Patents Examined by Tony G. Soohoo
  • Patent number: 10773223
    Abstract: A device for dispersing a water-soluble polymer includes a primary water inlet circuit that feeds an overflow, at the bottom end of the cone, an assembly including a chamber for grinding and draining the dispersed polymer, having a rotor driven by a motor provided with knives, a stator, over all or part of the periphery of the chamber, a ring fed by a secondary water circuit, the ring communicating with the chamber by way of slots for spraying pressurized water onto the stator The slots of the stator and/or the knives of the rotor are tilted at an angle of between 20° and 80° relative to the horizontal plane of the stator and the lateral face of the blade next to the stator is curved in such a way as to make the distance separating the two components substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: S.P.C.M. SA
    Inventors: Julien Bonnier, Emmanuel Pich
  • Patent number: 10765256
    Abstract: A food processing system presents a recipient configured for receiving food ingredients and a lid presenting upwards and downwards sides configured to engage with the perimeter of the recipient thereby at least partially closing the recipient, and a driving arrangement confined within a casing and adapted to drive a tool support arranged inside of the recipient, whereby the lid presents a single lid opening advantageously presenting a generally circular form and disposed, e.g., centrally relative to the lid, whereby the upwards side of the lid presents a first surface extending on a generally outer region of the lid and further presents a second surface extending around the opening and developing at a lower level in respect of the first surface, and whereby the lid further presents a flow guiding unit arranged next to the lid opening and adapted to provide a streamlined flow of a fluid poured into the second surface into the recipient when the lid is placed thereupon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: FLAMA, FABRICA DE LOUCAS E ELECTRODOMESTICOS, SA
    Inventor: Luis Alves
  • Patent number: 10752530
    Abstract: A submersible aerator apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus uses injected air to create both aeration and mixing of a liquid. The apparatus is submersible and may be lowered into a container holding a liquid with suspended and coagulated solids, such as fats, oil, and grease (FOG). Air supplied to the apparatus is injected into the liquid through a hose, which results in an upward flow of large air bubbles and entrained liquid. The upwardly moving large air bubbles are cleaved (i.e., broken apart) by a series of baffle plates that are generally perpendicular to the direction of flow of the air bubbles. This action mixes and aerates the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Inventor: James Dartez
  • Patent number: 10737226
    Abstract: An improved system and method for fluidizing dry powder-based additives into downhole well operations utilizes a dried, low-volume air stream and an ejector nozzle in order to disperse the powders into a liquid stream. In an embodiment, the system can be placed on a powder blending trailer in order to convey additives directly from bulk transport bins into a liquid stream, through the use of an atmospheric pressure hydration tank fitted with a cyclone separator to ensure an even dispersal into the liquid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventors: David O. Trahan, Richard E. Trahan
  • Patent number: 10739328
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for metering the total water added to a concrete load contained in a concrete truck mixing drum. The apparatus includes a coupling for connecting an external water supply, at least two check valves to enable water to be added from either the external water supply or a water tank onboard the truck, and a meter for recording water added to the concrete drum. Separate hoses may be provided for adding water to the drum and for supplying water for use outside the concrete drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventors: Kevin Baird, Eric Koehler, Cesar Constantino, Gary Nininger, Robert Phelabaum, Oscar Bucknor
  • Patent number: 10739795
    Abstract: Methods and systems for high precision, continuous blending of mixtures, and particularly mixtures having at least two distinct chemical components, are disclosed. More particularly, the disclosed methods and systems provide high precision, continuous blending of buffered oxide etch mixtures containing water, ammonium fluoride, and hydrofluoric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Air Liquide Electronics U.S. LP
    Inventor: Kevin T. O'Dougherty
  • Patent number: 10737664
    Abstract: A cleaning system is disclosed for cleaning concrete residue from a concrete mixer truck. The cleaning system may include a water delivery system having one or more conduits configured to deliver pressurized water to one or more spray headers positioned at various back-end portions of the truck. The cleaning system further includes one or more valves configured to control the flow of pressurized water through the one or more conduits to the one or more spray headers. In various embodiments, the one or more valves are manually operable to control the release of water to the spray headers. In other embodiments, the one or more valves are controlled by a computing device through an electrical coupling such as a communication bus. The cleaning system may be configured to clean different portions of the truck using different sets of spray headers at different times as part of a washing protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Beck Manufacturing International, Inc.
    Inventors: James Frank Beck, III, James Frank Beck, II, Thomas Christopher Beck
  • Patent number: 10730025
    Abstract: Involved is the technical field of a stirring device, specifically a stirring device for treatment of photoresist settlement and a photoresist tank. The stirring device includes a sleeve shaft, an inner telescopic shaft, a stirring component, and a rotary rod, wherein, the rotary rod is mounted on an upper end of the sleeve shaft for driving the sleeve shaft to rotate; the stirring component is arranged on a lower end of the sleeve shaft and rotates with the sleeve shaft; and the inner telescopic shaft is arranged inside of the sleeve shaft and connected to the stirring component for controlling opening and closing of the stirring component. Stirring plates approach a bottom portion of the photoresist tank, at which moment manual control is adopted to control stirring of the stirring device upward from the bottom gradually, so as to achieve the objective of homogeneous component of the photoresist. The photoresist is stirred to be more homogeneous. A lot of manpower and material resources are saved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: WUHAN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Ninglin Tang
  • Patent number: 10722384
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and kits for preparing a medical mixture are disclosed. A method of preparing the medical mixture includes introducing a material into a tray, transferring the material from the tray to a scooper, releasably securing the scooper to the tray, and introducing a tubular member defining a lumen into the scooper such that the material within the scooper enters the lumen. A mixing apparatus includes a tray comprising a body defining a mixing receptacle configured to receive a material, a scooper having a proximal end with a proximal opening and a distal end with a distal opening, and a connector configured to releasably secure the scooper to the tray. A kit includes a tubular member, a stylet, a tray, and a scooper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Stevenson, Jon E. Hoogenakker, Alexander Cromett, Zachary Rzeszutek
  • Patent number: 10717057
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a fluid mixing system. In an embodiment, the fluid mixing system includes a first vessel; a second vessel disposed within the first vessel; a mixer disposed outside of the first vessel in fluid communication with the second vessel; and a media introduction port disposed outside of the first vessel in fluid communication with the mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN PERFORMANCE PLASTICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark McElligott, Eric T Wyatt, Craig R. Maki
  • Patent number: 10711176
    Abstract: The present invention is a device and a method that combines a carbon disulfide-releasing chemical with a low pH organic or inorganic acid to produce a carbon disulfide-containing fluid at or near the point of injection that minimizes or eliminates the possible exposure of carbon disulfide to workers and the environment. In one particular embodiment a positive displacement injection pump injects the carbon disulfide-containing fluid into a crude oil system for treating crude oil transmission lines and in downhole tubulars to remove paraffin deposits. The device uses a unique in-line motion mixer to mix two fluids. The device is electronically controlled locally and remotely with the system operating data displayed locally and transmitted remotely. The paraffin treating carbon disulfide-containing fluid and supplemental chemicals dissolve, disperse and remove paraffin deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Inventor: David O. Trahan
  • Patent number: 10689302
    Abstract: A method of preparing a concrete composition for downhole injection includes utilizing a controller to control a process including circulating process water in a process water supply loop for a predetermined period while monitoring and controlling the temperature and flow rate of the process water, circulating aqueous-based air entrainment solution in an aqueous-based air entrainment solution supply loop for the predetermined period and controlling the flow rate of the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and after the predetermined period of time in which the flow of process water and aqueous-based air entrainment solution have stabilized, simultaneously actuating valves to divert and mix the process water, the aqueous-based air entrainment solution and compressed air to produce an air-entrained foam and mixing the foam with a concrete composition to be deployed downhole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: MACH IV, LLC
    Inventors: Charles D. Welker, Norman Scott Smith
  • Patent number: 10687669
    Abstract: A programmable blender having record and playback features includes a record mode and a playback mode. When the blender is placed into the record mode, a processor stores a user created blending sequence to a memory unit. Alternatively, when the blender is placed into a playback mode, the processor automatically controls the operation of the blender in accordance with the stored blending sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Vita-Mix Management Corporation
    Inventor: David J. Kolar
  • Patent number: 10688456
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are fluidic mixers having bifurcated fluidic flow through toroidal mixing elements. The mixers operate, at least partially, by Dean vortexing. Accordingly, the mixers are referred to as Dean Vortex Bifurcating Mixers (“DVBM”). The DVBM utilize Dean vortexing and asymmetric bifurcation of the fluidic channels that form the mixers to achieve the goal of optimized microfluidic mixing. The disclosed DVBM mixers can be incorporated into any fluidic (e.g., microfluidic) device known to those of skill in the art where mixing two or more fluids is desired. The disclosed mixers can be combined with any fluidic elements known to those of skill in the art, including syringes, pumps, inlets, outlets, non-DVBM mixers, heaters, assays, detectors, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: The University of British Columbia
    Inventors: Andre Wild, Timothy Leaver, Robert James Taylor
  • Patent number: 10682016
    Abstract: An electrically operated food processor with a mixing bowl and a mixer in the mixing bowl is provided with a camera, in particular an electronic camera, which is potentially directed towards the user of the food processor, and with stored gesture recognition software, as well as a gesture data bank, it being possible to use gesture recognition to cause the food processor to carry out a routine task.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventor: Hendrik Koetz
  • Patent number: 10682617
    Abstract: A stirrer (2) for a stirrer vessel (20), which stirrer (2) comprises a stirrer head (1), a drive unit (4) and a magnetic coupling (3), wherein the magnetic coupling (3) has drive magnets (5) connected to the drive unit (4) and stirrer head magnets (6) connected to the stirrer head (1), wherein the stirrer head (1) has stirrer blades (7) and a bearing assembly (8) and wherein the stirrer blades (7) are connected to the stirrer head magnets (6) and the bearing assembly (8), wherein the bearing assembly (8) rotatably supports the stirrer head (1) and the bearing assembly (8) comprises a first rotational bearing (9), wherein the bearing assembly (8) comprises a second rotational bearing (10), which is arranged spaced apart from the first rotational bearing (9) in the stirrer head (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Zeta Biopharma GmbH
    Inventors: Nicole Zangl, Erwin Trummer, Karl Münzer
  • Patent number: 10675598
    Abstract: An improved a device and method for dispersion and simultaneous orientation of nanoparticles within a matrix is provided. A mixer having a shaft and a stator is provided. The shaft may have a rupture region and erosion region. Further, an orienter having an angled stationary plate and a moving plate are provided. The nanoparticles and the matrix are fed into the mixer. A rotational force is applied to the shaft to produce shearing forces. The shearing forces disperse and exfoliate the nanoparticles within the matrix. The dispersed mixture is outputted onto the moving plate. The moving plate is forced across the angled stationary plate to produce fully developed laminar shear flow. The fully developed laminar shear flow or the two-dimensional extensional drag flow orients the dispersed nanoparticles-matrix mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
    Assignee: SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS
    Inventors: Ilchgerel Dash, Robb M. Winter
  • Patent number: 10668440
    Abstract: Dust produced by handling proppant during fracking or other mechanical operations can be a health and/or safety hazard. The dust can be eliminated or at least mitigated using a method of conducting a hydraulic fracturing or other mechanical operation on an oil or gas well including treating a proppant that has been transported to an end use site at a level sufficient to prevent the formation of dust during handling of the proppant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Hexion Inc.
    Inventors: John W. Green, Jerome F. Borges, Scott E. Spillars, Regie Ahmad, Justin Niles, Leo Elder, Adrian Barajas, Chris E. Higganbotham
  • Patent number: 10668001
    Abstract: A customized skin care composition. The skin care composition includes a base composition comprising one of an aqueous alcohol composition or an aqueous emulsion. The skin care composition further includes at least two booster compositions selected from the group consisting of a first grade exfoliating agent; a second grade exfoliating agent, the second grade exfoliating agent providing greater exfoliating than the first grade exfoliating agent; a first grade whitening agent; a second grade whitening agent, the second grade whitening agent providing greater whitening than the first grade whitening agent; a first grade anti-aging agent; and a second grade anti-aging agent, the second grade anti-aging agent providing greater anti-aging effects than the first grade anti-aging agent. The base composition and the at least two booster compositions have been mixed to form a composition that is stable and has efficacious concentrations of active ingredients corresponding to skin conditions of a consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: L'OREAL
    Inventors: Gloria Lu, Donna McCann, Patricia Brieva
  • Patent number: 10662060
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing lipid-based nanoparticles using a dual asymmetrical centrifuge, products produced by means of said method, kits for producing said nanoparticles using a dual asymmetrical centrifuge, and accessories for carrying out the inventive method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Ulrich Massing