Patents by Inventor Steven P. Franke

Steven P. Franke 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).

  • Method & Apparatus for Steam Backwashing a Filter Assembly
    Publication number: 20090139939
    Abstract: A method for steam backwashing a filter assembly. The filter assembly has a housing for receiving contaminated liquid and discharging filtered liquid, a filter positioned within the housing for filtering the contaminated liquid, and a drain coupled with the housing. Steam is sent through the housing to remove contaminants from the filter without draining the contaminated liquid or the filtered liquid from the housing. The steam forces the contaminated liquid, the filtered liquid and the contaminants through the drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Publication date: June 4, 2009
    Inventors: Steven P. Franke, William B. Frauenberger, Michael J. Morgan
  • Filtration element employing improved backwash feature and method of utilizing same
    Patent number: 6576146
    Abstract: A diffuser rod for use in a filter stalk having deflector disks rigidly mounted thereon to deflect liquid radially during the backwash process is disclosed. A backwashable filter element containing a diffuser plate that is located within the filter member at the end where the backwash fluid enters the filter member and a number of filter stalks with each filter stalk including a diffuser rod is disclosed. Finally, a method of backwashing a filter member that includes the step of introducing a diffuser rod and a diffuser plate to the filter assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: NMW, Incorporated
    Inventors: Darrel D. Fry, Steven P. Franke, William B. Frauenberger
  • Filtration element employing improved backwash feature and method of utilizing same
    Publication number: 20030066795
    Abstract: A diffuser rod for use in a filter stalk having deflector disks rigidly mounted thereon to deflect liquid radially during the backwash process is disclosed. A backwashable filter element containing a diffuser plate that is located within the filter member at the end where the backwash fluid enters the filter member and a number of filter stalks with each filter stalk including a diffuser rod is disclosed. Finally, a method of backwashing a filter member that includes the step of introducing a diffuser rod and a diffuser plate to the filter assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Applicant: NMW, Inc.
    Inventors: Darrel D. Fry, Steven P. Franke, William B. Frauenberger