Patents Examined by Thomas M. Lithgow
  • Patent number: 10919783
    Abstract: Treating and conditioning liquid sludge and a solidified sludge cake obtained thereby are disclosed. A first emulsion of sludge is formed in an in-line container fed at a first flow rate Q owing to the impact of the sludge with air injected into the container at a rate Q?, where Q?>5Q, in a first region which has a small volume of less than 0.05 m3. The first emulsion is then transferred into a second region of the container extending over a first length, and is then discharged via a component which generates a head loss in a chamber extending over a second length. A flocculant is injected in order to obtain a second coagulated emulsion, which is at least partially degasified. The matter in suspension in the second emulsion obtained in this way is then filtered or decanted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: OREGE
    Inventors: Patrice Capeau, Pascal Gendrot
  • Patent number: 10913018
    Abstract: A filter element for use in a housing of a filter assembly having a cover and a seal therebetween. The housing includes inlet and outlet valves. The filter element comprises a first endcap and a second endcap including an inlet valve actuator. A cylindrical ring of filter media extends axially between the first and second endcaps and surrounds a center tube that defines an outlet having an outlet valve actuator. A sleeve positioned to receive and exert force in a first and second direction surrounds a bias member. Threading the cover to the housing compresses the bias member causing the inlet and outlet valve actuators to actuate the inlet and outlet valves. Removing the cover causes extension of the bias member and the inlet and outlet valve actuators to retreat from the inlet and outlet valves before the seal between the cover and the housing is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Moore, Steven J. Merritt
  • Patent number: 10913810
    Abstract: A magnesium suppressant/flocculant for use in separating dolomite from calcium phosphate. The magnesium suppressant/flocculant may be applied at a mine site prior to subjecting ore fractions to phosphate flotation or at a chemical plant after grinding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: ARR-MAZ PRODUCTS, L.P.
    Inventors: Lucas R. Moore, Todd Parker, Leon Willis
  • Patent number: 10913674
    Abstract: An apparatus (12) for treating water, in particular for removing surfactants from waste water, includes a vessel (14), defining an inlet (16) for receiving waste water containing air bubbles, and an outlet (20) for the exit of water, following treatment. Inside the vessel there is at least one tubular member (50) having a lower open end (52) into which the flow of waste water from the inlet may be directed in use. The tubular member (50) extends from the inlet towards a top of the vessel where an upper exit (54) from the tubular member is defined. In use, most un-aerated water entering the vessel through the inlet can exit the tubular member at the lower open end. Foam formed in the water by the air bubbles may travel up the tubular member to the upper exit, which is preferably located above the water level (60) in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: NEXUS EWATER PTY LTD
    Inventors: Andrew James Hermann, Thomas Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 10913013
    Abstract: A system and method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of occur in a closed system with no air emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: SCHLUMBERGER TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary W. Sams, Ronald D. Hypes
  • Patent number: 10907594
    Abstract: An exchangeable filter of a treatment device has a housing with a housing pot and a housing cover connected to the open side of the housing pot. The exchangeable filter is connectable to a connecting head of the treatment device with a bayonet-type connecting device. The connecting device has a housing connecting part on the housing interacting with a head connecting part of the connecting head for connecting the connecting device. The housing has an inlet for a fluid to be treated connectable to a supply conduit of the treatment head and an outlet for the treated fluid connectable to a discharge conduit of the treatment head. The housing pot has a rim at the open side of the housing pot. The rim radially outwardly surrounds the housing connecting part and axially projects past the housing connecting part in a direction away from the housing bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Thalmann, Martin Traublinger, Ludwig Bammersperger
  • Patent number: 10906048
    Abstract: Processes for macroscopically separating a maceral concentrate from raw coal are disclosed. In some embodiments, a process includes the following steps: crushing and sieving the raw coal to obtain a first coal sample and a second coal sample; subjecting the first coal sample to a heavy medium cyclone separation process; and subjecting the second coal sample to a froth flotation process. The first coal sample has a particle size within a first particle size range, and the second coal sample has a particle size within a second particle size range. In other embodiments, the froth flotation process uses a froth flotation agent including a foaming agent and a collector. The foaming agent includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of 2-octanol, terpenic oil, and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The collector includes at least one item selected from the group consisting of kerosene, diethyl phthalate (BET), and diesel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Taiyuan University of Technology
    Inventors: Wei Huang, Dong Wang, Jun Wang, Chunyan Tu, Litong Liang, Zeyu Peng
  • Patent number: 10898904
    Abstract: A flotation separation system for partitioning a slurry comprises a flotation separation cell that comprises a sparger unit and a separation tank. The sparger unit comprises a slurry inlet for receiving a slurry and a gas inlet for introducing a gas into the slurry. The sparging mechanism disperses the gas bubbles within the slurry. A high shear element comprising a rotating shaft and a rotating high shear element mounted to it located within the sparging mechanism shears the gas into a bubble dispersion within the slurry. A slurry outlet discharges the slurry containing the bubble dispersion into the separation tank. An adjustable distributor plate at the slurry outlet restricts the flow of slurry through the slurry outlet. The distributor plate is mounted to the rotating shaft and rotates with the high shear element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: Eriez Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Michael J. Mankosa, Jaisen Kohmuench, Eric S. Yan, Gerald H. Luttrell
  • Patent number: 10894227
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus comprises a housing defining an internal volume sized to receive a filter element, an inlet for receiving a fluid and an outlet for expelling the fluid. A retention mechanism is disposed in the housing having a ball plug operatively connected thereto and selectively displaceable in an axial direction relative to the housing. An engagement member is disposed within the housing and comprises a port having an opening and a ramp. A portion of the port is disposed within the outlet. The ball plug is movable between a first position, in which the ball plug rests on the ramp, does not seal the opening of the port and fluid can be expelled from the housing port, and a second position in which the ball plug is aligned with the port, the ball plug seals the opening of the port and the fluid cannot be expelled from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Wassem Abdalla
  • Patent number: 10888876
    Abstract: A valve for use in controlling fluid flow in a flotation processing circuit is described, the valve including: a valve body; an inlet to the valve body; an outlet from the valve body; a member which is arranged in use to control fluid flow from the inlet to the outlet; and wherein the valve also comprises a bypass opening which facilitates fluid flow in one or both of two modes: in the first mode from the inlet to the bypass opening; and in the second mode from the bypass opening to the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Inventor: Mark Doyle
  • Patent number: 10876507
    Abstract: A filter device may include a ring filter element arranged in a filter housing in an upright manner. The ring filter element may have an upper end disc, a lower end disc, a filter material arranged therebetween, and a dirt pot provided on the lower end disc. The dirt pot may be provided on the lower end disc, a protruding pin, and an opening on a base side of the dirt pot. The filter device may include a functional element having a channel configured to receive the protruding pin. A portion of the functional element may be configured to penetrate the opening of the dirt pot such that the ring filter element is sealed at the opening. The portion of the functional element may have at least one water discharge opening. The filter device may be operational when the pin engages into the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2020
    Inventors: Michael Braunheim, Torsten Lika
  • Patent number: 10871133
    Abstract: A filter element includes an upper end disc, a lower end disc, a filter material arranged between the upper end disc and the lower end disc, a dirt pot on the lower end disc, a pin attached at an attachment location and configured to be received within a channel in an installation orientation, the pin extending away from the attachment location along an axis, the pin having a base of a first width at the attachment location, the pin having a free end and a groove defined between the attachment location and the free end, the pin having a second width that defines a circumference of the groove, the second width approximately orthogonal to the axis, wherein the first width is greater than the second width, and an opening in the dirt pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2020
    Assignee: Mahle International GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Braunheim, Torsten Lika
  • Patent number: 10858274
    Abstract: Processes, methods, and systems are disclosed for treatment and removal of peracetic acid (PAA), quaternary ammonia compounds (Quat), hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, chloramines, chlorinated organics, surfactants, and other such chemicals from wastewater pretreatment processes typically employed by livestock processing, meat processing, and/or food processing plants that generate wastewater outflows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Inventor: John H. Reid
  • Patent number: 10851004
    Abstract: Provided is a method and device for a waste water treatment process. In one exemplary embodiment influent waste water and a defined portion of treated effluent water are combined during a first time interval to produce pretreated water. The pretreated water is dosed with selective chemical additives formulated to cause separation of solid and liquid media during a second time interval, producing separated water. Remaining solid media is removed from the separated water with a sludge filter to produce treated effluent water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: SEAON, LLC
    Inventors: Soon-Hyoung Lee, Woo-Chul Lee
  • Patent number: 10829392
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a dissolved air flotation system using ambient air, and more particularly, to a dissolved air flotation system that is capable of allowing ambient air to be introduced in front of a pump to generate micro air bubbles with the water discharged from the pump, so that the ambient air may be used instead of compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Woo Nyoung Lee, Sung Won Park, Byungsung Park
  • Patent number: 10822673
    Abstract: Method for removing arsenic mineral from a lead concentrate by reverse flotation with an ozone pre-treatment. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a slurry of the lead concentrate that has previously undergone flotation processes, bubbling ozone into the slurry of the lead concentrate to remove reagents used in previous flotation processes, adding a sulfide salt to the slurry to depress lead mineral, adding an alkali to increase the pH of the slurry, adding a collector and then a frother to the slurry for a reverse flotation processing and floating the arsenic mineral out of the lead mineral to obtain a now-purified lead concentrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Sylvester Zuttah
  • Patent number: 10799885
    Abstract: A device and method for cleaning contaminated solid-liquid mixtures by removing impurities and contaminants from an aqueous paper fiber suspension by flotation. Apparatus includes a first conduit (2) for a liquid, a second conduit (3) for a solid-liquid mixture, a third conduit (4) connecting first and second conduit (2, 3), a Venturi mixing element (5) with cones (7, 11), having small through-opening into chamber (9) which forms a cavity with small through-opening (12, 13) of the cones; the through-opening of first cone (7) connected with first conduit (2) and the rough-opening connected to second conduit (2), the small through-opening (12) of first cone (7) and the non-conical conduit sections arranged in longitudinal axial alignment, a fourth conduit (6) for conveying gas, wherein the fourth conduit (6) opens to the Venturi mixing element (5), and a fractionator arranged downstream of the second conduit (3) for removing the foam produced by flotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Rithco Papertec GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Menne, Andreas Ritter, Oliver Mamat
  • Patent number: 10786767
    Abstract: A filter apparatus is described that has a torque limiting device, which may be a clutch mechanism, and which provides a protective function for a filter, so as to protect a filter from being over tightened and to thereby prevent damage to filter components. The clutch mechanism can also eliminate or reduce the need for torque measurement of certain filter components. The clutch mechanism can be located on one of the fluid filter, a filter head which engages the fluid filter, or a combination of both the fluid filter and the filter head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Kurt M. A. Badeau, Travis E. Goodlund, Bryan J. Benz, Bryan P. Steffen, Ismail C. Bagci, Aaron M. Wells, Rahul B. Kallurwar, James L. Eickhoff, Chirag D. Parikh, Gregory W. Hoverson, Kevin C. South, Scott G. Manke
  • Patent number: 10786763
    Abstract: A solid/fluid separation module and press enables treatment of solids with enclosed fluids to generate a filtered mass having a solids content above 50%. A split filter module with first and second filter blocks clamped together for forming barrel sections or filtering sections is disclosed for use in a solid/fluid separating device including a barrel and a conveyor screw in the barrel. The split filter module permits replacement, maintenance, or repair of the filter blocks without disassembly or the separating device, or removal of the conveyor screws.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: GREENFIELD SPECIALTY ALCOHOLS INC.
    Inventor: Christopher Bruce Bradt
  • Patent number: 10773191
    Abstract: A filter manifold includes a housing and a shuttle. The shuttle is disposed within the housing such that the shuttle is movable relative to the housing between a plug position and a flow position along an axial direction. The shuttle is also coupled to the housing such that the shuttle is non-rotatable relative to the housing about the axial direction. A spring is disposed within the housing. The spring is connected to the shuttle such that the tension spring urges the shuttle towards the plug position. The shuttle is positioned at the flow position of the shuttle when a filter cartridge is coupled to the filter manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Naresh Suthar, Sharath Chandra S, Sasikumar Madanagopal, Pampana Vamsi Krishna, Anirban Roy