Patents Examined by Thomas M. Lithgow
  • Multi-stage water filter system
    Patent number: 6001249
    Abstract: A water filter system having a housing for a plurality of serial-flow connected filter cartridges with distinct filtering characteristic related to the direction of flow of water being filtered. Each filter cartridge has a membrane wrapped activated carbon filter body. One of the filter bodies includes a heavy metal bacteriostat. The cartridges are each releasably retained in a manifold by keyed connectors including rotatable locking rings. Each cartridge having a distinct filtering characteristic includes a keying structure to ensure that the cartridge can only be connected to the manifold for placement in proper serial-flow relationship in the system. The filter system includes a spent filter cartridge indicator. The filter system is particularly suited for countertop placement and connection to a faucet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Dart Industries Inc.
    Inventors: J. Rushton Bailey, William Reinhard, Stephen E. Frazier
  • Separating solid particles from used lubricant compositions
    Patent number: 6001245
    Abstract: A process for separating oil from a lubricant composition containing solid particles. The contaminated lubricant composition is mixed with liquid or supercritical CO.sub.2 before the lubricant composition and CO.sub.2 mixture is filtered through a filter medium. The CO.sub.2 is then evaporated, leaving an oil residue. Mixing the lubricant composition with CO.sub.2 before filtration prevents the filter medium from being blinded by solid particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Ronald A. Reich, Thomas J. Kasun, Raymond J. Colbert
  • Precious metals recovery from ores
    Patent number: 5992640
    Abstract: A process for recovery of a precious metals containing mineral from a non-sulphidic gangue mineral comprising:preparing a pulp of a material containing the precious metals containing and gangue minerals;conditioning the pulp with an oxidizing gas containing a gas selected from oxygen and ozone; andsubjecting the conditioned pulp to a flotation operation for recovery of the precious metals containing mineral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: BOC Gases Australia Limited
    Inventors: David William Clark, Andrew Newell
  • Water influent particle removing apparatus
    Patent number: 5993651
    Abstract: An endless screen lifts fecal matter and sewer influent debris from an influent channel. The endless screen is powered by an externally positioned air cylinder driving a pawl and rachet to move the screen in an elliptical path. A tank positioned below a top drop point for the screen receives the fecal matter and debris. A paddle mixer breaks up the fecal matter for return to the sewer channel and a conveyor picks up the debris and deposits it in a landfill receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Inventor: Bruce O. Wiesemann
  • Filter for a washing machine
    Patent number: 5989418
    Abstract: A filter for a washing machine is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-soo Shin
  • Ultrasonic conditioning and wet scrubbing of fly ash
    Patent number: 5988396
    Abstract: Processes for treating fly ash to enhance the fly ash as a pozzolan for portland cement mixes and to separate therefrom a substantial carbon compound and/or to increase the fineness of the fly ash include the treatment of a fly ash slurry with ultrasonic energy using ultrasonic horns immersed in a slurry of fly ash and water and imparting to said slurry such ultrasonic energy as to cause microscopic cavities to form and implode with high localized energy to break up fly ash agglomerations along cleavage lines and to break up carbon particles and matrices which have entrapped fly ash microspheres therein to release the microspheres into the slurry. A conditioner agent may be added at or during ultrasonic treatment to enhance the flotation of the carbon compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Assignee: ISG Resources, Inc.
    Inventors: Rafic Y. Minkara, Jerry L. Heavilon
  • Fluid filtering system with variable filter layer
    Patent number: 5984108
    Abstract: A permanent fluid filtering system includes a cylindrical body having an upper end, to which an inlet tube is connected, and a lower end, to which an outlet tube is connected, and a latitude thread filter assembly disposed within the cylindrical body. The latitude thread assembly is compressible and expandable in accordance with a fluid flowing direction, thereby varying a porous structure of the filter assembly. The permanent fluid filtering system further includes a fluid flow stabilizing plate for stabilizing the flow of dirty fluid fed inside the body through the inlet tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Choong-hyun Choi
  • Coolant reconditioning system
    Patent number: 5985141
    Abstract: A two part system providing initial filtration of free oil and dirt followed by biological filtration with a copper wool and brass wool filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Edward L. Murphy, Jr.
  • Method of making an elongated filter system
    Patent number: 5985142
    Abstract: A method of making an elongated filter system including the steps of forming an elongated alignment rod, an attachment device, a tubular filter element and a yoke, followed by the steps of attaching the elongated alignment rod to the attachment device and positioning the tubular filter element, upon and about the elongated alignment rod then securing the yoke so that an outer peripheral area of the yoke is in sealing engagement with the tubular filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Facet International, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald E. Belden
  • Shaft mounted gear box
    Patent number: 5985145
    Abstract: A drive system for a filtration apparatus includes a housing, a motor, an input gear driven by the motor, a ring gear, an eccentric gear assembly, an internal gear assembly, and an output gear. The ring gear is driven by the input gear about a central axis. The eccentric gear assembly includes an eccentric plate rotatable about the central axis, concentric rollers, and eccentric rollers. The eccentric plate is fastened to the ring gear to rotate therewith. The concentric rollers are interposed between the eccentric plate and the housing to enable rotation therebetween. The eccentric plate is eccentrically movable about the central axis within a bore of the housing. The internal gear assembly has an eccentric plate rotatable about the central axis and circular bores extending through the eccentric plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Henry Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. McEwen
  • Structure water filter outer shell
    Patent number: 5985143
    Abstract: A water filter outer shell having an improved sleeve and top cover. The top cover and sleeve are formed with interior and exterior conical surfaces, the lower half of the conical surface of the outer shell having exterior threads. The top cover is fastened by screwing interior and exterior threads near the conical surfaces of the top cover and outer shell to eliminate three components from the known device. The tightness and water permeation seal are thus stronger and more effective. The structure has lower production costs to improve market competition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Inventor: Maw-Chang Lin
  • Paper-pulp deinking method and equipment to implement this method
    Patent number: 5979665
    Abstract: Equipment for deinking paper pulp, wherein the batch of pulp to be deinked is made to circulate to move from top to bottom whereas the air bubbles are introduced at least in the lower part and move from bottom to top, characterized in that the pulp descends from top to bottom while being recycled in several consecutive and superposed stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: E & M Lamort
    Inventor: Alain Serres
  • Process for recovering components of a float material from waste water treatment system
    Patent number: 5980754
    Abstract: A process for recovering protein, fatty and water components from a float material produced by a waste water treatment system, wherein the protein and fatty components can be further processed for inclusion in various products, such as animal feed. The recovered water component can also be further processed before discharged into a sewer system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: Novus International, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew B. Hopkins, Robert J. DeRosa
  • Device for the separation of oil from water
    Patent number: 5976368
    Abstract: This invention relates to a device for the separation of oil from water containing impurities in industries, waste plants, ships or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Zickert Products A.B.
    Inventor: Andreas Schelin
  • Filter to be inserted into a pipe and heat exchanger equipped with a filter of this kind
    Patent number: 5975311
    Abstract: A filter includes, in a filter body, a filter unit in the general form of a wheel with, for local contraflow circulation of a cleaning fluid through its filter element, a circulation unit to which a pipe is connected. The pipe is an inlet pipe of the cleaning fluid and, on the other side of the filter unit to the circulation unit there is locally interposed in the filter body an interceptor plate, with, connected laterally to the filter body, between the filter element of the filter unit and the interceptor plate, a pipe which is an outlet pipe for the cleaning fluid. Applications include heat exchangers in which solid cleaning elements circulate, for retaining and recycling the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: E. Beaudrey & Cie
    Inventor: Philip Jackson
  • Gas contact tank
    Patent number: 5968352
    Abstract: Intimate contact of water with a treatment gas is achieved by mixing the gas and water co-currently in a conduit containing static mixers, and directing the conduit into a gas contact apparatus that contains coaxial inner and outer tanks, the inner tank being open within, and shorter than, the outer tank, leaving a head space above the top of the inner tank. The conduit discharges the gas-water mixture at the base of the interior of the inner tank, permitting the water to flow upward through the annular space between the inner tank and the conduit, then over the weir formed by the open upper end of the inner tank and downward through the annular space between the inner and outer tanks. Gas is separated from the water at the head space, and treated degasified water leaves the apparatus at the base of the outer tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Novazone
    Inventor: Lee C. Ditzler
  • Device for cleaning trash racks
    Patent number: 5968350
    Abstract: A cleaning device for moving debris adjacent a trash rack, the device having a mounting base for mounting the device adjacent the trash rack and a longitudinally extending arm having a first end and a distal end, the arm being capable of being driven in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the arm, a debris collecting assembly located at the arm distal end, the debris collecting assembly comprising a fixed jaw mounted on the arm and a mobile jaw moveably connected to the fixed jaw by a jaw connecting structure to allow the mobile arm to both pivot and move inwardly with respect to the fixed jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Carold Breton
    Inventor: Christian Davignon
  • Clarifier with sludge dewatering
    Patent number: 5968353
    Abstract: A rectangular clarifying tank has an inclined beach formed of sheet metal and having 575 holes per square inch, each hole having a diameter of 20 thousandths of an inch. Two side chain drives advance several scrapers along the beach. Each scraper has a rotatable knurled pipe which turns the sludge and aids dewatering through the beach. The sludge removed from the clarifier has a solids content of between eight and twelve percent. Additional dewatering may be accomplished by applying a vacuum to the last one-quarter of the beach. A tray positioned beneath the beach collects water which drains through the beach. The drain water may be returned to the clarifier tank or may be directly treated as clarified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Herbert, William A. Gero
  • Method and apparatus for waste water treatment
    Patent number: 5968369
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for removing contaminants from waste water directs the waste water through a first magnetic field. An ionic polymer is introduced into the waste water after the waste water passes through the first magnetic field, whereby at least some contaminants flocculate. Flocculated contaminants are separated from the waste water so as to form a waste water effluent. An oxidizing agent is introduced into the waste water effluent and the waste water and the oxidizing agent are directed through a second magnetic. The waste water is directed through a weir into a trough open to the atmosphere. Air is injected into the trough so that at least one gas within the waste water combines with the air injected into the waste water. The combined air and gas floats to the surface of the waste water and is expelled into the atmosphere. Foam is removed from the waste water in the trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Sorin, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Wayne Anderson, Lee Edward Ellenburg
  • Flotation cell row
    Patent number: 5965857
    Abstract: A flotation cell row including a row of cells through which, in use, a process liquid flows in turn, including a first bank of cells having a last cell 4 being the most downstream cell and a second bank of cells having a first cell 5 being the most upstream cell, the second bank being the bank immediately downstream of the first bank, in which one or both of the last cell 4 and the first cell 5 are structured to define a port 37 having a rim through which, in use, the process liquid flows from the last cell 4 to the first cell 5, and a valve member 10 mounted for movement between a closed position abutting the rim 44 and an open position spaced from rim 44, to control flow of process liquid through the port 37.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen Hughes