Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Filtration system with automatic drain plug
    Patent number: 11607633
    Abstract: A filtration system includes a housing and a filter element positioned within the housing. The housing includes a first housing end and a second housing end. A drain opening is defined in the second housing end. The filter element includes a first endplate and a second endplate defining an endplate opening. Filter media is positioned between and extending axially between the first endplate and the second endplate. The filter media defines a central opening extending axially therein. A drain plug axially protrudes from the second endplate in a direction away from the filter media. The drain plug is configured to engage the drain opening and facilitate installation of the filter element into the housing. A lid is configured to engage the first housing end. The engagement between the lid and the first housing end occurs when the drain plug is disposed within the drain opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION SARL
    Inventor: Gérard Malgorn
  • Methods for producing a high protein corn meal from a whole stillage byproduct and system therefore
    Patent number: 11603507
    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: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Chie Ying Lee
  • Porous fiber, adsorbent material, and purification column
    Patent number: 11596922
    Abstract: A solid fiber is described, where the solid fiber is characterized by (a) a modification degree Do/Di, in a cross section of the solid fiber of 1.20 to 8.50 where the inscribed circle diameter is denoted by Di and the circumscribed circle diameter is denoted by Do; and (b) a porous specific surface area of not less than 30 m2/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES. INC.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Fujieda, Yoshiyuki Ueno, Kazumi Tanaka
  • Header-equipped air diffusion device, and membrane separation activated sludge device
    Patent number: 11591244
    Abstract: Header-equipped air diffusion devices includes, in the header, an air storage unit, on its lower end including inlet(s) for water to be treated, and air supply part(s) and air sending part(s) on the air storage unit upper section. The air diffusion device's air sending part and horizontal tube are connected, air sent from the header being diffused by the air diffusion device, and air sending in the air storage unit is above the air supply part's air supply port. The air storage portion's partition portion, with a 50+mm height, partitions the upper portion into an air supply and an air feeding portion side. The partition portion forms a cylindrical portion and an upper plate portion and the air storage portion's trunk portion serves as part of the air supply portion, and an opening end on a lower end side of the partition portion serves as the air supply port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Yunje Lee, Makoto Ideguchi, Shinsuke Furuno
  • Filter element for a vehicle
    Patent number: 11583791
    Abstract: The filter element includes a filter medium having an axis and forming a channel extending substantially axially, a first and a second end plate, each end plate covering one axial end of the filter medium and being sealingly mounted on the axial end whereby a liquid to be filtered can flow through the filter medium towards the channel and out of the filter element through an opening in fluid communication with the channel, or reversely. The filter element includes a protrusion fixedly secured to the first end plate and extending outwardly from the first end plate, the protrusion being substantially tubular and having a through hole in fluid communication with the first end plate opening, the protrusion forming a female coupling piece of a male-female connector, and a locking member capable of releasably locking a male coupling piece of the male-female connector in the female coupling piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: VOLVO TRUCK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Baptiste Boutin, Hervé Coste, Bertrand Cauvin
  • Membrane support made with preformed sheets
    Patent number: 11577203
    Abstract: A planar membrane cartridge includes a support and a semi-permeable membrane layer. The support includes a first layer attached to a second layer and defining a front face and a back face of the support. At least one of the first layer and the second layer form a first embossment and a second embossment. Respective back faces of the first layer and the second layer are attached to each other along edges of the first embossment and of the second embossment, such that the first embossment defines a fluid compartment between the first layer and the second layer and the second embossment defines an internal channel between the first layer and the second layer which is isolated from the fluid compartment. An area of the first layer corresponding to the first embossment is covered by the semi-permeable membrane layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: VITO NV (VLAAMSE INSTELLING VOOR TECHNOLOGISCH ONDERZOEK NV)
    Inventors: Bart Molenberghs, Chris Dotremont
  • Methods of dewatering of alcoholic solutions via forward osmosis and related systems
    Patent number: 11571660
    Abstract: Embodiments described herein relate to methods and systems for dewatering alcoholic solutions via forward osmosis, where the concentration of alcohol in the draw stream is equal to or greater than the concentration of the alcohol in the feed stream. As the feed stream is concentrated the alcohol is retained in the feed stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2023
    Assignee: PORIFERA, INC.
    Inventors: Charles Benton, Olgica Bakajin, Jennifer Klare, Ravindra Revanur
  • Microfluidic devices containing reversibly pinned droplet samples and methods
    Patent number: 11554375
    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: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Nuclera Nucleics Ltd.
    Inventor: Luke M. Slominski
  • Method of preparing hierarchical porous channel molecular sieve membrane and application thereof
    Patent number: 11554348
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for preparing a hierarchical porous zeolite membrane and an application thereof, comprising the following steps: a mesoporous structure-directing agent is added to limit the growth of zeolite crystals, and self-assembled in the crystallization process to generate a mesoporous structure. Based on a seed crystal induced secondary nucleation mechanism, this method can realize one-step hydrothermal synthesis of hierarchical porous zeolite membrane with the advantages of mild and controllable synthesis conditions, simple process, good repeatability, reduced energy consumption and cost savings. The hierarchical porous zeolite membrane prepared by the method has good cut-off performance, and the cut-off molecular weight is adjustable between 200 to 500,000 Da.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: NANJING UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Xuehong Gu, Xun Yao, Li Peng
  • Blood filter
    Patent number: 11547783
    Abstract: A blood filter device having an iron-chelating molecule, a haem-binding molecule and a haemoglobin-binding molecule bound to a support. Use of the device in a vessel containing blood, for example a blood bag or a flow line, removes haemolysis-derived components from the blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignees: IMPERIAL COLLEGE INNOVATIONS LIMITED, UCL BUSINESS LTD
    Inventors: Alan Christopher Spivey, Gregory John Quinlan, Nathan Davies
  • Removing components of alcoholic solutions via forward osmosis and related systems
    Patent number: 11541352
    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: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2023
    Assignee: Porifera, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benton, Olgica Bakajin, Jennifer Klare, Ravindra Revanur
  • Electrically enhanced filter cartridge and methods for its use
    Patent number: 11534707
    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: September 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PARAGON WATER SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: Karl J. Fritze
  • Water filtration system and method
    Patent number: 11534704
    Abstract: A modular water filtration system including a first filter manifold and a second filter manifold is provided. The first filter manifold includes a first bracket and a first pair of arm members horizontally extending from the first bracket. One of the first pair of arm members includes a protrusion defining a bore. The second filter manifold includes a second bracket and a second pair of arm members horizontally extending from the second bracket. One of the second pair of arm members includes a duct, and the duct is configured to receive the protrusion of the first filter manifold to provide fluid communication through the bore between the first filter manifold and the second filter manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: PENTAIR RESIDENTIAL FILTRATION, LLC
    Inventors: Richard Reckin, Tedd M. Schneidewend
  • Grey-water processing device for rail vehicles
    Patent number: 11535527
    Abstract: A processing device for grey water for a rail vehicle includes a grey water container, a grey water supply in an inlet region, a drain for processed grey water in an outlet region, and a slotted filter between the inlet and outlet regions that has at least one movable sliding member which touches the base of the grey water container in a lowered position and is lifted off the base in a raised position. The base of the grey water container rises from the inlet region to the outlet region. A cleaning outflow is disposed in the inlet region on the base side. A fresh water supply for supplying fresh water is disposed in the outlet region. A rail vehicle having at least one processing device for grey water for a toilet module or toilet bowl is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Mobility GmbH
    Inventors: Simon Gaedker, Frank Hugemann, Andreas Haeussler, Thomas Kuebeck
  • Liquid treatment apparatus and liquid treatment cartridge
    Patent number: 11529575
    Abstract: A device for forming a liquid treatment apparatus includes a main part, a receiving part including a cavity for receiving a connecting head of a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge having at least one port in liquid communication with an interior of the liquid treatment cartridge. The receiving part is journalled for movement between a first and a second position with respect to the main part. The head is insertable into and retractable from the cavity in the first position. The liquid treatment cartridge is lockable to the device by at least moving the receiving part with the inserted connecting head into the second position. The movement includes a component corresponding to an intrinsic rotation in a plane parallel to a direction of insertion. The movement further includes at least a component corresponding to a displacement of the receiving part relative to the main part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: Brita SE
    Inventor: Jochen Zöller
  • Separation membrane element and operation method therefor
    Patent number: 11511233
    Abstract: According to the present invention, it is possible to obtain a separation membrane element which has an element configuration having high fresh water production performance and high removal performance, has an improved membrane surface linear velocity whereby fouling due to hardly-soluble salts (scales) or organic matters is less likely to occur on the membrane surface particularly in high recovery ratio operation, and is excellent in fresh water production performance and removal performance over a long period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: TORAY INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventors: Takeshi Konda, Kentarou Takagi, Hiroho Hirozawa, Hiroyuki Yamada, Hiroki Minehara, Hiroaki Tanaka, Monami Suzuki, Yutaro Suzuki
  • Predictive tool for monitoring RO and NF membranes
    Patent number: 11505473
    Abstract: A predictive system for monitoring fouling of membranes of a desalination or water softening plant includes ultrafiltration (UF) membranes, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes, and/or nanofiltration (NF) membranes. In addition, the system includes one or more UF skids including a plurality of UF units. Each UF unit contains therein a plurality of UF membranes. Further, the system includes one or more RO/NF skids including one or more RO/NF arrays. Each of the one or more RO/NF arrays includes a plurality of RO units, with each RO unit containing therein a plurality of RO membranes, a plurality of NF units, with each NF unit containing therein a plurality of NF membranes, or a combination thereof. Still further, the system includes UF sensors and/or RO/NF sensors. The system also includes a controller comprising a processor in signal communication with the UF sensors and/or the RO/NF sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: BP EXPLORATION OPERATING COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventor: George Leslie Cunningham
  • Fluid filter and filter insert for the same
    Patent number: 11491425
    Abstract: A fluid filter is mountable on a connection flange having a central stand pipe and an exchangeable filter insert. The insert has a hollow cylindrical filter material body with two end plates on its end faces and is mountable on the stand pipe. A cup-shaped screw housing of the filter can be screwed to a free end of the stand pipe, and supports a seal on a free edge thereof, via which the screw housing is sealable against a connection flange sealing surface when mounted. The filter has a first arrangement on an end face area to center the end face area to the flange. The filter insert has a second arrangement on the end face area outer periphery for centering the screw housing free edge relative to the connection flange sealing surface. The second arrangement interacts in a centering manner with the screw housing free edge when installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Hengst SE
    Inventor: Wilhelm Ardes
  • Removing components of alcoholic solutions via forward osmosis and related systems
    Patent number: 11484837
    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: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Porifera, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Benton, Olgica Bakajin, Jennifer Klare, Ravindra Revanur
  • Centrifugal fluid separation device
    Patent number: 11478792
    Abstract: A modular cassette and method for separating a composite fluid into at least two component parts thereof during centrifugation is provided. The modular cassette includes a fluid inlet portion, at least one fluid separation portion, at least one media chamber in fluid communication with the fluid separation portion, a fluid collection portion, at least one fluidic channel configured to form a fluid communication between at least two components of the cassette, at least one wax valve including undulating flow channel portions configured to close at least one of the fluidic channels, and at least one heating element configured to actuate the at least one wax valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: James R. Ladtkow, Dennis J. Hlavinka, Thomas J. Felt, Andrew Gloor, Jesse Janzen, Taylor Polodna, Luke Edwin Ladtkow