Patents Examined by Stephen Hobson
  • Patent number: 10843141
    Abstract: A container assembly includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a chamber and an opposing exterior surface. The bag has a bottom end wall that includes a first sparger and a second sparger. The first sparger and the second sparger each have a flexible first sheet overlying a flexible second sheet, the first sheet and the second sheet being secured together so as to form a sparging area bounded between the first sheet and the second sheet, at least a portion of the first sheet overlying the sparging area being gas permeable so that gas can pass from the sparging area, through the first sheet, and into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Goodwin, Nephi D. Jones, Derik R. West
  • Patent number: 10840521
    Abstract: A humidifier comprises hollow shell and humidifier core. The humidifier core includes a transfer sheet, a plurality of first channels, and a plurality of second channels. The transfer sheet comprises a permeable material having a plurality of sections and a plurality of layers of spacing materials. The plurality of first channels are configured to allow air flow in a first direction and to prevent airflow in a second direction that is different from the first direction. The plurality of second channels are configured to allow air flow in the second direction and to prevent airflow in the first direction. The humidifier comprises a stack of alternating first channels and second channels, and the first channels are configured to transfer liquid from air flowing in at least one of the first channels to air flowing in at least one of the second channels. The humidifier is suitable for use in fuel cell stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Desjardins
  • Patent number: 10835876
    Abstract: A gas-dissolved liquid producing apparatus 1 includes a gas supply unit 2, a first liquid supply unit 3, a gas-dissolved liquid generator 4, a second liquid generator 20, a second liquid supply unit 21, a flow rate measuring unit 14, and a controller 23. The controller 23 controls the supply amount of the first liquid to be supplied to the gas-dissolved liquid generator 4 according to the flow rate of circulated gas-dissolved liquid measured by the flow rate measuring unit 14. The gas-dissolved liquid generator 4 dissolves gas supplied from the gas supply unit 2 in first liquid supplied from the first liquid supply unit 3 and second liquid supplied from the second liquid supply unit 21 to generate gas-dissolved liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoichi Nakagawa, Suguru Ozawa, Toshifumi Watanabe, Tao Xu
  • Patent number: 10830469
    Abstract: Humidifiers can include a liquid tank removably attachable to a base portion. The liquid tank can include an upper connector configured to engage a lower connector of the base portion when the liquid tank and the base portion are attached. The liquid tank can include a touch interface configured to receive a touch input from outside of the liquid tank and a liquid level sensor configured to output a signal representative of a level of liquid in the liquid tank. The base portion can include a controller that is in electrical communication with the liquid level sensor and the touch interface when the upper connector engages the lower connector. The controller can be configured to adjust operation of the humidifier based on signals received from the touch interface and can receive signals from the liquid level sensor representative of the amount of liquid in the liquid tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: D-M-S Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Minakian, Oishee Sarkar, Samuel Bradley, Vidya Vasudevan
  • Patent number: 10814247
    Abstract: A rotor for rotating packed bed units (RPBs) is described. The rotor comprises a first plate and a second plate. The rotor further comprises a plurality of sets of rings concentrically interposed between the first plate and the second plate. Each set of rings comprises a plurality of rings are arranged cylindrically. Further, each ring comprises a plurality of packing elements. The rotor further comprises at least one metallic ring interposed between the plurality of sets of rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation
    Inventors: B K Namdeo, Sri Ganesh Gandham, S N Sheshachala, Annaji Rajiv Kumar Tompala
  • Patent number: 10807582
    Abstract: An effluent processing apparatus comprises a first processing stage in which oil and water are separated from an effluent mixture containing air, oil, and water from a purge valve of an air dryer. The effluent processing apparatus also comprises a second processing stage in which oil is extracted from the separated oil and water of the first processing stage. The effluent processing apparatus further comprises a third processing stage in which air from the first processing stage and water from the second processing stage are combined and exhausted to atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventor: Stephen Howe
  • Patent number: 10808952
    Abstract: Disclosed is a humidifier and home appliance having a structure with an air inflow path formed in a water tank separately from a water supply inlet and configured to prevent noise due to air bubbles during water supply to a water reservoir from the water tank, and a structure configured to block the air inflow path in order to prevent water from flowing into the air inflow path during replenishment of water to the water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mun Sub Kim, Hyeong Joon Seo, Hoon Yeong Koh, Ju Hwan Kim, Jin Yong Mo
  • Patent number: 10804550
    Abstract: A humidifier for a fuel cell includes: a bundle of hollow fiber membranes disposed therein, such that an intake gas flows inside the bundle of hollow fiber membranes; a housing configured to accommodate the bundle of hollow fiber membranes, such that an exhaust gas, which has a higher humidity than the intake gas, flows inside the housing; and a guide member disposed in the housing to restrict a movement of the bundle of hollow fiber membranes inside the housing. Coolant flows through the guide member to cool the exhaust gas to promote condensation of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyun Yoo Kim, Chang Ha Lee
  • Patent number: 10799841
    Abstract: A reciprocating stirrer device with which favorable gas absorption into the stirred substance can be obtained. The reciprocating stirrer device is obtained from: a stirring vessel in which the substance to be stirred is placed; a reciprocating drive shaft provided inside the stirring vessel; a stirring blade connected and affixed so as to intersect the drive shaft; and a microbubble-generating unit. The microbubble-generating unit is obtained from a sparger that is made of a porous body and a gas supply means for supplying a gas to the sparger. Bubbles are generated in the substance being stirred by passing gas supplied to the sparger by the gas supply means through pores of the porous body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignees: SATAKE CHEMICAL EQUIPMENT MFG LTD., JGC JAPAN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kato, Hisayuki Kanamori, Makoto Sato, Naoki Tahara, Hideaki Togashi
  • Patent number: 10792631
    Abstract: A tap apparatus including a container coupling portion including a liquid inlet portion, a body portion, and a plug valve portion. The body portion includes a liquid outlet portion, wherein the liquid outlet portion is in fluid communication with the liquid inlet portion of the container coupling portion. The plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be seated within the body portion, wherein the plug valve portion is configured and arranged to be moved relative to the body portion between an open position, in which a liquid is free to flow from the liquid inlet portion and out through the liquid outlet portion, and a closed position, in which liquid from the liquid inlet portion is prevented from flowing out through the liquid outlet portion. The body portion also includes a plurality of flow channels provided in an interior surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: AMNITY, LLC
    Inventor: Nathaniel T. Roberts
  • Patent number: 10792692
    Abstract: An ultrasonic humidifier according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a water bottle accommodating water capable of generating humidification; a water bottle lid covering an upper opening surface of the water bottle and including a humidification outlet for discharging the humidification; and an ultrasonic humidification generating module which floats submersibly in the water accommodated in the water bottle and generates humidifying particles by using ultrasonic waves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: MIRO CO. LTD.
    Inventor: Dong Jin Seo
  • Patent number: 10788268
    Abstract: A once-through dry adiabatic cooler having an integrated factory installed air pre-cooler system that is mechanized to move from a shipping position to an operational position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventor: Tom Byrne
  • Patent number: 10785996
    Abstract: A gas injection system for injecting a gas into a liquid to form a solution includes a flow channel that conveys a liquid from an upstream inlet configured to receive the liquid and a downstream outlet configured to dispense the solution, sparger positioned in the flow channel, a solution pressure detection device configured to sense a pressure of the solution in the flow channel, and a liquid valve configured to regulate flow of the liquid in the flow channel based on the pressure sensed by the solution pressure detection device. The sparger is configured to inject the gas into the liquid through the porous surface as the liquid flows across the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas Giardino, Jacob Lukjanowicz, José Renteriá
  • Patent number: 10782038
    Abstract: A fan coil assembly comprises a humidification unit and a water recovery system. The water recovery system comprises a member or members that retain water droplets, which may be micro water droplets and optionally collects some or substantially all or all of the droplets that are not evaporated by air passing through the fan coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Omachron Intellectual Property Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 10746419
    Abstract: When mineral components such as calcium carbonate and magnesium are contained in humidifying water and a humidification plate has holes and high humidifying efficiency, scales may be locally generated at an end or vicinities of the holes on a windward side. When minute voids in the humidification plate are clogged due to the scales, water absorption capability at a scale generation region is significantly reduced. A problem can arise requiring to replace the humidification plate even when a region other than the end and the vicinities of the holes is satisfactory, whereby replacement cycles are shortened. To address the problem, plural openings in a plate thickness direction are distributed on a flat plate surface of a water absorbing humidifying material. Thus, in an airflow direction of air sent from end sides of the water absorbing humidifying material, opening areas of the plural openings on one end side are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takahiro Sakai, Yasutaka Inanaga
  • Patent number: 10738741
    Abstract: A charge forming device may have a rotatable fuel adjustment valve received in a passage of a body of the device. A limiter cap may have a driving feature engageable with a drive feature on the valve and having a first position permitting rotation of the valve relative to the limiter cap and a second position permitting only lesser rotation of the valve than that of the first portion. The limiter cap may have a tamper restraint feature that retains the lesser range of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Walbro LLC
    Inventors: Yoshiaki Doyama, Teruhiko Tobinai
  • Patent number: 10722851
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a distributor tray (2) for a column intended for heat and/or material exchange between a gas and a liquid. The tray comprises gas passage means (4), liquid passage means (6) and distribution means (5) for distributing the liquid with a preferred orientation. The invention also relates to a heat and/or material exchange column, and to the use of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
    Inventors: John Roesler, Yacine Haroun
  • Patent number: 10710032
    Abstract: A universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus has a track extending between two distinct elevations that is coupled to a wall and bridge mount. An aeration unit is pivotally coupled to the track and has an aerator adapted to operatively at least partially submerge within and aerate a liquid. A selective mover or drive is adapted to operatively move the aeration unit along the track and thereby vary an elevation of the aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount supports the track and aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount has a first configuration for mounting to a structure such as a stationary bridge, and a second configuration for mounting to a wall. The universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus may be adjusted to position the propeller after installation under the surface of the liquid through three axes of motion freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Aeration Industries International, LLC
    Inventors: Randy W. List, Jing Huang, Joseph F. Widman, Brian J. Cohen, Todd M. Schroeder, Gregory R. Harding, Paul P. Gorbunow, Jason L. Jones, Steven R. Carleton
  • Patent number: 10688455
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing a first fluid into a flow path of a second fluid, the apparatus comprising: a chamber enclosing the flow path, the chamber including a second fluid first inlet for receiving its respective fluid. The apparatus also includes a second inlet arranged downstream of the first inlet and receiving the first fluid, as well as an outlet arranged downstream of the second inlet for discharging a mixture of the first fluid and the second fluid. The second inlet flows into the flow path and is formed by a shared fluid injector mounted transverse to the axial direction that one fluid and the two fluid flows through its chamber. The flow path includes two respective throttle bodies, each of which is pivotally arranged inside the chamber and attached to opposed sides of the chamber for controlling the flow area of the flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ANDRITZ AKTIEBOLAG
    Inventors: Åsa Magnusson, Axel Lämås, Johanna Brännström, Anders Lindström
  • Patent number: 10668437
    Abstract: A system for allowing gas to flow into a liquid, the system comprising: a container having a bottom wherein the bottom comprises a gas inlet; a lid configured to cover the container; a gas providing mechanism configured to allow flow of the gas through the gas inlet into the liquid when contained in the container, and a locking mechanism configured to ensure flow of gas into the liquid only when the container is properly covered by the lid. Additional embodiments of the system are disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: Lior Asis