Patents Examined by Shuyi S Liu
  • Patent number: 10233706
    Abstract: A barite recovery hopper includes a shell having an open top, wherein the barite recovery hopper is adapted to receive a flow of recovered barite particles from a solids discharge chute of a decanter centrifuge through the open top of the shell. An inlet is adapted to receive a flow of drilling mud from a mud tank. A hopper bypass gate is adapted to seal a bottom opening of the shell when the hopper bypass gate is in a closed position during a barite recovery operation, and to allow collection of at least a portion of the recovered barite particles for mixture, inside of the barite recovery hopper, with the flow of drilling mud received through the inlet when the hopper bypass gate is in the closed position. An outlet is adapted to discharge a flow of the recovered barite particle/drilling mud mixture to the mud tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Canada ULC
    Inventors: Rennie K. Zazula, Dean M. Bird, Donald T. Crosswhite
  • Patent number: 10232105
    Abstract: A liquid handling device having an upstream liquid handling structure connected to a downstream liquid handling structure by a conduit. The upstream and downstream liquid handling structures are sealed or sealable such that the conduit provides the only fluidic communication paths between the upstream and downstream liquid handling structure. The device is arranged such that a driving force causes liquid in the upstream liquid handling structure to at least partially fill the conduit to separate gas in the upstream liquid handling structure from gas in the downstream liquid handling structure. With the device set up such that the two gas volumes are separated by a liquid volume, gas pressures and liquid flow in the device can be controlled by control of the driving force. The device may be arranged for rotation about an axis of rotation to provide the driving force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Biosurfit, S.A.
    Inventors: Tânia Tenreiro, Nuno Reis, João Garcia Da Fonseca
  • Patent number: 10213792
    Abstract: A modular floorstanding centrifuge comprising at least the following modules, the modules being preassembled, coherent components capable of being mounted as a whole, including a floor plate, a wall module adapted to be mounted on the floor plate together with two side wall elements capable of being attached to opposing edge regions of the floor plate, and a ceiling element adapted to interconnect the side wall elements, and a guard ring module adapted to be mounted on the wall module and comprising a guard ring attached to at least one side wall element and/or a ceiling element, wherein the ceiling element and the at least one side wall element are joined together and the at least one side wall element is mounted on the ceiling element such that it is capable of being attached to an edge region of the ceiling element pertaining to the underlying wall module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: Thermo Electron LED GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Eigemeier
  • Patent number: 10207277
    Abstract: A drilling fluid conditioning system can include a centrifuge, and at least one heat transfer property sensor that outputs real time measurements of a heat transfer property of a drilling fluid that flows through the centrifuge. A method can include measuring a heat transfer property of a drilling fluid, and determining, based on the measured heat transfer property, an operational parameter of a centrifuge through which the drilling fluid flows. A well system can include a drilling fluid that circulates through a wellbore, and a drilling fluid conditioning system including a centrifuge and at least one heat transfer property sensor that measures a heat transfer property of the drilling fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Katerina V. Newman, Dale E. Jamison, Xiangnan Ye, Cato R. McDaniel, Timothy N. Harvey
  • Patent number: 10195547
    Abstract: A method and system for buoyant separation of a target constituent of a sample, the method comprising: at a process chamber, combining a volume of substrates having a first density with the sample, thereby producing a population of target-bound complexes comprising the target constituent bound to at least a portion of the volume of substrates; within the process chamber, physically separating the population of target-bound complexes from the sample based upon interaction between the volume of substrates and an applied force; aggregating the population of target-bound complexes at a collection region of the process chamber; extracting the population of target-bound complexes from the process chamber; and processing the target constituent from the population of target-bound complexes for further analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Akadeum Life Sciences, Inc.
    Inventors: Brandon H. McNaughton, John G. Younger, Leo J. Ostruszka
  • Patent number: 10195616
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laboratory centrifuge having a cooling device which comprises a compressor enclosed by a compressor housing, with the compressor housing, in the region of the compressor head, being at least regionally provided with a damping material which is capable of absorbing vibrations in the range from 20 Hz to 100 Hz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Thermo Electron LED GmbH
    Inventor: Hans Janzen
  • Patent number: 10166551
    Abstract: In a centrifugal machine, collecting chambers, which are in a rotary bowl allocated to centrifugal separation of at least two phases, include a discharge port that can be opened or closed as desired by pistons, movement of which is controlled from outside by a reduced-friction system. Drawing volume is adjustable and proportional to volume of a transverse aperture in the pistons, the ports and the openings of the collecting chambers being offset. The machine enables pseudo-continuous drawing which makes it possible to maintain a continuous supply. The drawing volume, composition of the drawn product, and compactness thereof, in a case of a near-solid phase, are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignees: COMMISSARIAT A L'ENERGIE ATOMIQUE ET AUX ENERGIES ALTERNATIVES, FLOWERSEP
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Feraud, David Chezaud, Joel Robin, Tojonirina Randriamanantena
  • Patent number: 10166541
    Abstract: A microfluidic device and method comprises a rotatable substrate configured to be rotated at various angular velocities in order to accomplish a series of media exchanges with a sample chamber for containing a sample. A plurality of media reservoirs and waste reservoirs are connected to the sample chamber via channels forming capillary valves in which the capillary valves have varying burst frequencies of rotation of the substrate. The substrate can then be rotated through a series of angular velocities to automate media exchanges between the sample chamber and the respective media reservoirs and waste reservoirs. A pair of media reservoirs are located radially inward of the sample chamber and a pair of waste reservoirs are located radially outward of the sample chamber in an “X” configuration such that centrifugal forces cause fluid media to open the capillary valves and flow among the sample chamber, media reservoirs and waste reservoirs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Lawrence Kulinsky, Ling Kong
  • Patent number: 10155231
    Abstract: A separator drum having a vertical rotation axis and an inflow line for a material which is to be processed by centrifuging is driven by a drive apparatus via a drive spindle. The drive spindle is rotated by a motor designed as a direct drive and having a stator and a rotor. The drive apparatus is arranged in a drive housing having a motor housing section designed as an explosion-protected structure that is encapsulated in a pressure-resistant manner and in which the motor is accommodated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Strauch, Thomas Bathelt, Andreas Bolte
  • Patent number: 10155230
    Abstract: A flow apparatus for a separation apparatus for separating solids from a solids laden drilling fluid includes a feed conduit for feeding solids laden drilling fluid to the separation apparatus, a liquid discharge conduit for conveying a liquid phase discharge from the separation apparatus, and a solids discharge port for allowing discharge of solids phase from the separation apparatus. Also included is a parameter measuring apparatus connected to the feed conduit and the liquid discharge conduit for measuring at least one parameter of at least one of the solids laden drilling fluid and the liquid phase discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: NATIONAL OILWELL VARCO, L.P.
    Inventor: Lyndon Ray Stone
  • Patent number: 10144013
    Abstract: A centrifuge to which sample tubes can be introduced while the centrifuge is in motion. The centrifuge comprises a carousel having an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion of the carousel has a plurality of positions for sample tubes for a centrifugation operation, a plurality of drive mechanisms attached to the upper portion of the carousel, a movable element mounted upon each drive mechanism, the movable element capable of traversing the length of the drive mechanism when the drive mechanism is actuated, a sample tube-holding assembly comprising a sample tube holder and a bearing attached to each movable element, and at least one balancing element capable of contributing to a force vector that cancels an imbalance vector generated by rotation of the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventor: Patrick P. Fritchie
  • Patent number: 10144015
    Abstract: A rotor assembly includes a rotor plate to rotate around a first axis; a bucket rotatably attached to the rotor plate and to rotate around a second axis; and a stop plate to rotate around the first axis relative to the rotor plate between an open position and a closed position, when in the closed position, the stop plate is to engage the bucket to fix an angular position of the bucket relative to a plane of rotation of the rotor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: LIFE TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kristopher Barbee, Rui Zheng, Sean McCusker
  • Patent number: 10130951
    Abstract: Provided are devices for recovery of cells from a microfluidic device. In particular, provided are open-ended conical tubes for recovery of cells from a microfluidic device and methods of use. In some embodiments, the open-ended conical tubes comprise: i) a nipple portion (7), wherein the nipple portion (7) comprises a length in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches, a diameter in the range of 0.2 to 0.3 inches, wherein the nipple portion (7) comprises a narrow orifice; ii) a conical portion (5) attached to and in fluid communication with the nipple portion, wherein the conical portion (5) has a length in the range of 1.0 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Cynvenio Biosystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Shartle, Behrad Vahidi, William M. Strauss
  • Patent number: 10125345
    Abstract: A centrifuge device is provided for the sizing and separation of constituents of a biologic mixture, e.g., adipose tissue. The device provides for the mechanical breaking down of the fibrous structure in the tissue by centrifugation causing the tissue to pass through a mesh element, or a sizing helix, or an extrusion element, whereupon the material is reduced to a slurry. This processed material may then be separated by centrifugation into its constituents, in order to harvest the fraction containing the multipotent cells. These multipotent cells may be utilized for various medical procedures to stimulate healing and tissue regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: DSM IP ASSETS, B.V.
    Inventors: John E. Nash, William T. Fisher, Gino Bradica
  • Patent number: 10124347
    Abstract: A centrifuge discharger including a discharger subassembly having multiple wear plates, each wear plate having a receptacle of lateral dimensions set by the internal surfaces of the multiple wear plates The centrifuge also has multiple backing plates laterally positioned around the external surfaces of the wear plates, and at least one spacing mechanism passing through part if the discharger subassembly near the external surface of the multiple wear plate. The discharger includes a discharger shoe assembly joined to the discharger subassembly by the discharger ram, the discharger ram being able to position the discharger shoe assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: The Western States Machine Company
    Inventors: Donald W. Meineke, Jr., William F. Temple, Gregory L. Allgaier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10112127
    Abstract: A method and apparatus that deterioration of the flow state of a coal/kerosene slurry while preventing the damage caused by overloading to thereby achieve excellent solid-liquid separation performance. In a solid-liquid separation supplying a dehydrated coal/kerosene slurry to a decanter-type centrifugal separator to separate the coal/kerosene slurry into a solid fraction and a liquid fraction, an opening degree target value is determined on the basis of the difference between a target value and an actually measured value of a torque that acts on a screw conveyor of the decanter-type centrifugal separator, and the opening degree of a flow volume control valve, which is arranged in the middle of a supply line for supplying the coal/kerosene slurry into the decanter-type centrifugal separator, is adjusted to the opening degree target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Kinoshita, Hiroki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10105715
    Abstract: A solid-bowl screw centrifuge has a centrifuge drum that is rotatable about a longitudinal axis, at least one outlet for discharging clarified material from the centrifuge drum, and an energy recovery device, arranged at the outlet, for recovering energy from the discharged clarified material, when the solid-bowl screw centrifuge is in operation, the centrifuge drum can rotate in a first direction of rotation and in a second direction of rotation opposite to the first direction of rotation. The energy recovery device has a first active surface, via which clarified material can flow out when the centrifuge drum is rotated in the first direction of rotation, and a second active surface, via which clarified material can flow out when the centrifuge drum is rotated in the second direction of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Flottweg SE
    Inventor: Manfred Schlarb
  • Patent number: 10092910
    Abstract: In a container for centrifugal separation that includes a container main body including a retention part in which a sample is retained, and in which a component of the sample in the retention part is centrifugally separated by rotating the container main body about its center axis, as a rotation axis, material having thixotropic properties has been applied to an entire bottom surface of the retention part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Tomonori Nishio, Kazuteru Nishijima, Toshihito Kimura, Toshiaki Kuniyasu
  • Patent number: 10088391
    Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for processing a blood sample. One embodiment comprises an isolation container having at least one sidewall defining an interior volume. The interior volume includes a medial reservoir in fluid communication with proximal and distal reservoirs. The diameter of the medial reservoir is less than the diameter of the proximal and distal reservoirs. Therefore, the isolation container has an interior volume which is roughly hour-glass shaped with the medial reservoir being a substantially narrowed portion or channel between two wider portions. The isolation container is configured such that the buffy coat layer of fractionated blood will be located within and may be accessed from the reduced cross sectional medial reservoir after a centrifuge or other processing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: Regenexx, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher J. Centeno, Brian Leach, Ryan Dregalla, Patrick Reischling
  • Patent number: 10086384
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator having a separation space with a set of separation plates, an inlet configured to feed a fluid product to be separated into the separation space, the inlet and the separation space being connected in a pressure mediating manner, a first and a second outlet extending from the separation space for discharge of a two phases of the product. A discharge control system is configured to trigger the opening of the second outlet upon a trigger condition, wherein the discharge control system comprises a sensor arranged to determine the inlet pressure and/or the inlet flow of fluid product, and the trigger condtion is associated with a decrease in inlet flow in relation to inlet pressure, indicating an increasing flow resistance downstream of the inlet. The invention further relates to a discharge control system and a method of controlling the intermittent discharge of a centrifugal separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Peter Thorwid, Roland Isaksson, Hans Moberg, Carl Häggmark, Göran Krook