Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Patent number: 12404689
    Abstract: A dispenser system for delivering various combinations of dispersants to a body of water with the various combinations of dispersants supplied to the body of water through the interchanging of dispensing cartridges which are attachable to a main dispensing cartridge where a condition for interchanging of dispensing cartridges may be triggered by an event and the dispersants are isolated from a floatation member in the dispenser system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2025
    Assignee: King Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Jeffrey D. Johnson, Paul Freeberg, Lyle Enderson, Donald Dalland, Terry Goeman
  • Patent number: 12397282
    Abstract: A method of trapping and removing contaminants from a source of contamination using a microparticle media includes the steps of: providing the microparticle media, wherein the microparticle media includes a plurality of microparticles, and wherein each of the microparticles includes a substrate having pores; prehydrating the pores of the microparticles by mixing the microparticle media with at least one of a water or water of a electrolysis supernatant solution to form a prehydrated microparticle media having a portion of the water or water of the electrolysis supernatant solution absorbed or adsorbed in the pores of the microparticles; introducing the prehydrated microparticle media to the contaminants, wherein the prehydrated microparticle media trap or bind to the contaminants; and separating the prehydrated microparticle media and the contaminants trapped or bound to the prehydrated microparticle media from the source of contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: Echo Scientific LLC
    Inventor: Donald J. Wagner, II
  • Patent number: 12397251
    Abstract: A fluid device includes: a flow path through which a fluid flows; and an ultrasonic wave application device including an ultrasonic element that transmits an ultrasonic wave, in which the flow path has, as flow path wall surfaces, an ultrasonic wave application surface that applies, to the fluid, the ultrasonic wave transmitted from the ultrasonic element, and a reflection surface that reflects the ultrasonic wave applied to the fluid from the ultrasonic wave application surface, and the reflection surface has a concave curved surface shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignee: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keita Kubo, Chikara Kojima, Tomohide Onogi, Mitsuru Miyasaka
  • Patent number: 12398243
    Abstract: A highly permeable sorbent platform based on polysulfone and polystyrene-b-poly(acrylic acid) composite membranes. The membranes possess a fully interconnected network of poly(acrylic acid)-lined pores, which enables the surface chemistry to be tailored through sequential attachment of polyethyleneimine moieties and metal-binding terpyridine ligands. The polyethyleneimine moieties increase the saturation capacity, while the addition of terpyridine enables high-affinity binding to a diversity of transition metal ions. This membrane platform removes such metal contaminants from solution. The metal capture performance of the functionalized membranes persists even in high concentrations of competitive ions. Also, fluorescence quenching of the terpyridine moiety upon metal ion complexation offers an in-situ probe to monitor the extent of sorbent saturation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2025
    Assignees: UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME DU LAC, PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Yizhou Zhang, William A. Phillip, Matthew J. Webber, Bryan W. Boudouris
  • Patent number: 12391580
    Abstract: Basalt selectively adsorbs organic toxic materials, such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, and the like, from substances such as sediment, which contains water and the toxic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Inventor: Valerie Ann Gamble
  • Patent number: 12391579
    Abstract: Basalt selectively adsorbs organic toxic materials, such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, and the like, from substances such as sediment, which contains water and the toxic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Inventor: Valerie Ann Gamble
  • Patent number: 12390767
    Abstract: Examples disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for controllably removing one or more solutes from a solution. Examples disclosed herein relate to methods and systems for removing water from alcoholic beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2025
    Assignee: Porifera, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benton, Olgica Bakajin, Jennifer Klare, Ravindra Revanur
  • Patent number: 12384696
    Abstract: Basalt selectively adsorbs organic toxic materials, such as dioxins, furans, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, arsenic, mercury, chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, cadmium, lead, and the like, from substances such as sediment, which contains water and the toxic materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2024
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2025
    Inventor: Valerie Ann Gamble
  • Patent number: 12370550
    Abstract: A microfluidic device comprising: (a) a plate comprising a substrate, a plurality of electrodes, and a first layer of hydrophobic material applied over the plurality of electrodes; (b) a processing unit operably programmed to perform a method of pinning an aqueous droplet within the microfluidic device; and (c) a controller operably connected to a power source, the processing unit, and the plurality of electrodes. The method of pinning an aqueous droplet comprises: applying an electric field of a first polarity to an aqueous droplet located on the surface of the layer of hydrophobic material and having a first contact angle, to cause the droplet to maintain a second contact angle in the absence of the electric field, wherein the aqueous droplet contains a surfactant and the second contact angle is less than the first contact angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: NUCLERA LTD
    Inventor: Luke Slominski
  • Patent number: 12371621
    Abstract: A continuous system for gasification of a biomass feedstock comprising: a fuel conditioning zone, a gasification zone and a char cooling area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2023
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2025
    Assignee: McGolden, LLC
    Inventor: Michael McGolden
  • 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: 12344543
    Abstract: A sewage treatment apparatus comprises an external box body, the external box body is internally provided with a screen zone, an anaerobic and anoxic zone, an aerobic zone, a settling zone, an advanced treatment zone and a disinfection and sterilization zone communicating in sequence. The screen zone communicates with a household septic-tank through the pneumatic lifting apparatus, the aerobic zone communicates with the anaerobic and anoxic zone to reflux a part of mixed liquid to an anaerobic zone of the anaerobic and anoxic zone, and the settling zone communicates with the anaerobic and anoxic zone to reflux a part of active sludge to an anoxic zone of the anaerobic and anoxic zone; and the sewage treatment apparatus further comprises an apparatus zone which is arranged independently and separately, and the apparatus zone is merely internally provided with an air compressor for providing a conveying pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Hunan Wisdom Water Environmental Engineering Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Wenyun Liao, Mingjie Jiang, Yuting Lei, Lijuan Yi, Xingyang Liu
  • 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: 12311291
    Abstract: A modular water filtration system including a filter manifold and a filter cartridge is provided. The filter manifold includes a body, a first arm member, a second arm member, a brace, and a slot positioned on the brace. The filter cartridge includes a cartridge head and a fin member protruding upwardly from the cartridge head, and the fin member is sized to be received within the slot of the filter manifold. The filter cartridge is adapted to engage the filter manifold through a horizontal force when the fin member is aligned with the slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Pentair Residential Filtration, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Reckin, Tedd M. Schneidewend
  • Patent number: 12297126
    Abstract: A modular porous swale. The modular porous swale may comprise a porous concrete block and filtration joint. The porous concrete block may snugly fit within a trench having a lower portion filled with an absorption media. The absorption media may include gravel, activated alumina, bone char, biochar, bone char and activated alumina mixture, and biochar and activated alumina mixture. The porous concrete block may have a top surface inwardly-sloped to a nadir. The filtration joint may be disposed within the porous concrete block and along the nadir. The liner may cover one or more sides of the porous concrete block. The perforated pipe may be located within the absorption media. The filtration joint may substantially align above a portion of the perforated pipe when the modular porous swale is installed within the trench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2025
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gary Anguiano, Dennis How, Mark Foreman, James Thomas Pilkington
  • 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: 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