Patents Examined by T. Woodruff
  • Patent number: 7708880
    Abstract: A buffer tank section (6) includes a liquid accumulation chamber (61) communicating with, through a liquid introduction flow path (42), a liquid tank (46) accumulation chemical liquid. A filter section (4) includes a filter inlet (41a) and a filter outlet (41b), wherein the filter inlet (41a) communicates with a liquid discharge vent (60d) of the buffer tank section (6). In a pump (11), a pump inlet (11a) is connected to the filter outlet (41b) and a pump outlet (11b) is connected to a discharge nozzle (50) through a liquid discharge flow path (47). A return flow path (48) is connected between the pump outlet (11b) and the buffer tank section (6), wherein the chemical liquid, discharged from the pump (11), is returned to the liquid accumulation chamber (61). An exhaust flow path (49) is connected to the buffer tank section (6), thereby exhausting air in the liquid accumulation chamber (61).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Koganel Corporation
    Inventor: Takeo Yajima
  • Patent number: 7347945
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and to an installation for separating out an effluent made up of a multi-phase fluid mixture. According to the invention, said installation includes gravity separator means whose geometrical separation characteristics can be adjusted during said separation operation. According to the invention, the method makes it possible to adjust the geometrical separation characteristics of the separator as a function of how the multi-phase composition of the effluent varies over time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jul Amado, Baptiste Germond, Pierre Le Foll
  • Patent number: 7306731
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for removing settleable solids and unsettleable solids from a partially closed flush system in a diary milking operation whereby a first processing tank bottom removes settleable solids contained therein where the net current flow vertically in the process tank is less than the settling rate of the settleable solids contained therein. The process tank batch feeds a plurality of thickening tanks that are each allowed to settle for a period of time before transferring fluid is to a second separator. The method and apparatus is particularly conductive for feeding a digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Daritech, Inc.
    Inventor: Dave C DeWaard
  • Patent number: 7297282
    Abstract: The invention provides a drain mechanism of a fluid filter in which a heated fluid is not splashed on a worker at a time of discharging the fluid such as a time of exchanging an element, and can inhibit dusts or the like from being mixed from an external portion at a time of normal use. A drain mechanism 7 of the present invention is provided with a cap 3 engaged with a case 2 and having a drain hole 15, a drain member (a drain plug 20) detachably mounted to the cap from an outer side thereof and closing the drain hole, a valve member 25 provided in an inner side of the cap and closing the drain hole, and an elastic means (a spring 11) for energizing the valve member in a direction of closing the drain hole. In a state in which the drain member is detached from the cap, a residual fluid within a housing is discharged by a tubular draining jig 30 inserted to the drain hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Assignees: Toyoda Boshoku Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kiichiro Suzumori, Toshihiro Takahara, Sadahito Fukumori, Ryuichiro Kamioka, Jin Hashioka, Kenzo Kado
  • Patent number: 7223337
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing water and debris from a cooling tower basin, discarding debris and returning clean water to the basin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Goodway Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph J Franzino, Ron Jerman
  • Patent number: 7200969
    Abstract: A non-woven mesh guard which can be inserted into a downspout opening in a rain gutter in order to prevent debris from entering the downspout is provided. The non-woven mesh includes a large free area to allow for the flow of water therethrough while preventing debris from entering the downspout. Anchor pins are installed in the guard to prevent it from being forced too far down into the downspout opening. Alternatively, the non-woven material may be formed such that it includes an enlarged top portion which rests in the base of the gutter over the downspout opening while a reduced size portion is inserted into the downspout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Inventor: Martin J. Rotter
  • Patent number: 7185766
    Abstract: A skimmer device and a method for skimming a liquid, foam, fat or other solid or liquid material or anything else that a user wants to remove or separate from a remaining liquid or solid that is left in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Michele Cooper
  • Patent number: 7186333
    Abstract: A filter system for insertion into a storm drain pipe for filtering liquid runoff. Storm weather or other runoff will filter through this filter system prior to this runoff passing through to the outfall and into oceans, lakes, streams, ponds or other retention areas. The filtration system fits within the storm drain underneath the manhole and will capture all the runoff. The filtration device contains a stainless steel flange which hinges into the storm drain and a main chamber which extends down into the storm drain containing a series of filter chambers. The first level of filtration the hydrocarbon media can be easily replaced once saturated. An overflow opening is located at the upper portion of the liquid capturing chamber which prevents backflow with excessive runoff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Inventor: Robert Kluge
  • Patent number: 7179372
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for filtering or purifying water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7179390
    Abstract: Filtering of an operating fluid of a mechanical device is performed utilizing a pumping device of the mechanical device which routinely circulated the operating fluid within the mechanical device. A remote filtering station of the present invention has a first conduit to contain the operating fluid during transfer from the mechanical device, a filter and a second conduit to contain the operating fluid during transfer back to the mechanical device. In the most preferred embodiment a filter replacement adapter is attached in place of the mechanical device's filter during the filtering procedure. The mechanical device is operated during the filtering procedure where the pumping device of the mechanical device circulates the operating fluid through the mechanical device and through the filter of the remote filtering station. This provides for a cleansing of all of the conduits of the mechanical device which routinely has the operating fluid circulated therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Inventor: George F Layton
  • Patent number: 7175758
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for recycling a wash solution used in powder coating which uses filters. The invention also relates to methods and apparatuses for recycling wash solutions used in spray washing, steam cleaning or car washes using filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2007
    Inventor: Robert L. Miller
  • Patent number: 7172689
    Abstract: An arrangement and method for maintaining a minimum flow velocity in return piping receiving dirty coolant from a plurality of machine tools receiving filtered coolant from a filter apparatus. A bypass line diverts clean coolant into the return piping via a pressure reducing valve set to allow make up flow of clean coolant into the return piping just sufficient to maintain a pressure corresponding to the minimum flow velocity in the return piping. A pressure maintaining valve is interposed upstream of the pressure reducing valve and set to restrict flow as necessary to maintain adequate pressure to insure that the machine tools are adequately supplied with clean coolant at start up prior to the beginning of contaminated flow in the return piping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Jack R. Bratten
  • Patent number: 7172705
    Abstract: A skimmer device and a method for skimming a liquid, foam, fat or other solid or liquid material or anything else that a user wants to remove or separate from a remaining liquid or solid that is left in a container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Inventor: Michele Cooper
  • Patent number: 7166229
    Abstract: A system for extracting a liquid by pressing a humid mass, the system including at least one extraction channel, while extraction channel being provided with at least one inlet allowing to feed the extraction channel with the humid mass to be treated; with walls provided with holes allowing the flow of the liquid contained in the humid mass being pressed, and with at least one outlet allowing the discharge of the dehydrated mass obtained by pressing in the extracting channel, wherein the outlet of the channel, positioned between the walls provided with holes and the exterior, is free of contraints or only includes weak constraints whose level is controlled as a function of physical parameters. This systems is suitable for the efficient continuous dewatering treatment of a feeding source with a composition, consistency and nature of the solid particles present in the feeding source susceptible to vary during the processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Les Industries Fournier Inc.
    Inventors: Pierre Cote, Michel Fortier, Serge Fournier
  • Patent number: 7153425
    Abstract: The present invention comprises a process for filtering a slurry and a filter cartridge construction for filtering a slurry having a filtration medium formed of a depth filter such as a cylindrical seamless fibrous depth filter comprising a nonwoven fibrous mass, woven fibers, a plurality of nonwoven fibrous layers or a fibrous felt or the like or a wound depth filter retained within a housing substantially free of an open void volume upstream of the depth filter which causes separation of solid particles from a slurry being filtered The filtration medium is divided into a plurality of depth filter segments by spacers which are spaced apart from each other along the length of a filter cartridge housing which houses the depth filter, The spacers serve to divide the depth filter medium into depth filter segments and to allow fluid to pass there through along a defined path defined by the configuration of the open portions of the spacers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Stankowski, Stephen G. Hunt
  • Patent number: 7153419
    Abstract: A liquid treating device without any restrictions for a sludge discharge device set above a liquid tank is provided. A cyclone separator adapted to swirl liquid to subject sludge to centrifugal separation from the liquid and precipitate the sludge is connected to the circulating pump adapted to pump up liquid coolant containing the sludge discharged to a liquid tank from a machine tool. An opening/closing valve for sludge discharge is arranged at a discharge port of a sludge pot adapted to condense the sludge precipitated by the cyclone separator. A sludge discharge device to discharge only the sludge to the exterior from a sludge storage tank part adapted to store the sludge and liquid discharged from the sludge pot via the opening/closing valve temporarily is set. A supernatant liquid stored in the sludge storage tank part of the sludge discharge device in the suction side of the pump is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nikuni
    Inventor: Yuji Mizuno
  • Patent number: 7147774
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus for use in polymer processing includes a housing having an internal bore for directing polymer flow and a channel oriented transversely to the bore. A slide plate for supporting filters is movable through the channel and across the bore. An annular upstream seal ring sealably contacts the slide plate. A surface of the upstream seal ring facing the upstream direction is angled with respect to the bore. A plurality of ring segments are arranged to form an annular segmented ring. The segmented ring presents a tapered ring surface that is generally complimentarily angled relative to the angled surface of the upstream seal ring. Pressurized polymer flowing through the bore imparts radially forces on the ring segments, causing the ring segments to impart axial forces on the upstream seal ring to enhance the seal interface between the upstream seal ring and the slide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Polymer Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Howland B. Jones, III
  • Patent number: 7134568
    Abstract: In a fuel tank system, a strainer chamber with a suction bore opened into its upper surface is provided in a collecting recess for collecting a residual fuel containing impure foreign substances such as dust and water, the collecting recess being provided in a bottom wall of a fuel tank. A fuel discharge pipe is connected to the strainer chamber. Fuel flow passages are provided outside the strainer chamber. Baffle plates are provided in front and in the rear of and outside the strainer chamber to guide the fuel flowing into the collecting recess during tilting of the fuel tank into the fuel flow passages. Thus, the impure foreign substances are prevented from entering the strainer chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Moriyama, Takanori Sato, Tetsuya Arai
  • Patent number: 7115204
    Abstract: A filter comprises a cage that captures a foraminous center tube. The cage comprises end plates secured to multiple posts. A screen is wrapped with at least one full inner wrap around the center tube and with at least one full outer wrap around the posts. The screen is held in place with elastic bands or the like that surround and press the outer wrap against the posts. The center tube may be free to move within the cage. Alternately, the center tube, end plates, and posts may be integral with each other. When inserted into a chamber, liquid flows through the screen outer and inner wraps in two stages. The liquid then flows through holes in the center tube, through the interior of the center tube, and out the chamber. The filter is cleaned by unwrapping the screen, cleaning it, and rewrapping it over the center tube and posts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Inventor: Ernest D. Frasier
  • Patent number: 7112281
    Abstract: A device and method for removal of liquid from the downstream side of a membrane or a well, such as a well of a multiwell plate. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a wicking structure, which channels droplets of liquid away from a membrane in communication with a plurality of wells. In the preferred embodiment, the wicking structure is placed in a manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Busnach, Brian Foley, Phillip Clark, Joseph E. Gabriels