Patents Examined by Walter D. Griffin
  • Patent number: 12344535
    Abstract: A fluid decontamination and apparatus and a method of fluid decontamination, introducing, via an inlet nozzle, a contaminated fluid from a fluid source into a continuous pipe section. The inlet nozzle is coupled to the continuous pipe section that enables fluid flow therethrough. Hydrodynamic cavitation is generated upon exiting the inlet nozzle within the continuous pipe section by spraying and evenly distributing the fluid that induces cavitation formation within the fluid across a three dimensionally open structured (3DOS) substrate disposed within the continuous pipe section. The 3DOS structure is positioned proximate to the inlet nozzle such that the hydrodynamic cavitation generated by the inlet nozzle enters the 3DOS substrate and the 3DOS substrate maintains the hydrodynamic cavitation of the fluid flow into the 3DOS substrate to enable destruction of toxic species and unwanted organic compounds contained in the contaminated fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2024
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Inventor: Gerald Voecks
  • Patent number: 12344539
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to method of treating water/wastewater using a plasmon-enhanced catalytic ozonation process. Water/wastewater often contains numerous pollutants, some of which are particularly difficult and inefficient to remove and require energy-intensive treatment such as advanced oxidation processes. The present plasmonic metal nanostructured catalyst is configured to interact with electromagnetic radiation through excitation of localized surface plasmon resonance, leading to accelerated ozone decomposition and reactive species generation. The reactive species oxidizes water pollutants, resulting in a water treatment process that avoids excessive energy input and creation of toxic byproducts. In an exemplary application of the plasmon-enhanced catalytic ozonation process, the atrazine degradation rate is increased compared to conventional ozonation and catalytic ozonation processes, owing to the plasmonic effects of Ag in the plasmonic metal nanostructured catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2025
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on Behalf of The University of Alabama In Huntsville
    Inventors: Tingtang Wu, Wenwen Yang, Yu Lei
  • Patent number: 12326200
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge cassette assembly (800) for separating a fluid and related method of manufacture. The cassette assembly includes a first chamber, a second chamber (308), a fluidic channel (808) creating a fluid connection between the first chamber and the second chamber, at least one molded insertion valve (600, 700) configured to control the flow of fluid in the fluidic channel and a heating element (802) for actuating the at least one molded valve. Further provided are Normally Open Valves (NOVs) (700) and Normally Closed Valves (NCVs) (600) which are capable of insertion into, and which control the fluid flow of, the centrifuge cassette assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2025
    Assignee: Terumo BCT, Inc.
    Inventors: Randy Peery, James Ladtkow, Jesse Janzen, Andrew Gloor, Kevin Klimek
  • Patent number: 12319595
    Abstract: A fully stand-alone modular system which integrates tandems of photo-anodes and photovoltaic cells in a photo-electrochemical cell configuration. Such a system consists of devices capable of using only solar energy, in particular by utilizing the visible spectrum, so as to decontaminate the wastewater from emerging pollutants, with the simultaneous production of hydrogen as an added value to the decontamination process, by means of photocatalytic processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: UNIVERSITA' DEGLI STUDI DI FERRARA
    Inventors: Donato Vincenzi, Micol Boschetti, Paolo Bernardoni, Carlo Alberto Bignozzi, Stefano Caramori, Vito Cristino, Luisa Pasti
  • Patent number: 12318709
    Abstract: A system and a method of continuously separating submicron thickness laminar solid particles from a solid suspension, segregating the suspension into a submicron thickness particle fraction suspension and a residual particle fraction suspension, the method comprising the steps of; providing a continuous centrifuge apparatus; providing a suspension of submicron thickness laminar solid particles in a solid suspension; wherein the solid suspension comprises the submicron thickness solid particles in a liquid continuous phase; separating the solid suspension in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2025
    Assignee: BLACK SWAN GRAPHENE INC.
    Inventors: Paul Ladislaus, Lee Glasgow
  • Patent number: 12286369
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of treating an aqueous solution containing impurities including a perfluoroalkyl substance and/or a polyfluoroalkyl substance, comprising introducing the aqueous solution into a batch or semi-batch photocatalytic reactor with a microparticulate catalyst configured to reduce chain length of the perfluoroalkyl substance and/or polyfluoroalkyl substance, forming a treated aqueous stream, the reactor including a catalyst flow controller configured to automatically increase the catalyst concentration in the reactor while agitating the catalyst-containing solution during reaction, and removing catalyst particles from the treated aqueous stream to form a purified aqueous stream. In some cases, the feed to the reactor is atomized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2025
    Assignee: Geyser Remediation LLC
    Inventors: Nikolas C.-J. Franceschi-Hofmann, Brendan MacIntyre, Nora Chov
  • Patent number: 12280380
    Abstract: A solids separation apparatus (SSA) for removing solids concentrate from a continuous fluid stream. The solids separation apparatus includes a tower. The SSA includes a transducer operably engaged with a first end of the tower and configured to generate a standing sonic wave inside of the tower. The SSA also includes a reflector operably engaged with an opposing second of the tower and configured to reflect the standing sonic wave towards the transducer. The SSA also includes at least one set of ports defined in an interior wall of at least one solids removal stage of the tower. The at least one set of ports is positioned at anti-nodes of the standing sonic wave to recover solids concentrate from a fluid stream flowing through the tower. The transducer and the reflector of the SSA are linearly moveable relative to the tower to linearly move the standing sonic wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: Mage LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Miller, Scott E. Miller, Franklin N. Koontz
  • Patent number: 12280382
    Abstract: A centrifuge system includes a centrifuge and a feed line fluidly connected to centrifuge with the centrifuge driven by a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system includes an electric motor driving a hydraulic pump connected to a fluid reservoir with the hydraulic pump providing hydraulic fluid to one or more hydraulic motors which in turn rotate the centrifuge. The system includes a pressure sensor for measuring fluid pressure and a speed sensor for measuring the rotational speed of the centrifuge. A controller can be in communication with the hydraulic system and the sensors and can receive measurements from the sensors and adjust the pressure of hydraulic fluid flowing to the one or more hydraulic motors to maintain a rotational speed of the centrifuge based on differing loads. The system can include one or more valves, controlled by the controller, which can also adjust the hydraulic pressure of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2025
    Assignee: ELGIN SEPARATION SOLUTIONS INDUSTRIALS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Rai Anderson, Emad Tariq Babri, William Merida
  • Patent number: 12275021
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator bowl, having a vertical rotational axis, the separator bowl defining a separation space, and including an upper bowl section having a first threading, the first threading having a first inner diameter and a first outer diameter and defining an upper surface, and a lower bowl section having a second threading corresponding to the first threading of the upper bowl section, the second threading having a second outer diameter and a second inner diameter and defining a lower surface. The upper surface of the first threading of the upper bowl section and the lower surface of the second threading of the lower bowl section form a screw connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2025
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Jouko Pitkämäki, Stefan Svensson
  • Patent number: 12268986
    Abstract: A device for conversion of carbon dioxide to oxygen, includes, in order, an axial compressor, a centrifuge compressor, a drum, an air pump, and a housing which provides an accommodating space to house the above assemblies together. The axial compressor and centrifuge compressor inhale the carbon dioxide rich air into the accommodating space, then the carbon dioxide rich air pass through the surface of the reactor drum which cause the carbon dioxide bouncing between the reactor drum and the wall of the accommodating space, the collisions of the carbon dioxide molecules will bend and break the molecule bond between carbon and oxygen to produce oxygen. The device, as mentioned earlier, provides a solution to the greenhouse effect, which eliminates the carbon dioxide and generates oxygen by physical method, and advances a design to enhance the conversion process, which has the potential of being enlargement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Inventor: Rue-Lan Liang
  • Patent number: 12269765
    Abstract: A method for treating wastewater having one or more of suspended solids, dissolved solids, biological oxygen demand includes solids filtration followed by a bi-polar/bi-directional flow through ionic module fitted with anionically/cationically charged plates followed by a sub-sonic resonance module followed by another bi-polar/bi-directional flow through ionic module followed by a ultra-sonic resonance module followed by one or more anion/cation collection membrane modules. Recycle is provided in each step, wherein each step may be repeated, and wherein one or more of the steps can be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Fluent Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Philip C. Shehane
  • Patent number: 12264094
    Abstract: A method for chromium removal from post-tanning wastewater includes the following steps: (a) mixing pretreated post-tanning wastewater with an induction reagent to allow an induction reaction; and (b) adjusting a pH of a mixture obtained after the induction reaction to higher than 7.0 for precipitation; where the induction reagent includes a soluble metal salt. In the treatment method of the present disclosure, pretreated post-tanning wastewater is mixed with an induction reagent, a small amount of neutral chromium complexes remaining in the wastewater are converted into cationic chromium complexes under the action of the induction reagent (that is, a charge property of the chromium complex is changed), and then a pH is adjusted for precipitation to remove chromium, which greatly improves the removal efficiency of chromium in wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: SICHUAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Jianfei Zhou, Liming Zhao, Bi Shi, Yuling Tang
  • Patent number: 12263490
    Abstract: An exchangeable separation insert for a centrifugal separator includes a feed inlet, a light phase outlet and a heavy phase outlet. Two of the feed inlet, light phase outlet and heavy phase outlet are arranged at a first axial end of the rotor casing. A first seal assembly seals and connects the two inlet/outlets to a corresponding inlet conduit and/or outlet conduits in the first stationary portion. The first seal assembly includes a rotatable part and a stationary part. The rotatable and stationary part are axially aligned and seal against each other. A first of the two inlet/outlets is arranged axially at the axis of rotation and a second of the two inlet/outlets is arranged axially outside of the first of the two inlet/outlets in such a manner that both the first and second of the two inlet/outlets are led through the rotatable part and the corresponding inlet conduit and/or outlet conduits are led through the stationary part of the first seal assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Kasper Höglund
  • Patent number: 12263491
    Abstract: A device for separating blood into a plurality of blood components by centrifugal force includes a first chamber for receiving a blood bag filled with blood to be separated. Each separated blood component is located in a separate portion of the blood bag according to its specific weight. A second chamber receives at least one component bag to be filled with a blood component. The component bag has an inlet opening connected to an outlet opening of the blood bag by a line that has a controllable valve. A displacement body in the first chamber exerts a pressing force onto the blood bag. A control unit opens the valve until a blood component passes into the component bag as a result of the pressing force. The displacement body generates the pressing force with the aid of the centrifugal force and/or with the aid of a spring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: LMB Technologie GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Jentsch
  • Patent number: 12258285
    Abstract: Band-pass filters for guiding or controlling crystal polymorphism in water are provided. Band-pass filters convert a passive energy source to a spectral energy pattern tuned to resonant with different types of molecular oscillations pertinent to water. Tuned energy patterns convert problematic insoluble crystals to more thermodynamically stable and soluble crystals. Methods include use of the band-pass filter in water and design of band-pass filter parameters for optimal use on a particular water source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: SYNERGETIC OIL TOOLS, INC.
    Inventor: Amber T. Krummel
  • Patent number: 12258287
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method, a device, and/or a system of water treatment through ozone generated from an invertible ozonation cap attachable to a vessel. In one embodiment, a cap for treating water inside a vessel includes an exterior surface of the cap, a fastener for attaching the cap to an opening of the vessel, a power source, an electrolytic ozone generator comprising an electrode that generates dissolved ozone and/or ozone gas when both the electrode is exposed to the water and a current from the power source is applied to the electrode, and an interior surface of the cap that exposes an anode of the electrode such that the water inside the vessel can contact the anode when the cap is inverted such that the dissolved zone and/or ozone gas rises up through the water of the vessel for increased water treatment effectiveness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Marianna DeMyer
  • Patent number: 12257588
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator for separating solids from a liquid stream has a rotating drum with a perforated outer wall, an auger in the rotating drum, and a driver that rotates the drum and the auger. The drum has an inlet at a first end for receiving the liquid stream, and a solids outlet at a second end. The auger has a helical flight with an outer edge that is immediately adjacent to an inner surface of the outer wall. The driver rotates the rotating drum to apply a centrifugal force to fluids within the rotating drum such that liquid exits via the perforated outer wall, and the auger is rotated at a different speed such that the auger removes solids from an inner surface of the rotating drum and conveys the solids toward the solids outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Inventor: Jeremy Leonard
  • Patent number: 12252417
    Abstract: Automated systems to make target compounds from slide stainer waste streams inactive utilizing advanced oxidation processes are described herein. Advanced oxidation processes are promoted by UV irradiation and further accelerated by use of radical initiators, such as hydrogen peroxide. The automated systems further include mechanisms for segregating components of the waste streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Crum, Joseph M. Jakubowski, Jerome W. Kosmeder, II, Eric May, Michael Otter, Taylor J. Shingler, Benjamin C. Stevens
  • Patent number: 12252425
    Abstract: The present invention entails dual centrifuges configured to remove suspended solids, silica, and other precipitants from evaporator brine prior to the brine being disposed of via deep well injection. First, the evaporator brine is directed through a highly efficient first centrifuge configured to remove essentially all suspended solids, including very small suspended solids that typically cannot be retained in a filter or other dewatering devices. The centrate from the first centrifuge, depleted in suspended solids, silica and other precipitants, can be disposed of via deep well injection. The first centrifuge also produces a slurry that is directed to a separate centrifuge that produces a second centrate and waste wet cake. The second centrate is recycled and mixed with the evaporator brine and the mixture is directed to the first centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Veolia Water Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark C. Nicholson, Corey Skadahl
  • Patent number: 12246118
    Abstract: An attaching member attachable to a blood purification apparatus including a peristaltic pump, the attaching member holding a pump tube to be squeezed in a predetermined direction by the peristaltic pump for liquid delivery. The attaching member includes a body attachable to a predetermined position of the blood purification apparatus, and a holding portion attached to the body and that holds the pump tube. The holding portion holds the pump tube such that the pump tube is inclined in a direction in which the pump tube is attached to the peristaltic pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2025
    Assignee: Nikkiso Company Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Morita, Kazuhide Ono