Abstract: A filter device has a bypass valve which releases a fluid-conveying path to an outlet when a filter element becomes clogged. The bypass valve includes a closure part on which at least one closure spring acts. To adjust the spring pretension and the opening force for the closure part, an adjusting device is provided for adjusting the opening force of the closure spring. The filter device can be economically adapted without any structural modifications to very different applications in a predetermined pressure range.

Abstract: A chromatography column having at least one central slurry valve positioned at either the top cell assembly and/or the bottom cell assembly. The central slurry valves have a pneumatically actuated valve sleeve which can be shifted to create three different flow configurations. One flow configuration allows for the simultaneous cleaning in place of the flow path used to charge the column with chromatography media and the separate processing of fluid through the chromatography media. The other flow configurations permit the reslurrying and removal of chromatography media from the column, and the subsequent repacking of the column with fresh chromatography media without disassembling the column.

Abstract: A motorized conveyer pulley in which an electric motor is enclosed in a rotating cylinder having a cylindrical inner surface has permanently mounted on the inside surface a magnetic material with sufficient surface to attract and retain magnetic particles for the anticipated life of the pulley.

Abstract: A mixing element for a screw extruder comprises an element including opposing lobes and a central portion having common opposing broad surfaces; one lobe broad surface being formed into a taper. The elements may be used individually or combined in blocks, with the elements of a block oriented in various combinations. The blocks may comprise two or more elements. The tapered lobes provided reduced pressure and temperature of the process as compared to prior art mixing elements. Also, more graduated control over temperature and pressure are provided according to the value of the taper magnitude, the number of elements used in a process and the relative lobe orientations in a machine.

Abstract: A filter includes a cylindrical pleated filter element having a longitudinal axis, an inner and outer periphery, first and second end surfaces, and a plurality of longitudinal pleats. First and second end elements are sealingly arranged with the first and second end surfaces, wherein at least one of the end elements is an open end element. The filter element is a pleated composite that includes a filter medium, an upstream drainage medium and a downstream drainage medium. Each pleat includes a crown, a root, and a pair of legs. The legs of each pleat are joined to one another at the crown of the pleat and are joined to the legs of adjacent pleats at the root of the pleat. Each pleat leg abuts an adjacent pleat leg along the inner periphery of the filter element and the pleats extend from the inner periphery in a curved, an arcuate, an angled, or a straight nonradial direction to the outer periphery.

Abstract: A reverse osmosis water purifier system uses municipal line water pressure to separate pure water molecules from dissolved and undissolved matter. The system makes and stores product water in a sanitary enclosed pressure vessel in the absence of back pressure. A small water cell tank and a hydraulically powered control valve enable delivery at a fast flow rate near line pressure flow rate. The control valve is a combination sensing and multiple valving device that automatically turns on product water when it is called for by a user or an ice-maker. It automatically replaces water that is drawn, then turns itself off when its tank is full. It fast flushes the dirty side of its R.O. membrane while fast flow water is being drawn, and it slow flushes the same side of the membrane while the system is making product water. These alternating slow and fast flushes whisk away residue from a built-in brine restricter. All flushes sweep debris down the drain.

Abstract: A chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) apparatus includes a filtering apparatus for filtering slurry. The filtering apparatus includes an input aperture located at the top of the filter housing and connected to a slurry supplying machine. An output aperture located at the side of the filter housing is connected to a polishing pad. The filtering apparatus also includes a filter attached to the top of the filter housing and a stirring objected located below the filter. A stirrer is located below the filter housing for driving the stirring object without a mechanical contact. The stirring object is preferably bar-shaped and enclosed with PTFE.

Abstract: A wastewater treatment system having a tank with an aeration compartment and a clarifier compartment, an air pump affixed to a top of the tank and having an air line delivering air to the aerator of the aeration compartment. The air line extends through an interior of the tank. A control panel is also affixed to a top of the tank. The control panel is electrically connected to the air pump. A raised platform is formed on the top of the tank such that an outer periphery of the platform intersects at least at one point of the cylindrical wall. The top of the tank also has an access opening formed therein located along the periphery of the cylindrical wall diametrically opposite the platform. The air pump is affixed to the horizontal platform. A housing is attached to the platform. The housing extends over the air pump and the control panel. The housing includes a base affixed to the platform and a cover removably affixed to the base so as to extend over and around the air pump and the control panel.

Abstract: A filter apparatus (10) which dissipates static charge from fluid flowing through the apparatus has a filter housing (12) enclosing a filter element (14). The filter element includes a tubular filter media assembly (15) which incorporates a conductive structure to draw off static charge in fluid passing through the media. The tubular filter media assembly comprises an outer steel mesh support layer (24); a first intermediate layer (25) of a filtration media; a second intermediate layer (26) of a carbon material, e.g., stainless steel, nickel or carbon fiber mesh, mat or matrix; and an inner steel mesh support layer (27). The filter media assembly is pleated and disposed around a central perforated conductive tube (16). The filter media is electrically connected at one or both ends through conductive adhesive or epoxy to at least one conductive end cap (20, 22). The conductive end cap has a central opening (33, 34), and receives a portion of the grounded filter housing (50, 52), for example, an inlet tube.

Abstract: A method for removing a solute from a fluid using magnetically conditioned coagulation includes magnetically conditioning the fluid by applying a conditioning magnetic field to enhance the precipitation of solute particles for coagulation; adding a coagulant to the fluid before, during, or after application of the conditioning magnetic field to coagulate the increased available solute particles to form colloids; and collecting the colloids for removal from the fluid.

Abstract: A filter cartridge assembly includes a filter cartridge having a generally cylindrical filter medium which defines a cylindrically shaped core space, and a pair of end caps fixed to opposite ends of the filter medium. Most preferably, the filter cartridge is "coreless" in that it is not provided with an integral support core structure. At least one of the end caps (e.g., the proximal end cap) is annular and has an interior cylindrical surface defining an interior space in alignment with the core space. A truncated generally conically shaped seal skirt is operatively associated with the annular end caps. The filter cartridge is sleeved over reusable support core structure which includes a base having a truncated conically shaped seal skirt, and a tubular perforated rigid core element fixed at one end to the base. The annular end-cap and the base of the support core structure are removably mechanically coupled to one another, most preferably by being threadably interconnected.

Abstract: A hand portable, field-deployable thin-layer chromatography (TLC) unit and a hand portable, battery-operated unit for development, illumination, and data acquisition of the TLC plates contain many miniaturized features that permit a large number of samples to be processed efficiently. The TLC unit includes a solvent tank, a holder for TLC plates, and a variety of tool chambers for storing TLC plates, solvent, and pipettes. After processing in the TLC unit, a TLC plate is positioned in a collapsible illumination box, where the box and a CCD camera are optically aligned for optimal pixel resolution of the CCD images of the TLC plate. The TLC system includes an improved development chamber for chemical development of TLC plates that prevents solvent overflow.

Abstract: A steam pan manipulation device (16) is provided for handling stainless steel pans (10), commonly known as steam pans or hotel pans, of varying sizes as found in commercial restaurant, catering, and hotel applications for use in steam tables. Use of the device (16) permits the worker to safely carry a tray full of liquid without sloshing, since the center of gravity of the liquid is lower than the point of carrying. Furthermore, the steam pan manipulation device (16) features apertures of an appropriate size, so that the device may be also used as a strainer for separating liquid from the content of the tray while retaining solid content in the tray.

Abstract: A liquid filter includes a barrel defining a cylindrical water chamber having a neck at the middle, a raw water inlet at the bottom side, and a clean water outlet at the top side, a suspension board suspended in the water chamber, a pneumatic cylinder operated to reciprocate pressure means through the suspension board in and out of the neck of in cylindrical water chamber, bundles of fibers respectively suspended from the suspension board for removing solid matter from upward flow of water passing through, a weight board connected to the bundles of fibers and suspended in the water chamber below the neck, and a fabric filter suspended in the water chamber below the weight board, wherein the sizes of the filtering open spaces in the bundles of fibers are reduced when the pressure means is lowered into the neck; the sizes of the filtering open spaces in the bundles of fibers are expanded when the pressure means is lifted away from the neck.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to apparatuses and processes for preparing fibrinogen glue from autologous plasma. More particularly, this invention relates to a novel apparatus comprising a plasma membrane separator to extract and separate the autologous plasma from other undesirable compositions in the blood. The autologous plasma is transferred to a membrane separator to provide separation of the fibrinogen from other compositions with a desirable amount of ether or other suitable solvents containing an-OH group in the presence of a mixing means. The fibrinogen so separated is transferred to a fibrinogen collector which is connected to a vacuum pump through a sterile filter to remove the ether or other suitable solvents contained thereof. A freezer is provided to maintain the autologous plasma in the membrane separator and the fibrinogen in the fibrinogen collector at a desirable temperature.

Abstract: A funnel having at least one channel or groove formed by projected ribs in the sidewalls of the funnel. The projections space the sides of a filter membrane placed inside the funnel, thereby preventing the sides of the filter insert from adhering to the sidewalls of the funnel and allowing the fluid to flow through the sides of the filter insert and into the grooves or channels that conduct the fluid to the discharge orifice of the funnel. The projected ribs are preferably a plurality of raised ribs arranged at approximately 45 degree intervals about the funnel interior surface.

Abstract: A hand mixer 30 is formed with a housing 32 and a handle 34 extending in one direction from the housing. A pair of beaters 58 and 60 can be assembled with the hand mixer 30 and rotated by a motor 88 under the control of a sensory actuator 92. A slidable compliant switch pad 44 provides an external facility for an operator to selectively position the sensory actuator 92 to operate the motor 88, and the beaters 58 and 60, at the different speeds. The sensory actuator 92 provides a tactile response to the operator during selection of the different speeds. The hand mixer 30 is provided with a first embodiment of a beater ejection mechanism 192, or a second embodiment of a beater ejection mechanism 242, for facilitating ejection of the beaters 58 and 60 from the hand mixer. A button 52 located externally on top of the housing 32 provides operational access to the operator to initiate the beater ejection process.

Abstract: A filter is pressed down in a collection tube holding separated blood as a lower solids mass and an upper liquid mass defining with the lower mass an interface. The filter has a sleeve fittable in the tube and having a lower end covered by a membrane that fits snugly in the tube. A vertical level of an upper surface of the upper liquid mass in the tube is detected and a pusher is engaged with an upper end of the sleeve to push the filter downward in the tube. Downward pushing of the filter is stopped when the upper end of the sleeve is at a predetermined spacing above the vertical level of the liquid upper surface. A vertical level of the interface is also detected and downward pushing of the filter is also stopped when the membrane is at the vertical level of the interface. Thus two separate events can trigger stopping of the downward pushing: reaching the interface or reaching a certain fill level in the sleeve.

Abstract: A fluid swivel of the type that includes a transfer chamber (56) formed between inner and outer main parts (52, 54), is constructed so sand and other particles settling out of the fluid, does not find its way into the lower gap passage (86) and quickly wear out a seal. A second of the main parts has a lower wall with a raised barrier (110) close to the top (122) of the lower gap passage. The first main part lower wall forms a first barrier (112) in the form of a projection that lies closely over the second barrier. The two barriers are closely spaced to form an entrance region (120) leading to the lower gap passage, with the entrance region including an upstream entrance part (132) that extends vertically or at an upward incline to discourage the migration of sand therealong.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of stabilizing soil and controlling dust from soil. The invention also relates to disposing of unwanted waste waters produced in purifying water. The method of the present invention includes applying waste water containing 0.15% by weight of the salts of NaCl, CaCl.sub.2, MgCl.sub.2 and mixtures thereof to soil to control dust and effect soil stabilization.