Patents Issued in January 21, 2020
  • Patent number: 10537818
    Abstract: A launch platform may include sensor(s) that detect movement of a platform that supports an aircraft. The platform may move in response to departure of the aircraft from the platform. In response to a change in a signal or signal state of the sensor(s), a timer may initiate timing of a race. The timer may be stopped in response to a second or later change in a signal or signal state of the sensor(s). A target may extend above the platform and, when impacted by an aircraft, may cause the second or later change in the signal or signal state of the sensor(s). By using the target, the aircraft may stop the timer by impacting or colliding with the target rather than landing on the platform. In some embodiments, the launch platform may be configured to track time for a race that includes a predetermined number of laps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventor: James Vincent Green
  • Patent number: 10537819
    Abstract: A spinner apparatus is disclosed herein. In one embodiment, the spinner comprises a magnetic ring; a rod, wherein the rod extends through the middle of the magnetic ring; and a first cap, wherein the first cap connects to a first end of the rod; and a second cap, wherein the second cap connects to a second opposite end of the rod. In another embodiment, the spinner comprises a first magnetic ring; a second magnetic ring; a magnet spacer, wherein the magnet spacer is disposed between the first and the second magnetic rings; a rod, wherein the rod extends through the middle of the first and the second magnetic rings; a first cap, wherein the first cap connects to a first end of the rod; and a second cap, wherein the second cap connects to a second opposite end of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventors: Selene S. Waddell, Jesse T. Waddell
  • Patent number: 10537820
    Abstract: A toy construction system comprising toy construction elements comprising coupling members (20) for detachably interconnecting the toy construction elements to create spatial structures (40), the toy construction system comprises at least a first type of toy construction elements (10), the first type of toy construction elements can be coupled to each other, wherein that the first type of toy construction elements is configured to be detected by a touch screen (60), and when toy construction elements are coupled to each other so as to form a spatial structure, the toy construction elements of the first type define a touch point pattern recognizable by the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: LEGO A/S
    Inventor: Laurence James Dawes
  • Patent number: 10537821
    Abstract: An interactive play set is described which comprises one or more active physical play pieces. In an embodiment, each active physical play piece receives data from one or more other play pieces in the play set and uses this data to generate proximity data. The proximity data describes distances between two or more play pieces from which it receives data to three or more proximity levels. The proximity data is then transmitted to an interactive entertainment experience (such as a game) which reflects changes in proximity level. For example, the changes may be visible in a graphical user interface or another play piece or audible to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Haiyan Zhang, James William Scott, Nicolas Villar, Alexandra Keeley Bunting, Lee Jason Schuneman, Michael Paul Rouse
  • Patent number: 10537822
    Abstract: The apparatus for moving a load includes a carrier cable having a first end connected to the load, and a second end connected to a movement device, the movement device including an operating line connected to a movement carriage. An electric motor is configured to move the carriage as a function of a force exerted on the operating line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HUCHEZ TREUILS
    Inventors: Mathieu Leclercq, Alexandre Dechamps
  • Patent number: 10537823
    Abstract: A method for removing carbon dioxide from a carrier liquid using a heat exchanger. A carrier liquid, containing carbon dioxide, is heated through the heat exchanger, causing the carbon dioxide to vaporize. The carrier liquid and the carbon dioxide gas pass to a liquid removal vessel. The carrier liquid is removed and the carbon dioxide gas is compressed. The compressed carbon dioxide gas is provided to the heat exchanger, cooling the carbon dioxide gas opposite the carrier liquid, producing a carbon dioxide liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Christopher Hoeger, Eric Mansfield, Kyler Stitt, Stephanie Burt, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10537824
    Abstract: Methods for recovering manganese etchant solutions are provided wherein a process solution used to rinse or neutralize a nonconductive substrate after etching the substrate is collected and evaporated to provide a concentrated process solution that is fed back into the manganese etchant solution or acid rinse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SRG GLOBAL, INC.
    Inventors: Mark Bauman, Daniel Lacey, Gerry Vogelpohl
  • Patent number: 10537825
    Abstract: A high-pressure pre-heating system is provided for use in a spray dryer system. The high-pressure pre-heating system may include a heat exchanger(s) configured for high-pressure and high velocity product flow, with the heat exchanger(s) preheating liquid product immediately before spray drying. This arrangement reduces heat exposure time of the liquid product that flows at high velocity through the high-pressure heat exchanger(s), which correspondingly reduces the likelihood of fouling surfaces of the heat exchanger(s) or overheating the liquid product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Advanced Process Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel S. Csizmadia
  • Patent number: 10537826
    Abstract: A catalytic distillation structure that may include a rigid framework having at least two grids with a plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes mounted to said grids to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes. Additionally, each horizontal fluid permeable tubes may have a profile of a six-sided polygon. Further, the catalytic distillation structure may include a plurality of vertically plates or wires connecting vertically aligned tubes of the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes. Furthermore, the plurality of vertically plates or wires connects from a corner of one vertically aligned tubes to a corner of an adjacent vertically aligned tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: LUMMUS TECHNOLOGY LLC
    Inventors: Liang Chen, Peter Loezos, Perry Lew, Bryan Tomsula, Willibrord A. Groten, Gary G. Podrebarac
  • Patent number: 10537827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary evaporator comprising a rotary drive and a fastening device attached to the rotary drive and having a receiving space for receiving an evaporator flask rotatable by the rotary drive, wherein the fastening device comprises a connector section, in particular a ring-shaped connector section, at the rotary drive side and a retainer element, in particular a ring-shaped retainer element, at the evaporator flask side that coupled to the connector section and that is rotatable relative to the connector section between a starting position and an end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HANS HEIDOLPH GMBH & CO KG
    Inventor: Roman Dil
  • Patent number: 10537828
    Abstract: A method for preventing fouling of a demister is disclosed. A process fluid is provided into a vessel. A gas is provided to a gas inlet of the vessel. The gas comprises a component that desublimates, crystallizes, solidifies, reacts, or a combination thereof, in the process fluid, forming a first solid. The gas is passed through the process fluid, the component of the gas forming the first solid, resulting in a component-depleted gas. The component-depleted gas is passed out of the process fluid, causing splashing or spurting of the process fluid and the first solid. The diverter section is provided between the demister and the gas inlet, the diverter section comprising a physical obstruction preventing the process fluid and the first solid from splashing or spurting onto the demister. In this manner, fouling of the demister is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sustainable Energy Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Andrew Baxter, Kyler Stitt, Aaron Sayre, Stephanie Burt, David Frankman, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10537829
    Abstract: Emulsion-preventing compositions may contain one or more sorbitan esters; and one or more non-ionic surfactants; where the ratio of the one or more sorbitan esters to the one or more non-ionic surfactants is in the range of 1:1 to 1:5. Methods may include contacting an emulsion with a treatment fluid, the treatment fluid containing one or more sorbitan esters and one or more non-ionic surfactants, where the ratio of the one or more sorbitan esters to the one or more non-ionic surfactants is in the range of 1:1 to 1:5; and separating the emulsion into an aqueous phase and an oleaginous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: M-I L.L.C.
    Inventors: Changping Sui, Pawilai Chinwangso, Hui Zhang, Steven Young
  • Patent number: 10537830
    Abstract: Separation apparatuses for the separation of a mixture of two fluids, such as a water-in-oil emulsion, via electrocoalescence, are provided. A separation apparatus may include a series of flow conditioners each having a different permittivity, such that the flow conditioner having a permittivity that is similar or equal to the permittivity of the flowing medium is selected. Another separation apparatus may include a flow conditioner having a frequency-dependent permittivity, such that the frequency of the electric field generated is selected so that the permittivity of the flow conditioner is as similar as possible to or equal to the permittivity of the flowing medium. Another separation apparatus may include a replaceable flow conditioner that may be replaced with a flow conditioner having a permittivity that is as similar to or equal to the permittivity of the flowing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Simone Less, Sebastien A. Duval, Abderrazak Traidia, Regis D. Vilagines
  • Patent number: 10537831
    Abstract: The present invention includes an apparatus and corresponding method for concentrating analytes within a fluid flowing through a tube using acoustic radiation pressure. The apparatus includes a function generator that outputs a radio frequency electrical signal to a transducer that transforms the radio frequency electric signal to an acoustic signal and couples the acoustic signal to the tube. The acoustic signal is converted within the tube to acoustic pressure that concentrates the analytes within the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Triad National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Gregory Kaduchak, Greg Goddard, Gary Salzman, Dipen Sinha, John C Martin, Christopher Kwiatkowski, Steven Graves
  • Patent number: 10537832
    Abstract: A filter frame, a filter cartridge, and an assembling method of the filter cartridge are provided. The method has the following steps. A filter core and a filter frame are prepared. The filter frame has a glue-cutting segment. Glue is coated around an outer wall of the filter core, and then the filter frame, which is mounted around the filter core, is pushed toward the glue to make the glue-cutting segment press the glue until the glue is cut into two parts. The inner glue part disposed between the filter core and the filter frame seals the filter cartridge. The outer glue part is disposed on an outer side of the filter frame, and is superfluous and removed. The glue-coating is combined with the mounting of the filter frame, thereby saving time and effort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: PRO-PURE INC.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Chi Lin
  • Patent number: 10537833
    Abstract: An oil filter element has first and second end disks between which an annular filter medium is held. The oil to be filtered flows through the filter medium in a direction radial to the longitudinal axis of the oil filter element. The oil filter element has a central channel arranged on the clean side and provided with a central outlet opening in the region of the first end disk. A radial sealing element, formed by an elastically deformable inside circumferential section of the first end disk, is arranged in the region of the outlet opening. In addition, an axial sealing element is arranged on the outside of the first end disk. This axial sealing element is held on the first end disk by retaining elements. An oil filter having such an oil filter element is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: MANN+HUMMEL GmbH
    Inventors: Guenter Jokschas, Marco Faisst
  • Patent number: 10537834
    Abstract: A filter apparatus has a plurality of filter elements (21) accommodated in a filter housing (1) with a filter inlet (11) and a filter outlet (13). During the operation one of the filter elements (21) can be backflushed by a backflushing device. The backflushing device includes a pressure control (7) to support the backflushing. Each filter elements (21) is accommodated in an element housing (30). The element housings (30) with the filter elements (21) performing the filtration process are connected to the fluid outlet (13) by their one open ends (33) in a fluid conducting manner. The element housing (30) of the filter element (21) being backflushed is exclusively connected with its open end (33) to the pressure control device (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: HYDAC PROCESS TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ralf Wnuk, Markus Olschok, Christian Schindler
  • Patent number: 10537835
    Abstract: A fully automatic magnetic filter includes an apparatus barrel, magnetic rollers, scrapers, and a motor. The number of the magnetic rollers is four and corresponds to the number of the scrapers. The magnetic rollers are located in the apparatus barrel, and each includes an outer layer and an inner core. The outer layer is sleeved onto the inner core. The inner core has a magnetic region and a non-magnetic region. The outer layers of the magnetic rollers are driven and connected through a gear. The outer layer of one of the magnetic rollers is connected with the motor and driven by the motor. Each scraper corresponds to the outer layer of a corresponding one of the magnetic rollers. When the iron filings adsorbed on the outer layer are rotated to the non-magnetic region, the iron filings can be scraped off by the scrapers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSAL FILTRATION (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jian Guo Chen
  • Patent number: 10537836
    Abstract: A filter medium for an air filter includes a pre-collection member, a first porous film, and a second porous film arranged in order from the side that is upstream of the air current. Each of the first porous film and the second porous film has a pressure loss of 30 Pa or more and 90 Pa or less when air is passed through each porous film at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s, and has a collection efficiency of 95% or more and 99.9% or less for NaCl particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 ?m when air containing the NaCl particles is passed through each of the porous films at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s. The pre-collection member has a pressure loss of 5 Pa or more and less than 55 Pa when air is passed through the pre-collection member at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s, has a collection efficiency of 15% or more and less than 85% for NaCl particles having a particle diameter of 0.3 ?m when air containing the NaCl particles is passed through the pre-collection member at a flow rate of 5.3 cm/s, and has a thickness of more than 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsumi Sakano, Kunihiko Inui, Yoshiyuki Shibuya, Hideyuki Kiyotani
  • Patent number: 10537837
    Abstract: Disclosed is a composite filter media. The composite filter media is formed from multiple layers of media material including a nanofiber media layer, where the layers are laminated, bound, or otherwise composited to each other. The composite filter media can comprise at least one nanofiber layer comprising polymeric media material having a geometric mean fiber diameter of about 100 nm to 1 ?m, and fibers configured in a gradient such that ratio of the geometric mean diameter of fibers at the upstream face of the nanofiber layer to the geometric mean diameter of fibers at the downstream face of the nanofiber layer is about 1.1 to 2.8, preferably about 1.2 to 2.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Haberkamp, Eric A. Janikowski, Barry Mark Verdegan, Christopher E. Holm, Huanling Liu, Kyle Ellison, Mark T. Wieczorek
  • Patent number: 10537838
    Abstract: A filter media having lignite-derived activated carbon, polyacrylic acid (PAA), a commercially available copper-zinc alloy, and polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PolyDADMAC) or Luviquat®, which is Poly[(3-methyl-1-vinylimidazolium chloride)-co-(1-vinylpyrrolidone)], combined and used as suitable replacement for TOG bituminous coal-based activated carbon, silver, and PolyDADMAC. Functional groups in lignite-based activated carbon interact with the polyacrylic acid. Functional groups such as calcium, iron, or aluminum oxide/hydroxide of lignite-based activated carbon interact with PAA, and help hold the PolyDADMAC in place. The additional presence of a copper-zinc alloy enhances the filter anti-microbiological performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KX Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Jinwen Wang, Meedia Kareem, Rezan Kareem, William Li, Bruce E. Taylor, Carol DeLandra, Frank A. Brigano
  • Patent number: 10537839
    Abstract: A media-free filter device for a supercritical fluid process is disclosed. The media-free filter device includes a first pipe section connected in flow communication with a closed-loop system for a supercritical fluid. A y-pipe segment intersects the first pipe section at an intersection joint. The intersection joint intersects at a descending obtuse angle with respect to the first pipe section flow direction. The y-pipe segment is open at the intersection joint and closed opposite the intersection joint, in flow communication with the first pipe section. The y-pipe section induces an eddy current turbulence zone adjacent the intersection joint to remove substantially all contaminants suspended in the supercritical fluid; and the contaminants are deposited in the descending y-pipe segment. An SCO2 process incorporating the media-free filter device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Darryn Fleming, Salvador B. Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 10537840
    Abstract: An improved apparatus for filtration has a fluid mixture feed comprising light and heavy fractions fed into the workspace between counter-rotating disk impellers within a tank, thereby forming vortices in the workspace. A static radial exhaust array is located axially in the workspace, comprising exhaust channels, each of which has a peripheral end facing the workspace and an inner end communicating with an axial exhaust drain. An axial pump produces low pressure in the axial exhaust drain, thereby drawing in and anchoring the vortices to the peripheral ends of the exhaust channels so that the exhaust channels can extract the contents of the vortex cores. Vanes can be incorporated into the workspace surface of each disk impeller so that the opposed vanes pass in close proximity, forming vortices along a plurality of radial lanes of intersection, with the peripheral openings of each of the exhaust channels aligned with at least one of the lanes of intersection in the workspace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: VORSANA INC.
    Inventor: David J. McCutchen
  • Patent number: 10537841
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filter (1) for gas masks includes providing a flat paper and folding the paper into a pleated preform. The filter element (2) is separated from the pleated preform (6) and is inserted into a housing (3). The inserted filter element (2) is connected to the housing (3) at least at some points. This filter elements (2) may have a polygonal outer contour, upon separating the element from the pleated filter preform (6). A foam and/or an adhesive is applied to an outer edge of the filter element (2), arranged on the circumference of the filter element, for an at least partial sealing of an edge (5). This establishes a connection to the housing (3) in at least some sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dräger Safety AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Matthias Hoder, Stephan Hake, Mathias Ahrens, Andrea Görndt
  • Patent number: 10537842
    Abstract: Rotating coalescer crankcase ventilation (CV) systems are described. The described CV systems utilize a contact seal to seal a gap between a static side of a housing and a rotating coalescer inlet. The rotating coalescer may be driven mechanically, electrically, hydraulically, or the like. The contact seal can be formed via a soft solid or a liquid film created by oil. Accordingly, the contact seal is a hydrodynamic soft seal. The contact seal prevents the blowby gases from bypassing the filter element of the rotating coalescer. At the same time, the contact seal may be broken during positive blowby gas recirculation circumstances because the contact seal is a hydrodynamic soft seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Chirag D. Parikh, Christopher E. Holm, Peter K. Herman, Brian W. Schwandt, Lee A. Peck
  • Patent number: 10537843
    Abstract: A process for separating a mixture of components is disclosed. A liquid mixture is provided to a separation vessel substantially near a temperature at which a product component freezes. The liquid mixture comprises the product component and a carrier component. The product component and the carrier component are essentially immiscible substantially near the temperature. The liquid mixture is separated into two or more phases, the two or more phases comprising a product component-rich liquid phase and a product component-depleted liquid phase. In this manner, a mixture of components is separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: Larry Baxter, Kyler Stitt, Stephanie Burt, Christopher Hoeger, Eric Mansfield, Nathan Davis
  • Patent number: 10537844
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system in which saturated mercury adsorbent in a gas mercury removal unit is dehydrated in a LNG, LPG or cryogenic gas plant using a regeneration gas stream. Spent regeneration gas stream is then condensed and the water is removed therefrom to form a renewed regeneration gas stream in a closed loop. The regeneration gas stream is compressed and recycled to a location in the plant upstream of an acid gas removal unit or upstream of a regeneration gas dehydration unit such that the regeneration gas stream is not sent to a flare. A dehydration unit having a pair of dehydration vessels, arranged in parallel, alternating between absorption and regeneration modes, receives gas from the compressor. Conventional plants can be retrofitted to achieve improved process efficiencies, cost savings and environmental benefits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Robert E. Marshall, IV, Saham Sam Tafreshi
  • Patent number: 10537845
    Abstract: Ammonia-adding apparatus and methods for ammonia-based desulfurization use multi-stage control, calculate a theoretical amount of ammonia based on gas amounts provided by an inlet continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS) and an outlet CEMS of the ammonia-based desulfurization device or associated gas amounts, a SO2 concentration provided by the inlet CEMS, and a predetermined SO2 concentration of the outlet CEMS. The apparatus and methods calculate a corrected theoretical amount of ammonia using half of the ratio of the actual amount of added ammonia to the actual amount of removed sulfur dioxide as a correction coefficient for the theoretical amount of ammonia; add an ammonia absorbent equivalent to the corrected theoretical amount of ammonia to the ammonia-based desulfurization device through an ammonia metering means and an ammonia control valve, and automatically control the actual ammonia flow rate based on the actual SO2 concentration and a change trend provided by the outlet CEMS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Jiangnan Environmental Protection Group Inc.
    Inventors: Jing Luo, Jinyong Wang, Jun Zhang
  • Patent number: 10537846
    Abstract: A method for separating carbon dioxide from a gas stream, in particular from a flue gas stream, wherein, a gas stream is brought into contact with a washing medium in an absorber of a separation device and the carbon dioxide contained in the gas stream is separated; the charged washing medium is supplied to a desorber of the separation device to release the carbon dioxide; a vapor stream is removed from the desorber and is supplied to a cooling unit to form a condensate; degradation products, in particular nitrosamines, contained in at least a partial stream of the condensate are photolytically decomposed to decomposition products; at least the decomposition products, in particular nitrites and amines, are removed; and at least a partial stream of the condensate is returned to the desorber. A corresponding separation device separates carbon dioxide from a gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Benjamin Häfner, Ansgar Kursawe, Albert Reichl, Torsten Schliepdiek, Rüdiger Schneider, Henning Schramm
  • Patent number: 10537847
    Abstract: A method for scrubbing off-gas generated in production units for the manufacture of acetic acid and an apparatus therefor. The method comprises supplying off-gas and acetic acid solvent at a tick-over flow rate to an acetic acid scrubbing unit, withdrawing off-gas from the scrubbing unit, supplying withdrawn off-gas to a methanol scrubbing unit, scrubbing the off-gas therein with methanol solvent and withdrawing scrubbed off-gas from the methanol scrubbing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Timothy Crispin Bristow, Paul David Williams
  • Patent number: 10537848
    Abstract: A gas separation asymmetric membrane includes a porous layer having gas permeability; and a compact layer having gas separation capability which is formed on the porous layer in which the gas separation asymmetric membrane is formed using a polyimide compound which has a structural unit represented by Formula (I) and at least one structural unit selected from a structural unit represented by Formula (II) or a structural unit represented by Formula (III) and in which the viscosity, at 25° C., of a solution obtained by dissolving the polyimide compound in N-methylpyrrolidone at a concentration of 5% by mass is in a range of 2.2 to 22.0 mPa·sec, in the formula, X1 represents a group having a structure represented by Formula (I-a) or (I-b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Kodama, Satoshi Sano, Koji Hironaka
  • Patent number: 10537849
    Abstract: A method for treating a crude natural gas feed stream comprising methane and having a first carbon dioxide concentration, said method comprising the steps of: subjecting the crude natural gas feed stream to a separation process to provide: a purified natural gas stream having a second carbon dioxide content which is lower than the first carbon dioxide concentration in said crude natural gas stream; and, a carbon dioxide stream comprising carbon dioxide as the major component and methane; recovering the purified natural gas steam; optionally mixing the carbon dioxide stream with make-up methane and/or make-up air; passing the carbon dioxide stream and optional make-up methane or air through a heat exchanger to raise the temperature of the stream to the desired inlet temperature T1 of an oxidation reactor; optionally mixing the carbon dioxide stream with make-up methane and/or make-up air; passing the heated stream from step (d) and any optional make-up methane and/or air to the oxidation reactor containing an
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Davy Technologies Limited
    Inventors: John Swinney, Simon Nicholas Tilley, David J. Watson
  • Patent number: 10537850
    Abstract: Methods related generally to the removal of atmospheric pollutants from the gas phase, are provided, as well as related apparatus, processes and uses thereof. A single-stage air scrubbing apparatus is provided that includes at least one reaction vessel, at least one introduction duct, and a turbulence component, wherein a residence time is sufficient to allow the conversion of at least one atmospheric pollution compound to at least one other compound, molecule or atom. In some embodiments, the at least one atmospheric pollution compound comprises nitrogen oxide, sulfur oxide or a combination thereof. Additionally, methods of removing atmospheric pollution compounds from a waste gas stream are disclosed that include introducing a waste gas stream and at least one additional gas stream, mist stream, liquid stream or combination thereof into a single-stage air scrubbing apparatus at a flow rate sufficient to allow for conversion of the at least one atmospheric pollution compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Intelligent Abatement, LLC
    Inventors: Roger Glenn Miller, Larry Kent Barnthouse, Robert George Richardson
  • Patent number: 10537851
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to capture carbon dioxide from combustion products in a flue gas, using replenishable anhydrous metal hydroxides, and capturing heat from an exothermic reaction of the carbon dioxide with the anhydrous metal hydroxides re-use in another heat using system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventor: Jaeson Cardiff
  • Patent number: 10537852
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas-purifying system of an internal combustion engine of the present disclosure sets a reduction treatment necessity flag to ON when an input gas temperature of an exhaust gas introduced into an exhaust-gas-purifying catalyst is higher than a reference temperature. Then, it is determined whether reduction treatment execution conditions in which the reduction treatment necessity flag has been set to ON and the input gas temperature has decreased and falls within a preset temperature range up to a reference temperature or lower are satisfied. Then, when it is determined that reduction treatment execution conditions are satisfied, a reduction treatment in which an air-fuel ratio of an intake gas supplied into the engine is adjusted to be richer than a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio is performed, and the reduction treatment necessity flag is set to OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Yuichi Sobue
  • Patent number: 10537853
    Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed relate to methods of separating volatile compounds from a liquid feed mixture comprising an emulsion. In various embodiments, the method includes contacting a first side of a first membrane with a liquid feed mixture including an emulsion having a polymer, and at least one volatile compound. The method can also include contacting a second side of the first membrane with a sweep medium including at least one a sweep fluid to produce a permeate mixture on the second side of the first membrane and a retentate mixture on the first side of the first membrane, wherein the permeate mixture is enriched in the volatile compound, and the retentate mixture is depleted in the volatile compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Dow Silicones Corporation
    Inventors: Dongchan Ahn, Aaron Greiner, Mark Keinath, James Thompson
  • Patent number: 10537854
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are ceramic selective membranes and methods of forming the ceramic selective membranes by forming a selective silica ceramic on a porous membrane substrate. Representative ceramic selective membranes include ion-conductive membranes (e.g., proton-conducting membranes) and gas selective membranes. Representative uses for the membranes include incorporation into fuel cells and redox flow batteries (RFB) as ion-conducting membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Lilo D. Pozzo, Anthony William Moretti, Gregory M. Newbloom, Aaron West, Eden Rivers
  • Patent number: 10537855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a decadodecasil 3R (DDR) type zeolite membrane and a membrane prepared thereby, and more particularly, to a method of preparing a hydrophobic decadodecasil 3R (DDR) type zeolite membrane having a continuous out-of-plane orientation by adding a substrate on which a seed layer is formed to a silica source synthetic precursor containing a methyltropinium salt and performing a hydrothermal synthesis, and a method of capturing and removing carbon dioxide using a membrane prepared thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: KOREA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH AND BUSINESS FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Jungkyu Choi, Kwan Young Lee, Eun-Joo Kim
  • Patent number: 10537856
    Abstract: The invention provides a hollow fiber membrane exhibiting a favorable gas permeation performance and an excellent heat resistance in which the generation of pinholes are suppressed, and a hollow fiber membrane module using the same. The hollow fiber membrane comprising a gas permeable nonporous layer; and a porous supporting layer to support the nonporous layer formed of a thermoplastic elastomer having a DSC melting peak temperature of 130° C. or higher and a rupture elongation prescribed in ISO 37 (2010) of 300% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Noritaka Shibata, Kenjiro Takayanagi
  • Patent number: 10537857
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a nanocomposite membrane, comprising: (a) providing a nanocomposite solution comprising a polymer solution and nanomaterials; (b) subjecting the nanocomposite solution to a cold water bath to produce the nanocomposite membrane in a gel-like form; and (c) subjecting the gel nanocomposite membrane to a heat treatment to solidify the nanocomposite membrane, wherein the nanomaterials are dispersed within the polymer matrix of the nanocomposite membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: NANYANG TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Darren Delai Sun, Zhaoyang Liu
  • Patent number: 10537858
    Abstract: A porous membrane provides enhanced filtration of pollutants and particles by coating the membrane with conformal thin films of doped titanium dioxide via atomic layer deposition or, alternatively, sequential infiltration synthesis. The membrane can either be organic or inorganic, and the doping of the membrane, usually with nitrogen, is an important feature that shifts the optical absorption of the TiO2 from the UV range into the visible-light range. This enables the use of lower energy light, including sunlight, to activate the photocatalytic function of the film. The coating described in the present invention is compatible with virtually any porous membrane and allows for precise tuning of the pore size with molecular precision. The present invention presents a new coating process and chemical structure that provides catalytic activity, strongly enhanced by light, to both mitigate fouling and break down various organic pollutants in the process stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne, LLC
    Inventors: Seth B. Darling, Anna Lee, Jeffrey W. Elam, Joseph A. Libera
  • Patent number: 10537859
    Abstract: A gas separation membrane includes a gas separation layer containing a polyimide compound having a repeating unit represented by Formula (I), in Formula (I), RI represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, or a halogen atom, Xa represents a sulfamoyl group, an alkoxysulfonyl group, a carboxy group, a hydroxy group, an acyloxy group, or a halogen atom, and R represents a mother nucleus having a specific structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Koji Hironaka, Satoshi Sano, Yusuke Iizuka, Sotaro Inomata, Keisuke Kodama, Tetsu Kitamura
  • Patent number: 10537860
    Abstract: Nanoscale emulsions can be made by means of condensing a liquid vapor onto another liquid. The precise size, chemical composition, and density of emulsions may be controlled through varying the experimental parameters, such as surfactant concentration, time of condensation, humidity, and temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Sushant Anand, Seyed Reza Mahmoudi, Ingrid Fuller Guha, Kripa Kiran Varanasi
  • Patent number: 10537861
    Abstract: A system and method of wellbore operations that uses an eductor unit for introducing additives into a moving fluid stream to form a mixture. The mixture is used as a completion drilling fluid for drilling through plugs installed in a wellbore. Example additives include polymers, such as friction reducers, viscosifiers, potassium chloride, polysaccharide, polyacrylamide, biocides, lubricants, long chain polymer molecules, and the like. The fluid is primarily fresh water and/or brine water, and acts as a motive fluid in the eductor unit for drawing the additive into the eductor unit. Forming the mixture in the eductor unit which is injected into the wellbore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: CHEMRIGHT, LLC
    Inventor: Don B. Cobb
  • Patent number: 10537862
    Abstract: A fluidic device for mixing a reagent fluid with a fluid sample comprises a supply channel having a reagent inlet, a sample inlet and a first reagent storage, coupled to the supply channel; a mixer for mixing the reagent with the fluid sample, having a mixer inlet coupled to the supply channel at a position in between the sample inlet and the first reagent storage; In a first stage, when the reagent fluid is supplied in the reagent inlet, the reagent is provided in the supply channel and the first reagent storage, and such that the reagent is thereafter stationed in the supply channel and the first reagent storage until a fluid sample is provided in the sample inlet. When the fluid sample is supplied in the sample inlet, the supplied fluid sample and the stationed reagent flows into the mixer thereby mixing both fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: IMEC VZW
    Inventor: Ahmed Taher
  • Patent number: 10537863
    Abstract: A constrictor valve can be associated with a conduit in fluid communication with a mixer to control a flow of cementitious slurry discharged from the mixer through the conduit. The constrictor valve can include a constrictor housing, a webbing constriction assembly, and a drive mechanism. The webbing constriction assembly includes a pair of rotatable members rotatably mounted to the constrictor housing and a plurality of webbing straps connected to the rotatable members and wrapped around the conduit. The drive mechanism includes a drive shaft and a gear assembly configured to rotate the rotatable members in opposing winding directions in response to the drive shaft rotating in a tighten direction to wrap the webbing straps tighter around the conduit to compress it and to rotate in opposing unwinding directions in response to the drive shaft rotating in a loosen direction to loosen the grip of the webbing straps on the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY
    Inventor: Ronald E. Schenck
  • Patent number: 10537864
    Abstract: An automatic height adjusting robot has a base frame, an L shaped lifting base assembly, a lifting frame, a hoist assembly, an automated mixing assembly, a power inlet, and a screw conveyor. The automatic height adjusting robot computes controlled volumetric ratios of dry chemicals while connected to a production well.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Inventors: Jose Luna, Burl Fuller, Jerry Fuller
  • Patent number: 10537865
    Abstract: The invention is directed to the use of an upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound, to a method for producing a dihydroxy compound, and to a method for manufacturing polycarbonate. The upflow reactor for producing a dihydroxy compound of the invention comprises: a vessel; a catalyst bed disposed in said vessel; a distributor in fluid communication with an inlet through which reactants are introduced to said distributor, said distributor being disposed at a lower end of said vessel and comprising distributor perforation(s) disposed in said distributor, at least part of which distributor perforations are in a direction facing away from said catalyst bed; and a collector through which said product dihydroxy compound is removed, said collector being disposed at an upper end of said vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: SABIC Global Technologies B.V.
    Inventors: Surya Prakasa Rao Daliparthi, Paulus Johannes Maria Eijsbouts
  • Patent number: 10537866
    Abstract: The invention involves a scale collection device that is located within downflow reactor head for removing solids from feed streams to increase reactor operating cycle time without impact on effective reactor space for catalyst loading. More particularly, a filtering zone is located in an upper portion of a reactor vessel above a rough liquid distribution tray and a distribution tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Bunting, Jr., Steven J. Lesniak, Zhanping Xu
  • Patent number: 10537867
    Abstract: A naphtha reforming reactor system comprising a first reactor comprising a first inlet and a first outlet, wherein the first reactor is configured to operate as an adiabatic reactor, and wherein the first reactor comprises a first naphtha reforming catalyst; and a second reactor comprising a second inlet and a second outlet, wherein the second inlet is in fluid communication with the first outlet of the first reactor, wherein the second reactor is configured to operate as an isothermal reactor, and wherein the second reactor comprises a plurality of tubes disposed within a reactor furnace, a heat source configured to heat the interior of the reactor furnace; and a second naphtha reforming catalyst disposed within the plurality of tubes, wherein the first naphtha reforming catalyst and the second naphtha reforming catalyst are the same or different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Vincent D. McGahee, Daniel M. Hasenberg