Patents by Inventor Michael Giralico

Michael Giralico 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).

  • Patent number: 7753215
    Abstract: A weir assembly for use with a mixer-settler for liquid-liquid extraction includes in one embodiment an organic weir having an inlet opening below the free surface of the organic phase liquid and a vertically-adjustable front wall allowing adjustments in the position and/or height of the inlet opening. The organic weir can also feature an angled bottom coupled to a lip segment, an incline plate in the interior of the weir, and a front wall that is angled with respect to incoming fluid flow. In another embodiment the weir assembly can independently or additionally include an aqueous weir with a labyrinth section. The aqueous weir can optionally include an adjustable lip hingedly coupled to the top of the final partition in the labyrinth section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Michael Giralico
  • Patent number: 7550120
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a cylindrical settler having a longitudinal axis, a conical base centered on the longitudinal axis, a outer wall centered on the longitudinal axis, a mix tank centered on the longitudinal axis and within the outer wall, and a coalescence fence extending from the outer surface of the mix tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Giralico, Michael Joseph Preston
  • Patent number: 7384551
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a trapezoid settler having a longitudinal axis, a base, a first side wall oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, a second side wall opposing the first side wall and oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, and a coalescence fence connected to the first side wall and the second side wall. The coalescence fence has a first screen, a second screen oriented generally parallel to the first screen, and a media disposed between the first screen and the second screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Giralico, Bernd Gigas, Michael Joseph Preston
  • Patent number: 7331704
    Abstract: A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a mixing vessel, draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within the draft tube. The method includes rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time so as to cause the liquid to flow in a first axial direction. The method also includes rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction so as to cause the liquid to flow in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Michael Giralico
  • Patent number: 7328809
    Abstract: A weir assembly for use with a mixer-settler for liquid-liquid extraction includes in one embodiment an organic weir having an inlet opening below the free surface of the organic phase liquid and a vertically-adjustable front wall allowing adjustments in the position and/or height of the inlet opening. The organic weir can also feature an angled bottom coupled to a lip segment, an incline plate in the interior of the weir, and a front wall that is angled with respect to incoming fluid flow. In another embodiment the weir assembly can independently or additionally include an aqueous weir with a labyrinth section. The aqueous weir can optionally include an adjustable lip hingedly coupled to the top of the final partition in the labyrinth section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: SPX Corporation
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Michael Giralico
  • Publication number: 20060180948
    Abstract: A method for suspending settled solids in a liquid using a mixing assembly having a mixing vessel, draft tube disposed within the mixing vessel and an impeller disposed within the draft tube. The method includes rotating the impeller in a first rotational direction for a first period of time so as to cause the liquid to flow in a first axial direction. The method also includes rotating the impeller in a second rotational direction so as to cause the liquid to flow in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Richard Howk, Michael Giralico
  • Publication number: 20060165569
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a cylindrical settler having a longitudinal axis, a conical base centered on the longitudinal axis, a outer wall centered on the longitudinal axis, a mix tank centered on the longitudinal axis and within the outer wall, and a coalescence fence extending from the outer surface of the mix tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Publication date: July 27, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Giralico, Michael Preston
  • Publication number: 20060131233
    Abstract: A weir assembly for use with a mixer-settler for liquid-liquid extraction includes in one embodiment an organic weir having an inlet opening below the free surface of the organic phase liquid and a vertically-adjustable front wall allowing adjustments in the position and/or height of the inlet opening. The organic weir can also feature an angled bottom coupled to a lip segment, an incline plate in the interior of the weir, and a front wall that is angled with respect to incoming fluid flow. In another embodiment the weir assembly can independently or additionally include an aqueous weir with a labyrinth section. The aqueous weir can optionally include an adjustable lip hingedly coupled to the top of the final partition in the labyrinth section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Publication date: June 22, 2006
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Michael Giralico
  • Publication number: 20060065610
    Abstract: An embodiment of the invention includes a trapezoid settler having a longitudinal axis, a base, a first side wall oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, a second side wall opposing the first side wall and oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis, and a coalescence fence connected to the first side wall and the second side wall. The coalescence fence has a first screen, a second screen oriented generally parallel to the first screen, and a media disposed between the first screen and the second screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2004
    Publication date: March 30, 2006
    Inventors: Michael Giralico, Bernd Gigas, Michael Preston
  • Publication number: 20050040106
    Abstract: A weir assembly for use with a mixer-settler for liquid-liquid extraction includes in one embodiment an organic weir having an inlet opening below the free surface of the organic phase liquid and a vertically-adjustable front wall allowing adjustments in the position and/or height of the inlet opening. The organic weir can also feature an angled bottom coupled to a lip segment, an incline plate in the interior of the weir, and a front wall that is angled with respect to incoming fluid flow. In another embodiment the weir assembly can independently or additionally include an aqueous weir with a labyrinth section. The aqueous weir can optionally include an adjustable lip hingedly coupled to the top of the final partition in the labyrinth section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Inventors: Bernd Gigas, Michael Giralico
  • Patent number: 6109449
    Abstract: A mixing system in a tank provides a flotation cell for froth collection of minerals such as metallic ores thereby separating such ores from other materials with which they are mined and enabling a concentrated ore component to be collected. The mixing system maintains particles containing the ores in a circulating liquid suspension in a contact zone where bubbles are discharged. Ore particles are attracted and attached to the bubbles. The bubbles rise and float to the top of the liquid for collection of the concentrated ores. The mixing system includes a radial flow impeller and an axial flow impeller which are attached for rotation on a common shaft, with the axial flow impeller below the radial flow impeller. The radial flow impeller is disposed in a space between a disc, which rotates with the radial flow impeller and another disc which is stationary, and may be a flange of a pipe around the shaft and extending above the surface of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: General Signal Corporation
    Inventors: Richard A Howk, Michael A. Giralico, Thomas A. Post