Patents Issued in January 2, 2018
  • Patent number: 9855516
    Abstract: A flow limiter system is provided for extracting compounds from raw materials with an extraction column. The flow limiter system may include a flow governor assembly which contains and buffers a flow of pressurized solvent entering the base of the extraction column to prevent the flow of pressurized solvent from drilling into the raw materials packed within the extraction column. The flow governor assembly may further include a first disc with a first set of perforations to direct the surge of solvent through the first disc to transform the turbulent surge of solvent into a column of non-turbulent solvent with a flat surface layer that rises up the extraction column evenly and collectively. Additionally, the flow limiter system may also include a limiter disc including a second set of perforations to allow the extracted effluent to flow through the set of perforations and exit the extraction column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: California Extraction Ventures, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Corey
  • Patent number: 9855517
    Abstract: A waste liquid solidification system includes a chamber at least partially enclosing a volume, a liquid outlet positioned to spray a liquid into the volume, and a powder outlet adjacent the liquid outlet positioned to discharge a super-absorbent polymer powder into the volume. The liquid outlet and powder outlet are configured such that the liquid and the super-absorbent polymer powder undergo airborne mixing within the volume enclosed by the chamber to create a solid waste.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SST Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Rock, Abigail Grommet
  • Patent number: 9855518
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vertically adjustable screened decanter system to replace prior art stationary or pivoting effluent weirs in water clarifiers and settling basins. The screened decanter has no physical weir and relies instead on maintaining a desired flow rate by controllably varying the depth of immersion of a screened box. The decanter is periodically raised into a hood that provides spray cleaning and disinfection of the screened box. The system is capable of removing up to 85% of the BOD in a wastewater stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ClearCove Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Wright, Tim Cornelison, Markus Bauer, Arvid Abrams
  • Patent number: 9855519
    Abstract: Pleated filtration media, media packs, filter elements, and methods for filtering fluid are provided which contain three dimensional flutes in the media surface, the flutes configured to improve filter performance. In certain embodiments the flutes have defined peaks that reduce masking between adjacent pleats, the flutes have ridges along their length to modify flute cross sectional geometry, and/or the flutes provide for volume asymmetry across the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary J. Rocklitz
  • Patent number: 9855520
    Abstract: A filtering apparatus has a plurality of filtering elements (9) in a filter housing (1), a filter inlet (45) and a filter outlet (43). During the filtration operation, one of the filtering elements (9) can be back-flushed by a back-flushing device (13, 21). The back-flushing device has a pressure control device (13) including a hydraulic accumulator (13). One accumulator fluid chamber (67) can be filled during the filtration operation with a quantity of filtered fluid and can be connected for a back-flushing operation via a back-flushing guide (21) to the clean side (59) of the filtering clement (9) to be cleaned. Another accumulator fluid chamber (79) can be subjected to a media pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY GMBH
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Jörg Hermann Gerstner, Thomas Bottcher, Thomas Morawietz
  • Patent number: 9855521
    Abstract: A filter element includes a filter body (2) and a monolithic seal (10) arranged to extend circumferentially about the filter body. The seal (10) has a sealing body (14) and a sealing lip (16) which is connected at a first sealing lip section (15) with the sealing body (14) and that is spaced apart from the seating body (14) at a second sealing lip section (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Croissant
  • Patent number: 9855522
    Abstract: An air purifier, capable of maximizing air purification capacity thereof while having a minimum installation area, includes a body, a suction unit arranged within the body, having a suction port with a periphery surface that is inclined from a central axis of the body, a discharge unit arranged within the body, having a discharge port with a periphery surface that is inclined from the body, and a blowing unit arranged within the body, to blow air from the suction unit to the discharge unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Gibong Yu, Kyoungho Lee, Sangjin Cha
  • Patent number: 9855523
    Abstract: A smoke filter includes a housing formed with an upper casing and a lower casing. A filtration passage with a bending section is formed between the upper casing and the lower casing and further, a replaceable filtration cloth device is provided in the interior of the housing and the filtration cloth of the replaceable filtration device passes through the filtration passage. By so designing, the smoke filter of this invention is able to increase a filtration area, enhance filtration efficiency and diminish the size of the housing and further, the smoke filter of this invention is simple in structure and convenient in maintenance and in replacement of the filtration cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Chieh-Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 9855524
    Abstract: In the honeycomb rotor recovery concentration apparatus which collects gas, such as carbon dioxide, from stack gas etc., it collects by the highest possible recovery rate, and condenses to the highest possible concentration, and lessens the amount of energy for recovery concentration as much as possible. Adsorption zone 4, preheating zone 12, low concentration gas purge zone 15, desorption zone 5, high concentration gas purge zone 16, pre-cooling zone 13, and cooling zone 7 are provided to the hand of cut of a rotor. Low concentration gas is prevented from mixing in desorption zone 5, and high concentration gas is prevented from being spilt out from desorption zone 5. Pre-heating zone 12 and pre-cooling zone 13 constitute a circulation circuit, and it raises energy-saving nature by pre-cooling and carrying out preheating heat exchange by gas which circulates through a circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEIBU GIKEN CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Okano
  • Patent number: 9855525
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses of recovering CO2 from a gas stream. The methods regenerate CO2 with high regeneration efficiencies, thereby lowering the overall energy cost for CO2 capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Aaron Esser-Kahn
  • Patent number: 9855526
    Abstract: A mineral carbonation process, characterized in that the silicate feedstock is thermally activated by using heat generated from the combustion of fuel prior to reacting the activated slurry feedstock with carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ORICA EXPLOSIVES TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD
    Inventor: Geoffrey Frederick Brent
  • Patent number: 9855527
    Abstract: A method for cleaning bypass gases of the cement or mineral industry includes cooling down a removed bypass gas from a cement or mineral processing plant to a temperature of between 500° C. and 150° C., and coarsely dedusting the bypass gas, the dust burden being reduced by 30 to 95%. After the dedusting step, the gaseous constituents contained in the partly dedusted bypass gas are reduced in a reducing step. The partly dedusted bypass gas is further finely dedusted. The gaseous constituents reducing step includes at least a catalytic reduction of one or more of nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons, and carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS AG
    Inventors: Timo Stender, Melanie Flaβpöhler, Kathrin Rohloff
  • Patent number: 9855528
    Abstract: An exhaust gas cleaning system, comprising an active regenerable particulate filter and an SCR catalyst comprising a hydrothermally microporous stable zeolite having the AEI type framework and being promoted with copper, where the zeolite is SSZ-39.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Manuel Moliner Marin, Cristina Franch Marti, Antonio Eduardo Palomares Gimeno, Avelino Corma Canós, Peter N. R. Vennestrøm, Marie Grill, Arkady Kustov, Joakim Reimer Thøgersen
  • Patent number: 9855529
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a cross-flow filter (20), comprising the steps of: A) providing a cross-flow filter (20), wherein the cross-flow filter (20) comprises a filter membrane (21) and is configured to remove a liquid permeate stream and the filter membrane (21) comprises a first side facing the permeate stream and a second side opposite the first side, the second side facing the feed stream, and wherein at least some of the deposits (1010) to be removed are located on the second side of the filter membrane (21); B) applying a back-flushing liquid stream through the filter membrane (21). Prior to applying the back-flushing liquid stream in Step B), permeate located on the first side of the filter membrane (21) is at least partially displaced from the first side of the filter membrane (21) by a gas, wherein the gas that is in contact with the back-flushing liquid stream has a pressure of >1 bar at least during Step B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HIGHQ-FACTORY GMBH
    Inventor: Franz Brummer
  • Patent number: 9855530
    Abstract: A water-proof air-permeable filter (1) includes: a resin film (2) having formed therein a plurality of through pores (21); a treated layer (3) having hydrophobicity and oil repellency, and formed on at least one of both surfaces in the thickness direction of the resin film (2) such that the treated layer (3) has openings (31) at positions corresponding to the through pores (21); and a loop-shaped double-sided tape (4) stuck to an edge region of one of both surfaces in the thickness direction of the resin film (2), with the treated layer (3) interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoru Furuyama, Satoshi Sakuma, Yozo Nagai, Junichi Moriyama
  • Patent number: 9855531
    Abstract: A polymer membrane for water treatment, characterized in comprising a hollow fiber membrane having a self-supporting design composed of the substantially single principal structural material, with an outer diameter of 3.6 mm to 10 mm and a ratio of outer diameter to thickness, SDR, of 3.6 to 34.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Tamai, Naotaka Oyabu, Saki Tanimura, Takashi Osugi, Ryuichi Matsuo
  • Patent number: 9855532
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a gas separation membrane using a ladder-structured polysilsesquioxane in which organic functional groups are attached to a long siloxane chain and a method for fabricating the same. In accordance with the present disclosure, a free-standing ladder-structured polysilsesquioxane-based membrane with various functional groups can be fabricated for gas separations. The performance of the gas separation membrane can be controlled through a variety of combinations of the organic functional groups linked to the siloxane chain. In addition, by controlling the molecular structure of the gas separation membrane through mixing of the ladder-structured polysilsesquioxane with an amine compound or conventional glassy or rubbery polymers or through thermal/UV-curing, the permeability and selectivity of the gas separation membrane can be controlled selectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Jong Suk Lee, Seung Sang Hwang, Albert Sung Soo Lee, Sunghwan Park, Sang Hee Park, Sanghyup Lee
  • Patent number: 9855533
    Abstract: The disclosed subject matter provides a filter that is modified by a polymer-carbon based nanomaterial nanocomposite intended to significantly enhance the performance of filtration, separation, and remediation of a broad variety of chemicals, heavy metal ions, organic matters, and living organisms. Polymeric materials, such as but not limited to poly-N-vinyl carbazole (PVK), are combined with (1) graphene (G) and/or graphene-like materials based nanomaterials and (2) graphene oxide (GO) chemically modified with a chelating agent such as but not limited to EDTA. The nanocomposite is homogenously deposited on the surface of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON SYSTEM
    Inventors: Debora F. Rodrigues, Rigoberto C. Advincula, Fritz Claydon, Catherine M. Santos, Maria Celeste R. Tria
  • Patent number: 9855534
    Abstract: Disclosed is a porous membrane comprising a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate and a coating comprising a copolymer of formula (I): H—[—O—CH(Rf)—CH2—]m—[—O—CHM-CH2—]n—[—O—CHL-CH2—]s—OH (I), wherein Rf is perfluoro-substituted alkyl or perfluoro-substituted alkyloxy alkyl; M is —CH2—O—(CH2)3—S—(CHZ)t—Y, wherein Z is hydrogen or —CH2COOH, and for example, Y is —COOH or —SO3H, R is hydrogen or alkyl, L is —CH2—O—CH2—CH?CH2, m and n are each independently from about 10 to about 1000, n:s ranges from 0.3:0.7 to 1:0, and t is 0 or 1. Also disclosed is a method of preparing the porous membrane and a method of filtering a fluid, such as isopropanol, containing dissolved metals at a low concentration by the use of such membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Hassan Ait-Haddou, Khaled Abdel-Hakim Helmy Aamer
  • Patent number: 9855535
    Abstract: A blending system is shown and described herein. A blending system may include a base including a motor and a first shell that encases the motor. The blending system may also include a container that is removably coupled to the blender base. The blending system may also have a second shell selectively attached to the first shell. The blending system may also have a wall positioned within the base to direct airflow from the fan along a volute-shaped path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: VITA-MIX MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Michael Arnett, James Philip Bascom, Scott Christopher Bly, Richard D. Boozer, Kolman Juhasz, David Kolar
  • Patent number: 9855536
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for generating foam are disclosed. The inventions can be used for generating foam for sclerotherapy. A foaming element can be agitated within a foaming chamber by a drive unit that does not touch the foaming element, but actuates it from outside the foaming chamber. The foaming element and drive unit can be magnetically coupled. A syringe can be used to form a foaming chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: Hoa D. Nguyen, Michael S. Mirizzi
  • Patent number: 9855537
    Abstract: A fluid mixing system includes a flexible bag having an interior surface bounding a compartment. An elongated first tubular connector is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the first tubular connector having a first end and an opposing second end, the first end of the first tubular connector being coupled with the flexible bag. An elongated second tubular connector is disposed within the compartment of the flexible bag, the second tubular connector being more rigid than the first tubular connector and having a first end coupled to the second end of the first tubular connector. A plurality of impeller are disposed on the elongated second tubular connector at spaced apart locations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Trevor G. Williams
  • Patent number: 9855538
    Abstract: An ultrasonic apparatus for producing particles of a pharmaceutical agent or other material comprises a flow-through ultrasonic horn comprising an inlet, an outlet, and an interior channel that connects the inlet to the outlet for flow of a fluid therethrough. The ultrasonic horn is connectable to a transducer, and a crystallization tube is adjacent to the ultrasonic horn. The crystallization tube comprises an inlet port and outlet port for flow of an antisolvent therethrough, and it further includes a side access port. The outlet of the ultrasonic horn is inserted into the side access port so as to be in fluid communication with the crystallization tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Kenneth S. Suslick, Bradley W. Zeiger, Hyo Na Kim
  • Patent number: 9855539
    Abstract: Device for use in a fluidized bed reactor includes a gas-solid separator communicated with an outlet of the fluidized bed reactor; a vertically arranged damper, a solid outlet of the gas-solid separator communicated with a lower region of the damper, a gas outlet of the gas-solid separator communicated with an upper region of the damper; a fine gas-solid separator, an inlet of the fine gas-solid separator communicated with the upper region of the damper, and a solid outlet of the fine gas-solid separator communicated with the lower region of the damper. Product from the fluidized bed reactor is fed into the preliminary gas-solid separator, most solid catalysts separated and fed into the lower region; the product entraining the rest catalysts is fed into the upper region, and into the fine gas-solid separator, the rest catalysts fed into the lower region; and final product is obtained from the fine gas-solid separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, SHANGHAI RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROCHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY SINOPEC
    Inventors: Jun Xu, Songyuan Gu, Siqing Zhong, Yongming Jin, Zhinan Yu, Guozhen Qi, Xiaohong Li
  • Patent number: 9855540
    Abstract: Fuel converters configured to convert a transportation fuel to a low-C hydrocarbon fuel, along with methods of their use, are provided. The fuel converter can comprise: an evaporator configured to receive a transportation fuel from a fuel tank in a liquid state, wherein the evaporator converts the transportation fuel from a liquid to a gas; a fuel burner configured to heat the evaporator; a catalyst cartridge in fluid communication with the evaporator so as to receive the gas from the evaporator; and a condenser in fluid communication with the catalyst cartridge so as to receive the reaction product mixture from the catalyst cartridge. The catalyst cartridge comprises a catalyst configured to convert the transportation fuel into a reaction product mixture comprising a low-C hydrocarbon fuel. The condenser is configured to separate the low-C hydrocarbon fuel from a condensed fuel in the reaction product mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: University of South Carolina
    Inventors: Jochen Lauterbach, Erdem Sasmaz, Sungtak Kim, Michael Kai Mayeda
  • Patent number: 9855541
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a three-dimensional network structure material comprises steps: mixing ammonium carboxymethyl cellulose with water or with water and a nanomaterial to form a first gel or a second gel; freeze-drying the first gel or the second gel to sublimate the first gel or the second gel and form a first product or a second product; and heating the first product or the second product at a lower temperature to cure the first product or the second product and obtain a first 3D network structure material or a second 3D network structure material. The present invention uses a simple process using water as the solvent, meeting the environment protection demand and having high economical efficiency. The first and second 3D network structure materials fabricated by the present invention absorb water but do not dissolve in water. Thus, the present invention can be applied to many fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Carbon Nano Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Chun-Hsien Tsai, Chun-Jung Tsai, Ting-Chuan Lee, Ching-Tung Hsu, Chia-Hung Li, Wan-Ju Chen, Jui-Yu Jao
  • Patent number: 9855542
    Abstract: A substrate for biochips, in which carboxyl groups are immobilized on a substrate whose surface at least is composed of carbon; and a method for producing the substrate are disclosed. The substrate for biochips comprises a substrate whose surface at least is composed of carbon; and an acrylic polymer having free carboxyl groups in the molecular structure thereof, which acrylic polymer is immobilized on the surface of the substrate. The method for producing the substrate comprises irradiating the substrate whose surface at least is composed of carbon with ultraviolet light during the acrylic polymer having free carboxyl groups in the molecular structure thereof contacts the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NIPPON LIGHT METAL COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Yasushi Takebayashi, Ryo Morishita, Kei Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9855543
    Abstract: A nail gel curing device can include an outer housing, a base, a dome and a detachable tray. The housing, base, dome and tray define an irradiation chamber, an opening to said chamber for inserting a hand or foot of a user, and a space between the dome and housing. The irradiation chamber suitable for curing five nails of a user's hand or foot and the dome including a plurality of light emitting diodes for curing nails positioned in the irradiation chamber, and the space being sufficient to accommodate electronic or electric circuitry to operate the plurality of light emitting diodes in the curing device. A shield can be slidably attached to the device and the shield can be capable of reducing the opening's size by sliding from an open to a more closed position, said closing diminishing a user's secondary exposure to UV light exiting the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Nail Alliance, LLC
    Inventor: Danny Lee Haile
  • Patent number: 9855544
    Abstract: An air separation module including a canister defining an interior chamber and having a first port at a first end and a second port at a second end, the canister configured to permit fluid to pass from the first port to the second port through the interior chamber, a first end cap located proximal to the first end of the canister and configured to releasably retain the first end of the canister, a second end cap located proximal to the second end of the canister and configured to releasably retain the second end of the canister, and a collar movably configured on the second end of the canister and configured to move from a first position to a second position, wherein the first position defines an engagement between the collar and the second end cap, and the second position defines a disengagement between the collar and the second end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Frederick Peacos, III, Corey E. Rekow
  • Patent number: 9855545
    Abstract: A nucleophilic substitution reaction to crosslink cyclodextrin (CD) polymer with rigid aromatic groups, providing a high surface area, mesoporous CD-containing polymers (P-CDPs). The P-CDPs can be used for removing organic contaminants from water. By encapsulating pollutants to form well-defined host-guest complexes with complementary selectivities to activated carbon (AC) sorbents. The P-CDPs can rapidly sequester pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and other organic micropollutants, achieving equilibrium binding capacity in seconds with adsorption rate constants 15-200 times greater than ACs and nonporous CD sorbents. The CD polymer can be regenerated several times, through a room temperature washing procedure, with no loss in performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: William R. Dichtel, Alaaeddin Alsbaiee, Brian J. Smith, Juan Hinestroza, Diego Alzate-Sanchez, Leilei Xiao, Yuhan Ling, Damian Helbling
  • Patent number: 9855546
    Abstract: A method for producing a complex oxide catalyst containing a complex oxide represented by the formula: Mo1VaSbbNbcWdZeOn (wherein a component Z represents an element such as La, Ce, Pr, Yb, Y, Sc, Sr, and Ba; a, b, c, d, e, and n each represent an atomic ratio of an element to one Mo atom; 0.1?a?0.4, 0.1?b?0.4, 0.01?c?0.3, 0?d?0.2, and 0?e?0.1; an atomic ratio a/b is 0.85?a/b<1.0, and an atomic ratio a/c is 1.4<a/c<2.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI CHEMICALS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Ishii, Takaaki Kato
  • Patent number: 9855547
    Abstract: An example of a catalytic converter includes a catalyst to improve low temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbons. The catalyst includes a support, which includes a porous alumina structure and a rare earth metal oxide promoter impregnated into pores of the porous alumina structure. The rare earth metal oxide promoter is selected from the group consisting of CeO2 and CeO2—ZrO2. A platinum group metal (PGM) is bonded to the support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gongshin Qi, Se H. Oh, Wei Li
  • Patent number: 9855548
    Abstract: Ceramic catalyst carriers that are mechanically, thermally and chemically stable in a ionic salt monopropellant decomposition environment, high temperature catalysts for decomposition of liquid high-energy-density monopropellants and ceramic processing techniques for producing spherical catalyst carrier granules are disclosed. The ceramic processing technique is used to produce spherical catalyst carrier granules with controlled porosities and desired composition and allows for reproducible packing densities of catalyst granules in thruster chambers. The ceramic catalyst carrier has excellent thermal shock resistance, good compatibility with the active metal coating and metal coating deposition processes, melting point above >2300° C., chemical resistance to steam, nitrogen oxides and nitric acid, resistance to sintering to prevent void formation, and the absence of phase transition associated with volumetric changes at temperatures up to and beyond 1800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Sienna Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ender Savrun, Stephanie J. Sawhill
  • Patent number: 9855549
    Abstract: A metal oxide nanorod array structure according to embodiments disclosed herein includes a monolithic substrate having a surface and multiple channels, an interface layer bonded to the surface of the substrate, and a metal oxide nanorod array coupled to the substrate surface via the interface layer. The metal oxide can include ceria, zinc oxide, tin oxide, alumina, zirconia, cobalt oxide, and gallium oxide. The substrate can include a glass substrate, a plastic substrate, a silicon substrate, a ceramic monolith, and a stainless steel monolith. The ceramic can include cordierite, alumina, tin oxide, and titania. The nanorod array structure can include a perovskite shell, such as a lanthanum-based transition metal oxide, or a metal oxide shell, such as ceria, zinc oxide, tin oxide, alumina, zirconia, cobalt oxide, and gallium oxide, or a coating of metal particles, such as platinum, gold, palladium, rhodium, and ruthenium, over each metal oxide nanorod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
    Inventors: Pu-Xian Gao, Yanbing Guo, Zheng Ren
  • Patent number: 9855550
    Abstract: An exhaust gas-purifying catalyst includes a support and a catalytic metal as one or more precious metals supported by the support. The support includes a composite oxide having a composition represented by a general formula AB?C?O3, wherein A represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, neodymium, and yttrium, B represents iron or a combination of iron and aluminum, C represents one or more elements selected from the group consisting of iridium, ruthenium, tantalum, niobium, molybdenum, and tungsten, ? and ? each represents a numerical value within a range of more than 0 and less than 1, and ? and ? satisfy relational formulae of ?>? and ?+??1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: CATALER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Satoshi Matsueda, Akimasa Hirai, Kenichi Taki, Sho Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9855551
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst precursor and a catalyst suitable for preparing multi-wall carbon nanotubes. The resulting multi-wall carbon nanotubes have a narrow distribution as to the number of walls forming the tubes and a narrow distribution in the range of diameters for the tubes. Additionally, the present invention provides methods for producing multi-wall carbon nanotubes having narrow distributions in the number of walls and diameters. Further, the present invention provides a composition of spent catalyst carrying multi-wall nanotubes having narrow distribution ranges of walls and diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Southwest Nanotechnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Ricardo Prada Silvy, Yongqiang Tan
  • Patent number: 9855552
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a metal modified Y zeolite, its preparation and use. Said zeolite contains 1-15 wt % of IVB group metal as oxide and is characterized in that the ratio of the zeolite surface's IVB group metal content to the zeolite interior's IVB group metal content is not higher than 0.2; and/or the ratio of the distorted tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum to the tetrahedral-coordinated framework aluminum in the zeolite lattice structure is (0.1-0.8):1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: CHINA PETROLEUM & CHEMICAL CORPORATION, RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF PETROLEUM PROCESSING, SINOPEC
    Inventors: Huiping Tian, Shanqing Yu, Zhenbo Wang
  • Patent number: 9855553
    Abstract: A fluidic testing system is presented that includes a plurality of test chambers, a plurality of inlet channels, and a fluidic network that connects the inlet channels to one or more other chambers. The plurality of test chambers are each characterized by a length and a hydraulic diameter. The length of each test chamber is aligned substantially parallel to a gravity vector. Each of the test chambers has only one opening disposed along the length of the corresponding test chamber. Additionally, each of the test chambers is coupled via its respective opening to only one of the plurality of inlet channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Stat-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L.
    Inventors: Rafael Bru Gibert, Jordi Carrera Fabra, Anna Comengés Casas, José Antonio Garcia Sánchez
  • Patent number: 9855554
    Abstract: According to aspects of the present invention, a cartridge assembly for transporting fluid into or out of one or more fluidic devices includes a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes a first surface. The first surface includes at least one partial channel disposed thereon. The second layer abuts the first surface, thereby forming a channel from the at least one partial channel. At least one of the first layer and the second layer is a resilient layer formed from a pliable material. At least one of the first layer and the second layer includes a via hole. The via hole is aligned with the channel to pass fluid thereto. The via hole is configured to pass fluid through the first layer or the second layer substantially perpendicularly to the channel. Embossments are also used to define aspects of a fluidic channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: PRESIDENT AND FELLOWS OF HARVARD COLLEGE
    Inventors: Donald E. Ingber, Daniel Levner, Guy Thompson, II, Christopher David Hinojosa
  • Patent number: 9855555
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and system for generating droplets of an aqueous solution on a microfluidic chip with an air continuous phase. Specifically, the droplet generator according to the present invention is integrated into a microfluidic chip to generate and introduce droplets of an aqueous solution into the microfluidic chip. The droplets travelling in a network of chip channels may be captured in on-chip traps in a manner defined by hydrodynamic resistances of chip channels. A biological reaction may be performed on a droplet trapped on the microfluidic chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: University of Maryland
    Inventors: Ian M. White, Srinivasa Raghavan, Kunal R. Pandit
  • Patent number: 9855556
    Abstract: A method for handling a sample tube containing a biological sample is presented. A tube label can be attached to the sample tube. The tube label can carry tube data. The tube data can comprise at least geometric tube data descriptive of at least one geometric property of the sample tube. At least the geometric tube data can be read from the tube label by a reader device. At least the geometric tube data from the reader device can be transmitted to a processing device. The processing device for handling the sample tube can be controlled in accordance with the at least one geometric property described by the read geometric data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederic Furrer
  • Patent number: 9855557
    Abstract: Devices and methods for manual and high-throughput protein crystal growth and growth of other biological and organic crystals. A microplate includes a plurality of cells and a frame that defines the cells in the microplate. In each cell there is at least one well open at top. Each well in a cell may be enclosed at bottom, or it may be open at bottom, in which case the well bottom may be sealed by a separate part, which may be, e.g., a separate film or plate (e.g., of plastic, glass or metal) or a molded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITEGEN, LLC
    Inventors: Robert E. Thorne, Benjamin Apker, Robert Newman
  • Patent number: 9855558
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for thermal cycling including a pasting edge heater. The pasting edge heater can provide substantial temperature uniformity throughout the retaining elements during thermal cycling by a thermoelectric module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED BIOSYSTEM, LLC
    Inventors: Hon Siu Shin, Hock Lai Khoo
  • Patent number: 9855559
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems, devices, and methods for purifying microorganism nucleic acid from a host sample, such as a whole blood sample from a human. In certain embodiments, devices and systems with multiple filters are employed and provide for the selective removal of blood cells and host nucleic acids from a sample in order to enrich for microorganism nucleic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ABBOTT MOLECULAR INC.
    Inventors: Herbert A. Marble, Thomas Laffler
  • Patent number: 9855560
    Abstract: Shredder hammers having first and second major surfaces on opposing sides, and a circumferential edge. A mounting portion includes a mounting hole that extends from the first major surface to the second major surface, and is configured to receive a hammer mounting pin for mounting in a reducing system. The circumferential edge includes a primary impact face to initially impact materials to be reduced and a wear edge to subsequently crush and shear the material against a wall of the equipment. The hammer is biased forward on the pin to admit more material to be crushed between the wear edge and the grates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ESCO Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Graf, Michael R. Weeks, John P. Hoice, Daniel R. Morrow, Terry L. Briscoe, Christopher M. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 9855561
    Abstract: A granular material stirring apparatus for breaking up clumps of a granular material in an interior of a storage bin comprises a base assembly for resting on a floor of the bin, an agitation rotor rotatably mounted on the base assembly, and a rotation device connected to the rotatable agitation rotor to cause the agitation rotor to rotate with respect to the base assembly. The agitation rotor may include a central member rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and a plurality of stirrer members extending substantially radially outwardly from the central member to rotate about the substantially horizontal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Robert P. Stahl, Bob A. Waldner
  • Patent number: 9855562
    Abstract: A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shive of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Hemp Sense Inc.
    Inventor: Lyall D. Bates
  • Patent number: 9855563
    Abstract: The value-minerals are captured by gravity-separation, from a low-grade slurry. The ratio of liquids-to-solids in the slurry affects the efficiency of capture, and an ideal liquids/solids ratio is the ratio at which the efficiency of capture is at a maximum. The ideal ratio is different for different particle-sizes. The procedure includes dewatering the slurry, dividing the dry particles by particle-size, and feeding the several size-divided dry-streams into respective capture-stations. Prior to each dry-stream entering its respective capture-station, make-up water is added to the dry-stream in such quantity as to bring the liquids/solids ratio up to the ideal, for that particle-size. The procedure makes it simple to provide accurate measurement of, and accurate control of, the liquids/solids ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Claudio Sasso
  • Patent number: 9855564
    Abstract: Devices and methods to remove ferromagnetic particles from a liquid. The device generally includes a container that may include an inlet for the introduction of the liquid and ferromagnetic materials and an outlet from which the cleaned liquid flows from the container. A magnet may be positioned in the container and is configured to attract the ferromagnetic materials. The magnet may be further configured to move and to release the materials into a collection basin. The ferromagnetic material may be removed from the collection basin with the cleaned liquid being moved through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MagSolutions, LLC
    Inventor: Robert Norman Hales
  • Patent number: 9855565
    Abstract: A solid bowl screw centrifuge for processing drilling muds includes a rotatable drum and a rotatable screw. The centrifuge has a drive device for driving the drum and the screw with a drive motor as well as a gear assembly for producing a differential rotational speed between the drum and the screw when the centrifuge is in operation. A gear input shaft of the gear assembly is rotationally fixed by an overload lever arm that can be triggered in the event of a torque overload. The overload lever arm is directly and detachably connected with one end thereof and at a radial distance from the rotation axis of the gear input shaft to the gear input shaft or to a part that is connected thereto in a rotationally fixed manner. A method is provided for monitoring the torque on the gear input shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Knospe, Richard Korzinetzki