Patents Examined by Peter Keyworth
  • Patent number: 9505639
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus of embodiments of the invention relate to treating water including contacting a liquid stream with a source comprising inorganic and/or divalent ions and separating the stream into an effluent and a fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream, wherein the effluent comprises more sulfate and more inorganic and/or divalent ions than the stream. Methods and apparatus relate to treating water including a reaction unit comprising an inlet for feed fluid and an inlet for inorganic and/or divalent ions and a separator unit comprising an inlet for output from the reaction unit, an outlet for effluent, and an outlet for fluid comprising less sulfate than the feed fluid. Some embodiments include introducing the fluid comprising less sulfate than the stream into a subterranean formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: M. Fazrie B. A. Wahid
  • Patent number: 9470008
    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: December 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Crystal Lagoons (Curacao) B.V.
    Inventor: Fernando Benjamin Fischmann
  • Patent number: 9458038
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment process capable of selectively and efficiently separating and removing a manganese precipitate with high purity from sulfuric acid-acidic wastewater containing aluminum, magnesium, and manganese. In the wastewater treatment for a sulfuric acid-acidic wastewater containing aluminum, magnesium, and manganese, a magnesium oxide is used for part or all of the neutralizing agent to be added, the magnesium oxide is produced through the following steps (1) to (4): (1) effluent wastewater obtained by separating aluminum and manganese from sulfuric acid-acidic wastewater is concentrated, and calcium contained in the effluent wastewater is precipitated as a calcium sulfate; (2) the solution obtained in (1) is further concentrated, and magnesium is precipitated and separated as a magnesium sulfate; (3) the magnesium sulfate separated in (2) is roasted together with a reducing agent to obtain a magnesium oxide and sulfurous acid gas; and (4) the magnesium oxide obtained in (3) is washed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO METAL MINING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hideki Ohara, Yoshitomo Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9453754
    Abstract: A water sensor for a fuel filtration apparatus includes a main body with at least one electrical contact disposed proximate the first end of the main body. The electrical contact(s) is operatively connectable to an electronic control unit. Multiple sensor contacts are disposed proximate a second end of the main body. The sensor contacts are configured to detect multiple water levels and provide an output on each water level detected. The electrical contact is configured to send the output to an electronic control unit. The water level information provided by the water sensor can be tracked by a control device to determine if the fill rate of water meets an alarm value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Mark T. Wieczorek, Dean H. Dringenburg, Rahul B. Kallurwar
  • Patent number: 9450248
    Abstract: An active material for a rechargeable lithium battery is provided with a non-carbon-based material on which nanofiber-shaped carbon having an oxygen-included functional group is grown. The negative active material for a rechargeable lithium battery has good conductivity and cycle life characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kyeu-Yoon Sheem, Sang-Min Lee, Min-Seok Sung, Wan-Uk Choi, Young-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 9439537
    Abstract: An apparatus and process of continuous, filtration of cooking oil during food processing to reduce and control free-fatty-acids and undesirable coloration in the cooking oil, including the movement of oil from a vessel to a flat-bed pressure chamber, where the oil is filtered through a stainless steel mesh screen under pressure. Differential pressure in the chamber causes the system to run the oil to a sister filter chamber which takes over the filter function while the first chamber cleans its filter. The filters are cleaned by inducing a high pressure inert gas into the filter chamber that dries the sediment, and then a mechanical sweep removes the sediment to a waste container. The resulting alternating process of filtering and filter cleaning between two chambers is fully automated and provides filtering that considerably extends oil life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Inventor: Gary Haddock
  • Patent number: 9441176
    Abstract: A method for mineralizing siloxane derivatives from a liquid organic phase by adding a base in the form of an alkaline hydroxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: SA COMET TRAITEMENTS
    Inventors: Philippe Gerard Moniotte, Pierre-Francois Etienne Rose-Marie Bareel, Francois Jean Emilien Pierre Collignon, Philippe Alfred Grosjean
  • Patent number: 9434628
    Abstract: A sulfurous acid/lime alkalinization pre-treatment sequential filtration method for industrial wastewaters containing colloids of starch, milk, whey, and other similar acting organic components to condition and remove a number of chemicals/pharmaceuticals and heavy metals before the treated filtrate is land applied or undergoes further biological nitrogen reduction for open stream discharge via anaerobic and aerobic treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Earth Renaissance Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Marcus G. Theodore
  • Patent number: 9422180
    Abstract: A method for treatment of coke wastewater, including (1) introducing wastewater into a regulating reservoir into which an acid liquor is added until the pH value of the wastewater ranges between about 5.5 and about 6.5; (2) introducing the wastewater into a three-dimensional electrode treatment device for electrolysis treatment; and (3) introducing the wastewater into a coagulation reaction tank into which an alkali liquor is added until the pH value of the wastewater ranges between 8 and 10, and as a coagulant polysilicate ferric magnesium is added into the wastewater for a hybrid reaction of between 5 and 15 mins; allowing the wastewater to flow into a sedimentation basin for plain sedimentation of between 4 and 6 hrs; and extracting a supernatant liquor to yield a processed effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventors: Hongqiang Ren, Xiaolei Shi, Lili Ding, Ming Liu, Xiaobing Hu
  • Patent number: 9422182
    Abstract: A water purifier system includes a base unit and a filter unit detachably connected to the base unit. The base unit is provided with a water inlet tube for guiding water to the filter unit and with a water outlet tube for guiding purified water from the filter unit. The filter unit includes a container surrounding a replaceable filter element and covered by a removable lid. The container is provided with a water inlet member for guiding unfiltered water from the water inlet tube into the container. The replaceable filter element is provided with a water outlet member for guiding purified water from the filter element to the water outlet tube of the base unit. The water outlet member extends through an opening in the removable lid that covers the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Petrus Timmer
  • Patent number: 9422609
    Abstract: A composition-of-matter for use in water treatment, composed of a water-insoluble matrix and one or more amidohydrolase, such as cyanuric acid amidohydrolase, incorporated in or on the matrix, is disclosed. Also disclosed are devices containing same and methods utilizing same for water treatment. The water treatment is effected by an enzymatically-catalyzed reduction of the concentration of an amide-containing compound, such as cyanuric acid, found in chlorinated water of swimming polls, spas and other similar structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Vivian I. Teichberg
  • Patent number: 9421482
    Abstract: A strainer system comprises a strainer housing having an inlet for raw fluid and an outlet for strained fluid; a generally cylindrical strainer basket having a strainer screen and disposed within the housing, the external surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the raw fluid inlet and the internal surface of the strainer screen being in flow communication with the strained fluid outlet; a backwash collector assembly comprising a backwash conduit having an opening disposed adjacent the outer surface of the strainer screen, the backwash conduit and the strainer basket being moveable relative to each other, so as to allow the opening to pass across the external surface of the strainer screen. A method of straining a fluid, in particular a liquid, is also provided. Finally, a valve assembly for use in the selective opening and closing of a plurality of backwash conduits is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Brent Knox-Holmes, Ian Durdin, Andrew David Jackman
  • Patent number: 9422177
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the hydrostatic testing of pipelines and to purification of waste water from such testing. More specifically, there is provided a method of hydrostatically pressure testing a natural gas pipeline using water. The waste water, which is contaminated with hydrocarbons, is subsequently treated by contacting it with manganese dioxide so that the hydrocarbons are broken down into carbon dioxide and water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: Tronox LLC
    Inventors: Phillip M Story, Laurie I. Jegaden
  • Patent number: 9416034
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for dispensing a pH balancing solution are provided. The apparatus includes a system having a chlorine generator with a power supply coupled to the chlorine generator, the chlorine generator servicing a body of water and chlorinating it. A pH monitoring and balancing unit is provided. The pH monitoring and balancing unit monitors and measures when power is supplied from the power supply to the chlorine generator to produce chlorine and thereby calculates an operational time for the chlorine generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce Johnson, Kevin Doyle, Keith Schulte
  • Patent number: 9415333
    Abstract: A filtration sealing system is provided for sealing a filter element in a housing at a mating interface therebetween. The sealing system includes a keyed interface. A replacement filter element is provided for such filtration sealing system, with the replacement filter element including a keyed interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Caryn J. Kindkeppel, Brian W. Schwandt, Thomas J. Braun, Christopher E. Holm, Pathikrit T. Banerjee, Buwa A. Baldeh
  • Patent number: 9415329
    Abstract: A diffuser baffle for use in an in-line wastewater grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle lies within a grease collecting chamber between the inflow and outflow of a grease interceptor. The diffuser baffle has an open bottom which is sized and shaped respectively to fit into the grease collecting chamber. The diffuser baffle has an end operatively connected to the inflow opening to permit wastewater to flow into the body through the open bottom. The baffle has a downstream end which includes a deflector portion to deflect a wastewater stream in a direction generally into the grease collecting chamber. The body also includes a number of apertures to permit the deflected wastewater stream to pass through the baffle and into the grease collecting chamber, where FOG will separate before waste water exits the chamber through the outlet baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: CANPLAS INDUSTRIES LTD.
    Inventors: Andrew Bird, James Brian Mantyla, James Edwin Tesky, Richard Alan Parkinson
  • Patent number: 9415326
    Abstract: A system for bulk separation of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) based on chirality is provided wherein an array of longitudinally directed channels (32) are formed on a crystalline substrate (30) to form a separation plate (300). At least one of the separation plate (300) and a solution or suspension of the single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) is displaced relative to the other for exposing at least a portion of the plurality of single-walled tubular fullerenes (100) to the channels (32). Each of the channels (32) exposes portions of the upper surface (38) of the crystalline substrate (30) and the longitudinal direction is selected to be an energetically favored “locking angle” for single-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) of one chiral angle to be adsorbed to the exposed is substrate surface (38). The adsorbed single-walled tubular fullerenes (100a) are subsequently removed from the separation plate (300).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: The Mitre Corporation
    Inventors: Carl A. Picconatto, James C. Ellenbogen
  • Patent number: 9296631
    Abstract: Alkyl phosphonates prepared from amino acids suitable for use in inhibiting scale. The phosphonates are obtained as reaction mixtures where the level of alkyl phosphonation is deliberately controlled to provide only partial alkyl phosphonation of the amino acid. The resulting alkyl phosphonates exhibit improved environmental properties compared to the fully substituted species, while still exhibiting acceptable efficacy in the control of scale. The compositions possess advantages over existing phosphonates in that they exhibit higher biodegradation by method OECD 306. They also offer lower toxicity to marine life compared to the fully substituted species and are not expected to bioaccumulate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventors: Scot H. Bodnar, Henry C. Fisher, Andrew Frederick Miles, Curtis D. Sitz
  • Patent number: 9278299
    Abstract: A filter element with a filter medium and at least one retainer, to which the filter medium is fixed. The retainer comprises a retainer base body and a retainer attachment. The filter medium is arranged between the retainer base body and the retainer attachment at least in sections, and at least one profile element is formed on the retainer base body and/or on the retainer attachment to allow form-fitting and/or force-fitting retention of the filter medium there between.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Sefar AG
    Inventors: Richard M. Gaiser, Hansjoerg Duer
  • Patent number: 9276295
    Abstract: A storage battery arrangement includes a plurality of battery cells each having a cell housing having at least one cell terminal protruding from an end of the cell housing. The storage battery arrangement also includes a plurality of control units each having a control unit housing and electronic circuitry provided inside the control unit housing for monitoring and controlling at least one of the plurality of battery cells. The control units each include at least one control terminal extending to the outside of the control unit housing, the control terminal being electrically connected to the electronic circuitry. The size and shape of each of the control unit housings are substantially similar to the size and shape of the cell housings so that the control units can be arranged side-by-side among the battery cells and electrically connected the same way to the battery cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Johnson Controls—SAFT Advanced Power Solutions LLC
    Inventor: Pascal Muis