Patents by Inventor Ernst Schmidt

Ernst Schmidt has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20250099915
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2024
    Publication date: March 27, 2025
    Applicant: Aqueous Resources LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 12151211
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: Aqueous Resources LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11655173
    Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: NLB Water, LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20230014044
    Abstract: A hybrid electro-pressure driven method for the recovery, purification, and concentration of lithium salts is described. A fractionating electrodialysis stack equipped with selective ion exchange membranes is s used to separate a lithium containing brine into a monovalent enriched fraction and a divalent enriched fraction. The monovalent enriched fraction is further processed to remove remaining impurities by use of pressure driven nanofiltration. An optional concentrating electrodialysis device may further concentrate the monovalent enriched fraction in lithium content. The method may be combined with a subsequent solvent extraction and electrolysis step to produce lithium hydroxide, a Li+ selective sorbent step for producing purified lithium chloride, or a Li+ selective sorbent and precipitative step to produce lithium carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Aqueous Resources LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210094855
    Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2020
    Publication date: April 1, 2021
    Applicant: NLB Water, LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20210077954
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for onsite generation of acid and base solutions for cleaning purposes through the utilization of bipolar membrane electrodialysis (BPED) are described. The methods eliminate the need to s store large quantities of acids and bases onsite or to transport the acid and base solutions to the cleaning site. A method of recycling substantially neutralized waste salt solutions into acid and base solutions for additional cleaning, thus decreasing the amount of waste salt discharged to the environment, also is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Applicant: Eurodia industrie SAS
    Inventors: Daniel H. Bar, Patrick W. Birdsall, Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10899646
    Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: NLB WATER, LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20190270660
    Abstract: An integrated, membrane-based process to produce purified water and conversion of salt to high value chemicals from oil and gas well produced water is described. A liquid stream including water and dissolved salt is flowed through pretreatment units and one or more desalination and concentration units which remove at least a portion of the water to form a brine enriched in dissolved salt. The purified high-density brine may be subjected to electrically-enforced salt dissociation techniques to produce chemicals from oil and gas produced water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2019
    Publication date: September 5, 2019
    Applicant: NLB Water, LLC
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7501064
    Abstract: An integrated treatment system using electrodialysis and pressure-driven membranes for deionizing and decontaminating liquids to a near-pure quality for use or reuse in industrial or municipal operations. The integrated system includes steps of pre-filtering contaminated feed liquids blending the filtered liquids in preparation for treating the mixed liquids in parallel or sequential treatment steps utilizing nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, proceeded by or followed by an integrated electrodialysis treatment. A control means selectively directs mixed liquids to each of the treatment units for treatment in parallel or in series depending on the conductivity and residual contaminants in the mixed liquids. In comparison with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis only systems, or electrodialysis only systems, the integrated system provides improved efficiencies for treatment, requires less energy to operate, and reduces maintenance and capital costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: EET
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Alois F. Sferrazza, Michael E. Williams
  • Patent number: 7322782
    Abstract: A device for fixing and/or positioning objects (6) in a transport container (1) has a first and a second structural part (7, 8). One of the structural parts (7) is configured as an assembly element and another of the structural parts (8) is configured as a holding element. At least one swivel mechanism (9, 15) connects the two structural parts (7, 8) and has two legs pivotally connected to one another. One leg is adjustably disposed for the creation of selected positions of the two structural parts (7, 8) relative to one another. A mechanism for locking the structural parts (7, 8) in the creatable relative positions is provided. The swivel mechanism (9, 15) is Y-shaped and has a long leg (10, 16) connected to both structural parts (7, 8) and also a short leg (11, 17) connected to one of the structural parts (7, 8) and a central region of the long leg (10, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7197637
    Abstract: In a process for insuring data integrity of software for a control unit of a motor vehicle, a central system (trust center) can issue certificates to authorized parties, enabling them to properly sign software for the control unit and import it into a vehicle to enable operation of the vehicle. For this purpose, the trust center (or the vehicle itself) provides a pair of control unit keys having a first and second key. The first key is stored during production of the vehicle in such a manner that it is accessible to the control unit. By means of the second key of the trust center, a first certificate for an authorized party (certificate holder) is signed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Burkhard Kuhls
  • Publication number: 20060144787
    Abstract: An integrated treatment system using electrodialysis and pressure-driven membranes for deionizing and decontaminating liquids to a near-pure quality for use or reuse in industrial or municipal operations. The integrated system includes steps of pre-filtering contaminated feed liquids blending the filtered liquids in preparation for treating the mixed liquids in parallel or sequential treatment steps utilizing nanofiltration or reverse osmosis, proceeded by or followed by an integrated electrodialysis treatment. A control means selectively directs mixed liquids to each of the treatment units for treatment in parallel or in series depending on the conductivity and residual contaminants in the mixed liquids. In comparison with nanofiltration or reverse osmosis only systems, or electrodialysis only systems, the integrated system provides improved efficiencies for treatment, requires less energy to operate, and reduces maintenance and capital costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2005
    Publication date: July 6, 2006
    Applicant: EET Corporation
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Alois Sferrazza, Michael Williams
  • Patent number: 7026477
    Abstract: The invention relates to a preparation process for a compound (I) or a salt thereof, in which Q, X*, Y, Z, R, R1, R2 and R3 are as defined in claim 1, which comprises a) ammonolyzing a comp. (II) in which Hal=halogen atom to give (III), pref. (a1) carrying out the reaction in an organic solvent mixture (org. solv. mixture) comprising (1) opt. halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and (2) polar aprotic solvents, in a weight ratio of solv. (1): solv. (2) of 20:1 to 1:1, (b) phosgenating the comp. (III) with phenylsulfonyl isocyanate of the formula (IV), pref. (b1) in the case X*=halogen, carrying out the reaction with phosgene in an org. solv. in the presence of isocyanates R?-NCO as catalyst, where R?=(subst.) hydrocarbon, with or without addition of an amine base, (c) reacting the resulting compound (IV) in org. solv. with the aminoheterocycle H2N-Het (Het=heterocycle as in (I)) to give the comp. (I) or a salt thereof, pref. (c1) carrying out the reaction in a solv. mixture of opt. halogenated arom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Aventis CropScience GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Vermehren, Ernst Schmidt, Mark James Ford, Richard W. G. Foster, Ian A. Bourne
  • Publication number: 20050087535
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for fixing and/or positioning objects (6) in a transport container (1) and comprising a first and a second structural part (7, 8). One of the structural parts (7) is configured as an assembly element and another of the structural parts (8) is configured as a holding element. At least one swivel mechanism (9, 15) connects the two structural parts (7, 8) and has two legs pivotally connected to one another. One leg is adjustably disposed for the creation of selected positions of the two structural parts (7, 8) relative to one another. Means for locking the structural parts (7, 8) in the creatable relative positions are provided. According to the invention, the swivel mechanism (9, 15) is Y-shaped and has a long leg (10, 16) connected to both structural parts (7, 8) and also a short leg (11, 17) connected to one of the structural parts (7, 8) and a central region of the long leg (10, 16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Publication date: April 28, 2005
    Inventor: Ernst Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6816971
    Abstract: In a process for ensuring the data integrity of software for influencing operation of a control unit of a motor vehicle, a pair of keys is provided for encrypting and decrypting electronic data. The first key is stored for access by a control unit in the motor vehicle, and software which is to be imported is signed by means of the second key. The signed software is imported into the memory of the control unit and the signature of the software is checked by means of the first key. The signature is accepted if the check has a positive result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2004
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Burkhard Kuhls
  • Patent number: 6537436
    Abstract: An electrodialysis treatment system utilizing a plurality of disparate layers of an electrodialysis cell stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures. The system for electrodialysis treatment for purification and deionizing liquids includes providing an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic and organic contaminants and generating a filtrate effluent. An adsorbing operation for adsorbing organic contaminants from the filtrate effluent of the pretreatment operation is provided by utilizing activated carbon adsorption and generating a liquid fraction. A deionizing operation for continuously purifying the liquid fraction is provided by utilizing an electrodialysis stack having a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions from the liquid fraction of the adsorbing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Michael E. Williams, Brian M. Schmidt, James Schmidt, Erich Schmidt
  • Publication number: 20020120856
    Abstract: In a process for ensuring the data integrity of software for influencing operation of a control unit of a motor vehicle, a pair of keys is provided for encrypting and decrypting electronic data. The first key is stored for access by a control unit in the motor vehicle, and software which is to be imported is signed by means of the second key. The signed software is imported into the memory of the control unit and the signature of the software is checked by means of the first key. The signature is accepted if the check has a positive result.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 29, 2002
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Burkhard Kuhls
  • Publication number: 20020023223
    Abstract: In a process for insuring data integrity of software for a control unit of a motor vehicle, a central system (trust center) can issue certificates to authorized parties, enabling them to properly sign software for the control unit and import it into a vehicle to enable operation of the vehicle. For this purpose, the trust center (or the vehicle itself) provides a pair of control unit keys having a first and second key. The first key is stored during production of the vehicle in such a manner that it is accessible to the control unit. By means of the second key of the trust center, a first certificate for an authorized party (certificate holder) is signed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Burkhard Kuhls
  • Publication number: 20010037942
    Abstract: An apparatus and system of operation of an electrodialysis membrane and gasket stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures is disclosed. The system of operation for purification and deionizing liquids includes an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic contaminants, includes an operation of adsorption for removing organic contaminants by activated carbon adsorption, and includes an operation of deionizing for removing ions from the effluent liquids. The deionizing operation includes an apparatus having an electrodialysis stack of a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions. The electrodialysis stack of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets provides continuous operations for purifying ethylene glycol and glycol/water mixtures, for continuous desalinating of water, and/or for continuous deionizing of water to generate ultra-pure water or other purified liquid mixtures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2001
    Publication date: November 8, 2001
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Michael E. Williams, Brian M. Schmidt, James Schmidt, Erich Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6274020
    Abstract: An apparatus and system of operation of an electrodialysis membrane and gasket stack for separation of components in liquid mixtures is disclosed. The system of operation for purification and deionizing liquids includes an operation of pretreatment by filtration for removal of inorganic contaminants, includes an operation of adsorption for removing organic contaminants by activated carbon adsorption, and includes an operation of deionizing for removing ions from the effluent liquids. The deionizing operation includes an apparatus having an electrodialysis stack of a plurality of ion exchange membranes and separating gaskets for selectively removing contaminant ions. The combination of treatment operations and the deionizing operation provides a continuous operating system with minimized down-time and improved efficiencies over prior methods for purification of liquid mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventors: Ernst Schmidt, Michael E. Williams, Brian M. Schmidt, James Schmidt, Erich Schmidt