Patents Examined by Peter Keyworth
  • Patent number: 10384150
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present disclosure relate to a fluid treatment reactor. Separate input ports for influent and recycled effluent serve to eliminate the need for pH adjustment or carbonate stripping of the influent and recycled effluent flows. The fluid treatment reactor may include a media, a vessel including a top portion and a bottom portion, a solid discharge port, an effluent discharge port, an influent input in fluid communication with the media, and a recycled effluent port in fluid communication with the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventor: Kevin Patrick O'Leary
  • Patent number: 10372144
    Abstract: A flocculation control system that floats particles that attach to nano and/or micro bubbles out of a liquid includes at least one sensing system, at least one processing system, and at least one fluid additive control system. The at least one sensing system is configured to reproduce one or more nano-bubbles with one or more particles suspended in a fluid. The at least one processing system is configured to measure, using outputs of the at least one sensing system, incident angles between the one or more nano-bubbles and the one or more particles suspended in the fluid. And the at least one fluid additive control system is configured to adjust, based on at least the incident angles, an amount of a surfactant being added to the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Alexe Bojovschi, Rajib Chakravorty, Sridhar Kannam, Xi Liang
  • Patent number: 10371108
    Abstract: A fuel filter for a fuel supply system of an internal combustion engine may include a filter housing, which may have an untreated-side inlet, a treated-side outlet, and an untreated-side return line. The fuel filter may also include a filter element arranged in the filter housing, and a closure element, which in an operationally ready state of the fuel filter may close off the return line. The fuel filter may include an untreated space and a treated space, and may separate in the filter housing the untreated space communicating with an inlet and the return line from the treated space communicating with the outlet. The fuel filter may further include a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure build-up in the treated space, wherein the fuel filter may be configured to enable the pressure build-up to reach a predetermined threshold at which the engine may be started.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Braunheim
  • Patent number: 10365012
    Abstract: Provided is a faucet device for an aircraft lavatory unit, wherein a second joint and a third joint are joined by inserting the third joint of a heater module into a second joint of a valve module, and screw members are used to fasten a first case and a second case. As a result, the valve module and the heater module are joined in series via the second joint and the third joint. A first connector of a controller module is joined to a third connector of the valve module and a second connector of the controller module is joined to a fourth connector of the heater module. The first joint of the valve module is joined to a water supply pipe. A fourth joint of the heater module and a faucet main body are joined via a pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: The Yokohama Rubber Co., LTD.
    Inventor: Takashi Koyama
  • Patent number: 10364585
    Abstract: The present application relates to an innovative and optimized method and system for maintaining water quality in water bodies such as excavated inland structures and floating structures with bottoms comprising flexible membranes, using a simplified economic filtration system and degreasing system that requires much smaller filtration equipment than conventional centralized filtration systems and provides for consumption of significantly lower amounts of energy. The method of the invention allows activating a chemical application system, mobile suctioning device, and/or degreasing system based on information regarding turbidity, the color of the bottom of the water body, and amount of greases on the surface water layer of the water body, to adjust the water quality parameters within their limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CRYSTAL LAGOONS (CURACAO) B.V.
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin Fischmann
  • Patent number: 10357599
    Abstract: A system for acquiring or measuring information relating to a state of dialysance, identifying a dialyzer apparatus, or identifying a membrane filter device during the operation of the dialyzer apparatus in a dialysis treatment of a patient. The dialyzer apparatus includes a housing having an internal volume portion and a membrane filter device arranged within the internal volume portion. The housing allows transmission of radiation. A sensor device connected to the housing of the dialyzer apparatus includes a signal receiving device designed to receive a radiation signal from the housing, the signal characteristic of the state or the identification of the dialyzer apparatus or of the membrane filter unit of the dialyzer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: B. Braun Avitum AG
    Inventors: Christof Strohhoefer, Silvie Krause
  • Patent number: 10335715
    Abstract: A water skimmer has a float portion supporting a drain portion for draining water from a sediment basin. The drain portion includes a first pipe connect via flexible couplings to a second pipe and then to a water removal system. Water enters the first pipe's orifice through a removable, restrictive orifice saddle. The first pipe is bolted to the float portion using a guard and brackets that hold first pipe just below the water surface to receive water with less sediment. The guard also blocks floating debris while allowing water to flow to the weir under its bottom edge. As the water level rises and falls, the flexible couplings and float portion help maintain first pipe horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: SW Feesaver, LLC
    Inventor: James McCutchen
  • Patent number: 10336631
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment method and a wastewater treatment apparatus securely and readily remove selenium, which is considered harmful, by removing not only 0-valent selenium, 4-valent selenium, and 6-valent selenium, but also -2-valent selenium. In the wastewater treatment method and the wastewater treatment apparatus for treating wastewater including selenium, -2-valent selenium included in the wastewater is oxidated by using an oxidant, or -2-valent selenium included in the water is removed by using a remover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.
    Inventor: Masaru Chiyomaru
  • Patent number: 10338631
    Abstract: A portable digital optical camera-based system and method can be used to test water and coagulant samples in a chamber. The chamber has a substantially square shaped horizontal cross section and a least one see-through wall. The system and method can comprise a light source and a contrast plate that are configured to be manually placed, at least partially, into the water and coagulant samples through an aperture at the top of the chamber. The camera is configured to be located outside the chamber and to view an illuminated region in the chamber though the see-through wall. The system and method further comprise a mixing paddle that can be programmed to operate at different speeds during different time segments. The system and method can measure, store, and display time-series data of floc particle count, floc volume concentration, equivalent average spherical floc particle diameter, and computed average floc particle volume of the water and coagulant samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Clearcorp
    Inventors: Roger M. Jorden, Frank Hage
  • Patent number: 10329176
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the dewatering of sludge on a screen, wherein a flocculant is admixed with sludge, whereafter the sludge is at least partially dewatered, the flow behavior of the sludge on the screen being optically detected and the amount of flocculant to be admixed being set according to the free screen surface in a control region. The invention is primarily characterized in that the control region is arranged at a point of the cleaned screen in the inlet area of the sludge, for example at the edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: Andritz AG
    Inventors: Ursula Hochegger, Christoph Spielmann
  • Patent number: 10294130
    Abstract: The invention provides a device to purify waste water by a two-step procedure containing an electroflotation unit and an electrical disinfection unit integrated into the same overall construction. Characteristic to the construction is that the said two units have a common anode and two individual cathodes which can be in different potentials in respect to the common anode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: OY Elflot Ltd
    Inventors: Timo Korpela, Choong-Kyang Kang, Alexander Lashkul
  • Patent number: 10287199
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of phospho-tartaric acid and/or the salts thereof for the treatment of water in water-conducting systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: KURITA WATER INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hater, Rudolf Lunkenheimer, Florian Wolf
  • Patent number: 10280100
    Abstract: Compositions and methods and systems for treating wastewater within a wastewater treatment system of described. In an embodiment, a composition for treating wastewater within a wastewater treatment system and for preventing or reducing the occurrence of struvite scale formation within the wastewater treatment system may include an admixture including a magnesium compound. The admixture may also include a dispersing agent. The admixture may further include at least one of a free magnesium control agent and a seed material. Other compositions and methods are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: Premier Magnesia, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew P. Madolora, Jerry E. Rademan, J. Peter Ahl
  • Patent number: 10266433
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for removing solutes from wastewater are disclosed. An embodiment provides a reactor tank having a manifold located at or near an interface between a lower (upstream) section having a first cross-section and a higher (downstream) section having a second cross-section smaller than the first cross section. An inlet for wastewater to enter the reactor tank is located in or below the first cross-section. A recycling path is provided for removing wastewater from the manifold and recycling at least part of the removed wastewater into the reactor tank. An outlet for water to exit the reactor tank is located downstream from the manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Ostara Nutrient Recovery Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ahren Britton
  • Patent number: 10264742
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system, particularly for vegetation cultivation, including a water reserve, a device for controlling the flow towards the exterior of the volume contained in the reserve, including a floating regulator placed in the reserve to monitor the level thereof, which floating regulator defines a chamber having at least one upper inlet orifice in fluidic communication with the reserve volume, at least one lower calibrated outlet orifice of reduced section in communication with the exterior, such that the floating regulator allows a discharge of water towards the exterior via the outlet orifice at constant flow rate as long as the water level in the reserve is above the height of the inlet orifice and interrupts the discharge of water towards the exterior via the outlet orifice when the water level is below the inlet orifice to then define a water reserve. The invention also relates to the floating regulator, the use thereof and/or of the system, and a water reserve control method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Sarl Le Prieure
    Inventors: Raphael Lame, Jean-Christophe Grimard
  • Patent number: 10265452
    Abstract: The present technology provides microfabricated filtration devices, methods of making such devices, and uses for microfabricated filtration devices. The devices may allow diffusion to occur between two fluids with improved transport resistance characteristics as compared to conventional filtration devices. The devices may include a compound structure that includes a porous membrane overlying a support structure. The support structure may define a cavity and a plurality of recesses formed in a way that can allow modified convective flow of a first fluid to provide improved diffusive transport between the first fluid and a second fluid through the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Rishi Kant, Shuvo Roy, Benjamin Chui, Kenneth G. Goldman
  • Patent number: 10252926
    Abstract: This disclosure provides methods and compositions for removing COD-causing contaminants from water, such as cosmetic product manufacturing wastewater and personal care product manufacturing wastewater. The methods involve controlling system parameters in order to hold iron as an iron(II) species. Iron(II) has increased solubility and therefore is more active against the specific contaminants present in the wastewaters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Nugraha Yohanes Arifpin, Isa Alfadila
  • Patent number: 10245576
    Abstract: The magnetic polymer nanocomposite for removal of divalent heavy metal ions from water is magnetic nanocomposite having a core of magnetite (Fe3O4) in a shell of branched polyhydroxystyrene (BHPS), designated as Fe3O4@BHPS. The nanocomposite is synthesized by co-precipitation in alkali solution. Testing showed the nanocomposite reached 93% and 80% Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption, respectively, in 30 minutes, attaining equilibrium in 120 minutes. The maximum adsorption capacities of Pb(II) and Cd(II) at 298K were 186.2 and 125 mg/g, respectively. After adsorption, the nanocomposite with the heavy metal(s) adsorbed thereto was easily removed from aqueous solution by application of a magnetic field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventors: Ayoub Abdullah Alqadami, Moonis Ali Khan, Zeid Abdullah Alothman, Ibrahim Hotan Alsohaimi, Masoom Raza Siddiqui, Ayman A. Ghfar
  • Patent number: 10213714
    Abstract: A filter heater arranged to enclose a filter, wherein said filter heater comprises two similar halves each having a protruding handle on one side, whereby the handles are kept together by a spring mechanism such that pinching the handles towards each other will force the sides of the two halves opposite the handles from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES AB
    Inventors: Patrik Berndt Akerstrom, Lars Johan Carlsson, Patric Fricking, Patrick Jonsson, Peter Reffner, Henrik K. Eriksson
  • Patent number: 10214433
    Abstract: A System for brine treatment scaling control in a water treatment system is described. In the system, a concentrated brine stream influent may be treated in an electrodialysis-reversal process to produce a concentrated brine stream effluent and a lower salinity diluent water, which may be potable water effluent. The concentrated brine stream effluent may be processed in a brine treatment scaling control system that may have a mixing vessel and a membrane filter with the mixing vessel seeded with calcium sulfate. A lowered salinity brine stream effluent may be produced for return to the electrodialysis-reversal process to allow operation at greater overall recovery and an elevated concentrated brine stream may be produced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Carollo Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: Graham John Gibson Juby, G. Adam Zacheis