Patents Issued in February 23, 2021
  • Patent number: 10926221
    Abstract: A catalyst article including a substrate with an inlet side and an outlet side, a first zone and a second zone, where the first zone includes a passive NOx adsorber (PNA), and an ammonia slip catalyst (ASC) comprising a platinum group metal on a support and a first SCR catalyst; where the second zone includes a catalyst selected from the group consisting of a diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) and a diesel exotherm catalyst (DEC); and where the first zone is located upstream of the second zone. The first zone may include a bottom layer with a blend of: (1) the platinum group metal on a support and (2) the first SCR catalyst; and a top layer with a second SCR catalyst, the top layer located over the bottom layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventors: Hai-Ying Chen, Joseph Michael Fedeyko, Dongxia Liu, Jing Lu
  • Patent number: 10926222
    Abstract: Dumping a reverse osmosis (RO) reject stream from a wastewater treatment and reclamation plant (WWTRP) into the sea directly destroys aquatic life and indirectly affects public health. This triggers solving the problem by methods and systems provided herein. One embodiment begins with utilizing two types of waste; one is the RO reject stream in its entirety, and the other is letdown steam from once-through-steam-generators (OTSGs) or steam from a standalone OTSG fueled by co-produced sour gas. It ends with thermally sterilizing toxicity and isolating it by the alkalinity content of the RO reject stream itself, combating sulfate scale and recovering it as a useful product, and producing distillate for heavy oil recovery by steam injection and de-scaled brine for improved oil recovery by water flooding. The vehicle to attain this set of solutions is a recycle-brine multi-stage flash (RB-MSF) desalination train with two modified flashing stages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Mansour S. Bader
  • Patent number: 10926223
    Abstract: An apparatus for water purification includes a membrane distillation (MD) cell; an air conditioner; a photovoltaic solar collector (PVSC) cell including a transparent photovoltaic cell configured to generate electricity, an absorber plate configured to absorb solar radiation, and a flow tube configured to receive the fluid; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; and a fluid source storing a fluid configured to circulate through the apparatus, wherein the fluid circulating in the apparatus carries heat generated by a condenser of the air conditioner to the PVSC cell where the fluid interacts with the PVSC cell to increase a temperature of the fluid to become a heated fluid; and the heated fluid circulates to the hot channel where the heated fluid drives the distillation of water in the MD cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Fahad G. Al-Amri
  • Patent number: 10926224
    Abstract: A spiral-wound electrodialysis module includes an inner electrode positioned about a central axis and an outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode. Ion exchange membranes are arranged in a stack, and each membrane extends in a spiral outward from an inner position proximate the inner electrode to an outer position proximate the outer electrode. The spirals expand outward at a greater-than-linear rate as a function of angle along a length of the spiral from the inner positions to the outer positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Amos G. Winter, Natasha Catherine Wright
  • Patent number: 10926225
    Abstract: Hollow fiber cartridges and components and methods of their construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Refine Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Jerry Shevitz
  • Patent number: 10926226
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of fabricating novel cross-linked membranes and to cross-linked membranes produced by the disclosed methods. Specifically, methods of fabricating cross-linked membranes according to the present invention may comprise direct crosslinking, crosslinking by addition of a small molecule, interfacial crosslinking of free-standing film, and interfacial crosslinking on a solid support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignees: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company Company, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Nicholas Bruno, Ronita Mathias, Yao Ma, Kirstie Thompson, Breanne Hamlett, Ryan P. Lively, Huaxing Zhou, M. G. Finn, Dhaval Bhandari, Craig McKay, Melinda Jue
  • Patent number: 10926227
    Abstract: A method for fabricating calcite channels in a nanofluidic device is described. A porous membrane is attached to a substrate. Calcite is deposited in porous openings in the porous membrane attached to the substrate. A width of openings in the deposited calcite is in a range from 50 to 100 nanometers (nm). The porous membrane is etched to remove the porous membrane from the substrate to form a fabricated calcite channel structure. Each channel has a width in the range from 50 to 100 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Dong Kyu Cha, Mohammed Badri AlOtaibi, Sultan Muhammad Al Enezi, Ali Abdallah Al-Yousef
  • Patent number: 10926228
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of altering the relative proportions of protons, deuterons and tritons in a sample using a membrane. The membrane comprises a 2D material and an ionomer. The invention also relates to a method of making said membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The University of Manchester
    Inventors: Marcelo Lozada, Andre K. Geim
  • Patent number: 10926229
    Abstract: A filtration filter is suitable for performing cross-flow filtration by using a metallic porous membrane. A metallic porous membrane has a membrane portion for filtering filtration objects contained in a fluid and a held portion provided at its outer periphery. A first frame member and a second frame member hold the held portion of the metallic porous membrane there between. The held portion has a bent portion bent to a second principal surface side opposing a first principal surface of the membrane portion. The first frame member is in contact with the held portion at the first principal surface side of the metallic porous membrane. The second frame member is disposed at an inner side portion of the first frame member and is in contact with the held portion at the second principal surface side of the metallic porous membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masaru Banju, Takashi Kondo, Junko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 10926230
    Abstract: Provided is a semipermeable membrane having a high chlorine resistance. The semipermeable membrane is formed of a cellulose ester, the cellulose ester having an optionally substituted benzoyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DAICEL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomohiro Hashizume, Hiroyuki Matsumura, Tohru Shibata, Mitsuru Ohno
  • Patent number: 10926231
    Abstract: The invention relates an extrusion device (100) for extruding a semi-finished product made of elastomeric material, comprising an extrusion body (10) extending along a feeding direction (A) and a pump (20) arranged downstream of the extrusion body (10) along said feeding direction (A). The extrusion body (10) comprises a hopper (30) for loading an elastomeric material and an extrusion screw (50) extending along said feeding direction (A) and having an inlet portion (50a) arranged close to the hopper (30) and an exit portion (50b) arranged close to the pump (20). The extrusion body (10) also comprises a motorised roller (40) arranged at the inlet portion (50a) of the extrusion screw (50) and configured to receive the elastomeric material from the hopper (30) and feed it to the extrusion screw (30). The extrusion screw (50) has a length and a diameter such that the ratio between length and diameter is comprised between 4 mm and 8 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: PIRELLI TYRE S.p.A.
    Inventors: Cesare Emanuele Amurri, Gaetano Lo Presti
  • Patent number: 10926232
    Abstract: An automatic analyzing apparatus includes a stirring mechanism. The stirring mechanism is provided with: a fixed member fixed to an apparatus body; a motor attached to the fixed member; a drive-side helical gear provided on a drive shaft of the motor; bearings provided to the fixed member with the center shaft held parallel to the drive shaft of the motor; a support member of circular column shape, supported so as to be capable of receding from one side relative to the bearings; a driven-side helical gear fixed to an end of the support member coaxially with respect to the support member such that the driven-side helical gear is fitted together with the drive-side helical gear with the support member recessed into the bearings; and a stirring rod extending coaxially with the support member from the end of the support member opposite to the end provided with the driven-side helical gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: JEOL Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Yaginuma
  • Patent number: 10926233
    Abstract: A beverage mixing system/method allowing faster mixing/blending of frozen beverages is disclosed. The system/method in various embodiments utilizes inductive coupling to introduce heat into the frozen beverage during the mixing/blending process via a rotating driveshaft and attached mechanical agitator to speed the mixing/blending process. Exemplary embodiments may be configured to magnetically induce heat into the driveshaft and/or mechanical agitator mixing blade to affect this mixing/blending performance improvement. This heating effect may be augmented via the use of high power LED arrays aimed into the frozen slurry to provide additional heat input. The system/method may be applied with particular advantage to the mixing of ice cream type beverages and other viscous beverage products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: Mark E. Goodson
  • Patent number: 10926234
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a Ziegler-Natta catalyst composition comprising a procatalyst, a cocatalyst and a mixed external electron donor comprising a first selectivity control agent, a second selectivity control agent, and an activity limiting agent. A polymerization process incorporating the present catalyst composition produces a high-stiffness propylene-based polymer with a melt flow rate greater than about 50 g/10 min. The polymerization process occurs in a single reactor, utilizing standard hydrogen concentration with no visbreaking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Linfeng Chen
  • Patent number: 10926235
    Abstract: A reactor includes: a main reactor core including main reaction flow channels through which the raw material fluid flows, and main temperature control flow channels through which the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the main reaction flow channel; and a pre-reactor core including pre-reaction flow channels of which an outlet side connects with an inlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the raw material fluid flows, and pre-temperature control flow channels of which an inlet side connects with an outlet side of the main reaction flow channels and through which the product serving as the heat medium flows along a flow direction of the raw material fluid flowing in the pre-reaction flow channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: IHI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akihisa Yano, Tatsuya Oka, Hiroyuki Kamata, Shigeki Sakakura, Nobuyuki Honma, Yusuke Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 10926236
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and methods for producing liquid colloids such as suspensions of nanoparticles, in which liquid feedstock materials are reacted on a reaction surface of a rotatable plate. The apparatus has a first plate (101) mounted for rotation about a rotation axis (102), the first plate (101) providing a reaction surface (103) having a concave portion; first (106) and second (107) inlet lines arranged to introduce respective first and second liquid feedstock materials to the reaction surface (103); and a collection unit (110) arranged to collect a reaction product formed from reaction of the liquid feedstock materials as a liquid colloid ejected from an outer edge of the plate (101).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Gareth Cave
  • Patent number: 10926237
    Abstract: Aspects described herein generally relate to a sol-gel that is the reaction product of an organosilane, a metal alkoxide, an acid, and chromium (III) salt and/or a lanthanide salt having a solubility of about 1 gram or greater per gram of sol-gel at 23° C. The lanthanide salt includes a cation and a ligand. The cation can be lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium, samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, scandium, yttrium, cobalt, calcium, strontium, barium, and zirconium. A ligand can be a nitrate, a trifluoromethane sulfonate, a sulfate, a phosphate, a hydroxide, or hydrate forms thereof. The chromium (III) salt includes a cation and a ligand. The cation is chromium (III) and the ligand can be a nitrate, a trifluoromethane sulfonate, a sulfate, a phosphate, a hydroxide, or hydrate forms thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Waynie M. Schuette, Patrick J. Kinlen
  • Patent number: 10926238
    Abstract: An electrode assembly having a tubular support jacket that defines an internal compartment. The internal compartment is actively cooled by coolant. An electrode tip is coupled to the tubular support jacket. The electrode tip receives electricity through the tubular support jacket. An insulator construct surrounds at least part of the tubular support jacket. The insulator construct includes an insulation base, an insulation tube and an insulation cap. A gas supply conduit is interposed between the tubular support jacket and the insulation tube, wherein the gas supply conduit receives a working gas from a working gas supply. A thermally conductive casing surrounds at least part of the insulator construct. The thermally conductive casing is actively cooled. The thermally conductive casing actively cools the insulator construct, the underlying tubular support jacket, and thus the electrode tip. The active cooling reduces over-heating of the electrode tip and prevents excessive consumption and erosion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Cogent Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter C. Kong, Rodney J. Bitsoi
  • Patent number: 10926239
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel processor component for a propylene glycol fuel processor, comprising at least one housing (G) having at least two inlets (E1, E2) and two outlets (A1, A2), wherein there is a multitude of first plates (P1) having a first side (S1) and a second side (S2) and second plates (P2) having a third side (S3) and a fourth side (S4) arranged as a stack in the housing (G), wherein the stacked first and second plates (P1, P2) form at least first cavities (H1) and second cavities (H2), wherein the first inlet (E1) has fluid connection to the first outlet (A1) via first cavities (H1) and the second inlet (E2) has fluid connection to the second outlet (A2) via second cavities (H2). The invention further relates to a propylene glycol fuel processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: DIEHL AEROSPACE GMBH
    Inventors: David Tiemann, Jochen Schuerer, Gunther Kolb
  • Patent number: 10926240
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon trap is provided for reducing cold-start hydrocarbon emissions. The trap comprises a monolithic flow-through substrate having a porosity of at least 60% and including a zeolite loading of at least 4 g/in3 in or on its walls. A separate coating of a three-way catalyst is provided over the zeolite coating. The trap may further include an oxygen storage material. The hydrocarbon trap may be positioned in the exhaust gas system of a vehicle such that unburnt hydrocarbons are adsorbed on the trap and stored until the monolith reaches a sufficient temperature for catalyst activation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Giovanni Cavataio, Jason Aaron Lupescu, Manish Sharma
  • Patent number: 10926241
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide adsorbent including a hierarchical zeolite. The hierarchical zeolite defines micropores having a pore width between about 0.4 nm and about 2 nm, and at least one of: mesopores having a pore width between about 2 nm and about 50 nm; and macropores having a pore width greater than about 50 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
    Inventors: Dong-Kyun Seo, Farid Akhtar
  • Patent number: 10926242
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating hydrocarbons on an internal combustion powered vehicle via one or more metal organic frameworks are disclosed. Systems and methods can further include utilizing separated hydrocarbons and exhaust to generate hydrogen gas for use as fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Mohamed Eddaoudi, Youssef Belmabkhout
  • Patent number: 10926243
    Abstract: The present invention is a solid lubricant treatment medium, usually but not always in bead form, suitable to be brought into contact with lubricants to remediate and to condition them. A key feature of the medium, typically a polymeric resin, is the presence of relatively very large pores, which are able to capture and remove fine lubricant contaminants and breakdown products (such as small phosphate ester varnish, soot, coke, dissolved metal or other small semi-soluble or insoluble particles). Resins and adsorbents of the prior art have proven unable to remove fine contaminants like phosphate ester varnish that have a deleterious impact on industrial equipment performance and reliability. The mean pore size diameter of the medium is between about 8,000 ? and 100,000 ? and, more preferably, in the range of about 20,000 ? to about 80,000 ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventors: Matthew Hobbs, Peter T Dufresne
  • Patent number: 10926244
    Abstract: A substrate for a catalytic converter, comprising an open cell carbon foam having a geometric surface area of at least about 5000 m2/m3 and a permeability of at least about 8.0 darcys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Inventor: James R. Cartiglia
  • Patent number: 10926245
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for operating a three-way catalyst system at high temperatures. The method includes passing a high-temperature exhaust stream exiting an engine over a thermally stable three-way catalyst system including a metal oxide support; two or more catalytically active metals disposed on the support; and a porous metal oxide coating disposed on one or more exposed surfaces of the support. At least one of the catalytically active metals may be platinum (Pt). The method further includes reducing an amount of the nitrogen oxides (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), and non-methane hydrocarbons (HCs) in an effluent stream exiting the thermally stable three-way catalyst system so that the effluent stream has a combined amount of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and non-methane hydrocarbons (HCs) of less than or equal to about 30 mg/mile and less than or equal to about 0.5 g/mile of carbon monoxide (CO).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Gongshin Qi, Wei Li, Se H. Oh, Ming Yang
  • Patent number: 10926246
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of preparing a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation. More particularly, the present invention provides a method of preparing a catalyst for oxidative dehydrogenation providing superior selectivity and yield for a conjugated diene according to oxidative dehydrogenation by constantly maintaining pH of a coprecipitation solution using a drip-type double precipitation method to adjust an ?-iron oxide content in a catalyst in a predetermined range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: LG CHEM, LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Kyu Han, Dong Hyun Ko, Kyong Yong Cha, Myung Ji Suh, Sun Hwan Hwang, Seong Min Kim
  • Patent number: 10926247
    Abstract: This disclosure provides for catalyst systems and processes for forming an ?,?-unsaturated carboxylic acid or a salt thereof. In an aspect, the catalyst system can comprise: a transition metal precursor comprising a Group 8-11 transition metal and at least one first ligand; optionally, at least one second ligand; an olefin; carbon dioxide (CO2); a diluent; and an oxoacid anion-substituted polyaromatic resin comprising a sulfonated polyaromatic resin, a phosphonated polyaromatic resin, a sulfinated polyaromatic resin, a thiosulfonated, or a thiosulfinated polyaromatic resin, and further comprising associated metal cations. Methods of regenerating the polyaromatic resin with associated metal cations are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP
    Inventors: Pasquale Iacono, Mark L. Hlavinka
  • Patent number: 10926248
    Abstract: An especially robust compound and its derivative metal complexes that are approximately one hundred-fold superior in catalytic performance to the previously invented TAML analogs is provided having the formula: wherein Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4 are oxidation resistant groups which are the same or different and which form 5- or 6-membered rings with a metal, M, when bound to D; at least one Y incorporates a group that is significantly more stable towards nucleophilic attack than the organic amides of TAML activators; D is a metal complexing donor atom, preferably N; each X is a position for addition of a labile Lewis acidic substituent such as (i) H, deuterium, (ii) Li, Na, K, alkali metals, (iii) alkaline earth metals, transition metals, rare earth metals, which may be bound to one or more than one D, (iv) or is unoccupied with the resulting negative charge being balanced by a nonbonded countercation; at least one Y may contain a site that is labile to acid dissociation, providing a mechanism for shortening co
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Terrence James Collins, Matthew Alan DeNardo, Genoa Rose Warner, Scott Wallace Gordon-Wylie, William Chadwick Ellis, Yogesh Somasundar
  • Patent number: 10926249
    Abstract: The invention describes phospho-amino pincer-type ligands, metal complexes thereof, and catalytic methods comprising such metal complexes for conversion of carbon dioxide to methanol, conversion of aldehydes into alcohols, conversion of aldehydes in the presence of a trifluoromethylation agent into trifluorinated secondary alcohols, cycloaddition of carbon dioxide to an epoxide to provide cyclic carbonates or preparation of an amide from the combination of an alcohol and an amine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Kuo-Wei Huang, Qianyi Zhao
  • Patent number: 10926250
    Abstract: A catalyst system including the product of the combination of an unbridged Group 4 metallocene compound and a 2,6-bis(imino)pyridyl iron complex is provided. A process for the polymerization of monomers (such as olefin monomers) and a polymer produced therefrom are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew W. Holtcamp, Kevin A. Stevens, Laughlin G. McCullough, David F. Sanders, Subramaniam Kuppuswamy, Matthew S. Bedoya
  • Patent number: 10926251
    Abstract: A selective catalytic reduction catalyst composition for converting oxides of nitrogen (NOx) in an exhaust gas using a nitrogenous reductant, which catalyst composition comprising a mixture of a first component and a second component, wherein the first component is the H-form of an aluminosilicate chabazite zeolite (CHA); or an admixture of the H-form of an aluminosilicate mordenite zeolite (MOR) and the H-form of an aluminosilicate chabazite zeolite (CHA); and the second component is a vanadium oxide supported on a metal oxide support, which is titania, silica-stabilized titania or a mixture of titania and silica-stabilized titania, wherein the weight ratio of the first component to the second component is 10:90 to 25:75.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Catalysts (Germany) GmbH
    Inventors: Diana Biskupski, Joerg Muench, Irene Piras
  • Patent number: 10926252
    Abstract: A plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation, which comprises at least one plasmonic provider and at least one catalytic property provider, wherein the plasmonic provider and the catalytic property provider are in contact with each other or have distance less than 200 nm, and molecular composition of the hydrocarbon molecules produced by light irradiation is temperature-dependent. And a method for producing hydrocarbon molecules by light irradiation utilizing the plasmonic nanoparticle catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Beijing Guanghe New Energy Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cong Wang, Haizhou Ren
  • Patent number: 10926253
    Abstract: To provide a process for producing an ion exchange membrane for electrolysis which has a low membrane resistance and which is capable of reducing the electrolysis voltage during the electrolysis, even if the membrane strength is increased, an ion exchange membrane for electrolysis, a precursor membrane of an ion exchange membrane for electrolysis, and an electrolysis apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: AGC Inc.
    Inventors: Takayuki Kaneko, Hiromitsu Kusano, Yasushi Yamaki, Takuo Nishio
  • Patent number: 10926254
    Abstract: The invention provides microfluidic devices, methods for imaging cells, and methods for preparing such microfluidic devices. The microfluidic devices are contemplated to provide advantages for use in imaging of cells and subcellular compartments in an environment that mimics in vivo conditions. The microfluidic devices can used with a microscope equipped with an oil emersion objective lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey T. Borenstein, Joseph L. Charest, Joseph Cuiffi, Alla Epshteyn, Angela B. Holton, James Ching-Ming Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10926255
    Abstract: An apparatus and method, the apparatus including a channel; at least one pair of electrodes provided within sides of the channel; a conductor configured to move through the channel such that when the conductor is positioned between the at least one pair of electrodes a current path is provided through the at least one pair of electrodes and the conductor; and wherein the at least one pair of electrodes are configured such that the position of the conductor within the channel controls the length of the current path and enables a time varying voltage to be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Darryl Cotton, Adam Robinson
  • Patent number: 10926256
    Abstract: An EWOD device includes a first substrate assembly and a second substrate assembly; wherein one of said substrate assemblies includes electrowetting electrodes, and the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly are spaced apart to define a channel between the substrate assemblies; and a housing for receiving the first substrate assembly and the second substrate assembly, the housing comprising an alignment feature for locating at least one of the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The device further includes a fixing feature for fixing the first and second substrate assemblies within the housing. The second substrate assembly is located within the housing such that the second substrate assembly is an outer component of the EWOD device. The device further may include a spacer that spaces apart the first substrate assembly from the second substrate assembly to define the channel between the first and second substrate assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Emma Jayne Walton
  • Patent number: 10926257
    Abstract: A microfluidic device uses hydrodynamic shear forces on a sample to improve the speed and efficiency of tissue digestion is disclosed. The microfluidic channels are designed to apply hydrodynamic shear forces at discrete locations on tissue specimens up to 1 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter, thereby accelerating digestion through hydrodynamic shear forces and improved enzyme-tissue contact. Experiments using animal organs show that the digestion device with hydro-mincing capabilities is superior to conventional scalpel mincing and digestion based on recovery of DNA and viable single cells. The microfluidic digestion device can eliminate or reduce the need to mince tissue samples with a scalpel, while reducing sample processing time and preserving cell viability. Another advantage is that downstream microfluidic operations could be integrated to enable advanced cell processing and analysis capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Jered Haun, Xiaolong Qiu, Elliot Hui, Amrith Karunaratne, Erik Werner
  • Patent number: 10926258
    Abstract: Microfluidic probe head for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes separated by spacers. The microfluidic probe head includes: an inlet, an outlet, a first fluid channel and a second fluid channel and a fluid bypass connecting the first fluid channel and the second fluid channel. The first fluid channel delivers the sequence of separate liquid volumes from the inlet toward a deposition area, the fluid bypass allows the spacers to be removed from the first fluid channel obtaining a free sequence of separate liquid volumes without spacers, the first fluid channel delivers the free sequence of separate liquid volumes to the deposition area, and the second fluid channel delivers the removed spacers from the fluid bypass to the outlet. The present invention also provides a microfluidic probe and method for processing a sequence of separate liquid volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Julien Autebert, Emmanuel Delamarche, Govind Kaigala, Xander Frank Van Kooten
  • Patent number: 10926259
    Abstract: A fluid refining device and assembly comprises an inlet for fluid to be refined, a separation outlet and a concentration outlet for processed fluid in a refining layer, wherein the refining layer comprises a plurality of refining units arranged in a pattern, and wherein the cross section of the concentration outlet is less than the cross section of the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Trilobte Innovation AS
    Inventor: Eirik Bentzen Egeland
  • Patent number: 10926260
    Abstract: A microfluidic AM-EWOD device and a method of filling such a device are provided. The device comprises a chamber having one or more inlet ports. The device is configured, when the chamber contains a metered volume of a filler fluid that partially fills the chamber, preferentially maintain the metered volume of the filler fluid in a part of the chamber. The device is configured to allow displacement of some of the filler fluid from the part of the chamber when a volume of an assay fluid introduced into one of the one or more inlet ports enters the part of the chamber, thereby causing a volume of a venting fluid to vent from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Sharp Life Science (EU) Limited
    Inventors: Emma Jayne Walton, Lesley Anne Parry-Jones, Julie Karen Deacon
  • Patent number: 10926261
    Abstract: Large bioreactors based on microfluidic technology, and methods of manufacturing the same, are provided, The big microbioreactor can include a chip or substrate having the microfluidic channels thereon, and the chip can be manufactured by forming a master mold, forming a male mold from a photopolymer plate using replica molding with the Fmold, and transferring features of the male to a polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: The Florida International University Board of Trustees
    Inventors: Shekhar Bhansali, Maximiliano S. Perez, Betiana Lerner, Natalia Bourguignon
  • Patent number: 10926262
    Abstract: Technology for a biochip pillar structure is disclosed. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the biochip pillar structure includes: a pillar structure including a plate-shaped first substrate portion, and pillar portions protruding from a surface of the first substrate portion; and a well structure including a plate-shaped second substrate portion, and well portions formed in a surface of the second substrate portion and having a predetermined depth to respectively receive the pillar portions of the pillar structure, wherein the well portions have a diameter within a range of 800 ?m to 1500 ?m, and the pillar portions configured to be inserted into the well portions have a diameter of which the ratio to the diameter of the well portions ranges from 0.3 to 0.58, thereby providing a high-density biochip and preventing bubbling in an aqueous liquid contained in the well portions when the pillar portions are inserted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MBD CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Don Jung Lee, Ho Jeong Song, Dong Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 10926263
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to mitigate bubble formation in a liquid are disclosed. An example apparatus disclosed herein includes a bottom wall, a first baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall, and a second baffle cantilevered from the bottom wall. The first baffle is spaced apart from the second baffle, and the first baffle and the second baffle are positioned radially relative to an axis of rotation of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
    Inventors: Robert Paul Luoma, II, Brian Ochranek, Cheryl L. Davidson, Bradley C. Weston
  • Patent number: 10926264
    Abstract: A dispersant system comprises a plurality of taggant vessels, each having a taggant that corresponds to a position in a tag string and a computer controller convert the tag string into a selection of a taggant set while computer-controlled valves allow or block a flow of taggants to a manifold output tube. From the output tube, a mix of the taggants flow to form a dispersant formed according to the tag string. A nozzle disperses the dispersant onto an object to be tagged, possibly atomized with air. The taggant can comprise a DNA taggant comprising a static portion and a dynamic portion that is unique to each tag string position. Tag strings for adjacent lots might have a low Hamming distances to reduce cross-contamination and/or have redundancy for error detection and correction and selected so that consumption of taggants evens out over the plurality of taggant vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: SafeTraces, Inc.
    Inventors: Antonios Zografos, Laurie M. Clotilde
  • Patent number: 10926265
    Abstract: The present invention provides devices, systems, and methods for rapid and easy-to-use in sample thermal cycling or temperature changes for the facilitation of reactions such as but not limited to PCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Essenlix Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Y. Chou, Wei Ding, Yufan Zhang, Hua Tan
  • Patent number: 10926266
    Abstract: A housing for a laboratory appliance with a floor, ceiling, rear wall, side walls and front wall, which together enclose a work space. The front wall is movable between closed position and open positions. A work area in which liquids can be handled is provided in the work space. A filter device for ambient air is connected to the work space via at least one air outlet. At least one air inlet is connected to the environment, and a fan and an air filter are located downstream from the air inlet and upstream from the air outlet. An outflow opening is also located on the housing. The at least one air outlet and the at least one outflow opening are arranged on the housing such that, during operation of the filter device, the filter air stream flows substantially parallel to and along the work area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: BRAND GMBH + CO KG
    Inventors: Christian Berberich, Steffen Gehrig, Thomas Howe, Martin Jungbluth, Peter H. Mahler, Benjamin Peszleg, Max Petek, Burkhard Schaub, Christian Weiner
  • Patent number: 10926267
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing the unfermentable solids content in a protein portion, via a counter current wash, at the back end of a corn dry milling process for making alcohol is disclosed. The method can include separating the whole stillage byproduct into an insoluble solids portion and a stillage (centrate) portion, which includes protein. Thereafter, the stillage portion can be separated into a water soluble solids portion and a protein portion. The protein portion may be mixed with clean water to wash and dilute the protein portion. The diluted protein portion may be dewatered to form a dewatered protein portion and a centrate. A portion of the centrate may be used as a protein counter current wash when the protein portion is being separated from the stillage portion. The protein counter current wash reduces the amount of unfermentable solids in the protein portion and the centrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Fluid Quip Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Hora, John Kwik, Neal Jakel
  • Patent number: 10926268
    Abstract: A cutter includes a first end configured to engage an object along a dominant force vector, a second end opposite the first end, a first side, and a second side opposite the first side. The cutter further includes an outer side, an inner side, and an aperture extending from the outer side to the inner side along a fastener axis that is substantially perpendicular to the dominant force vector. The cutter also includes a cutter tip on the first end and having a first cutting edge, a second cutting edge, and a third cutting edge, the cutting edges defining therebetween a cutting face. The cutting face defines a cutting swath having a width between the first cutting edge and the second cutting edge as the cutter rotates with the apparatus. No portion of the first side or the second side extends outside the width of the cutting swath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Stephen Daining, Matthew Ryan Disselkoen, Claudio Carrafiello Verzilli, Joseph Edward Breja, Joshua Dean Nossaman
  • Patent number: 10926269
    Abstract: A screw shaft for a vertically stirred grinding mill is arranged so as to be accommodated within a grinding chamber of the grinding mill while extending in a longitudinal direction. The screw shaft comprises a central shaft and at least one screw flight surrounding the central shaft, and the central shaft comprises an outer shaft wall defining a cavity within the interior of the central shaft, which cavity is closed at least at one longitudinal end of the central shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Henry Radziszewski
  • Patent number: 10926270
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multi-cyclone and to a method for operating such a multi-cyclone for separating fine material and very fine material. In this context, a multi-cyclone according to the invention has multiple individual cyclones which are of essentially identical construction and which are housed in a housing that has an upper and a lower chamber. Via a supply into the lower chamber it is possible to introduce in a targeted manner cyclone regulating air which can be used to set the quantity, the fineness and/or the purity of the material separated by means of the multi-cyclone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Loesche GmbH
    Inventors: Holger Wulfert, André Bätz, Winfried Ruhkamp