Patents Examined by Stephen Hobson
  • Patent number: 10663081
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and storage mediums are provided for detecting water shortage for a humidifier. The method includes: obtaining a water level parameter of a water tank; determining a water level state of the water tank according to the water level parameter. When the water level state of the water tank is a water shortage state, energizing a valve connected to a water box so that water can be added to the water tank through the valve. A number of times of energizing the valve is recorded. When the number of times of energizing the valve exceeds a first preset number of times as well as when the water level state of the water tank determined every time after energization of the valve is the water shortage state, confirming that the water box is short of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignees: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd., Beijing Smartmi Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dongxu Liu, Xiaoqing Wang, Yuya Omoto
  • Patent number: 10654014
    Abstract: A functional water producing apparatus in an embodiment includes: a water pressure regulator configured to regulate the water pressure of the ultrapure water, the water pressure regulator having a pressure regulating valve configured to regulate a water pressure of the ultrapure water to an almost constant pressure and a feed water pump configured to pressurize the ultrapure water; a dissolving device configured to dissolve functional gas imparting a specific function in the ultrapure water regulated the water pressure by the water pressure regulator; and a control device configured to control the feed water pump to regulate the water pressure of the functional water to a predetermined constant pressure based on a water pressure or a flow rate of the functional water flowing out of the dissolving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignees: NOMURA MICRO SCIENCE CO., LTD., ACM RESEARCH (SHANGHAI), INC.
    Inventors: Takayuki Jizaimaru, David Hui Wang
  • Patent number: 10654007
    Abstract: An aeration assembly for aerating liquids including wine and other alcoholic beverages includes an expansion chamber and an aerating device. The expansion chamber is configured to be in fluid communication with an inside of the uncorked and/or opened bottle when engaged by a bottom portion of the expansion chamber. The aerating device comprises a gas conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with a distal end. The distal end is disposable below the bottom portion of the expansion chamber. A gas source is in fluid communication with the proximal end of the gas conduit. The expansion chamber is configured to temporarily contain an expansion of bubbles during an aeration process. The expansion chamber and aerating device are not permanently connected, wherein the aerating device can be fully removed from the expansion chamber before, during or after the aeration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Inventors: Robert A. Stevenson, Wendy L. Stevenson, Jennifer L. Stevenson, Ryan A. Stevenson, Douglas Frederick Widney
  • Patent number: 10649475
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vapor splitter including: a chimney tray dividing an internal space of a housing into an upper space and a lower space; a chimney provided on the chimney tray to enable the upper space and the lower space to communicate with each other; a cap covering the chimney with a gap therebetween such that a gas discharge hole is formed so that gas, coming out through the chimney, can be transferred to the upper space through the gas discharge hole; a liquid feeding unit for feeding liquid to the upper space; and a liquid discharging unit for discharging the liquid out of the upper space. The size of the gas discharge hole is adjusted by controlling the height of the liquid collected on the chimney. Further disclosed is a method of adjusting a vapor split ratio using the vapor splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: BENIT M CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ki-Joon Kang
  • Patent number: 10646838
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fine bubble water generator including: a housing being configured with an inflow line on one end thereof where air and fluid enters and a discharge line on an opposite end where fine bubble water is discharged; a partition allowing the air and fluid entered into the inflow line to flow in zigzags inside the housing; and a fine bubble water generation cylinder unit, being inserted into a space formed by the partition, allowing the air and fluid to be induced to collide with a surface thereof having bumps formed thereon and on an inner circumferential surface of the housing or the partition, thereby refining air bubbles and fluid by frictional force caused by a flat surface and the partition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: NEWMANTECH CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Youngjune Yoo
  • Patent number: 10646835
    Abstract: Provided is a microbubble generating device with a simple structure that can stably and continuously discharge microbubbles in larger volumes from a discharge section. The microbubble generating device is provided with: a liquid introduction section 2 for introducing a liquid L1 within a tank T; a gas introduction section 3a for introducing a gas; a pressure feed section 4 for pressure feeding a liquid fluid L2 fed via the liquid introduction section 2 and the gas fed via the gas introduction section 3a; a microbubble generating section 5 for generating microbubbles B in the liquid fluid L2 pressure fed by the pressure feed section 4 and discharging the liquid fluid to the liquid L1; and a discharge flow rate adjustment section 55 for adjusting the discharge volume of the liquid fluid L2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: OHNO DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Jinno, Taro Jinno
  • Patent number: 10639596
    Abstract: A water aeration system (10) encases an air pump (60) and a solar power controller (62) in an encasement structure (34) with one or more air permeable sidewalls (42; 44). The encasement structure is mounted at or near a top end of a mounting pole (32). A solar panel (50) is mounted directly or indirectly to the encasement or to the mounting pole at or near the top end of the mounting pole, optionally with screens (80, 82, 84, 86) connected to the backside of the solar panel. An air conduit (20) is threaded through a hollow channel in the mounting pole or structure associated therewith, and then underground and/or under water for joining to an immersed diffuser (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Linne Industries, LLC
    Inventors: Craig Burton, Sandra Burton
  • Patent number: 10632413
    Abstract: An automatic high-speed rotary atomizing device, comprising a rotary spray head with an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion is connected to pressurized fluid, the lower portion is connected to the upper portion by means of one or more spray nozzles (1, 3) or spray orifices via a bearing (56). The upper portion is stationary. When the pressurized fluid is sprayed out from the spray nozzle, part of kinetic energy of the pressurized fluid generates a counterforce that propels the entire lower portion of the spray head to rotate at a high speed, so as to convert most of the kinetic energy of the pressurized fluid into surface energy that facilitates atomization of water flow when the pressurized fluid hits against a slanted surface or slit of the spray nozzle or passes through an aperture thereof, thereby forming a large-scale atomized, dispersed and swirling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING CHINA SCIENCE ORGANIC INNOVATION LLC
    Inventors: Yingwu Yin, Yanyan Zhao, Pengfei Wan, Yanqing Wu, Yonghua Lai, Kailin Sun, Yinghua Lu, Jiakui Sun, Yufen Zhao
  • Patent number: 10633267
    Abstract: A diffuser assembly includes a flexible diffuser membrane and a diffuser body. The flexible diffuser membrane defines a circumferential bead. The diffuser body defines a circular plate underlying the flexible diffuser membrane, and an edge ring covering a covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring defines an inside surface that conforms to an outside shape of the covered portion of the circumferential bead. The edge ring is integral to the diffuser body. Such a diffuser assembly may provide a disposable diffuser assembly option with many advantages over conventional technologies such as improved ease of installation, lower weight, and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventors: Thomas E. Frankel, Seoungil Kang, Todd D. Ritter
  • Patent number: 10627176
    Abstract: A cooling tower is provided having a heat exchange section. A water collection basin located above the heat exchange section. The water collection basin has a plurality of openings that allow water to be distributed downwardly onto the heat exchange section. The water collection basin openings each have a diameter of from 0.2 inch to 0.6 inch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Yoon Shin, David Andrew Aaron
  • Patent number: 10626024
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a nozzle for injecting pressurized water containing a dissolved gas, said nozzle comprising: a cylindrical intake chamber (20) for said water; a cylindrical expansion chamber (30) comprising a part (301) communicating with said intake chamber (20) by an orifice (401) and an outlet; a diffusion chamber (60) of truncated conical section communicating with the outlet of said expansion chamber (30) and widening out from said expansion chamber; said nozzle comprising means for putting the stream of water that flows out of said expansion chamber (30) into rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Thomas Thouvenot, Nathalie Vigneron-Larosa, Nicolas Roux
  • Patent number: 10625218
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mounting device (8) for an aeration element (2) for introducing a gas into a liquid, said aeration element (2) comprises a base body (3) having at least one upwardly-projecting sidewall (6), said mounting device comprises a mounting element (9) for connecting to the sidewall (6) of the base body (3) of the aeration element (2). Said mounting element (9) comprises at least one elastically deflectable retaining web (10) for detachably connecting to the at least one sidewall (6) of the base body (3) of the aeration element (2). The invention also relates to an aerator with said type of mounting device (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: AQUACONSULT ANLAGENBAU GMBH
    Inventors: Gerald Glaninger, Robert Lugmair, Josef Köberl
  • Patent number: 10612565
    Abstract: A fan assembly includes a nozzle having a first casing section, a second casing section, an air inlet, an air outlet, and an interior passage for conveying air from the air inlet to the air outlet. The nozzle defines a bore through which air from outside the fan assembly is drawn by air emitted from the nozzle. The nozzle is detachably mounted on a body including a motor and impeller unit for generating an air flow through the interior passage, and a humidifier for humidifying the air flow before it enters the interior passage. The first casing section defines, at least in part, the interior passage, and is detachable from the second casing section to allow the interior passage to be accessed by a user for cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: DYSON TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Mark Joseph Staniforth, Daniel James Beavis, Jude Paul Pullen
  • Patent number: 10610841
    Abstract: A method and system are used to enhance a marker material to include a plurality of air bubbles. The method of manufacturing a marker includes enhancing a marker material to include a plurality of air bubbles using at least a first EFD and a second EFD. The method may include cycling repeatedly through a transfer process between a first container and a second container. A system for enhancing a marker material includes a transfer apparatus configured to receive a marker material and a selected amount of air. The system comprises a first EFD coupled to a first end of the transfer apparatus and a second EFD coupled to a second end of the transfer apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Devicor Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Zimmer, Michelle Louise Johnson, Stephen D. Stallard
  • Patent number: 10604840
    Abstract: To provide a liquid level indicator and a liquid raw material vaporization feeder, in which the time to detect a switch from the liquid phase to the gas phase has reduced flow rate dependence, and also the detection time can be shortened. The present invention includes a chamber 2 that stores a liquid raw material, at least one protection tube 3 housing a resistance temperature detector for detecting the liquid level L1 in the chamber 2, and a flow controller 4 that controls the flow rate of the gas flowing out from the chamber 2 and feeds the same. The protection tube 3 is horizontally inserted into a sidewall 2a of the chamber 2 and fixed thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atsushi Hidaka, Masaaki Nagase, Kaoru Hirata, Satoru Yamashita, Keiji Hirao, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 10596528
    Abstract: A nanobubble-producing apparatus includes a liquid vat provided with a bubble-containing-liquid inlet in an upper part thereof and a bubble-containing-liquid outlet in a bottom part thereof, a microbubble-containing-liquid supply unit to supply microbubble-containing liquid that contains microbubbles to the bubble-containing-liquid inlet of the liquid vat, an ultrasonic collapse unit to radiate ultrasonic waves to the inside of the liquid vat so that an ultrasonic collapse field in which the collapsing of the microbubbles with the ultrasonic waves is concentrated and nanobubbles are generated is formed at a location where the microbubble-containing liquid supplied into the liquid vat through the bubble-containing-liquid inlet flows downward, and a nanobubble-containing-liquid extraction portion where the nanobubble-containing liquid that contains the nanobubbles generated by the ultrasonic collapse unit is taken out of the liquid vat through the bubble-containing-liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: TOSSLEC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Junji Nakao
  • Patent number: 10578325
    Abstract: The humidifier has an upper tank and a lower reservoir. A liquid level switch in the lower reservoir works in conjunction with a valve in a water passage between the upper tank and the lower reservoir in order to provide an automated flow of water to the lower reservoir during operation of the humidifier. The upper tank is unsealed, such that air in the upper tank may equalize with an ambient air pressure. The humidifier can be top-filled allowing that the upper tank to be permanently affixed to the base of the humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Great Innovations, LLC
    Inventors: Joseph A. McDonnell, Dung Tran
  • Patent number: 10576423
    Abstract: Mass transfer packing with a minimal surface or a triply periodic minimal surface which enables significantly improved performance for separation and mixing applications particularly with respect to distillation, liquid-liquid contacting, and heat exchange applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: GeoSepaa LLC
    Inventor: Robert C. Ryan
  • Patent number: 10571197
    Abstract: An improved indirect heat exchanger is provided which is comprised of a plurality of coil circuits, with each coil circuit comprised of an indirect heat exchange section tube run or plate. Each tube run or plate has at least one change in its geometric shape or may have a progressive change in its geometric shape proceeding from the inlet to the outlet of the circuit. The change in geometric shape along the circuit length allows simultaneously balancing of the external airflow, internal heat transfer coefficients, internal fluid side pressure drop, cross sectional area and heat transfer surface area to optimize heat transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Beaver, David Andrew Aaron, Yohann Lilian Rousselet
  • Patent number: 10571198
    Abstract: An air-over evaporative heat exchanger with multi-lobed or “peanut” shaped tubes replacing conventional round or elliptical tubes. The tubes have a narrow horizontal cross section and tall vertical cross section to allow the multiplication of surface area in the same coil volume while maintaining or increasing the open-air passage area. This configuration allows the coil to have an overall external heat transfer coefficient much higher than a conventional coil, while the tube shape allows the use of thinner material, reducing the weight and cost of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Evapco, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kane, Davey Joe Vadder