Patents by Inventor Mark Christopher Tonkin
Mark Christopher Tonkin 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).
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Publication number: 20150158742Abstract: A material is dewatered by providing a material having a first water percentage content; and encapsulating the material in a plurality of non-porous hydrophilic membranes, said membranes being of a type in which water molecules are absorbed by and transported across the non-porous hydrophilic membrane, thereby producing packages with a second water percentage content that is lower than the first water percentage content.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2013Publication date: June 11, 2015Applicant: DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION LTDInventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Patent number: 8753487Abstract: An evaporation device has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is made of a hydrophilic membrane, such as DutyionT. The outer tube is preferably made of a material that readily absorbs solar radiation and is a good heat conductor. There is a gap between the inner tube and the outer tube for the flow of air. The inner tube contains a flow of impure water. The hydrophilic membrane allows water to pass to the outside of the inner tube as vapor, but prevents impurities from passing through. Air flowing in the gap takes up the water vapor and humidified air exits the evaporation device. This humidified air is subsequently cooled to collect the vapor and provide purified water, e.g. at a condenser.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2008Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Design Technology and Innovation LtdInventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Publication number: 20120169057Abstract: An apparatus (2) for placement on or in a body of flowing water (8) for generating hydroelectric power. The apparatus comprises a generally horizontal rotor (6) driven by the water flowing (14) past it to generate electrical power. A method of generating hydroelectric power. The method comprises placing an apparatus in or on a body of water and allowing water to flow past a generally horizontally disposed rotor to turn it and generate electrical power.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2010Publication date: July 5, 2012Applicant: DESIGN TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION LIMITEDInventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Publication number: 20100314237Abstract: An evaporation device has an inner tube and an outer tube. The inner tube is made of a hydrophilic membrane, such as DutyionT. The outer tube is preferably made of a material that readily absorbs solar radiation and is a good heat conductor. There is a gap between the inner tube and the outer tube for the flow of air. The inner tube contains a flow of impure water. The hydrophilic membrane allows water to pass to the outside of the inner tube as vapour, but prevents impurities from passing through. Air flowing in the gap takes up the water vapour and humidified air exits the evaporation device. This humidified air is subsequently cooled to collect the vapour and provide purified water, e.g. at a condenser.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 3, 2008Publication date: December 16, 2010Inventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Publication number: 20100283234Abstract: A connection system comprises a connector and a pipe. The pipe is made from a hydrophilic membrane capable of pervaporating brackish water or such like as substantially pure water, such as Dutyion™. One feature of this material is that it expands significantly as it hydrates. The pipe is generally cylindrical, but it is corrugated along its length, with roughly regular ridges and grooves. The connector has a side wall defining a substantially cylindrical cavity. The inside surface of the cavity is corrugated in the similar way to the pipe. When the pipe is in a dehydrated state, the cavity of the connector has a maximum diameter D greater than the maximum diameter B of the pipe and a minimum diameter C less than the maximum diameter B of the pipe. The pipe can be inserted in the cavity of the connector in a dehydrated state. When the system then carries water, the pipe hydrates, which causes the pipe to expand and its diameter to increase.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 18, 2008Publication date: November 11, 2010Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Rebecca Watson
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Patent number: 7611792Abstract: Water vapor is introduced into an inlet air stream (16) of an engine (12), for example, by a pervaporation process through a non-porous hydrophilic membrane (18). A water reservoir (20), which can contain contaminated water, provides a vapor pressure gradient across the hydrophilic membrane (18) into the inlet air stream (16), while the rate of delivery of the water vapor to a cylinder (38-40) is self-regulated by the rate of flow of air across the membrane. The hydrophilic membrane (18) therefore also filters the water from the water reservoir (20) to an extent that pure water vapor is provided to the air inlet stream (16). Delivery of water vapor can nevertheless be controlled using a hood (26) that slides over the hydrophilic membrane to limit its exposed surface area.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2002Date of Patent: November 3, 2009Assignee: Design Technology and Innovation Ltd.Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Mark Elden Schuchardt
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Patent number: 7494572Abstract: A mechanical water still (10) includes an impervious dome-like upper surface (12) and a membrane base (14) that is coupled (26) to the impervious dome-like structure (12) to form, when inflated, a chamber (20). The membrane base (14) supports a water pervaporation process therethrough. A water collection well (16) has an opening into which water droplets condensed from the water pervaporation process collect. The water collection well (16) is sited within the membrane base (14) and generally extends outwardly and downwardly from the membrane base (14), as shown in FIG. 1. In use, a contaminated water source (24) is brought into, ideally, complete contact with the membrane base (14), with the water collection well (16) arranged both to act as a heat sink into the water source (24) and to provide stability to the water still (10) when floating and immersed in the water source (24).Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2003Date of Patent: February 24, 2009Assignee: Design Technology and Innovation Ltd.Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Neil David Eckert
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Patent number: 7166224Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Design Technology and Innovation LimitedInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Patent number: 6887385Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2003Date of Patent: May 3, 2005Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Design Technology and IrrigationInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Patent number: 6885294Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for indicating the state of motion of a subject vehicle to a driver of a following vehicle, by means of an array of lamps (2, 10-21) on the subject vehicle. The apparatus is adapted to indicate the presence of the array of lamps on the subject vehicle when the lamps are not actively indicating the state of motion of the subject vehicle, with the presence of the array realized by, preferably, secondary warning lamps adjacently located with the array and arranged to differentiate the array in terms of its functionality and operational capabilities from existing arrays, as exemplified in FIG. 2.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1998Date of Patent: April 26, 2005Assignee: Design Technology & Innovation (Safety) 1994 LimitedInventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Patent number: 6793824Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Design Technology and InnovationInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Publication number: 20040124145Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: July 1, 2004Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Publication number: 20040099601Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a hydrophilic membrane to provide by the process of pervaporation through the membrane water suitable for agricultural irrigation, industrial use, hydrating or rehydrating of food or agricultural or pharmaceutical compositions. The present invention also relates to a water purification apparatus which includes the hydrophilic membrane, comprising one or more layers of hydrophilic polymers, to purify water which may contain suspended or dissolved impurities and solids, including but not limited to seawater, brackish water and other kinds of polluted water.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2003Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Publication number: 20030209419Abstract: A mechanical water still (10) includes an impervious dome-like upper surface (12) and a membrane base (14) that is coupled (26) to the impervious dome-like structure (12) to form, when inflated, a chamber (20). The membrane base (14) supports a water pervaporation process therethrough. A water collection well (16) has an opening into which water droplets condensed from the water pervaporation process collect. The water collection well (16) is sited within the membrane base (14) and generally extends outwardly and downwardly from the membrane base (14), as shown in FIG. 1. In use, a contaminated water source (24) is brought into, ideally, complete contact with the membrane base (14), with the water collection well (16) arranged both to act as a heat sink into the water source (24) and to provide stability to the water still (10) when floating and immersed in the water source (24).Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2003Publication date: November 13, 2003Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Neil David Eckert
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Patent number: 6615537Abstract: A method of modifying the growth of plant roots is provided in which the roots are grown in proximity to a membrane from which water is released during the growth of the roots, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane. The method may also be used to collect materials exuded from plant roots by growing the plant roots in a growing medium that is surrounded by a membrane such that moisture is released into the growing medium from the membrane whilst materials exuded from the plant roots are retained within the growing medium by the membrane, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: September 9, 2003Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Design Technology and InnovationInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Publication number: 20030030552Abstract: The system comprising a controller fitted to a subject vehicle and sensor means operable to sense a distance of separation and relative velocity of a trailing vehicle. Also input to the controller is a velocity signal derived from a velocity sensing means determining the ground speed of the subject vehicle using a doppler radar system. The controller calculates a safety envelope and activates a visible warning device attached to the rear of the subject vehicle if the trailing vehicle penetrates the safety envelope. An enhanced safety envelope determined by adverse road conditions is also established, any inclusion into the enhanced envelope resulting generally in the visible warning being at a less prominent level. If however the closing speed of the trailing vehicle exceeds a predetermined threshold, penetration of the enhanced envelope results immediately in the full warning being displayed with full prominence to the driver of the trailing vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2002Publication date: February 13, 2003Inventor: Mark Christopher Tonkin
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Publication number: 20030025219Abstract: Water vapor is introduced into an inlet air stream (16) of an engine (12), for example, by a pervaporation process through a non-porous hydrophilic membrane (18). A water reservoir (20), which can contain contaminated water, provides a vapor pressure gradient across the hydrophilic membrane (18) into the inlet air stream (16), while the rate of delivery of the water vapor to a cylinder (38-40) is self-regulated by the rate of flow of air across the membrane. The hydrophilic membrane (18) therefore also filters the water from the water reservoir (20) to an extent that pure water vapor is provided to the air inlet stream (16). Delivery of water vapor can nevertheless be controlled using a hood (26) that slides over the hydrophilic membrane to limit its exposed surface area.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2002Publication date: February 6, 2003Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Mark Elden Schuchardt
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Publication number: 20030019153Abstract: A method of modifying the growth of plant roots is provided in which the roots are grown in proximity to a membrane from which water is released during the growth of the roots, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane. The method may also be used to collect materials exuded from plant roots by growing the plant roots in a growing medium that is surrounded by a membrane such that moisture is released into the growing medium from the membrane whilst materials exuded from the plant roots are retained within the growing medium by the membrane, wherein the membrane is a hydrophobic porous membrane or a hydrophilic non-porous membrane.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 1, 2002Publication date: January 30, 2003Inventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner
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Patent number: 6511052Abstract: Water vapor is introduced into an inlet air stream (16) of an engine (12), for example, by a pervaporation process through a non-porous hydrophilic membrane (18). A water reservoir (20), which can contain contaminated water, provides a vapor pressure gradient across the hydrophilic membrane (18) into the inlet air stream (16), while the rate of delivery of the water vapor to a cylinder (38-40) is self-regulated by the rate of flow of air across the membrane. The hydrophilic membrane (18) therefore also filters the water from the water reservoir (20) to an extent that pure water vapor is provided to the air inlet stream (16). Delivery of water vapor can nevertheless be controlled using a hood (26) that slides over the hydrophilic membrane to limit its exposed surface area.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: January 28, 2003Assignees: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Design Technology & InnovationInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Mark Elden Schuchardt
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Patent number: 6484439Abstract: An irrigation device is provided, the device comprising a container for water consisting of a plurality of surfaces, each surface substantially being either a hydrophilic membrane or impervious to water in all forms, and wherein at least one of the surfaces is substantially a hydrophilic membrane and at least one of the surfaces is substantially impervious to water in all forms.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 1999Date of Patent: November 26, 2002Assignees: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Design Technology & Innovations LTDInventors: Mark Christopher Tonkin, Mark Andrew Young, Olaf Norbert Kirchner, Charles William Cahill