And Heat Exchanger Patents (Class 119/262)
  • Patent number: 11134662
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems for heat source, e.g., data center, cooling and aquaculture. In certain aspects, the systems include a heat source, e.g., data center, having a water cooling subsystem configured to receive cool water and output warm water and an aquaculture center co-located with the heat source, e.g., data center, and configured to receive the warm water. Aspects of the invention also include methods for cooling a heat source, e.g., data center, using a water cooling subsystem and cultivating aquatic organisms with an aquaculture center that is co-located with the heat source, e.g., data center.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: DeepWater Desal LLC
    Inventor: Brent R. Constantz
  • Patent number: 10717659
    Abstract: Ultraviolet irradiation of an aquatic environment for the purposes of sterilization, disinfection, and/or cleaning fluids and surfaces associated with the aquatic environment. The aquatic environment can be irradiated using an ultraviolet illuminator having at least one ultraviolet radiation source and at least one sensor to detect conditions of the aquatic environment including fluid conditions and/or surface conditions associated with the aquatic environment. A control unit, operatively coupled to the at least one ultraviolet radiation source and the at least one sensor, determines a presence of algae growth about the aquatic environment. The control unit is further configured to direct the at least one ultraviolet radiation source to irradiate the aquatic environment at locations where there is a presence of algae growth for removal and suppression of further growth, monitor the irradiation with the at least one sensor, and adjust irradiation parameters as a function of detected conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sensor Electronic Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander Dobrinsky
  • Patent number: 10219491
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide a recirculating aquaculture system for aquatic life. The system includes a culture tank, a sensor configured to measure a current dissolved oxygen level in the culture tank, a variable speed pump configured to circulate water through the culture tank, and a controller in communication with the sensor and the variable speed pump. The controller is configured to retrieve a dissolved oxygen threshold level and a maximum gas to liquid ratio in the culture tank, retrieve the current dissolved oxygen level, compare the current dissolved oxygen level with the dissolved oxygen threshold level, and automatically increase one of a current water flow rate and a current oxygen flow through the system when the current dissolved oxygen level is less than the dissolved oxygen threshold level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Pentair Water Pool and Spa, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Stiles, Jr., Dennis P. DeLong, Thomas Losordo
  • Patent number: 10179182
    Abstract: Provided is an autoclave for sterilization including a sterilization chamber, a tank of water, connection means configured to connect the tank to the sterilization chamber in a fluidic through connection, heating means configured to heat and to pressurize the water and to supply the sterilization chamber to perform sterilization cycles, in which the tank includes a filter, the tank is in addition divided into a high potential portion and a low potential portion, the portions being in reciprocal fluidic through connection through the filter, the filter comprising a plurality of filtering layers including distribution layers configured to slow down and improve the distribution of the water along the entire area of the layers and active layers configured to perform purification functions of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: NAKANISHI INC.
    Inventors: Daniele Giovanni Ongaro, Maria Pia Ghilardi
  • Patent number: 10136620
    Abstract: A filtration system for a fish tank includes an upper housing having an inner cavity. The filtration system also includes a lower housing slidingly coupled to the upper housing to permit changes in an overall length of the filtration system. The filtration system also includes a filter cartridge disposed at least partially within the inner cavity, and a pump disposed at least partially within the inner cavity that draws water into the inner cavity and through the plurality of filter cartridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Elive LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Lutz, Ernie Katris
  • Patent number: 9907297
    Abstract: A removable support assembly for an aquarium is disclosed along with a method of securing the removable support assembly to an aquarium. The removable support assembly includes frame members positioned around an upper periphery of the aquarium. At least two of the frame members or a portion thereof, are oppositely aligned to one another. The removable support assembly also includes a divider, a pair of brackets and fasteners. The divider is sized and configured to span across and mate with the two oppositely aligned frame members. The divider is physically secured to the pair of brackets by the fasteners. Each of the pair of brackets has a first portion which mates in a recess of one of the two oppositely aligned frame members. The method recites the steps required to position and secure the removable support assembly to the frame members positioned around the upper periphery of the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Adam John Keller
  • Publication number: 20100116177
    Abstract: A table comprise a tabletop with at least one portion suitable for over hanging at least a portion of a chair; at least one foot for carrying said tabletop; and an integral aquatic container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Publication date: May 13, 2010
    Inventor: Robert Anthony YOUNG
  • Publication number: 20100058992
    Abstract: A breeding apparatus comprises a main water tank 10 in which deep-sea organisms are housed along with seawater; a hot water supplying device 20; and a hot water discharging device 30. A hot water pipe 22 extends from a hot water tank 21 to the bottom of the main water tank 10, an end configuring a spouting hole 22a which emits hot water upwardly. The hot water discharging unit 30 is positioned above the spouting hole 22a and circulates the hot water ascended from the spouting hole 22a back to the warm water tank 23, which is outside of the main water tank 10, via a hot water discharging pipe 31. The hot water emitted from the spouting hole 22a forms a cold water zone 12 and a localized hot water zone 11, while the interface between this hot water zone 11 and the cold water zone 12 is formed in a rapidly ascending fashion in respect to the vertical cross section of the seawater in the main water tank 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Applicants: JAPAN AGENCY FOR MARINE-EARTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, ENOSHIAM PFI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Miyake, Tetsuya Miwa, Mitsugu Kitada, Kazuhisa Hori
  • Patent number: 7544290
    Abstract: An aquarium is provided that hides ugly electrical wires. The aquarium comprises: a tank capable of holding water, the tank having an interior and an exterior, and a bottom, the bottom having an opening within the interior of the tank, a hollow member disposed within at least the interior of the tank and having an upper opening, a lower opening, an inner surface and an outer surface, the lower opening capable of aligning around or with the opening in the bottom of the tank so that water is prevented from leaking out the opening in the bottom of the tank, the outer surface of the hollow member capable of preventing water flow into the inner surface of the hollow member, and the inner surface of the hollow member capable of receiving one or more electrical wires to or from the upper and lower openings of the hollow member. In various embodiments, a decorative structure is provided that can hide and protect electrical devices typically used in the aquarium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Reading Etc., Inc.
    Inventors: Diana Lynn Pulice, Jeff Cameron Wright
  • Patent number: 7094336
    Abstract: A desktop aquarium device with enhanced water filtration is provided. The aquarium device contains a base and a spherical tank. A filtering dish is installed inside the base. The filtering device provides a winding pathway for water to flow through. Along the pathway, biological filtering balls are placed. An air pump is also fixedly installed inside the base. The base is closed from the bottom by a bottom cover. The tank is locked to the base and the tank provides an aquatic environment. Inside the tank, there are a filtering device and a water outlet. Through the water filtration provided by the biological filtering balls along the water pathway inside the filtering dish, the water in the tank requires less frequent replacement, making the aquatic cultivation simpler and more convenient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hi-Q Bio-Tech International Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Sheng Chang
  • Patent number: 6565330
    Abstract: A heating and pumping device for liquids, in particular for water of aquariums, the device comprising a pump (24) having a pump body (32) and a thermo-heating element (26) having a thermo-heating body (60). There is a casing (22) which contains both the pump (24) and the thermo-heating element (26) such that a passage section (102) for water is defined between the thermo-heating element (26) and the casing (22). To seal the electrical parts of the thermo-heating element (26) and to prevent damage, a sole sealed zone (100) filled with resin is created between the pump body (32) and the thermo-heating body (60). This resin filled sole sealed zone (100) obviates the need for using other less effective sealing elements and gaskets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Hydor SRL
    Inventor: Valerio Bresolin
  • Patent number: 6061500
    Abstract: An electronic heater structure includes a tube body, a heating wire disposed on the bottom of the interior of the tube body and a temperature controlling circuit. The temperature controlling circuit employs a thermosensitive resistor for detecting the temperature and controlling the activation time of the heating wire. The temperature controlling circuit employs a relay for controlling whether the heating wire is powered on or off. An upper cap of the tube body is integrally formed with a projecting chamber for placing a thermosensitive resistor therein. The relay and the thermosensitive resistor are isolated from each other by a circuit board. The tube body is vacuumized to remove the thermoconductive medium therein. Except for the heating wire, the temperature controlling circuit itself will not generate high heat and emit electro-magnetic interference and the detection portion with the thermosensitive resistor can extend into the water to accurately detect the water temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Hong Su
  • Patent number: 5628281
    Abstract: An energy efficient aquarium system with a separate cover wherein the lamp or lamps are located below the filters and filter ponds thus heating the filter pond bottom and sides to further heat the water contained in the filter ponds thus eliminating the need for a separate heater and further saving the energy required to heat the water as it flows into the aquarium. Floats each with a filter condition indicator bar are located in the filter ponds wherein the filter condition indicator bars extend through the cover and further indicate the condition of the filter as the water rises in the filter ponds due to the filters filling up with debris that restricts the flow of water passing through the filter; as the water rises in the filter ponds, the float rises and further causes the filter condition indicator to rise wherein it may easily be seen. When the filter condition indicator rises to a predetermined height, the owner of the aquarium would be given notice that the filters need to be changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1997
    Inventor: Scott A. Kelley
  • Patent number: 5567315
    Abstract: A filter for aquarium operating in accordance with the lifting-lowering principle comprises a housing with at least one filter compartment for a filter material, a pump which aspirates water after passing through the filter compartment through a suction conduit and supplies the water back into an aquarium, at least one auxiliary chamber supplied with water and a float-controlled valve device controlling an outlet of the auxiliary chamber and communicating with the suction conduit, an auxiliary housing in which the auxiliary chamber is provided and supplied with water filtered after passing of the filter compartment in accordance with the principle of communicating pipes. A passage which is connected with the suction conduit has a valve opening which is alternatingly closeable and openable by a float-controlled valve closing member of the valve device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Eheim GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Walter Weidenmann, Frank v. Luetzau, Gerhard Frank, Michael Schmidt, Ferdinand Mayer, Ulrich Herold
  • Patent number: 5514280
    Abstract: A filter system is provided for mounting on an aquarium tank to treat the water in the aquarium. The filter system comprises a plurality of filter chambers, each containing a different filter media. The filter chambers serve to filter particulate matter from the aquarium water. A heater is further provided for controlling and maintaining the temperature of the aquarium water. The filter system further includes a dry chamber including a biological medium to support the growth of beneficial bacteria on the medium. A particularly preferred type of media is a plurality of plastic biospheres. The beneficial bacteria serve to biologically treat the aquarium and eliminate ammonia and nitrites from the water. At least one buffering chamber including a buffering medium is provided for buffering the aquarium water and maintaining a predetermined alkalinity level for the water. An air pump serves to pressurize portions of said filter system and aerate the aquarium water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Inventor: Robert Logan
  • Patent number: 5474673
    Abstract: A wet/dry filter system that is mounted on the top of an aquarium allows flexible flow control to and between the wet section and the dry section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: David J. Ludlow
  • Patent number: 5299424
    Abstract: A combination aquarium heater and cooler apparatus is provided which utilizes a feedback circuit to automatically maintain the fluid in an ecosystem at an operator set desired temperature. The feedback system scheme takes advantage of a thermo-electric heat pump component in combination with a high gain amplifier in order to achieve the desired result of maintaining the ecosystem at a temperature which is nearly constant regardless of other undesirable spurious heat inputs or losses to the ecosystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Inventors: Dennis W. Woodson, Richard L. Miller