrubbing element positioned around the second bearing. The second bearing is capable of rotating around the first bearing and the scrubbing element is capable of rotating with the second bearing around the first bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Suresh C. Gopalan, Jayamurali Kaladharan, Adam Key, Narender Sanwal
  • Patent number: 9931455
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a chamber for a blood treatment system with at least one space defined by a chamber wall and with at least one blood inlet and with at least one inlet for a further fluid, which are connected with the space, wherein both the at least one blood inlet and the at least one inlet for the further fluid are formed on tube sections which protrude into the space of the chamber, wherein in the operating condition of the chamber the space of the chamber is at least partly filled with blood or with a mixture of blood and the further fluid or some other fluid and wherein at least one, preferably both or a plurality of the tube sections have a length such that the blood inlet and/or the inlet for the further fluid are located below the blood or fluid level in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Reiter, Paolo Stabilini
  • Patent number: 9919253
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a fluid filter includes a plurality of filter units assembled in series, and each filter unit includes: a connecting member, an input member and an output member. The input member of each of the filter units has an extending pipe connected to a connecting pipe of another filter unit, so that the filter units can be easily assembled by directly screwing the connecting pipe of the connecting member of one filter unit into the extending pipe of the input member of another filter unit, without using tools or fasteners. Hence, the assembling cost is relatively reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Inventor: Po-Hui Chen
  • Patent number: 9908067
    Abstract: A waste water treatment system including primary settling tanks. The waste water treatment system includes a trough which causes waste water to flow in a direction parallel to a bar screen placed in the trough with the base of the bar screen being at a lower elevation than the trough weir. Each primary settling tank has a fine screen box for screening waste water. Each primary settling tank has a scum and floatables trough for collecting scum and floatables which pass through or over a top edge of the bar screen. The scum and floatables troughs are in fluid communication with one another. When a scum valve is open, scum, floatables and waste water in the scum and floatables trough flow from the scum and floatables trough of the first primary setting tank to the scum and floatables trough of the second primary settling tank and into a collection container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: ClearCove Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Terry Wright
  • Patent number: 9884274
    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 holder (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: March 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTER TECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Sann, Martin Braune
  • Patent number: 9861721
    Abstract: A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventors: Edward Brittain Stokes, Jennifer Godwin Pagan, Thomas Andrew Schmedake
  • Patent number: 9855363
    Abstract: A system for disinfecting a fluid, including: a flow cell including one or more inlet ports and one or more outlet ports, wherein the flow cell is configured to communicate a fluid containing a biological contaminant from the one or more inlet ports to the one or more outlet portions through an interior portion thereof; and one or more point radiation sources disposed about the flow cell, wherein the one or more point radiation sources are operable for delivering radiation to the biological contaminant; wherein an interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources; and wherein the interior surface of the flow cell is operable for reflecting the radiation delivered to the biological contaminant by the one or more point radiation sources such that a radiation intensity is uniform throughout the interior portion of the flow cell. In one exemplary embodiment, the flow cell is an integrating sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: AquiSense Technologies LLC, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventors: Edward Brittain Stokes, Jennifer Godwin Pagan, Thomas Andrew Schmedake
  • Patent number: 9844741
    Abstract: A liquid chromatography column, utilizing horizontal or radial flow of sample material passing there through, includes a housing defining a chamber therein, at least one removable screw lid, and first and second longitudinally extending porous frits positioned within the chamber. A bed or packing of particulate, chromatographic separation material is positioned within the chamber and intermediate the porous frits, the first of the porous frits being adjacent the housing and an inlet channel, the second of the porous frits being positioned adjacent a core member and an outlet channel. A distributor is operatively connected to the inlet channel, and a collector is connected to the outlet channel. The distributor and the inlet channel are constructed to direct associated material to be separated in the bed evenly across a longitudinal length of the bed in a horizontal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: JEMP HOLDING BV
    Inventor: Marcellus Johannes Hubertus Raedts
  • Patent number: 9839868
    Abstract: A fluid treatment apparatus and related methods involving the use of replaceable treatment cartridges that include a treatment media, wherein the treatment cartridge is electrically enhanced to form regions of differing polarity within the cartridge. The treatment cartridge can include a pair of fixed polarity conductors that can be electrically connected to a power source so as to induce regions of differing polarity within the cartridge. The fluid treatment apparatus can be utilized to treat liquids including aqueous solutions as well as gases such as an air supply by exposing the fluid to the regions of differing polarity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Karl J. Fritze
  • Patent number: 9815009
    Abstract: A filter device has at least one filter element (37) accommodated in a filter housing fluid-connected to a fluid tank (1). The filter housing has at least one connection fitting (29) forming a fluid connection to the filter element (37). The filter housing is formed by a filter bowl (13) molded into the tank (1). The bowl bottom (17) has the connection fitting (29) associated with the element receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: HYDAC FILTERTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Schmitt, Thomas Scholl
  • Patent number: 9815004
    Abstract: A liquid filter has a hollow-cylindrical filter element is flowed through in a radial direction. The fluid after having passed through the filter element drains in axial direction from the interior of the filter element. A drain plug is disposed at an axial end of the interior of the filter element. The drain plug forms a moveable valve member. A drain passage for draining fluid is open in the open position of the drain plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GMBH
    Inventors: Stefan Uhl, Herbert Jainek