Patents Examined by W. L. Walker
  • Patent number: 6241894
    Abstract: The separation device of the invention is directed to a container having an interior surface defining a channel. The container further has an inlet and an outlet. On the interior surface of the channel are pole tips which may be in a sawtooth configuration having sharp angles facing the interior of the channel that generate a high gradient magnetic field in the channel. Within the channel may be incorporated separating material. The separating material eliminates the direct contact of cells with the magnetic pole material. The separating material, as well as the sawtooth pole tips also serves the purpose of creating a field gradient across the entire container to avoid the problem of zero field gradient in the center of the container where the velocity is greatest, and where more cells flow. The separating material is designed to cause a substantially unobstructed flow of medium through the channel so that unlabeled substances are not trapped in the separating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Systemix
    Inventors: Donald David Briggs, Srikanth Ranga Chary, Shang-Chih David Jen, Richard Merrill Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6241377
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously tempering chocolate masses and the like includes a plurality of tempering chambers (17) including tempering surfaces (18) and being interconnected for the flow of a tempering medium. A plurality of mass chambers (7) is interconnected for the flow of the mass to be tempered, each of the mass chambers (7) being arranged between the tempering surfaces (18) of the tempering chambers (17). A plurality of driven mixing discs (6) has a radius, a circumference, an outer diameter, an inner diameter, a top side (10) and a bottom side (11). The mixing discs (6) are arranged inside the mass chambers (7), and they include openings (22) allowing for a passage of the mass to be tempered from the bottom side (11) toward the top side (10). A majority of mixing blades (12) is arranged at the top sides (10) and at the bottom sides (11) of the mixing discs (6) without continuous channels being formed between the mixing blades (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Sollich GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Hans Heyde
  • Patent number: 6241895
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and a spectrum water generator for processing water with an electromagnetic field, wherein the spectrum water generator comprises a water pipe 1, iron core 2, coil 3 and control circuit, said iron core 2 is a ring-form iron core 2 with air gap 4, said iron core 2 is made up of D44 silicon-steel sheets; said water pipe 1 is plugged in said air gap 4; said coil 3 is placed at both sides of said air gap 4, the input and output ends L1, L2 of said coil 3 are connected with control circuit, the control circuit is connected with power supply. With the spectrum water generator of the present invention, tap water and drinking water can be processed into high-quality water of high oxygen intensity, smaller water particles, and permeates into the human body through drinking or shower, thus improves the micro-circulation of human body and achieves the goal of heath keeping and disease treatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Guangdong Junfeng Industry & Commerce Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ben Chen, Junling Chen, Xianfeng Chen, Yi Zhao
  • Patent number: 6238081
    Abstract: An ultra-lean dilution apparatus is provided for proportioning minute quantities of a first fluid, such as a concentrated cleaning solution, for mixing into a second fluid, such as tap water, which provides improved performance and which can be manufactured by assembling several molded components with little or no machining. The dilution apparatus (20) provides a selective pressure drop in a conduit (22) by including a plurality of dilution disks (50a-50f), each dilution disk (50a-50f) having a tortuous path (52a-52f) of sufficient cross-sectional area to be resistant to clogging and having a sufficient number of sharp turns to create a desired pressure drop. While each disk (50a-50f) produces a predetermined drop, the serial configuration of the tortuous paths of the plurality of dilution disks is additive to produce a range of dilution suitable for the chemicals used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Hydro Systems Company
    Inventor: William F. Sand
  • Patent number: 6238561
    Abstract: A corrugated axial filter (148) has a plurality of flow channels (178, 180, 182, 184, 208, 212) extending axially from the upstream dirty frontside (146) of the filter to the downstream clean backside (160) of the filter. Each channel has an upstream opening (186) at the upstream dirty frontside and has top and bottom walls (188 and 190) and right and left sidewalls (192 and 194) extending from the opening rearwardly toward the downstream clean backside. The right and left sidewalls taper towards each other as they extend rearwardly to define a triangular shaped flow channel. Right and left sidewalls of adjacent flow channels are a single continuous sheet of filter material (130) in a zig-zag pattern (134) with a plurality of fold lines including a first set of fold lines (136, 138, 140, 142, 144) at the upstream dirty frontside and a second set of fold lines (150, 152, 154, 156, 158) at the downstream clean backside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Nelson Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhili G. Liu, Tadeusz Jaroszczyk, Jerald J. Moy
  • Patent number: 6238560
    Abstract: A filter element assembly (10) has at least two cylindrically-shaped and concentrically-arranged filter media sleeves (11, 12), each connected at one end thereof to an inlet plate (13) and each connected at the other end to a terminal plate (20). Openings (16) are provided in the inlet plate to permit entry of liquid to be filtered into the annular space between the filter sleeves. The terminal plate is closed to prevent the flow of unfiltered liquid from the annular space between the sleeves and to force the liquid through the porous media of the sleeves to effect filtration. The ends of the filter sleeves are ultrasonically welded to flanges extending from the plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Moshe Gershenson
  • Patent number: 6238572
    Abstract: An apparatus for the separation of immiscible liquids from liquid influent has a containment vessel. An influent channel extends toward the bottom of the vessel so the influent is discharged vertically upward, a downwardly curved deflection plate is mounted above and aligned with the discharge end of the influent channel, and a plate with a downward slope from a central location extends toward the periphery of the vessel in a lower portion of the vessel than the deflection plate. This permits the influent to move radially outwardly thus slowing the influent and providing a residence time for gravitational separation of lighter immiscible liquids from the influent. A gap between the downward slope plate and the discharge end of the influent channel permits gravitational release of trapped immiscible liquids. A transfer tube, a sensor, and a pump are provided to pump the separated immiscible liquids out to a remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Clearline Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Batten
  • Patent number: 6234659
    Abstract: A plasticating apparatus adapted to handle a wide variety of synthetic resinous materials without predrying. The plasticating apparatus includes a two-stage screw rotatably and reciprocably mounted within a barrel. A surge suppressor is provided between the first and second stages and is comprised of an integral protrusion of the screw root and a deep channel section immediately preceding the protrusion. The surge suppressor prevents the surge of molten material into the vent area following the holding portion of an injection molding cycle, thereby allowing faster recovery and preventing bleeding of plasticized material from the vent opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: HPM Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen T. Takashima, John C. Medici, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6228016
    Abstract: A simple but still effective sealing device to separate two openings (4, 5), which are arranged at a distance from each other in the outer casing (3) of a shaft suspension unit (1), which supports a shaft (2) of a centrifugal separator in a bearing (8, 9), the shaft extending axially through at least one opening (4) into a space surrounding the shaft (2) in the outer casing (3). The sealing device is provided with sealing elements (12, 13), one connected to the outer casing (3) and one connected to the shaft (2), which surround the shaft (2) and divide the space in two departments (15, 16) connected to one opening each (4, 5, respectively). The sealing elements form between themselves a narrow gap (14) surrounding the shaft (2), which prevents the flow of gas between the departments (15, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Alfa Laval AB
    Inventors: Aksel Kristensen, Sven-Åke Nilsson, Jouko Pitkämäki, Carl Peder Öhlander, Robert Sandblom
  • Patent number: 6228153
    Abstract: A solvent delivery pump assembly for use in high performance liquid chromatography systems, which accurately delivers a solvent (eluent) drawn from a reservoir, and having removed gases, dissolved in the eluent, and then delivering the eluent as desired for analysis. The apparatus comprises two pump units, each with two plungers of different diameters on a single shaft; one of the plungers in one of the pump unit is of a large diameter size for driving a first pump head in large volume, and the other plunger in the other pump unit is of a smaller diameter for driving a second pump head in small volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignees: Micro Electronics Inc., Moleh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshinori Saitoh
  • Patent number: 6228261
    Abstract: An appliance for fragmenting heterogeneous elements of a fluid medium comprising a filter module with an inlet connected to a supply line for the fluid medium including heterogeneous elements and an outlet connected to a fluid medium outlet line. The filter module comprises a series of channels inside which the fluid medium is to be circulated. The appliance further comprises a planar fragmentation device which is located upstream of the inlet and comprises passages. In accordance with the invention, the planar device constitutes a screen comprising passages which have one dimension equal to the smallest dimension of the cross section of flow of the channels divided by n, where n is in the range 1.4 to 10. The passages are formed from cutting separator elements which define the passages and have a minimum thickness in the range 0.1 mm to 2 mm to ensure fragmentation of heterogeneous elements of the fluid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme: T.A.M.I. Industries
    Inventors: André Grangeon, Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 6224251
    Abstract: A continuous type kneading machine comprising a chamber formed by a pair of parallel cylindrical cavities communicated with each other at their sides and a pair of rotatable rotors housed in disengaging state in the cavities, wherein each of the rotors is formed in a blade form having a spiral angle and a constant cross section in the axial direction, and directions of the spiral angles of the rotors in the cavities are opposite to each other and a phase difference in the axial direction during rotation of the rotors is kept at constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masafumi Kuratsu, Haruyuki Nishimi, Michiharu Toh, Toyohiko Gondoh
  • Patent number: 6224252
    Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and process for blending high purity chemicals to produce a high purity chemical mixture with circulation, purification and sensing of said chemical mixture between blending of said high purity chemicals and storage of said high purity chemicals for use, ultimately to produce a high purity chemical mixture for on-site use in treating semiconductor materials, such as at a semiconductor fabrication facility that processes silicon wafers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: James Platt Munroe, Richard Linton Samsal, Bruce Herman Greenawald
  • Patent number: 6224754
    Abstract: A liquid filter assembly comprises a filter cartridge and a filter head in fluid communication with the filter housing. A filter media construction is positioned within the housing. The filter media construction, in combination with the housing, defines an unfiltered liquid volume and a filtered liquid volume. The filter head includes an inlet for conveying liquid to the unfiltered liquid volume, a first outlet for conveying liquid from the filtered liquid volume, and a second outlet. A first valve assembly is provided which is constructed and arranged to selectively permit passage of liquid from the unfiltered liquid volume through the second outlet, in response to a first selected liquid pressure level within the unfiltered liquid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Schiavon, Johan Fobe
  • Patent number: 6224752
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having an aeration tank (20) is provided with an operations control center (12) that includes a controller (64) and an aerator pump (50) mounted atop a base (58), which is in turn mounted atop a platform (56). A plurality of electrical lines (66) extend from the controller through respective conduits (90, 92, 94, 96). The conduits extend through and are sealingly engaged by holes in the base and the platform. A compression fitting (136) and coupler (154) are included to provide a fluid-tight seal. This arrangement is advantageous because it prevents corrosive gases from entering the operations control center and corroding the terminals thereof. Also described is a wastewater treatment system that includes a pretreatment tank (244), an aeration tank (20), and a pump tank (202) secured together by a connector that includes bands (260, 262) and spacing means (264, 268) for maintaining a fixed-spaced relationship between the tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Aqua Partners, Ltd.
    Inventor: T. Gig Drewery
  • Patent number: 6220454
    Abstract: A compact, high capacity in-tank fuel filter defines a large surface area while simultaneously occupying a relatively small space and defining a small footprint. The filter comprises a body of filtration media and an outlet fitting which is integrally molded to the filtration media and provides communication from the interior of the filter to an associated fuel pump to which it is typically mounted. The filtration media of the body is folded upon itself in a multiple accordion fold configuration and sealed along the non-folded edges. The resulting surface area to size (footprint) ratio provides improved flow capacity, reduced pressure drop and extended service life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Kuss Corporation
    Inventor: Hugh G. Chilton
  • Patent number: 6217775
    Abstract: The present invention uses fish bones and fish hard parts to remediate, clean-up, stabilize, immobilize, or otherwise treat metal-contaminated water, soil or waste of any sort. The fish bones and fish hard parts can be mixed in with soils and wastes, or emplaced as a permeable reactive barrier in a trench or excavation, or emplaced as a liner or barrier surrounding a waste form, disposal site, or contaminated site. All that is needed is intimate contact between the fish bones and fish hard parts and the contaminated waste form, soil particles, or water. In a system of, for example, soil, waste, groundwater, surface water, waste streams, or the digestive tracts of animals, the presence of fish bones and fish hard parts reduces the amount of metal that can mobilize and migrate out of the system. Fish bones and fish hard parts remove metals from waters passing through the system or originating within the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: James L. Conca, Judith Wright
  • Patent number: 6216880
    Abstract: A filter device for separating particulate material from a stream of flowable plastics; the device comprises a body member having at least a filter chamber and a flow path extending between inlet and outlet sides. A filter band transversally extends in said filter chamber, across the flow path, being supported by a back-plate having a perforated area. An axially movable valving member comprising a flow passage for the plastic material, is provided into the chamber, and an actuator to axially move the valving member between an advanced and a retracted position in which the valving member connects respectively disconnects the flow passage from the inlet or the outlet sides of the device, and for sealingly clamping the filter band peripherally around the perforated area of the back-plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Assignee: Previero N. S.R.L.
    Inventor: Flavio Previero
  • Patent number: 6214215
    Abstract: A flexibly resilient sealing member, incorporating integral pressure relief valves, for use in an oil filter assembly, includes a substantially annular body formed from a flexibly resilient material. The annular body has a central bore formed therein for surrounding an oil filter outlet. The annular body also has an upper surface with a plurality of normally closed slits formed therein, a shoulder portion around its top outer edge for sealing placement inside a cylindrical filter element, and a flow channel formed therethrough for each of the normally closed slits, each of the flow channels extending downwardly from one of the normally closed slits and terminating in an open inlet below the shoulder portion and outside of the central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Berkey, Allen B. Wright
  • Patent number: 6214227
    Abstract: A ceramic filter module includes a plurality of passage holes (11) and internal passage holes (12) alternately arranged about a plurality of ceramic partitions (15). The internal passage holes are sealed at each end by seals (13). The partitions are at most 1 mm thick and allow fluid to be filtered as the fluid flows from passage holes (11) to the internal passage holes (12). A plurality of discharge holes (14) traversing through the ceramic partitions between adjacent internal passage holes or between an internal passage hole and an outer surface allow the permeate to exit. The module is a porous ceramic body that preferably has an average pore diameter of 1 &mgr;m and is composed of silicon nitride. The ceramic filter module has the advantages of low permeation resistance and very high permeability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jin-Joo Park, Chihiro Kawai