Patents Examined by Patrick Orme
  • Patent number: 11279630
    Abstract: A method for water purification utilizing a cylindrical vessel containing a hydrocyclone nest. The heated contaminated water is fed into the nest, which includes a first set of hydrocyclones, at least one intermediate set of hydrocyclones, and a final set of hydrocyclones, the hydrocyclones in each set arranged in parallel, and each set arranged in series. The heated contaminated water is pumped into the cylindrical vessel such that the heated contaminated water enters a tangential inlet of each 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 into the subsequent set of hydrocyclones until the final set of hydrocyclones, and then out through a second outlet of the cylindrical vessel. The steam is condensed into purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2022
    Assignee: Cloudburst International, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11273244
    Abstract: This dialysis device is configured so that residual liquid in a powder container 42 and a bypass path 51 can be drained. Accordingly, the dialysis device is provided with: a first liquid draining path 71 connecting a clean water supply path 31 to a stock solution supply path 44 on the upstream side of a liquid feed pump 33; a second liquid draining path 72 connecting the clean water supply path to a dialysate discharge path 32 on the downstream side of the liquid feed pump; and an opening path 77 allowing a branch path 43 to communicate with the outer space by opening an on-off valve 78. By opening the on-off valve of the opening path and actuating the liquid feed pump, a liquid in the powder container 42 and a liquid in the bypass path 51 can be discharged through the first liquid draining path and the second liquid draining path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: SHIBUYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Nozato, Shingo Saito
  • Patent number: 11266933
    Abstract: A attachment and detachment apparatus removably attaches a filter container containing a filter, as a part of a filtration apparatus that filters fluid with the filter. The filter container includes a first mounting protrusion having a filter container flow path in fluid communication with the filter. An outer periphery surface of the first mounting protrusion includes at least two curved surfaces respectively formed to be at least a part of an arc surface. The attachment and detachment apparatus includes a first mounting protrusion holding part that holds the first mounting protrusion. The first mounting protrusion holding part having a holding part flow path for the fluid and a notch communicating between an area surrounded by the inner periphery surface and an outer side of the first mounting protrusion holding part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ROKI TECHNO CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Kinjo
  • Patent number: 11267724
    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: August 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: BRITA LP
    Inventor: Jonathan Taylor Wiegele
  • Patent number: 11267725
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in water purification including a cylindrical vessel comprising, within the cylindrical vessel, a first set of hydrocyclones, at least one intermediate set of hydrocyclones, and a final set of hydrocyclones, the sets of hydrocyclones arranged in series. In one embodiment, the hydrocyclones within each set of hydrocyclones are arranged in a parallel configuration, wherein each set of hydrocyclones is defined by a divider which causes the hydrocyclones in each set to operate in parallel. In one embodiment each hydrocyclone has a tangential inlet disposed within an inlet chamber of the cylindrical vessel and in fluid communication with an inlet connected to the inlet chamber, an overflow disposed within an overflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel, and an underflow disposed within an underflow chamber of the cylindrical vessel. In one embodiment, the cylindrical vessel comprises a first set of hydrocyclones and a second, final set of hydrocyclones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Cloudburst International, Inc.
    Inventor: Edwin E. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11253796
    Abstract: Methods and systems for chromatography are disclosed that employ a flexible container configured to fit within a support structure and adapted to receive a filtration or absorptive medium. The flexible container can include at least one inlet, at least one outlet, and a separation barrier peripherally sealed within the container to separate the container into a resin containing portion and a drainage portion. The barrier can be configured to exclude the resin material from the drainage portion while allowing fluids to pass therethrough. The disposable chromatography system can further include one or more agitators disposed within the flexible container and adjustably configured to be raised or lowered in the flexible container. When the agitator is in the raised position, the resin packing material can operate in a settled, packed-bed configuration. Alternatively, the agitator in the lowered position permits the chromatography resin packing material to operate in a mixed, slurry configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC
    Inventors: John J. Vicalvi, Joseph Makowiecki, Joseph D. Crowell, Parrish M. Galliher
  • Patent number: 11247159
    Abstract: A filter device is disclosed having a round filter element having a filter medium body with an open interior. The filter element is installable into a filter housing having a base filter housing and a housing cover, in which an inflow opening of the cover overlaps against and aligns with an inflow opening of a base housing part such they form a continuous inflow opening. A support mesh cage arranged on the radially outer wall of the annular filter medium body. The filter housing has a longitudinally extended cross-sectional shape in which the inflow opening and an outlet opening are both arranged on the base housing part at opposing sides of the base housing part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2022
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Neef, Nadine Donauer, Philipp Hettkamp, Arthur Sudermann, Torsten Fritzsching, Mario Rieger, Michael Heim
  • Patent number: 11235994
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing the concentration of selenocyanate in water. In the methods and systems, water containing selenocyanate is treated an oxidant to provide oxidant-treated water, which is then contacted with a zero-valent iron treatment system comprising (a) a reactive solid comprising zero-valent iron and one or more iron oxide minerals in contact therewith and (b) ferrous iron.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: The Texas A & M University System
    Inventor: Yongheng Huang
  • Patent number: 11229731
    Abstract: A display device for a medical apparatus including a projection surface arranged on the medical apparatus and configured to present a predetermined display content in a way visible to a user of the medical apparatus, and a projection device arranged on the medical apparatus and configured to project the predetermined display content from a rear side of the projection surface onto the projection surface. The projection surface and the projection device are configured as a head-up display unit for visual field presentation of the display content, and the medical apparatus may be an apparatus for carrying out extracorporeal blood treatment including the display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: B. BRAUN AVITUM AG
    Inventors: Meike Peters, Sebastian Brögger, Björn Bröker, Bruno Stenzel
  • Patent number: 11225421
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to methods of treating process water using a reactor for generating chlorine dioxide onsite. The onsite generation system may include double ensured precursor feeding, effective reactor, automated control/alarm, and effective product delivery. The reactor may include a mixing device, a first feed line connected to the mixing device, and a second feed line connected to the mixing device. The reactor may include a proximal portion in fluid communication with the mixing device and a distal portion in fluid communication with a motive water line. The mixing device, the reactor, a portion of the first feed line, and a portion of the second feed line may be positioned within the motive water line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Kun Xiong, Felice DiMascio, Nicholas Ryan Denny, Shawn Dalke
  • Patent number: 11213869
    Abstract: A solid waste treatment system includes: a solid-liquid separator module configured to receive mixed solid and liquid waste and separating solid material from the mixed solid and liquid waste; an accumulator and macerator module configured to receive and macerate the solid material from the solid-liquid separator module; a drying module configured to receive and dry the macerated solid material from the accumulator and macerator module; and a combustion module configured to receive and combust the dried macerated solid material from the drying module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2022
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Jeffrey Robert Piascik, Charles David Stokes, Ethan Klem, Brian Rhys Stoner, Christopher Gregory, Nicholas G. Baldasaro, Katelyn Lea Sellgren, David E. Rogers, Brian Grant, Brian Thomas Hawkins, Enzo Cellini
  • Patent number: 11202980
    Abstract: A filter attachment and detachment apparatus removably attaching a filter container containing a filter, as a part of a filtration apparatus that filters fluid with the filter, includes a first mounting protrusion at one end of the filter container to protrude from the filter container, the first mounting protrusion including a flow path in fluid communication with the filter inside the filter container, a rotation element to which a first flow path for the fluid is connected, the rotation element including an opening groove configured to receive the first mounting protrusion, and a first mounting protrusion holding part configured to rotatably hold the rotation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Assignee: Roki Techno Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Kinjo
  • Patent number: 11191389
    Abstract: The present invention is a cooking-oil filtration system for automated cooking apparatus which has a solids-removing filter for cleaning cooking oil from the food-fryer and returning oil to the cooking apparatus. The system comprises a solids-removing filter enclosure which includes a plurality of doors having electronically controlled locks with lock-state feedback, a controller including memory and software for controlling the system and a user interface, a number of electrically-controlled pumps, valves, actuators and sensors, the user interface comprising screens with icons representing system set-up, status, and actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2021
    Assignee: Oberlin Filter Co.
    Inventors: Eric J. Evraets, James Steffl
  • Patent number: 11179657
    Abstract: A filtration container assembly generally includes an outer container having a first end and a second end and defining an inner cavity, and a plunging assembly configured to be received within the outer container inner cavity, wherein the plunging assembly includes an inner sleeve having a first end and a second end and an outer wall defining an inner bore, wherein the outer wall is continuous from the first end to the second end, and a filtration assembly coupled to the inner sleeve at the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: GRAYL Inc.
    Inventors: Nancie Weston, Travis Merrigan, Michael Bargiel
  • Patent number: 11124433
    Abstract: A method of managing ionization for biofouling control in a water intake system that includes channeling a supply water stream through an electrochemical cell, monitoring at least one parameter of the supply water stream, determining an ion concentration threshold for the supply water stream based on the at least one parameter, and controlling the electrochemical cell such that ions are discharged into the supply water stream. The electrochemical cell is controlled such that an ion concentration of a treated water stream discharged from the electrochemical cell is greater than the ion concentration threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Inventor: Fredrick Billy Otieno Ongeche
  • Patent number: 11123675
    Abstract: A filtering media member is formed of porous material. A first edge portion includes an upstream edge. A second edge portion is spaced apart from the first edge portion and includes a downstream edge. A main portion is arranged intermediate the first and second edge portions. The edge portions and the main portion together define a generally planar first surface. A plurality of channels is formed on the first surface. Each of the channels is arranged adjacent to one another and has a length. Each of the channels includes an inlet disposed proximate to the first edge portion so that, in use, fluid flows from the upstream edge through the inlet to the respective channel, and each of the channels has a width in the lateral direction that decreases across its length so that the channels taper between the first and second edge portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2021
    Assignee: DCL International Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Sarna, Haiqing Liu, John P. Muter, Shazam S. Williams
  • Patent number: 11117813
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to filtering technologies that combine elements of continuous and batch NF/RO based on the constraints of the end-user facility to achieve a target balance between, for instance, recovery and power consumption, and to reduce long term operating cost of a plant. A method for extending batch operation into a second induction period with antiscalant injection is also disclosed herein, with the second induction period allowing for yet higher water recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Crosstek Membrane Technology
    Inventor: Stanton Russel Smith
  • Patent number: 11110214
    Abstract: The present specification provides a dialysate management system for generating, weighing, and heating a dialysate fluid during a dialysis treatment. The dialysate management system includes a container and base enclosure. A bottom surface of the container rests within the base enclosure, which is configured to weigh the fluid in the container and measure its conductivity. The fluid may be heated using a heater integrated into the base enclosure or positioned in-line with a fluid pathway. The base of the container is preferably sloped and positioned within the internal volume of the container is a disposable prescription bag having a predefined quantity of prescription compositions that dissolve when water is poured into the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Neil Fulkerson, Brian Thomas Kelly
  • Patent number: 11104595
    Abstract: A method is provided for the treatment of waste streams resulting from the processing of hydrocarbons that contain naphthenic acids, for example desalter brine resulting from the extraction or production of hydrocarbons from an oil sands reservoir. Naphthenic acids can be removed from these streams by removing oil-wet solids from the waste stream prior to conventional waste water processing, and the oil-wet solids can further be independently remediated to reduce naphthenic acid concentration for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Suncor Energy Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Flatley
  • Patent number: 11083829
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical treatment device comprising a fluid system, which has a monitoring apparatus 27 for monitoring the treatment device, wherein the monitoring apparatus 27 is configured such that monitoring is based on the evaluation of the pressure in the fluid system of the medical treatment device. The invention further relates to a method for monitoring a medical treatment device, in which monitoring is based on the evaluation of the pressure in the fluid system. The treatment device is characterised by a compliance-determining apparatus 28 for determining the compliance in the fluid system, part of the fluid system or parts of the fluid system, wherein the compliance-determining apparatus 28 cooperates with the monitoring apparatus 27 in such a manner that the pressure-based monitoring takes place depending on the compliance of the fluid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Noack