Patents Examined by Robert James Popovics
  • Patent number: 9486725
    Abstract: A system and method for filtering fuel within a fuel tank is disclosed. A dual fuel filtration system may include a first fuel filter connected to a fuel tank opening of the fuel tank, the first fuel filter removing a first type of contaminant from fuel entering the fuel tank opening to obtain a fuel cleared to a first level. The dual fuel filtration system may also include a second fuel filter positioned below the first fuel filter and in fluid communication with a fuel outlet nozzle, the second fuel filter filtering a second type of contaminant from the fuel cleared to the first level to obtain a fuel cleared to a second level passing through the fuel outlet nozzle. The dual fuel filtration system may additionally include an interface portion connecting the first fuel filter and the second fuel filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Ries, Christopher L. Armstrong, John R. Jones
  • Patent number: 9486723
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for operating a screen wheel filter for highly viscous melts having pressures >10 bar and temperatures >90° C. which shall be further developed in such a way that less of the highly viscous melt is wasted and that the operation of the screen wheel filter can be made more economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GNEUSS GMBH
    Inventors: Detlef Gneuss, Stephan Gneuss, Daniel Gneuss
  • Patent number: 9469552
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating produced fluid from a well, the heating apparatus comprising a produced fluid pathway; a heat generation system comprising a diesel engine, a heated hydraulic fluid pathway, and an engine coolant pathway; and a heat transfer system disposed between the produced fluid pathway and the heat generation system to transfer thermal energy from the heat generation system to a produced fluid contained within the produced fluid pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Horst, Keith Doucet
  • Patent number: 9452374
    Abstract: A filtration device to filter cooking oil is provided having an upper layer comprised of a filter paper and a lower layer comprised of a filter pad. The filter paper of the upper layer includes pleats defining a plurality of food particle receiving channels over a substantial portion of a central area of the filter paper. The filter pad is stitched to a peripheral portion of the filter paper to form a multi-layered filtration device having a central pleated region in which the upper and the lower layers are unbonded to each other. The central pleated region is configured to accumulate food particles above a threshold size as the filter paper and filter pad cooperatively filter cooking oil during a filtration operation. Methods of making and using filtration devices are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: CLARIFICATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Robin D. Bernard, Jiri Prokop
  • Patent number: 9440485
    Abstract: A paint caddy includes a base having at least two walls and a pole coupled to and extending upwardly from the base. The base has at least one base support extending between the walls for capturing and supporting a paint tray therebetween. The pole has at least a substantially vertical portion and a substantially horizontal portion, with the substantially horizontal portion serving as a handle for carrying a paint tray. A hook extends from the pole and is positioned below and spaced from the handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GJP ENTERPRISES, LLC
    Inventor: Greg Krusoe
  • Patent number: 9428899
    Abstract: A fluid flow control and debris intercepting apparatus for controlling the flow of fluid and the introduction of debris into the entrance of a water diversion system such as a curbside storm drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Inventors: Denis Friezner, Scott Alberts
  • Patent number: 9427685
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a housing including a first cover and a second cover, a grid located in the housing including interconnected ribs and strips, and filter media integral with the grid, including a peripheral width located between the covers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Lev Pekarsky, John S. Kozar
  • Patent number: 9421484
    Abstract: A sand check filter for preventing solids from reentering into a pump. The filter is designed to mount atop a conventional rod pump. The filter allows well fluid, that contains high solids, to pass through the pump under normal operation while eliminating the solids from being swept back into the pump barrel. The filter includes a sleeve that has radial flutes that allows the sleeve from hanging up, sticking to or wedging itself to the valve rod. The sleeve is rotated on the valve rod to create a valve effect atop the filter. This prevents the fluid from passing through the inner diameter of the screen and forces solids within the fluid to be redirected to the outer diameter of the filter. This allows the fluid to be filtered before reentering the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Brent Ford
  • Patent number: 9416920
    Abstract: Provided herein is a shallow-liquid strainer apparatus with an intake assembly that can be adjusted to keep the inlet opening completely submerged beneath the surface of the liquid to avoid letting the surrounding atmosphere into the device where it can cause inefficient flow. The intake assembly can comprise a sliding door on tracks designed to cover all or a portion of the inlet. The apparatus can be connected to a pump. The wall of the device on which the inlet is located and the inlet itself can be angled toward the back wall to facilitate submerging of the inlet. The device can comprise a strainer attached to the inlet for removing undesirable elements from the liquid. A ramp can be provided near the inlet to allow the liquid to flow upward toward the outlet. Methods of making the device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Inventor: Edgar Veinbergs
  • Patent number: 9408498
    Abstract: An adjustable liner, for immersion in the cooking oil of a deep fryer, includes: (a) two partial baskets, each having a bottom surface with four edges and three side surfaces, each of which extends upwardly from one of the bottom surface's edges so that the fourth edges of these partial baskets are free edges, (b) wherein the bottom surfaces of each of these partial baskets has a porosity chosen so as to allow the cooking oil to circulate through these bottom surfaces when the deep fryer is in use, and (c) wherein the lengths of these partial baskets' free edges are such as to allow one of these partial baskets to fit and nest within the other so as to yield a liner having adjustable length that can be custom fitted to the width of the deep fryer in which this liner is to be retrofitted for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventor: Donna Eve Radtke Sekora
  • Patent number: 9410651
    Abstract: A crude oil removal device that is attached to a tethered umbilical line which feeds coolant thru the coolant coils. The refrigerated device creates an atmosphere to which crude oil will attach itself to, either floating or submerged for easy removal. The unit consists of two housings that contain the cooling coils which is sealed with rubber to maintain an air tight seal. The unit does not collect water while collecting the crude oil and can be used in virtually any weather condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Inventors: Daniel P. Lytton, Raymond J. Keller
  • Patent number: 9409115
    Abstract: The invention features a filtration segment having a top seal, a bottom seal and a primary filter core and the method of filtering with the design of the filtration segment. The primary filter core is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. The filtration segment also includes one or more interior filters surrounding the primary filter core. Each interior filter includes a filter material surrounding a secondary core which is operatively coupled to at least one opening which is located either on the top seal or on the bottom seal. Each filter may optionally include a retaining medium enclosing the filter material. The filtration segment has one or more layers of an exterior filter media which operatively surround the interior filters and are operatively coupled to the top seal and the bottom seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Filtration Technology Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Hampton, Greg P Wallace
  • Patent number: 9393505
    Abstract: A grinding and dewatering apparatus by centrifugation for highly selective differentiated food waste collection includes, in a supporting structure, a hopper introducing waste-products into a grinding chamber and subsequently into a centrifuge having an inner body and an outer body with a finely perforated, coaxial side wall, a deceleration chamber of the filtered water, a motor driving a grinding unit and the centrifuge, wherein the motor integrally activates both the grinding unit and the centrifuge and overlies both, and a discharge for evacuation of the ground waste-products. Both the grinding unit and the inner and outer bodies of the centrifuge are positioned in a deceleration chamber and are arranged integrally with a rotating disc, and the discharge is a movable discharge that can be selectively positioned below openings, situated in a flanged extension arranged below for closing the centrifuge for evacuation of the ground waste-products into a collection basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2016
    Inventors: Piero Rusconi Clerici, Rinaldo Franceschini, Giampiero Volante
  • Patent number: 9358481
    Abstract: A filtration assembly is provided for a liquid flowing in an engine or hydraulic equipment, of the type including a body with a head on top thereof, and a cylindrical member for holding a filtration cartridge containing a filtration medium defined by an upper flange and a lower flange. The upper flange is coupled to the head by a first longitudinal retainer. The cartridge includes a second longitudinal retainer interacting with the body. The first retainer having a longitudinal tensile strength lower than the longitudinal tensile strength of the second retainer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION
    Inventors: Arnaud Le Ven, Jean-Luc Guichaoua
  • Patent number: 9347303
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating produced fluid from a well, the heating apparatus comprising a produced fluid pathway; a heat generation system comprising a diesel engine, a heated hydraulic fluid pathway, and an engine coolant pathway; and a heat transfer system disposed between the produced fluid pathway and the heat generation system to transfer thermal energy from the heat generation system to a produced fluid contained within the produced fluid pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: AMCOL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jason Horst, Keith Doucet
  • Patent number: 9333447
    Abstract: A device for separating particulate matter (e.g., cells) from a liquid including a housing defining an elongate chamber disposed between a receiving end and a dispenser end, a plunger slidably inserted within the chamber from the receiving end, an upper disc and a lower disc each independently slidably affixed to the plunger, the lower disc facing the dispenser end and including at least one filter arrangement, and a liquid including particulate matter disposed within the chamber when the upper disc and lower disc are in an aspiration mode. The upper disc is independently slidable with respect to the lower disc to achieve a filtration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc.
    Inventor: William F. McKay
  • Patent number: 9327218
    Abstract: A filter apparatus and method for filtering a liquid. The filter apparatus comprises a housing that has at least one inlet for admission of the liquid to be filtered and at least one outlet for discharge of the filtered liquid. The apparatus further comprises at least two substantially cylindrical filter elements that can be fitted into the housing and which have a plurality of openings through which the liquid can flow to filter particles out of the liquid, and at least one filter cleaning element that can be introduced into a respective filter element in a region of an inner surface of the filter element to increase a flow speed of the liquid to be filtered so that substances in the filter element are flushed away. The filter elements are further connected in a parallel arrangement in the filter apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Georg Schunemann GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Linster, Michael Maier
  • Patent number: 9302209
    Abstract: The technology presents filter media and methods of recycling metal-working liquids by removing metal fines and other contaminants using the filter media. An exemplary method includes a series of steps. These steps include filtering a contaminated metal-working liquid that has metal fines through an exemplary filter medium that is comprised of a carrier and a chemical agent. The carrier is impregnated with a chemical agent selected from the group consisting of phosphoric acid, polyphosphoric acid, phosphorous acid, phosphorous pentoxide, and mixtures or derivatives of these. Further, the exemplary method includes collecting a filtrate substantially free of ashable residue; and reusing the filtrate as a metal-working liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: KAGEHT LLC
    Inventor: Kenneth C. Kipers
  • Patent number: 9259674
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for reducing the thickness of a precoat-layer accumulated on the filtering surface of a filter disc from a solids-containing suspension in a basin of a disc filter, said disc filter having two or more filter discs arranged on a shaft and between them at least one drop chute provided with a scraper on both sides, which scraper scrapes the cake filtered from the suspension on the filtering surfaces of the filter discs into the drop, the layer thickness of the precoat on the filtering surface is reduced by shortening the distance between the tips of the scrapers and the filtering surface, and the precoat thickness reduction is accomplished for the precoats on the filtering surface of the two filter discs on both sides of the drop chute non-simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Tommi Hammarberg, Matti Mantsinen, Simo Suutari, Petri Tarjavuori
  • Patent number: 9248455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus using a meltable filter medium for separating a mixture to be separated (liquid-solid or liquid-liquid mixture). The mixture to be separated is separated into a liquid passing through a filter layer of the filter medium and a captured material captured in the filter layer. The filter medium and the captured material are separated by melting the filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: KABUSHIKIKAISHA JO, HOKKAIDO RESEARCH ORGANIZATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Teduka, Masaharu Jo