Patents Examined by Paul J Durand
  • Patent number: 7691273
    Abstract: A method for clarifying a sludge, characterized in that a raw waste water is subjected to a solid-liquid separator and then to a primary filtration device, to separate it into a solid material and a liquid material, and the resultant liquid treated material is then treated by a process comprising an ozone treatment and a special light ray treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Inventor: Seishiro Murakami
  • Patent number: 7686962
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a system and method that intensely oxidizes water as it navigates through a system and accurately, controllably neutralizes the oxidation by-products before the water exits the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivey Burns, Thoram Charanda, Thomas J. Nicodemo, Richard Davis, Janell Crowder
  • Patent number: 7682514
    Abstract: A method for oxidizing an organic material includes the steps of (a) forming a preoxidation mixture comprising the organic material and water, and (b) causing the preoxidation mixture to react with a liquid oxidizer in a continuous flow reactor supercritical conditions for water, including a pressure of at least 3206 psia and a temperature of at least 705° F., to form a post-oxidation mixture containing condensible material and non-condensible material, wherein substantially all of the organic material has been oxidized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Parsons Corporation
    Inventors: John Scott, James Osterloh
  • Patent number: 7678282
    Abstract: A method of determination of the conditions of exhaustion of a filtering cartridge for filtering carafes with replaceable cartridges is described, in which an initial identification of impedance of the water to be filtered is provided for in order to consequently calculate an important parameter for definition of the efficient lifespan on the filtering cartridge. Furthermore a carafe operating in compliance with such method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: LAICA S.p.A.
    Inventor: Maurizio Moretto
  • Patent number: 7666312
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of preventing corrosion in industrial water systems. The method includes maintaining a real-time oxidation-reduction potential at a set point, wherein the system is at operating temperature and pressure. A nonlinear equation is derived based upon theoretically derived or empirically collected data. The equation is then used to determine an inflow of active chemical species to the water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Peter D. Hicks
  • Patent number: 7666315
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, devices and reagents which are used for Fenton reaction-based wastewater treatment. According to the invention, the oxidation reaction of the organic material with the oxygenated water is performed in the main oxidation reactor (12) in the presence of metallic catalysts. The Fenton reaction takes place in the reactor at absolute pressure of between 1 Kg/cm2 and 1.5 Kg/cm2 and at a temperature of between 110° C. and 120° C. Once treated and cooled, the effluent is conveyed to zone D to a neutralising tank (6) in which the pH is increased to a value greater than seven, thereby causing precipitation of the hydroxides. In addition, safety checks are carried out automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: FMC Foret S.A.
    Inventors: Jose M. Lopez Martinez, Fernando Puente de Vera, Luis Monreal Munoz, Pasqual Vall Escala
  • Patent number: 7654397
    Abstract: A gravity separator S separates a liquid phase O and a gas phase G from a multiphase fluid mixture E. The gravity separator comprises a collector 1 for collecting the liquid phase O, an outlet 8 for extracting the gas phase G and a draining circuit 3 coupled to the collector 1 for draining the liquid phase O out of the separator. The gravity separator S further comprises a floating assembly 2 coupled to the collector 1. The floating assembly is arranged to float at an interface GLI between the liquid phase and the gas phase so that the collector is positioned in the multiphase fluid mixture present in the gravity separator S for collecting substantially the liquid phase O.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Francis Allouche
  • Patent number: 7651663
    Abstract: An appliance using water including an incoming water valve is provided. The appliance includes a sensor disposed in-line to an incoming flow of water received from the incoming water valve and is configured to sense a degree of hardness in the incoming flow of water. The sensor includes a sensing element disposed on a substrate. The sensing element includes a sensing matrix, an indicator for one or more chemical species in flow of water, and a selectivity component that reacts reversibly with one or more chemical species in the water. The sensor also includes a light source configured to direct light through the substrate and the sensing matrix. The sensor further includes a light detector configured to receive transmitted light from the substrate and the sensing matrix and to generate a signal representative of selective wavelengths of the light indicative of one or more chemical species in flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Raul Eduardo Ayala, James Rulon Young Rawson, Todd Vincent Graves, Andrew Michael Leach
  • Patent number: 7641792
    Abstract: A circulation system for bodies of water. In one set of embodiments for larger bodies of water, modified horizontal plate designs are provided at the entrance of the draft hose. The plate designs have sections that pivot downwardly as the flotation platform and depending draft hose are rapidly raised in high wave conditions to let the water escape downwardly out of the hose. Adaptations to the floats for the elongated arms of the platform are also made to essentially eliminate the creation of any damaging torques on them from high waves. Another set of embodiments are particularly adapted for smaller systems in municipal water tanks for thorough mixing of the water and treatment to kill undesirable ammonia oxidizing bacteria and prevent or at least inhibit their return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard R. Tormaschy, Gary A. Kudrna, Corey M. Simnioniw, Joel J. Bleth, Jonathan L. Zent
  • Patent number: 7638064
    Abstract: A method for disinfecting agricultural irrigation water system-wide comprises (a) continuously feeding chlorine to the irrigation system and (b) monitoring an outer field point to determine whether at least a detectable level of residual chlorine is seen at that point, whereby chlorination disinfection system-wide is achieved. An enhanced irrigation system which is adapted for disinfecting agricultural irrigation water system-wide includes (a) apparatus for continuously feeding chlorine to the irrigation system and (b) apparatus for monitoring residual chlorine at an outer field point (to determine whether at least a detectable level of residual chlorine is seen at that point) for the purpose of achieving chlorination disinfection system-wide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventors: John C. Miller, Deborah L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7622933
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for sensing characteristics of a liquid are disclosed. The exemplary embodiment may have an electrode for transmitting electrical signals associated with characteristics of the liquid to and from the liquid. The electrode may have an aperture on the interior of the electrode with the aperture surface in contact with the liquid. The electrode may have a sensor portion in contact with the liquid and a coupling portion with a tapered thread. The electrode may contain an electrical coupling on the isolated outer surface of the electrode for communicating the electrical signal from the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Ulysse S. Dos Santos, Manpreet S. Sidhu
  • Patent number: 7611634
    Abstract: A method of filtering a fluid wherein after filtering a contaminated fluid, which causes the formation of a filter cake, a substantially non-contaminated fluid is fed through the filter cake and filter at varying flux or at varying driving force. At the same time the necessary driving force or the obtained flux, respectively, are measured. The measured value and the respective value setting are compared with at least one standard set of data and on the basis of this comparison the fouling status of the fluid to be filtered, the filter and the filter cake is determined. The method makes it possible to accurately determine characteristics of a fluid to be filtered. This may be realized by simply varying the flux and measuring the driving force at different flux values, or vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: NORIT Membraan Technologie B.V.
    Inventors: Harry Futselaar, Bastiaan Blankert, Bernardus Henricus Louis Betlem, Matthias Wessling
  • Patent number: 7611638
    Abstract: In a first treatment step part of at least one difficulty biodegradable or non-biodegradable organic compound is oxidized in polluted water by bringing said polluted water into contact with an ozone containing gas. The effluent is subsequently diluted with an aqueous liquid before a second treatment with ozone is carried out. If the concentration of the organic compound is still not sufficiently low, the treated effluent is diluted again and subjected to a further treatment with ozone. It was found that a more effective ozone treatment was obtained by the dilution or dilutions and that in particular no pH control was needed, so that no formation of additional salts occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Recticel
    Inventors: Alain Neyt, Luc Wouters
  • Patent number: 7591376
    Abstract: The invention relates to a matrix liquid for producing machining suspensions, a machining suspension produced with the matrix and a method of fractionating the used machining suspension yielded after use. The invention also relates to a homogeneous mixture of a polymer or various polymers and water. The mixture can be used especially advantageously in all technical applications requiring a liquid with lubricating properties. In the present invention, a mixture of water and a thickening agent, respectively a polymer or a multiplicity of polymers, is utilized as the matrix liquid or lubricating liquid. The cutting grains can be separated very easily and quickly from the used machining suspension produced with this matrix liquid; for reuse. Less process water is required and the process water can be simply purified as there is no complicated getting rid of an alcohol charge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Peter Eisner, Michael Menner
  • Patent number: 7585416
    Abstract: The invention disclosed provides an apparatus and method for filtration and disinfection of ship's ballast water, such as sea water, based on hydrodynamic cavitation. The apparatus comprises a vortex diode with a tangential entry port and an axial outlet port with single or multiple bleeding holes. The disinfected water may be re-circulated through the system for additional disinfection or released from the tank into the surrounding waterways. The disinfection of seawater/ship's ballast water is achieved through filtration and hydrodynamic cavitation and the method does not involve use of any chemicals or any chemical reaction. The invented apparatus and method is simple, eco-friendly and can be fitted on to existing intake and discharge systems of any ship with minor modifications. It poses no risk to the health of the ship's crew unlike chemical methods and requires no special skill or additional manpower for its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Vivek Vinayak Ranade, Anirudh Bhalchandra, Arga Chandrashekar Anil, Subhash Shivram Sawant, Dandayudapani Ilangovan, Rajachandran Madhan, Krishnamurthy Pilarisetty Venkat
  • Patent number: 7578942
    Abstract: In wastewater treatment equipment, a surfactant is added to a micronanobubble reaction vessel 3 by using a surfactant pump 8 and a surfactant tank 9 which constitute a surfactant adding section. Thereby, a micronanobubble generator 4 stably and efficiently produces micronanobubbles in the treatment water as raw water containing the surfactant in the micronanobubble reaction vessel 3. Thus, the micronanobubbles make it possible to efficiently pretreat the wastewater introduced into the micronanobubble reaction vessel. Consequently, it becomes possible not only to enhance efficiency of wastewater treatment but also to reduce a treatment load on wastewater treatment equipment 14 in a step subsequent to the pretreatment. Thereby, scale of the wastewater treatment equipment 14 is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Keichiro Uda, Kazumi Chuhjoh
  • Patent number: 7553424
    Abstract: In controlling a sterile water production device, if pH of sterile water is smaller than a preset pH, an additional aqueous hypochlorite solution is injected into the sterile water to increase the pH back to the preset pH, and a molar quantity of residual alkaline impurities present in such additional aqueous hypochlorite solution is determined. Next, a predetermined amount of further additional aqueous hypochlorite solution is injected into the sterile water, wherein such predetermined amount is an amount required to yield additional content of hypochlorous acid in a resulting sterile water, to such a degree that a molar quantity of that hypochlorous acid is equal to the foregoing determined molar quantity of residual alkaline impurities. After such injection, pH of sterile water yielded is increased, and an acid aqueous solution is then injected into the sterile water to thereby decrease the increased pH back to the preset pH.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: HSP Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Yamashita, Masayuki Shigemoto, Motoi Masuda, Haruaki Nasu
  • Patent number: 7546999
    Abstract: Disclosed is a solenoid valve for controlling water supply. The solenoid valve includes a constant flow control member having a chamber at one side of a connecting pipe branched from a body which has an outlet port, the chamber temporarily accommodating water and quantitatively supplying the water by using a flow control sheet, and a low-pressure flow control member tightly installed in an inlet port which communicates with the connecting pipe of the chamber, the low-pressure flow control member having a hollow body to enclose the flow control sheet. A first flow channel is formed between an outer periphery of the low-pressure flow control member and an inner periphery of the inlet port, and a second flow channel is formed by a hole of the low-pressure flow control member, a passage of the flow control sheet, and a hole of the resilient member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Useong Electro Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Gwan Ho Ro, Young Sik Nam
  • Patent number: 7517460
    Abstract: A circulation system for bodies of water. In one set of embodiments for larger bodies of water, modified horizontal plate designs are provided at the entrance of the draft hose. The plate designs have sections that pivot downwardly as the flotation platform and depending draft hose are rapidly raised in high wave conditions to let the water escape downwardly out of the hose. Adaptations to the floats for the elongated arms of the platform are also made to essentially eliminate the creation of any damaging torques on them from high waves. Another set of embodiments are particularly adapted for smaller systems in municipal water tanks for thorough mixing of the water and treatment to kill undesirable ammonia oxidizing bacteria and prevent or at least inhibit their return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Medora Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Willard R. Tormaschy, Gary A. Kudrna, Corey M. Simnioniw, Joel J. Bleth, Jonathan L. Zent
  • Patent number: 7488419
    Abstract: A water faucet includes a faucet body, an ozone generator, a control ring, a nozzle head, an aerator, a mounting seat and a control valve. Thus, the water flowing outwardly from the nozzle head of the water faucet is mixed with ozone supplied by ozone generator to provide sterilizing, disinfecting, bleaching and odorizing functions by provision of the ozone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventors: Hsiang-Shih Wang, Shih-Chang Chen