Patents Examined by Robert J. Popovics
  • Patent number: 11583788
    Abstract: A filtration system using lightweight fibrous media (LFM) that are pre-compressed either 1) manually; or 2) in-situ using hydraulic flow; and where the LFM are forced to separate and relax for cleaning either: 1) manually, 2) in-situ in their filter housing, or 3) in an auto-clean system using separate devices in order to enact a particularly aggressive cleaning process. A plurality of lightweight fibrous media balls are pre-compressed and used to form a single mass that can filter water as the media are compressed by pre-compression before installation, or by water flow pushing on a pre-compression plate during filtration thereby forming a single mass providing multitudes of tortuous paths through which water can flow and the media can capture small particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventors: Theodore A. Kuepper, Robert C. Lovo
  • Patent number: 11584661
    Abstract: A water intake and pretreatment system (10) comprising an inlet for delivering water from a natural source to a reservoir (12); said inlet to reservoir having a net screen (16) to prevent entry of organisms above a predetermined size and including a one-way gate (30) to allow organisms to exit the reservoir; said reservoir further comprising a granular filter media for water and algae filtration; and a drainage layer for removal of filtered water from the granular filter media to a drainage outlet. A local backwashing apparatus (40) is included for localized backwashing of the granular filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: I.D.E. TECHNOLOGIES LTD
    Inventors: Boris Liberman, Miriam Faigon, Vitaly Levitin, Gal Greenberg
  • Patent number: 11565199
    Abstract: Locally backwashing portions of filter media allows a simple and effective design of intake and pretreatment units, as well as their integration. An enclosure is used to limit portions of filter media and backwash them locally by suction, utilizing filtered water from adjacent filter media as the back wash water. Wastewater is produced at small amounts that allows efficient sludge treatment. This design enables water pretreatment at the intake unit, simplifying overall plant design and preventing damage to organisms living outside the intake unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2023
    Inventors: Boris Liberman, Vitaly Levitin, Gal Greenberg
  • Patent number: 11554333
    Abstract: A liquid filtering device that works in conjunction with an existing filtration system to provide, for example, cleaner water in a swimming pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Inventor: Jason Farley
  • Patent number: 11524252
    Abstract: A filter, for insertion into an inlet duct of a water filtration system, has an annular upper end delimiting an opening around a longitudinal axis and defining a filter diameter. A side wall extends, around the longitudinal axis, between the annular upper end and a bottom wall that extends opposite the opening. The side and/or bottom walls have orifices to allow water to flow therethrough while retaining solid elements. The sidewall wall comprises a plurality of arms that each extend between a lower edge, connected to the bottom wall, and an upper edge forming part of the annular upper end. Each arm extends along an adjustable inclination so that the filter diameter is variable according to the inclination of each arm. When the filter is inserted into the inlet duct, the inclination of the arms is adjusted so that the filter diameter is adapted to the inlet diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: ABP—Aquilina Bouvier Pool
    Inventors: Yann Aquilina, Matthieu Bouvier
  • Patent number: 11504655
    Abstract: A backwashing suction device for a fabric filtration apparatus, and more particularly, a backwashing suction device for a fabric filtration apparatus in which an edge surface of a suction slit through which pile threads exit is inclined to form a slope so that the pile threads introduced into the suction slit when a fiber disk filter is rotated for backwashing come into contact with the slope and thus the amount of angular rotation of the pile threads is increased to increase the backwashing effect. Also, since a plurality of friction protrusions are formed to protrude from the slope, the effect of removing foreign substances can be further enhanced through the effect of rubbing and washing the pile threads on a washboard while the pile threads ascend over each of the friction protrusions one by one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: GRENEX LIMITED
    Inventors: Chungchang Kuk, Younglong Kuk
  • Patent number: 11498020
    Abstract: The method relates generally to a filtration and liquid displacement method for separating valuable or harmful liquids, herein termed Process Liquid, from mixtures or slurries that contain such liquids and solid particles. The method employs upflow filtration, operation of SAP Means and use of a Sweep Liquid that has a higher density than the Process Liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: Prime Services Trustee Limited
    Inventor: Craig Nazzer
  • Patent number: 11492195
    Abstract: A disposable oil filter containment sheath is provided for use during oil changes for combustion engines. The sheath has a closed bottom, a cylindrical sidewall, and an open top. The resilient sheath is rolled to an initial collapsed position for placement on the bottom of an oil filter mounted on the engine, and it is partially unrolled along the filter. The filter can then be loosened to allow oil to drain into the sheath for capturing a reservoir. After the filter is removed from the engine, the sheath is completely unrolled and tied at the top so as to fully enclose and contain the oil filter and oil. The sheath and its contents are then ready for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Inventor: Cap Shafer
  • Patent number: 11484818
    Abstract: Various implementations include a self-cleaning screen device including a screen and auger. The screen is a hollow cylinder and has a screen central axis, a screen inner surface, a screen outer surface opposite and radially spaced apart from the screen inner surface, a screen first end, and a screen second end opposite and axially spaced apart from the screen first end. The screen outer surface defines a plurality of openings extending radially to the screen inner surface. The auger is helically shaped and has an auger central axis, an auger first end, and an auger second end opposite and axially spaced apart from the auger first end. The auger is disposed around at least a portion of the screen outer surface such that the auger central axis and the screen central axis are coincident with each other. The auger is rotatable about the auger central axis relative to the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Francis L. De Los Reyes, III, Tate W. Rogers, Walter Beckwith
  • Patent number: 11485647
    Abstract: A water pretreatment system connected to a water supply pipe for supplying water that has been preheated to a home appliance, including: a mixing valve having an inlet connected to the water supply pipe, and a pair of outlets; a water filter having an inlet communicated with one of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet communicated with the home appliance; a bypass line having an inlet end connected to the other of the pair of outlets of the mixing valve, and having an outlet end connected to the home appliance, the mixing valve being configured to at least one of direct water to the water filter or direct water to the bypass line; and a controller configured to control the mixing valve such that preheated water supplied to the home appliance is one of unfiltered, mixed, or fully filtered by the water filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignees: BSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Wolf
  • Patent number: 11485651
    Abstract: A movably-connected and continuously-connected apparatus for uninterrupted high-salinity wastewater purification includes a high-salinity wastewater adsorption treatment system and a movably-connected drainage system embedded in the treatment system. The high-salinity wastewater adsorption treatment system includes four purification zone partition plates, a hollow cylindrical purification zone, a cylindrical water distribution sump located in an axial center of the purification zone, a rotating shaft, a motor, a fixed support and a water tank; the four purification zone partition plates include a first partition plate forming an angle of 135° with a horizontal direction from left to right, a second partition plate forming an angle of 45° with the horizontal direction from left to right, a third partition plate forming an angle of 135° with a vertical direction from bottom to top and a fourth partition plate forming an angle of 135° with the vertical direction from bottom to top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TONGJI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Yalei Zhang, Xuefei Zhou, Jiabin Chen, Yinchuan Yang, Lei Wang, Xinmiao Zhang, Wenbiao Wang, Yegang Chen
  • Patent number: 11485649
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for reducing produced water disposal volumes utilizing waste heat generated by thermal oxidation. Waste heat generated by thermal oxidation can be used to vapourize excess water, and to treat and scrub the water vapour for final release into the atmosphere. The system can utilize excess heat remaining after thermal oxidation to produce water vapour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Questor Technology Inc.
    Inventors: John Joseph Sutherland, Audrey Maria Mascarenhas, Justin Edward Bouchard, Jeffrey David Nelson
  • Patent number: 11471796
    Abstract: A downspout drain filter includes a housing and a filter media. The housing defines an internal cavity, an inlet to the internal cavity along a top of the housing, and an outlet from the internal cavity along a bottom of the housing. The filter media is disposed within the internal cavity. The filter media divides the internal cavity into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. The filter media is configured to trap debris in the upper chamber from fluid flowing downward through the internal cavity. The filter media is permeable such that the fluid flows from the upper chamber to the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Inventor: Robert Sherwood
  • Patent number: 11471798
    Abstract: A liquid filtration system comprising a filtration tank with: a separating roof on which are mounted groups of hoses fixed to respective support plates; a fluid distributor plate comprising a central portion without perforations, and a peripheral portion with a plurality of perforations, said distributor plate being located between the hoses and a lower inlet duct for the water to be filtered comprising an upper opening for supplying liquid to the holes near the central portion of the distributor plate and a lower opening for supplying liquid to the holes of the peripheral portion which are furthest from the central portion. The filter comprises a filter material, an outlet duct for the filtered water at the upper area of the tank, a regeneration circuit of the filter medium; a filter self-cleaning circuit and a control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: REGFILTER, S.L.
    Inventors: Jorge Gómez Vallejo, Luis Miguel Muñiz González
  • Patent number: 11459744
    Abstract: A filter for filtering storm water in an outfall pipe comprising: a line comprising an anchor attachment point at a proximal end of the line; and a plurality of individual treatment units (ITUs) securely connected in series to the line with a gap between adjacent ITUs, wherein each ITU has a size and shape capable of fitting inside the outfall pipe, and wherein each ITU comprises a mesh cage configured to filter contaminants out of the storm water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Brandon Lawson Swope, Leonard David Sinfield, Patrick John Earley, Alexander Gregory Stevens-Bracy
  • Patent number: 11459986
    Abstract: The disclosed filter element is configured for use within a housing of a filter assembly. The filter element includes an obround ring of filter media extending between an upper and lower endcaps and defines a dirty wet fuel region. The upper endcap of the filter element defines an inlet for receiving the dirty wet fuel, which flows into the dirty wet fuel region and radially outward through the filter media. The upper endcap may include an insert to define a flow chamber to distribute fuel into the dirty wet fuel region. A clean wet fuel region is defined outside the filter element and within the housing. After flowing through the inlet and the filter media clean wet fuel fills the clean wet fuel region. A water separator is disposed external to the filter media and defines a clean dry fuel region in communication with an outlet defined by the upper endcap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Moore, Steven J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 11446590
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved methods for conducting a wash cycle in a filtration unit. The methods may be used alone or in combination with one another to achieve the improvements described herein. Filtration units adapted for carrying out the novel methods are also provided. Through the use of the methods and filtration units described, significant economic benefits are obtained without a significant increase in the costs of the filtration unit or in the costs of operation of the filtration unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: PARKSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Howard Carmichael Boyd, William Frederick Foreman, III
  • Patent number: 11428219
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodologies are provided for pumping fluids from a body of fluids. Herein, an apparatus operably connected to at least one pump for pumping fluids from a body of fluids is provided, the apparatus having a pump hose with a first intake end for receiving the pumped fluids and a second outlet end operably connected to the pump, a pump intake assembly, fluidically connected to the intake end of the pump hose, the pump intake assembly having at least one fluid control valve, a rotatable filter cage, centrally disposed about the pump intake assembly, and at least one fluid injection pipe centrally disposed within the pump hose for supporting the at least one fluid control valve, and for injecting fluids to drive the rotation of the rotatable filter cage. Herein, methods of utilizing the fluid pumping apparatus are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Cameron Farms Hutterite Colony
    Inventor: Joseph Hofer
  • Patent number: 11400393
    Abstract: A filter for filtering liquid, comprising: a cylindrical housing; and a multiplicity of discs positioned perpendicularly to a height of the cylindrical housing, each of the multiplicity of discs comprised of a first number of cassettes, wherein each cassette is shaped as a truncated sector having a wide end and a narrow end, the cassettes arranged such that a perimeter of the disc is formed by the wide end of the first number of cassettes, and wherein each of the first number of cassettes is connected to a housing at its wide end, and each cassette having an opening along the wide end, wherein during filtration, liquid being filtered flows over the multiplicity of discs towards the perimeter of the multiplicity of discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: MAAGAN FILTRATION ACA LTD.
    Inventors: Kirill Dedul, Oded Elish
  • Patent number: 11396833
    Abstract: An oil storage and filtration system for an engine unit includes an on/off valve that defines an operating phase when receiving supply air and in an on position and a standby phase when in an off position or not receiving the supply air. The system also includes a fill/drain valve that defines a drain state and a fill state which respectively correspond to emptying and filling oil from/into the engine unit. The system also includes a control valve, a pressure/vacuum valve, and a storage tank. The storage tank stores oil in a pressurized condition during the fill state, a vacuum condition during the drain state, and an atmospheric condition during the standby phase. The also includes a vacuum generator in fluid communication with the storage tank during the drain state and fluidly isolated from the storage tank during the fill state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SAFRAN POWER UNITS
    Inventor: Mark Scudder