Patents Examined by Robert James Popovics
  • Patent number: 9220369
    Abstract: An apparatus for trapping loose food particles in a deep frying vessel has been developed. The apparatus includes a top plate that has a perforated region that allows the loose food particles to fall into the trap pan which sits off the bottom of the vessel. The top plate abuts the side wall of the vessel and sits over the trap pan. The top plate has an unperforated region over any gap between the trap pan and the side wall of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventor: John W. Yelverton
  • Patent number: 9206593
    Abstract: A drain assembly includes a receptacle body with a first end and a second end defining a cavity therebetween, an adjustable collar, and a grate. The first end of the receptacle body forms an opening into the cavity and comprises a peripheral step with a connection flange extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, and a peripheral flange with a substantially horizontal support portion extending away from the connection flange. The connection flange includes a series of vertical slots for accommodating horizontally-oriented fastening members, and the connection flange and the peripheral flange define a channel therebetween. The adjustable collar comprises a first flange positioned adjacent to the connection flange of the peripheral step, and a second flange extending substantially perpendicular from the first flange. The first flange includes a series of holes which align with the series of vertical slots in the connection flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Zurn Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph Tripodi, Douglas R. Wroblewski, James T. Kloecker
  • Patent number: 9206572
    Abstract: A traveling screen machine having an active screen section arranged transverse to the flow direction of a liquid stream is suggested, wherein the endless screen belt is formed as an endless screen belt that is flexibly foldable, compressible or bendable transverse to its direction of movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: BILFINGER WATER TECHNOLOGIES GMBH
    Inventor: Klau Heil
  • Patent number: 9194116
    Abstract: A reusable, catch basin filter installable by one person into a catch basin. A blank of filter material is foldable to form a skirt with a central opening and having the shape of a flattened tube. A filter trap filter depends from the skirt. The hollow interior of the trap communicates with the central opening of the skirt. A flat, wire insert inserts into the skirt through an open, first end of the skirt. When installed in a catch basin, the wire insert prevents the filter from slumping as material accumulates within the filter trap. Upstanding fabric loops permit lifting a full or partially full filter out of a catch basin by carry poles or the forks of a fork lift truck inserted through the loops. After removing retained matter from the filter and cleaning the filter trap, the filter is ready for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventors: David Bailey, Leah Bailey
  • Patent number: 9187890
    Abstract: A problem is to solve problems on removal of solids by a screen and on an installation space and pipe connection in a separator. A solution to the problem is as follows. A separator 1, which is a device for separating solids contained in influent liquid, has a separation tank 2; a partition plate 5 partitioning an inside space of the separation tank 2 into an inflow chamber 3 and an outflow chamber 4; a screen 8 provided at the partition plate 5; a liquid inlet 6 formed at the inflow chamber 3; and a discharge outlet 7 formed at the outflow chamber 4; the inflow chamber 3 is provided with a guide unit 9, 10, 10a for forming a vertical swirling flow in the inflow chamber 3 by reversing the influent liquid from the liquid inlet 6; the screen 8 is disposed along a side face of the swirling flow thus formed. This configuration permits the solids to be removed, without clogging the screen with the solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: HANEX CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Fujio Semba, Satoshi Ohhira, Takuo Shioya, Atsushi Tsunoda
  • Patent number: 9174149
    Abstract: A method and apparatuses are presented for rejuvenating a bed of granular filter medium that has accumulated contaminants during filtration of a liquid stream. The method first includes the step of establishing a small volumetric flow rate of clean filtrate in reverse flow. Then, the filter media is agitated to break-up contaminants that have become agglomerated on the surface of or within the interstitial spaces of the filter media. The agitating step is accomplished by exposing the liquid-full filter media to a jetting stream comprised mostly of a gas mixed with a clean liquid. The jetting stream is dispersed throughout the filter media through a plurality of radial nozzles located within the filter bed. The radial nozzles disperse the gas within the liquid and filter media causing sufficient turbulence and agitation of the filter media granules to liberate the trapped contaminants without the need for high liquid flow rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: EXTERRAN HOLDINGS, INC.
    Inventors: Douglas W. Lee, Colin Tyrie, William Bateman
  • Patent number: 9162912
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water purifier having a non-drinkable water inlet (I) and a drinkable water outlet (O1), and comprising at least a boiler (8) having a water inlet and a steam outlet, a fluids separating filter (5) operating by flow and float, having an inlet and an outlet, and a heat exchanger (4) adapted to exchange heat between a first and a second separated fluid flows, having an inlet and an outlet for a first water flow to be heated as well as an inlet and an outlet for a second water flow to be cooled; the non-drinkable water inlet (I) is coupled to the first flow inlet of the heat exchanger (4), the first flow outlet of the heat exchanger (4) is coupled to the inlet of the fluids separating filter (5), the outlet of the fluids separating filter (5) is coupled to the inlet of the boiler (8), the outlet of the boiler (8) is coupled to the second flow inlet of the heat exchanger (4), the second flow outlet of the heat exchanger (4) is coupled to the drinkable water outlet (O1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: WOW TECHNOLOGY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Adriano Marin, Andrea Benetello
  • Patent number: 9156713
    Abstract: The present invention of manually operated continuous flow type concentrated solar drinking water disinfector improves the effectiveness and productivity of disinfection of drinking water for individual families or small communities, without using conventional fossil fuel derived heat or electricity or solar photovoltaic electricity, by clarifying the feed water with alum, aerating it manually, preheating it in solar water preheater and then while flowing as a thin stream exposing it directly to solar radiation without an intervening glass or plastic container material, with solar radiation incident on top side of pre-heater section and on top side of solar UV section intensified with mirrors and while the disinfector unit which is mounted on a trolley, is manually oriented towards the sun intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Council of Scientific & Industrial Research
    Inventors: Rajan Thimmannabhat Sodankur, Pushpito Kumar Ghosh, Sanatkumar Natvarlal Patel, Jitendrabhai Narsinbhai Bharadia
  • Patent number: 9149743
    Abstract: An apparatus for dewatering slurry utilizes a vertical skeletal retainer framework, having a top end and a bottom end, into which rigid filter plates, a geotextile filter bag, and/or other filter is installed. The vertical orientation employs gravity to induce maximum drainage, with water in the slurry filtering through the plates or bag and falling downwardly. At the bottom end of the framework, doors or gates facilitate selective holding, and emptying of, dewatered solids. A support structure permits a transport vehicle or hopper to be positioned under the framework for collection and removal of dewatered solids. After removal of its contents, the bag can be pressure washed from the outside and potentially reused. The apparatus may be portable, with the framework being pivotable on a wheeled base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Michael K. Conwell
  • Patent number: 9149746
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a porous media-mediated high speed filtration device for easy backwash, wherein the inflow water to be filtered is guided to an upper portion of the high speed filtration device and is filtered by downflow and porous media are backwashed for maintaining optimum filter efficiency by blocking the flow of inflow water and water to be treated after sensing the level of the inflow water or the change in the flux of the water to be treated, supplying backwash water and/or air by upflow through a backwash equipment to separate pollutants in the porous media by the collision and friction between the porous media by flowing of the porous media through the stream of the backwash water, placing the porous media in a stationary location, and discharging the pollutants through a discharge pipe of the high speed filtration device before the pollutants settle. In addition, the present invention comprises a backwash method of the high speed filtration device using porous media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventor: Jin Nak Choi
  • Patent number: 9127446
    Abstract: A floor drain (10; 60; 70) comprising a channel body (14; 90) defining a drain channel (24) and having a drain opening (26), a frame (16; 62) defining a receiving opening (32) which can be inserted at least partially into the drain channel (24) and a cover (18) that can be inserted into the receiving opening (32) of the frame (16; 62), in particular in the form of a grate, at least one spacer (20; 64; 72; 87; 96) being provided for adjusting a distance between the channel body (14; 90) and a substrate and/or for adjusting the distance between the channel body (14; 90) and the frame (16; 62), the at least one spacer (20; 64; 72; 87; 96) being formed with infinite height adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Schluter Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Werner Schlueter
  • Patent number: 9108872
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and a method for the separation of solids from a biowaste slurry before heat treatment, and for heat treatment of the separated solids. The device comprises a chamber with a main inlet port for feeding slurry, and outlet ports. A unit for separating solids is adapted to an outlet port so, that liquid leaving the chamber has passed through the separation unit. A second outlet port is provided directly from the chamber to allow removal, following sterilization, of solids collected in the chamber. The sterilization is secured by temperature monitoring at representative locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: STERIS Europe, Inc. Suomen Sivuliike
    Inventors: Mauri Salmisuo, Juha Mattila, Teppo Nurminen
  • Patent number: 9090002
    Abstract: A sealing device for sealing a slide plate in a polymer filtration apparatus where the slide plate is translatable across an extrusion bore extending through a housing of the polymer filtration apparatus. A spring device can be positioned around the outer periphery surfaces of the seal for axially biasing the sealing surface of the seal against the slide plate with a preload bias. Increasing pressure of polymer in the extrusion bore can enter a region in the seal cavity upstream of the thrust surface of the seal and can provide polymer pressure in the axial direction for exerting axial force against the thrust surface of the seal for causing the sealing surface to be further biased against the slide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kolcor Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Delano B. Trott
  • Patent number: 9061226
    Abstract: A filter assembly and method of filtering a fluid containing particulates is provided having a filter element mounted on a horizontal mandrel, whereby the filter element and mandrel are rotatable within a housing during a self-cleaning step, wherein the filter element is immersed and agitated in a cleaning liquid followed by high speed rotation while a rinsing liquid is delivered to the core of the filter element. An ultrasonic transducer in the housing may be activated while the filter element is immersed in the cleaning liquid to assist in removing accumulated particulates from the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventor: Johnny Leon Love
  • Patent number: 9057189
    Abstract: Retractable screen systems and methods for catch basins are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a retractable screen apparatus includes a retractable center screen coupled to a retracting spring-loaded tube assembly secured to a portion of the catch basin. Two independently-operating side screens may each be coupled to the retractable center screen. Each side screen may be spring loaded such that each side screen is capable of opening and closing horizontally based on a predetermined fluid flow rate of water flowing into the catch basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Inventor: Terry Allen Flury
  • Patent number: 8980084
    Abstract: A filter assembly for use in drainage systems to prevent the buildup of eroded materials such as soil, leaves and other debris. The assembly includes a unitary frame and a filter media attached to the frame and is adapted to be retained within a component of a drainage sewer such as a catch basin. A porous material filter media such as a woven or non-woven geotextile allows for the flow of water through the filter while retaining debris or soil within the filter. The filter media extends into the basin to provide volume for the retained material without blocking the entire surface of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Inventor: Russell N. Frye
  • Patent number: 8974662
    Abstract: An apparatus for and method of filtering hydrocarbon contaminated water, which is used in a system requiring a pump to lift low lying hydrocarbon contaminated liquids from said pump through a filtration system which lifts and completely filters all debris and hydrocarbons from said liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: William J Gannon
  • Patent number: 8961786
    Abstract: A food container, comprising: a curved bottom; an opening in the bottom; a track connected to the bottom and adjacent the opening; a door slideable within the track, configured to encompass and occlude the opening in the bottom. When the door is opened, contents contained in the food container are pulled through the opening under the influence of gravity, and out of the food container without the need to rotate the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Lesia Marie Farmer
  • Patent number: 8956542
    Abstract: The present invention provides an efficient and low cost method for processing radioactively-contaminated water. The method for processing radioactively-contaminated water comprising a freeze concentration step of generating ice having lowered concentration of radioactive substance from radioactive substance containing contaminated water and concentrating the radioactive substances in the residual contaminated water by the interface progressive freeze concentration process. Preferably, the method further comprises a nitrogen substitution step of reducing dissolved oxygen in the contaminated water and adding nitrogen gas to the contaminated water, as a previous step of the freeze concentration step. Preferably, the radioactive substance is radioactive cesium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Showa Freezing Plant Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshitsugi Wakayama, Seiko Wakayama
  • Patent number: 8952210
    Abstract: A green process and system are disclosed for utilizing a biomass filter aid in the filtration of a bio-oil. The process comprises filtering a bio-oil containing residual solids from a conversion reaction in the presence of the biomass filter aid to produce a filtered bio-oil. The biomass filter aid facilitates efficient removal of residual solids from the bio-oil. The spent biomass filter aid containing the residual solids may be recycled as a conversion feedstock or used as a combustion heat source in the biomass conversion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: KiOR, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronny W. Lin