Patents Issued in May 15, 2018
  • Patent number: 9968900
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing nano-engineered carbon materials, such as carbon aerogels and carbon xerogels, and methods of manufacturing precursor solutions and sol-gels for making the same are provided. A method for manufacturing a precursor solution comprises programmed-addition of a cross-linking agent to a component mixture comprising a resorcinol compound. A method for manufacturing a sol-gel comprises subjecting a precursor solutions to at least one heat treatment. Methods for producing nano-engineered carbon materials from precursor solutions and sol-gels are also provided. Methods for using the nano-engineered carbon materials are also disclosed. The resulting nano-engineered carbon materials can be useful in a range of products including, supercapacitor applications, high-surface-area electrodes, fuel cells, and desalination systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Chemicals LLC
    Inventors: Sudhir M. Mulik, Joseph F. Ludvik, Robert W. Fleming, Christopher M. Lee
  • Patent number: 9968901
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, compositions, and kits for methods that can improve techniques nucleic acid analysis, and can allow for more reliable and accurate targeted, multiplexed, high throughput sequencing. The methods, compositions, and kits can be used for sequencing target loci of nucleic acid. The methods, compositions, and kits disclosed herein can be used for assisted de novo targeted sequencing. The methods, compositions, and kits disclosed herein can also be used for library labeling for de novo sequencing and phasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: THE SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Steven Robert Head, Phillip T. Ordoukhanian, Daniel R. Salomon
  • Patent number: 9968902
    Abstract: Certain aspects of the present invention provide devices and methods for preparing oligonucleotides and for assembling nucleic acid molecules using microfluidic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Gen9, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Li-Yang Chu
  • Patent number: 9968903
    Abstract: The invention features methods of making devices, or “platens”, having a high-density array of through-holes, as well as methods of cleaning and refurbishing the surfaces of the platens. The invention further features methods of making high-density arrays of chemical, biochemical, and biological compounds, having many advantages over conventional, lower-density arrays. The invention includes methods by which many physical, chemical or biological transformations can be implemented in serial or in parallel within each addressable through-hole of the devices. Additionally, the invention includes methods of analyzing the contents of the array, including assaying of physical properties of the samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Hess, John Linton, Tanya S. Kanigan, Colin Brenan, Can Ozbal
  • Patent number: 9968904
    Abstract: Hydrothermal conversion is performed on organic feedstocks that include solids, by forming a slurry of the feedstock in water and subjecting the slurry to hydrothermal conversion conditions. The hydrothermal conversion conditions may be sufficient to product a carbonized solid and/or liquefaction products. The size of solids (either or both of feedstock or carbonized solids produced in the process) is reduced by conducting a series of bubble-forming and bubble-collapsing cycles on the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Alireza Shekarriz
  • Patent number: 9968905
    Abstract: Biomass (e.g., plant biomass, animal biomass, and municipal waste biomass) is processed to produce useful products, such as fuels. For example, systems can use feedstock materials, such as cellulosic and/or lignocellulosic materials and/or starchy or sugary materials, to produce ethanol and/or butanol, e.g., by fermentation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: XYLECO, INC.
    Inventor: Marshall Medoff
  • Patent number: 9968906
    Abstract: Various embodiments that pertain to oxygen enrichment are described. Oxygen enrichment is shown to allow for independent control of both reformer residence time and the oxygen-to-carbon ratio during reforming. This allows for much better control over the reformer and for significant gains in reformer through-put without negative impacts to reformer performance. Additionally, the use of oxygen enriched reforming is shown to result in enhanced reformer performance, reduced degradation from catalyst poisons (carbon formation and sulfur) and enhanced fuel cell stack performance due to greatly increased hydrogen concentration in the reformate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America, as Represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Terry DuBois
  • Patent number: 9968907
    Abstract: A gas adsorbent includes copper-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolite, and the crystallinity of the copper-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolite is set to at least 40% and up to 80%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yukako Akeyama
  • Patent number: 9968908
    Abstract: The invention relates to a composition (1) comprising an activated carbon (4) and a zeolite (2), the zeolite (2) comprising Fe ions. The invention also relates to an air filter (12) for a ventilation, heating, and/or air conditioning system comprising this composition (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Valeo Systemes Thermiques
    Inventors: Frederic Ladrech, Amanda Martinell, Natacha Caudy, Laetitia Del Fabbro, Michel Ondarts, Cecile Hort
  • Patent number: 9968909
    Abstract: Provided are: a Mn+-exchanged beta zeolite which is useful for the catalytic removal of nitrogen monoxide contained in a gas to be purified even when oxygen is contained in the gas at a high concentration or when the gas has a low temperature; and a method for producing the Mn+-exchanged beta zeolite. The Mn+-exchanged beta zeolite according to the present invention has a SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 7 to 18, and is ion-exchanged by a Mn+ ion (wherein Mn+ represents a n-valent metal cation; n represents a numeral value of 1 to 3; and M represents an element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Cu, Mn, Zn, Sn, Ag, Li, K, Cs, Au, Ca, Mg, Pt, Pd, Rh and Ir). The amount of the Mn+ ion carried on the Mn+-exchanged beta zeolite is preferably from 0.01 to 2.5 mmol/g relative to the amount of the Mn+-exchanged beta zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI MINING & SMELTING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shanmugam Palani Elangovan, Masahiro Yamamoto, Toyohiko Hieda
  • Patent number: 9968910
    Abstract: Compositions are disclosed herein comprising poly alpha-1,3-glucan or poly alpha-1,3-1,6-glucan polymer having an open-cell pore structure with an average pore size of about 100 nm to about 3000 nm in diameter. Such polymers have enhanced aqueous liquid absorption capacity, and can be comprised in various products having aqueous liquid absorption function. Methods of preparing glucan polymers of the compositions provided herein are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY
    Inventors: Natnael Behabtu, Rakesh Nambiar
  • Patent number: 9968911
    Abstract: A method for producing charcoal particles or pellets which use different additives as binders for the biochar pellets. The method includes producing a mixture with charcoal and additives selected from nanocrystalline cellulose, bentonite, and polyvinyl acetate. The mixture is created by mixing one or more of the additives with charcoal and water. The mixture is then processed in a pelletizer device. While processing, the surface of the mixture is sprayed with a liquid. Once turned into pellets by way of the pelletizer device, the resulting pellets are then dried by applying heat to the pellets. The liquid can be water or a solution of water and sodium borate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Leonard Bruce Eddy, Paul Byron Tiege, Hilke Beuck, Greg Rekken
  • Patent number: 9968912
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a granular excretion disposal material having a core portion and a covering layer that covers the core portion. The method includes: a granulating step of granulating the core portion by blending a core portion raw material containing pulp and highly absorbent resin, with water; a covering step of forming the covering layer by spraying a covering layer raw material containing pulp and highly absorbent resin, onto a surface of the core portion granulated in the granulating step; a drying step of drying a granular matter, in which the covering layer is formed in the covering step, with hot air; and a cooling step of cooling the granular matter dried in the drying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Unicharm Corporation
    Inventors: Shotaro Mochizuki, Hidekazu Yamada, Takahiro Otomo, Tatsuya Sogo, Chiyo Takagi
  • Patent number: 9968913
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for production of hydrogen at low temperature starting from alcohols without formation of carbon using an oxyhydride material based on cerium and nickel and to the use of such a material as catalyst for transformation of alcohols to hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE, UNIVERSITE LILLE 1
    Inventors: Louise Duhamel, Wenhao Fang, Sebastien Paul, Franck Dumeignil
  • Patent number: 9968914
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing olefins, including the step of subjecting an alcohol having not less than 8 and not more than 22 carbon atoms to dehydration reaction in the presence of a solid acid catalyst, in which the solid acid catalyst includes aluminum oxide and an oxide of an element having an electronegativity higher than that of aluminum which is supported on the aluminum oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: KAO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shingo Takada
  • Patent number: 9968915
    Abstract: Provided is a phosphorus-containing ultrastable Y-type rare earth (RE) molecular sieve and the preparation method thereof. The method is: based on NaY molecular sieve as a raw material, obtaining “one-exchange one-roast” RE-Na Y-type molecular sieve through the steps of exchanging with RE, pre-exchanging with dispersing, and the first calcination; and then performing ammonium salt exchange, phosphorus modification, and the second calcination on the “one-exchange one-roast” RE-Na Y-type molecular sieve, wherein the sequence of the RE exchange and the pre-exchange with dispersing is unlimited, and the sequence of the ammonium salt exchange and the phosphorus modification is unlimited as well. The obtained molecular sieve contains RE oxide 1-20 wt %, phosphorus 0.1-5 wt %, and sodium oxide no more than 1.2 wt %, and has a crystallization degree of 51-69% and a lattice parameter of 2.449-2.469 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xionghou Gao, Haitao Zhang, Di Li, Xueli Li, Hongchang Duan, Zhengguo Tan, Chaowei Liu, Yunfeng Zheng, Xiaoliang Huang, Jinjun Cai, Chenxi Zhang, Zhishuang Pan, Gengzhen Cao
  • Patent number: 9968916
    Abstract: A three-way catalyst is disclosed. The three-way catalyst comprises a silver-containing extruded zeolite substrate and a catalyst layer disposed on the silver-containing extruded zeolite substrate. The catalyst layer comprises a supported platinum group metal catalyst comprising one or more platinum group metals and one or more inorganic oxide carriers. The invention also includes an exhaust system comprising the three-way catalyst. The three-way catalyst results in improved hydrocarbon storage and conversion, in particular during the cold start period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Hsiao-Lan Chang, Hai-Ying Chen, Kwangmo Koo, Jeffery Scott Rieck
  • Patent number: 9968917
    Abstract: The present invention provides an LEV-type zeolite which is less likely than a conventional LEV-type zeolite to have reduced zeolite crystallinity even when exposed to high-temperature, high-humidity environments, particularly high-temperature, high-humidity environments of at least 700° C. The LEV-type zeolite has a molar ratio of silica to alumina of at least 20 and a molar ratio of silanol groups to silicon of at most 1.5×10?2. Such an LEV-type zeolite preferably has a silanol volume of at most 1.5×1020/g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: TOSOH CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yusuke Naraki
  • Patent number: 9968918
    Abstract: The present invention provides a catalytic cracking catalyst for heavy oil and preparation methods thereof. The catalyst comprises 2 to 50% by weight of a phosphorus-containing ultrastable rare earth Y-type molecular sieve, 0.5 to 30% by weight of one or more other molecular sieves, 0.5 to 70% by weight of clay, 1.0 to 65% by weight of high-temperature-resistant inorganic oxides, and 0.01 to 12.5% by weight of a rare earth oxide. The phosphorus-containing ultra-stable rare earth Y-type molecular sieve uses a NaY molecular sieve as a raw material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xionghou Gao, Haitao Zhang, Di Li, Zhengguo Tan, Hongchang Duan, Xueli Li, Chaowei Liu, Yunfeng Zheng, Xiaoliang Huang, Jinjun Cai, Zhishuang Pan, Xueqin Sun
  • Patent number: 9968919
    Abstract: This invention disclosure relates to a process to make flexible open cell polyurethane foam with optimum mechanical properties and lowest chemical emissions. Using the selection of tertiary amine catalysts together with a group of carboxylic acids according to this disclosure can produce foam products with optimum properties and lowest chemical emanations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Evonik Degussa GmbH
    Inventors: Juan Jesus Burdeniuc, Courtney Thompson Thurau, Renee Jo Keller, Allen Robert Arnold
  • Patent number: 9968920
    Abstract: A catalyst prepared by polymerizing 0-98 weight % butylstyrene; 0-80 weight % vinyl toluene; 1.5-25 weight % divinyl benzene having 1-98 weight % of ethyl vinyl benzene; and 0-80 weight % styrene. Copolymer beads are made, sulfonated, and used as a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: ROHM AND HAAS COMPANY, DOW GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LLC
    Inventors: Daryl J. Gisch, William I. Harris, Dennis A. Keeley, Marvin K. Tegen, Robert J. Olsen, Jose Antonio Trejo-O'Reilly
  • Patent number: 9968921
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are catalyst compositions containing a heteroatomic ligand transition metal compound complex, a chemically-treated solid oxide, and an organoaluminum compound. These catalyst compositions can be used in an ethylene oligomerization process to produce a liquid oligomer product containing hexene and octene, as well as a solid polymer product with a molecular weight sufficiently high to permit easy separation of the liquid oligomer product from the solid polymer product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Uriah J. Kilgore, Steven R. Hutchison, Orson L. Sydora, Steven M. Bischof, Jared T. Fern, Max P. McDaniel
  • Patent number: 9968922
    Abstract: This application provides a catalyst for producing paraxylene by co-conversion of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and C4 liquefied gas, and preparation and application thereof. The catalyst is an aromatization molecular sieve catalyst with a shape-selective function co-modified by bimetal and siloxane compound. Methanol and/or dimethyl ether and C4 liquefied gas are fed in reactor together, wherein aromatization reaction occurring on a modified shape-selective molecular sieve catalyst. The yield of aromatics is effectively improved, in which paraxylene is the main product. In products obtained by co-conversion of methanol and/or dimethyl ether and C4 liquefied gas, the yield of aromatics is greater than 70 wt %, and the content of paraxylene in aromatics is greater than 80 wt %, and the selectivity of paraxylene in xylene is greater than 99 wt %.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: DALIAN INSTITUTE OF CHEMICAL PHYSICS, CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
    Inventors: Lei Xu, Zhongmin Liu, Zhengxi Yu
  • Patent number: 9968923
    Abstract: A carrier having at least three lobes, a first end, a second end, a wall between the ends and a non-uniform radius of transition at the intersection of an end and the wall is disclosed. A catalyst comprising the carrier, silver and promoters deposited on the carrier and useful for the epoxidation of olefins is also disclosed. A method for making the carrier, a method for making the catalyst and a process for epoxidation of an olefin with the catalyst are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Ceramics & Plastics, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Richard, John David Covey
  • Patent number: 9968924
    Abstract: A method for preparing a novel hydrogel including silico-metallic mineral particles of the formula (Six(Si-A)1?x)4M3O11.n?H2O, in which: x is a real number in the range [0.75; 1], A denotes a group selected from methyl and hydrocarbon groups including at least one heteroatom, and M is a metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, cobalt, zinc, copper, manganese, iron, nickel and chromium, wherein a coprecipitation reaction is carried out in an aqueous medium between: at least one metal salt of the metal M, sodium metasilicate, Na2OSiO2, and at least one water-soluble oxysilane of formula (I): in which R1, R2 and R3 are selected from hydrogen and linear alkyl groups including 1 to 3 carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignees: CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE (C.N.R.S.), UNIVERSITE PAUL SABATIER TOULOUSE III
    Inventors: Christophe Le Roux, Francois Martin, Pierre Micoud, Angela Dumas
  • Patent number: 9968925
    Abstract: A process of recovering and recycling a catalyst includes feeding an epoxidized fatty acid ester, a solvent, and a catalyst to a reactor. The solvent is reacted with the epoxidized fatty acid ester to open epoxy rings of the ester and produce a polyol. Some unreacted solvent remains after the reaction. The unreacted solvent is separated from a mixture of the polyol and the catalyst. The polyol/catalyst mixture is passed to an adsorption bed so that the catalyst is adsorbed and the polyol passes through the bed. The polyol is recovered. The adsorption bed is rinsed with the unreacted solvent to desorb the catalyst and obtain a mixture of the solvent and the catalyst. The mixture of solvent and catalyst is recycled to the reactor for further reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTE
    Inventor: Daniel B. Garbark
  • Patent number: 9968926
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing aminomethylated bead polymers using condensed formaldehydes and carboxylic anhydrides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: LANXESS Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhold Klipper, Pierre Vanhoorne, Areski Rezkallah, Bernd Koop
  • Patent number: 9968927
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to an integrated chip having an integrated optical bio-sensor, and an associated method of fabrication. In some embodiments, the integrated optical bio-sensor has a sensing device arranged within a semiconductor substrate. An optical waveguide structure is located over a first side of the semiconductor substrate at a position over the sensing device. A dielectric structure is disposed onto the optical waveguide structure at a position that separates the optical waveguide structure from a sample retention area configured to receive a sample solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yi-Shao Liu, Emerson Cheng, Yi-Hsien Chang, Chun-Ren Cheng, Ching-Ray Chen, Alex Kalnitsky, Allen Timothy Chang
  • Patent number: 9968928
    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: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: STAT-Diagnostica & Innovation, S.L.
    Inventors: Rafael Bru Gibert, Jordi Carrera Fabra, Anna Comengés Casas, José Antonio Garcia Sánchez
  • Patent number: 9968929
    Abstract: A reaction cassette and a biochemical assay device are disclosed. The reaction cassette for biochemical assay comprises a housing with structural walls defining a liquid mixing space for accommodating at least one mixing zone, wherein the at least one mixing zones comprises at least one blending structures for generating a vortex phenomenon in liquid, thereby improving the degree of mixture of a liquid sample and a dried reagent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: APEX BIOTECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Sz Hau Chen, Ming Chang Hsu, Ya Chun Wu, Tin En Lin
  • Patent number: 9968930
    Abstract: A microfluidic product utilizing gradient surface energy coatings for fluid control comprising a plurality of fluid passages wherein at least one fluid passage comprises a coating configured to control liquid flow wherein the coating configured to control liquid flow comprises a gradient surface energy coating from a proximal location to a distal location on a surface of the fluid passage. The product can include uniform regions and surface gradient regions in the same passage. Coating compositions and product dimensions can be selected to provide control over different flow properties including fluid velocity, reduction and acceleration of fluid flow, and starting and stopping fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Brian David Babcock
  • Patent number: 9968931
    Abstract: This invention provides lateral flow filters with pore size gradients and with features to prevent peripheral flows around the filter. The filters can be laminated composites of two or more planar filter layers. Cartridges employing the filters can include a filtration chamber configured to retain the lateral flow filters including a port for sample application and a capillary channel for filtrate egress. The fluid egress port can be positioned to receive filtrate from one filter layer but not another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventors: Nan Zhang, Zhiliang Wan
  • Patent number: 9968932
    Abstract: Provided is a microchannel chip, for microparticle separation, which can continuously separate microparticles, from a solution in which microparticles of different particle diameter are mixed, without needing to use an antibody or similar, and without causing clogging. Also provided are a microparticle separation method and a system for microparticle separation using the chip. Microparticles can be captured by using the microchannel chip for microparticle separation, the microchannel chip being characterised by being provided with a plurality of main channels and capture portions that are wider than the main channels and at least one of which is provided to each main channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: National University Corporation Nagoya University
    Inventors: Fumihito Arai, Taisuke Masuda, Miyako Niimi, Haruki Douke, Hayao Nakanishi, Seiji Ito
  • Patent number: 9968933
    Abstract: The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: The University of Chicago
    Inventors: Rustem F. Ismagilov, Joshua David Tice, Helen Song Baca, Lewis Spencer Roach
  • Patent number: 9968934
    Abstract: A fluidic sample test apparatus has a mounting part such that the temperature of a fluidic sample, which is inserted into the mounting part, is uniformly maintained. The fluidic sample test apparatus includes a main body having a mounting part into which a sample cartridge is inserted, a metal panel disposed on one surface of the mounting part, and a printed circuit board (PCB) disposed on another surface of the mounting part facing the one surface. One side of the metal panel is in contact with the PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Dong Young Kim, Seung Woo Han, Hyun-Suk Kang
  • Patent number: 9968935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of molecular diagnostics. In particular, the present invention provided improved substrates and methods of using liquid crystals and other biophotonically based assays for quantitating the amount of an analyte in a sample. The present invention also provides materials and methods for detecting non-specific binding of an analyte to a substrate by using a liquid crystal or other biophotonically based assay formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Platypus Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas Abbott, Christopher Murphy, Barbara Israel, Josh Sotos, Doug Hansmann, Renee Herber, Joseph Burkholder, Keren Hulkower, Michael Bonds
  • Patent number: 9968936
    Abstract: A method includes introducing at least one of a whole product or a milled product (e.g., corn) to an airflow (e.g., using a gravity hopper), directing the airflow into one or more accelerators, separating a first fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product from a second fraction of the at least one of the whole product or the milled product in the one or more accelerators. For example, corn germ, starch, and bran components can be separated from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Shockwave ABF LLC
    Inventor: Joseph R. Fitzgerald
  • Patent number: 9968937
    Abstract: A method and system for removing foreign grains from oat grains to establish gluten-free oats, i.e., oat grains having gluten levels below 20 ppm and, more preferably, below 10 ppm, relies upon performing various mechanical differentiation operations on a combination of grains, including oats and foreign, or gluten containing, grains. The mechanical differentiation operations can be arranged in series or in a combination of series and parallel operations. The various operations preferably include width grading and multiple length grading steps, as well as an aspirating steps, as well as a potential debearding step. The resulting oats can be used to make a wide range of gluten-free oat food products, including cereal and granola products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip K Zietlow, Daniel J Winderl, Mark E Arlinghaus
  • Patent number: 9968938
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a refiner plate segment with one or more continuous, generally spiraling transition zones. A transition zone spans from an area near the inner portion of the plate, near the breaker bar area, and extends toward an area near the periphery of the plate at an angle. A tangent line to the transition zone intersecting a radial line forms this angle. The radial line is formed by a line perpendicular to the outer periphery passing through the center point of the center of plate rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Luc Gingras
  • Patent number: 9968939
    Abstract: Shredding device for shredding material comprising a housing: a rotor and one or more counter blades which are arranged in the housing such that they interact for shredding the material; a pusher element that is movable such that it pushes the material to be shredded in the direction towards the rotor and the counter blades; a hopper for feeding the material which is arranged movable on the housing between a first and a second position, where, in its first position, the material may be fed to the rotor and the counter blades, and in its second position, the rotor and the counter blades are freely accessible from the exterior of the shredding device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: MANUEL LINDNER
    Inventor: Siegfried Berglitsch
  • Patent number: 9968940
    Abstract: A food waste disposer system has a food waste disposer and a rechargeable power source that provides power to a motor of the food waste disposer. In an aspect, the motor is a permanent magnet DC motor having a nominal no-load speed in the range of 15,000 revolutions per minute to 30,000 revolutions per minute and the motor section includes a gear reduction mechanism. In an aspect, the food waste disposer system includes a power module that communicates wirelessly with a wireless activator. In an aspect, a stopper receivable in an inlet of the food waste disposer includes or is couplable to a power source which in an aspect is a rechargeable power source and in an aspect, is disposed in a housing of the stopper. In an aspect, the stopper includes a cord for coupling the stopper to the power source which is a source of AC power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Thomas Hartmann, Nicholas J. Hirsch, Thomas R. Berger, Jiming Sun
  • Patent number: 9968941
    Abstract: A method of preparing an aluminum metaphosphate (ALMP) particulate product includes charging a milling chamber of a ball mill with grinding media and loading an ALMP feedstock into the milling chamber. The ALMP feedstock is milled with the grinding media into ALMP particles at a particle reduction index in a range from 0.25 to 0.5. At a plurality of time steps during a period in which the milling is carried out, a fine fraction of the ALMP particles is removed from the milling chamber while a coarse fraction of the ALMP particles remains in the milling chamber for additional milling. An ALMP particulate product with a particle size distribution having a median particle size in a range from 100 ?m to 700 ?m is prepared from the ALMP particles removed from the milling chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Kimberly Errin Hill, Martin Joseph Murtagh
  • Patent number: 9968942
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method and apparatus for separating stones, fibers and plastics from biodegradable material. In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises: an inclined trough having a feed entry at a top end for receiving the feed material, the inclined trough including a plurality of riffles angled to at least partially hinder and unsettle a flow of the feed material flowing down the inclined trough; one or more vibratory motors configured to induce a vibration in the inclined trough; one or more blowers configured to generate an air flow through overhead air vent nozzles positioned over the inclined trough and directing the air flow to one side of the inclined trough; and a material resilience separator for separating the contaminants from the biodegradable materials in the remaining material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: BOREAL COMPOST ENTERPRISES LTD.
    Inventor: Garret Gillespie
  • Patent number: 9968943
    Abstract: The magnetic particle separator uses an induced magnetic field to separate magnetic particles held in solution by magnetophoresis. The magnetic particles may be, for example, inherently paramagnetic or superparamagnetic, may be magnetically tagged or the like. First and second magnetic particles initially flow along a longitudinal direction. An external magnetic field along a lateral direction, orthogonal (or near orthogonal) to the longitudinal direction, is applied to an externally magnetizable wire, which extends along a transverse direction orthogonal to both the longitudinal and lateral directions. The external magnetic field generates an induced magnetic field in the externally magnetizable wire, and the induced magnetic field generates repulsive magnetic force on the first and second magnetic particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Saud A. Khashan
  • Patent number: 9968944
    Abstract: A parts separator includes a chute having an inlet section defining a wet chip inlet opening, an outlet section defining a wet chip outlet opening adapted to be coupled to a centrifugal separator and a drop-out opening disposed between the inlet and outlet sections. The parts separator also includes a magnetic separator disposed outside the chute adjacent the drop-out opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: INTER-SOURCE RECOVERY SYSTEMS
    Inventor: William D. Nemedi
  • Patent number: 9968945
    Abstract: This invention relates to an integrated process for recovering value metals from sulphide ore which includes the steps of bulk sorting 16 and screening 24/28 crushed ore. The sorted/screened coarse ore stream is ground and classified 20 to provide a coarse fraction 34 suitable for coarse flotation and a first fine fraction 38 suitable for flotation. The coarse fraction suitable for coarse flotation is subjected to coarse flotation 36 thereby to obtain a gangue 42 and an intermediate concentrate 46. The intermediate concentrate is subjected to grinding 48 to provide a second fine fraction suitable for conventional flotation. The first fine fraction and the second fine fraction are subjected to conventional flotation 40 to provide a concentrate and tailings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: ANGLO AMERICAN SERVICES (UK) LTD.
    Inventors: Anthony Owen Filmer, Daniel John Alexander
  • Patent number: 9968946
    Abstract: Centrifuges are provided for rotating fluid separation chambers about an axis in a fluid processing system. The centrifuge may be provided with high- and low-G walls, with a gap defined between the high- and low-G walls. A first section of the gap may have a substantially uniform radius about the axis, while a second section of the gap may have a non-uniform radius about the axis. The radius of the second section of the gap about the axis at all locations is no larger than the radius of the first section of the gap about the axis. The high-G wall may comprise an inner surface of an outer bowl, while the low-G wall may comprise an outer surface of an inner spool. At least a portion of the second section of the gap may have a varying radius along the axis and/or be configured as a spiral.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: FENWAL, INC.
    Inventors: Gregory G. Pieper, Salvatore Manzella, Jr., Brian C. Case, Steven R. Katz, Kyungyoon Min
  • Patent number: 9968947
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator has a rotary drum that is adapted to receive a product that can be separated into a light phase, a heavy phase, and solid sediments, a first outlet for the light phase, a closing device that opens and closes a second outlet for the heavy phase. The closing device has an electromagnetic actuator having a ferromagnetic element whereon a closing plug is mounted. The electromagnetic actuator has an electromagnetic coil that creates a magnetic field so as to attract the ferromagnetic element. A spring is connected to the closing plug so as to urge the closing plug to a closed position. The closing plug, the ferromagnetic element and the spring are connected to the rotary drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: PIERALISI MAIP SOCIETA' PER AZIONI
    Inventor: Gennaro Pieralisi
  • Patent number: 9968948
    Abstract: The present invention includes a mining system adapted to change underwater mining by selecting and harvesting only the target ore or gem. It eliminates costly displacement in mass of ore or material to the surface or shore, reduces pollution of the water column, and minimizes disturbance of the environment. The system includes a trommel fluidly coupled to separators, wherein each separator uses a vortex-like flow pattern to separate high-density sediment from lower density sediment based on flow rate. The present invention is the capable of separating and collecting various sized of desired ore in one pass. Additionally, the system is adapted to be coupled with a ROV dredge to reduce or eliminate diving time and risk of human life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Black Shell Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Laurent R. Olivier
  • Patent number: 9968949
    Abstract: A pulsating irrigation device is provided that transforms a fluid flow entering the device to an intermittent pulsating fluid flow that is ejected from the device. The device has a chamber and at least one compressible member in pressure contact with the chamber. The compressible member compresses to assist the formation of the pulses ejected from the device and the fluid within the chamber is substantially sealed from contact with the interior of the compressible member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Netafim, Ltd.
    Inventor: Ron Keren