Abstract: An oil sump assembly comprises an oil sump including a first sidewall and a bottom wall for containing oil and an oil filter connected to a bottom portion of the first sidewall of the oil sump. The first sidewall includes a drain hole at the bottom portion and at least a portion of the bottom wall of the oil sump includes a slanted portion sloped towards a bottom of the first sidewall. An oil inlet and an oil outlet of the oil filter face the first sidewall of the oil sump.

Abstract: A water filtration systems may comprise an under the sink RO water filtration system that is plumed into a building's water supply. For example, the water filtration systems may include an RO device at least partially installed underneath a sink, with the tap water connection plumbed directly to the sink cold water supply line, and a waste water drain line connected directly to the sink drain, such as the p-trap.

Abstract: A membrane sensor for detecting fouling, the membrane sensor comprising a first chamber having an inlet and an outlet; a second chamber having an outlet; only one membrane, the membrane being disposed between the first chamber and the second chamber for allowing fluid to permeate the membrane from the first chamber to the second chamber; a first pressure transducer configured for obtaining a first pressure upstream of the membrane; a second pressure transducer configured for obtaining a second pressure downstream of the membrane; and a resistance regulator configured for adjusting the second pressure.

Abstract: A desalination apparatus includes a pretreatment device 13 having a pretreatment membrane 13a that filters suspended matters in raw water 11 with added chlorine-containing water 12, a reverse osmosis membrane device 17 having a reverse osmosis membrane 16 that removes a salt content from filtrate water 14 supplied from the pretreatment device 13 to produce permeated water 15, and a reducing-agent injection device 30 that neutralizes the added chlorine on an upstream side of the reverse osmosis membrane device 17. The reducing-agent injection device 30 extracts a part 14a of the filtrate water 14, adds metering SBS solution 18 to the part, obtains a maximum change point (equivalence point) of the oxidation-reduction potential of a reducing agent and chlorine, obtains reducing-agent additive concentration (Csm) corresponding to the equivalence point, and supplies the SBS solution 18 corresponding to the concentration to the filtrate water 14 to thereby neutralize the chlorine.

Abstract: An apparatus for filtering dry film solvent includes a hollow vessel having a side wall, an open top end and a second end that includes a main outlet that allows fluid to flow out of a hollow interior of the vessel. A removable cover closes off the open top end of the vessel. The apparatus also includes at least one fluid inlet port formed along the side wall of the vessel and defining an entrance into the hollow interior of the vessel and at least one fluid outlet port formed along the side wall of the vessel and defining an exit from the hollow interior of the vessel. A removable filter member is disposed within the hollow interior and is defined by a frame and filter media that extends across the frame such fluid flowing into the hollow interior through the main inlet must flow through the filter media to reach the main outlet. The filter media is disposed at an angle other than 90 degrees relative to the frame of the filter member.

Abstract: A machine-readable medium with instructions for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a system to direct water flow through a lavatory and to cleanse grey water through a series of treatment steps. The water may then be re-directed to the faucet for re-use in hand washing or other potable water use or to the toilet for flush water. The treatment steps are altered, depending upon the ultimate use of the water, as flush water need not be treated to the same level as potable water. The system may also function via a cascade of logic commands given by a series of electronic controllers, valves, and sensors which are fine-tuned to supply enough water to each component of the system.

Abstract: A proposed blood treatment apparatus includes: a blood treatment unit, a pair of fluid pumps and a pair blood pumps. The blood treatment unit is configured to receive untreated blood and fresh blood treatment fluid, and emit treated blood and used blood treatment fluid. The fluid pumps are configured to pass blood treatment fluid through the blood treatment unit. The blood pumps are configured to extract untreated blood from a blood source, pass extracted blood through the blood treatment unit and deliver treated blood to a target vessel. Additionally, the fluid pumps are configured to control the operation of the blood pumps via the blood treatment fluid. Moreover, a flow control device is configured to control a trans-membrane flow between the blood side and the a fluid side of the blood treatment unit. Hence, for instance ultrafiltration can be adjusted to a desired level in a very straightforward manner.

Abstract: This invention refers to a single household waste water treatment plant, based on the SBR principle that uses two tanks, one lung tank (1) and one SBR reactor (2), allowing the significant reduction of size, and in consequence, a low consumption of power, as well as the reduction of transportation volume when several units are transferred, wherein said lung tank (1) and said SBR reactor (2) consist of one truncated cone shape external tank and one internal tank, also with truncated cone shape, wherein the internal tank has lower diameters than the external tank, wherein bases of both tanks are concentric, upon which both tanks generate two volumes, an internal volume that corresponds to the SBR reactor (2), and one external volumetric ring, that will correspond to the lung tank (1); wherein the SBR reactor has in its aeration zone duct (7) supported on legs (12), wherein such duct (7) consists of a truncated cone shaped base (13), in which upper part protrudes a cylinder (14), that will extend to the minimum

Abstract: A method for controlling an apparatus for treating blood outside the human body, with a view to improving the operation of the apparatus, the apparatus including a semi-permeable membrane carrying out an exchange of solutes, referred to as dialysis, and of liquid, referred to as ultrafiltration, with the blood, the method including at least one iteration of the following steps: determination of a so-called instantaneous value, of an ultrafiltration coefficient corresponding to the ratio of an ultrafiltration flow rate to a difference in pressure, the so-called transmembrane pressure, on either side of the semi-permeable membrane, comparison of the instantaneous value with at least one previously determined characteristic value; and control of the treatment apparatus to reach a maximum value of the ultrafiltration coefficient, the control including a variation of the ultrafiltration flow rate up to a value corresponding to the maximum value of the ultrafiltration coefficient.

Abstract: A water softening system including a first treatment tank having a first water capacity, a second treatment tank in parallel with the first treatment tank and having a second water capacity that is less than the first water capacity, a flow meter connected to the first and second treatment tanks, the flow meter configured to determine a demand flow rate of water entering the system and a controller in communication with the flow meter, the controller configured to direct the water into the first treatment tank when the demand flow rate is greater than a designated flow rate, and to direct the water into the second treatment tank when the demand flow rate is equal to or less than the designated flow rate.

Abstract: The water provisioning system mainly contains a selection switch, a water volume switch, a human-machine interface (HMI), a RO waste water recycling device, an electromagnetic valve, a RO water purification device, an antichlor device, a aeration pipe assembly, a first ozone module, and a second ozone module. The selection switch selects a type of water to use. The RO water purification device filters water from a low-temperature water source, stores purified water in a storage barrel, and provides high-quality drinking water. The 70% water from the RO water purification process that fails the drinking water standard is recycled through the RO waste water recycling device. The low-temperature water source is connected to a antichlor device and the water is therefore dechlorinated. The first and second ozone modules are used to produce ozonated water and to release ozone through the aeration pipe assembly into the kitchen cabinet for deodorization and sterilization.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe components to be utilized on the design, management and implementation of a wastewater treatment system. Said wastewater treatment system may include containers that, for example, may be consistent with ISO specifications for intermodal containers. In some embodiments, these containers act in concert to perform the same wastewater management function (e.g., the containers may function together as equalization basins). In other embodiments, said containers may each perform a separate function (e.g., some containers may function as an aeration tank while others container may function as a membrane basin), or may each perform a plurality of functions. Furthermore, said containers may form an independent wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), or may be utilized to augment a pre-existing WWTP (e.g., a WWTP according to the prior art).

Abstract: A hemofiltration system and method for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a seawater desalination system includes a membrane filtering pump, a first to third flowmeter, a filtering membrane, a high-pressure pump, a pressure gauge, a reverse osmosis membrane, a discharge valve and a control module. The membrane filtering pump outputs seawater according to a first control signal. The first flowmeter measures flow rate Q1. The high-pressure pump outputs filtered water from the filtering membrane according to a second control signal. The first pressure gauge measures pressure P1. The reverse osmosis membrane desalinates the filtered water into fresh water. The second flowmeter measures flow rate Q2. The third flowmeter measures flow rate Q3. The discharge valve discharges a high-concentration salt water according to a third control signal. The control module performs first, second, and third flow rate control with reference to the flow rate Q1, Q2 and Q3 and the pressure P1.

Abstract: A magnet drum mechanism of a magnet separator includes a cylindrical drum, a magnet provided inside of the drum and forming a magnetic field region configured to adsorb magnetic particles in a circumferentially partial range of an outer peripheral surface of the drum, and a scraper provided in a nonmagnetic field region of the drum, the scraper being configured to guide the magnetic particles adsorbed onto the outer peripheral surface of the drum to an outside of the separator main body in the nonmagnetic field region. The scraper includes a front end portion which faces the outer peripheral surface of the drum in a contactless manner along an axial direction of the drum, and a small gap is formed between the front end portion and the outer peripheral surface of the drum.

Abstract: A method of cleaning an screen in a manufacturing process step that employs a chamber including a drain line having a screen configured and disposed in the chamber above the drain line to trap soluble materials includes detecting a build-up of soluble material on the screen, ceasing a work operation in the chamber, and initiating a screen cleaning operation. The screen cleaning operation includes closing a computer operated valve fluidly connected to the drain line to fluidly isolate a portion of the chamber, automatically introducing an amount of solvent into the chamber once the computer operated valve is closed with the amount of solvent filling the chamber and/or the drain line to fully immerse the screen, and opening the operated valve after a predetermined amount of time to empty the chamber and the drain line of solvent once the soluble materials trapped on the screen are dissolved.

Abstract: A separation system comprises (i) at least two separation units, each separation unit comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, wherein the separation units are connected in series outlet to inlet to form a line of separation units, and (ii) sensing and adjustment means, provided in-line between each separation unit, for continuously monitoring and adjusting at least one environmental property parameter of fluid flowing from one separation unit to a subsequent separation unit in the line of separation units. Uses of the separation system and a method for purification of a liquid containing a desired species, using separation units and in-line adjustment of a fluid flow or flows, are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system for treating fractionated water from an oil and gas well. The system comprising a filter system, a diffusive membrane system, a plurality of membrane sensors, and at least one membrane controller. The filter system is fluidly connected to the diffusive membrane system, wherein the filter system comprises a plurality of straining filter banks. The diffusive membrane system comprises a plurality of membrane banks each having an inlet and an outlet. The plurality of membrane sensors are positioned at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks, and the plurality of membrane sensors are configured to detect the total dissolved solids level at the outlet of each of the plurality of membrane banks.

Abstract: An object is to provide a sea water desalinating method that is capable of efficiently producing purified water, such as fresh water, from unpurified water, such as sea water. Provided is a fresh water generating method for generating fresh water by way of reverse osmosis membrane filtration, which includes mixing sea water with low salt concentration water having a salt concentration lower than sea water to produce mixed water, and subjecting the mixed water prepared by the mixing to reverse osmosis membrane filtration, thereby generating fresh water.

Abstract: The present patent aims to control a water storing quantity of reuse water which is stored by a sewage treatment apparatus of a satellite treatment plant.

Abstract: An integrated process that includes liquid-solids separation and filtration system that treats swine or dairy feeding operations residual waste (manure flushwaters) for recovery of solid and dissolved nutrients for reuse and recycling of water from these wastes for a variety of uses. The system includes a coarse liquid/solids system to remove coarse material and multi stage, multimedia filter system that includes a set of modules. Each module includes screen assemblies and filter media sandwiched between the screen assemblies. A plurality of control assemblies is associated with each of the modules. The control assemblies include at least one external valve and are in fluid communication with a corresponding module to control flow through the corresponding module.

Abstract: The invention provides methods and an apparatus for more efficiently and economically producing purified water from sea water or some other salty or brackish water source. The efficiency is derived from the co-location with a power plant or other thermal generating source that will heat the feed water. Reverse osmosis membrane filtration systems work optimally when the feed water is at certain higher temperature, where that temperature is typically higher than the feed water at ambient temperatures. By using the heated sea water as the byproduct of the power plant electricity generating process and if necessary mixing it with ambient temperature sea water, if needed to lower the water temperature, and using this feed water with a higher temperature than ambient water temperature, the efficiency of the reverse osmosis system can be increased.

Abstract: To provide a double filtration blood purification apparatus that can be primed while generation of bubbles within each of a separating membrane in both of a blood component separator and a plasma component separator is avoided and also to provide a method of priming such blood purification apparatus. A cleansing liquid introducing passage 19 is provided, which is a passage dedicated to introduce a cleansing liquid P from a cleansing liquid supply source 57 into a plasma component separator 3 and, also, this cleansing liquid introducing passage 19 is provided with a dedicated, third pump 3. When the third and first pumps are driven in normal and reverse directions, respectively, by a controller 50, a sufficient pressure is applied to the cleansing liquid P by the third ump and the cleansing liquid P can be introduced into the plasma component separator 3.

Abstract: Device for extracorporeal treatment of blood 1 intended to operate in a mode with a single needle 2, comprising: a treatment unit 3 having a first compartment 4 and a second compartment 5, which are separated by a semipermeable membrane 6, an extracorporeal blood circuit comprising a single needle 2, an intake line 7 in fluid communication with the first compartment 4 of the treatment unit 3, the first compartment 4, and a return line 8 in fluid communication with the first compartment 4 of the treatment unit 3, a purge line 9 at the outlet of the second compartment 5, a closure means (10, 11) acting on at least the intake line 7 and the return line 8 in order to generate the alternate sequence of blood intake and return, at least a first chamber 12 which is in fluid communication with the extracorporeal blood circuit and defines a first additional blood volume, the first chamber 12 having a variable total content; the first chamber 4 being rigid and including at least one wall capable of being moved, t

Abstract: A system for automatically processing blood components is described. The system includes a console, which contains all motors, pumps, sensors, valves and control circuitry, and a unique disposable set that includes a cassette supporting a centrifuge with an improved design, pump interfaces with an improved design, component and solution bags, and tubing. Various processes are implemented using a specific disposable set for each process which allows automatic identification of the process to be performed the console.

Abstract: This disclosure describes wastewater treatment systems and methods of treating wastewater. In one exemplary method, a wastewater is split into first and second wastewater fractions. The first fraction is delivered to a membrane bioreactor, which may produce an effluent with a low pollutant concentration, and the second fraction is delivered to a biological wastewater treatment system, which may yield a higher pollution concentration yet have a shorter solids retention time. Some implementations of the invention can routinely meet or even exceed pollution discharge standards quite economically during normal operation, yet retain significant flexibility for handling seasonal or sudden variations in the flow rate of wastewater into the system. In select adaptations, waste activated sludge containing heterotrophs, autotrophs, and (optionally) polyphosphate accumulating organisms is delivered from the membrane bioreactor to the biological wastewater treatment system.

Abstract: A system and process for the treatment of wastewater in a series of sequencing batch reactor basins wherein wastewater is sequentially fed, treated and discharged on a continuous basis.

Abstract: A method of setting up a dialysis treatment in a dialysis machine (1) provided with a device (6) for setting up the dialysis treatment, possessing a microprocessor (11), a data input (12, 13) and a screen (13), comprises the steps of: supplying a group of functions (U(t, P); C(t, P)) of a quantity (U; C) that is characteristic of the dialysis treatment as a function of time (t) and of a parameter (P) correlated with intermediate values (U1, C1) of each function (U(t; P); C(t; P)) of the group; selecting a subset of the group of functions (U(t, P); C(t; P)) imposing boundary conditions (U0, TWL, DT; C0, Cf, DT; C0, CS, DT) that are characteristic of a particular therapy; assigning values to the parameter (P) and displaying the curves corresponding to the functions (U(t, P); C(t, P)) of the subset and to the respective values assigned to parameter (P); and selecting one of the functions ((U(t, P); C(t, P)) of the subset on the basis of the images of the curves.

Abstract: A dialyzing apparatus includes a dialyzer which removes water from blood of a patient at a pre-set water-remove rate, an autonomic-nerve-activity-related-information obtaining device which obtains autonomic-nerve-activity-related information that is related to an activity of an autonomic nerve of the patient, and a water-remove-rate display device which displays a target water-remove rate based on the autonomic-nerve-activity-related information obtained by the autonomic-nerve-activity related-information obtaining device.

Abstract: A method of setting up a dialysis treatment in a dialysis machine may include the steps of determining conditions of a dialysis treatment adapted to a specific patient, determining a first function (U(t)) of a first quantity (U) characterizing the dialysis treatment as a function of time (t), and determining a second function (C(t)) of a second quantity (C) characterizing the dialysis treatment. The first function (U(t)) satisfying the conditions of the dialysis treatment and corresponding to a curve having a defined shape. The second function (C(t)) is correlated with the first function (U(t)) by constants (M, N) determined experimentally and the second function (U(t)) corresponding to a curve having a shape of the same kind as the shape as the first curve.

Abstract: The present invention refers to a method for blood purification by means of hemodialysis and/or hemofiltration, wherein to the blood in the extra-corporeal circuit of the hemodialysis and/or hemofiltration device a substitution solution is added upstream as well as downstream of the hemodialyser and/or hemofilter. A purification effect remaining constant with a high purification performance is achieved in that one or several of the operational and/or blood parameters are controlled and that the control is carried out using at least one of the infusion rates of the substitution solutions supplied upstream or downstream of the hemodialyser and/or hemofilter. The present invention also refers to a hemodialysis and/or hemofiltration apparatus for the performance of the inventive method.

Abstract: An extra-corporeal blood purification device includes a blood filter, and elements for measuring at least one parameter affected by filter resistance to liquid flow, elements for determining at least a threshold value of the parameter, elements for comparing the parameter with the threshold value, exchange control elements for calculating the distribution between the respective flow rates through connecting ducts, capable of reducing the difference between the value of the measured parameter and the threshold value.

Abstract: A dialysis machine may include a main control unit provided with a memory that stores the parameters of a dialysis treatment carried out on a patient and a plurality of slave control units interacting with the main control unit. The slave control unit may provide the control of the dialysis treatment carried out on the patient. A functionality checking unit may include a memory that stores dialysis treatment parameters and interacts with the main control unit to carry out checking of the functionality of the dialysis machine. At predetermined intervals of time, the functionality checking unit may send the dialysis treatment parameters stored in its memory to the main control unit, and the main control unit may compare the dialysis treatment parameters stored in its memory with those sent from the functionality checking unit, and generate an alarm signal if the dialysis treatment parameters do not coincide with each other.

Abstract: A dialyzing apparatus including a dialyzer which removes water from blood of a patient at a water-remove rate, an arteriosclerosis-related-information obtaining device which obtains arteriosclerosis-related information that is related to a degree of arteriosclerosis of the patient, and a water-remove-rate display device which displays a target value of the water-remove rate based on the arteriosclerosis-related information obtained by the arteriosclerosis-related-information obtaining device.

Abstract: A specimen collection and separation assembly is provided. The assembly includes a tube having closure secured to the open top of the tube. The closure includes a section that is pierceable by a needle cannula for depositing a liquid specimen in the tube. A separator is disposed in the tube below the closure. The separator includes top and bottom ends. Portions of the separator adjacent the top define a resiliently deformable low density sealing plug dimensioned to sealingly engage the interior of the tube. A high density ring is integrally engaged with the seal and extends to the bottom of the separator. The relative densities and dimensions of the seal and the ring are selected to achieve an overall density between densities of the phases of liquid to be separated. The ring causes the seal to elongate in response to forces imposed by a centrifuge. The separator then will move to a position in the tube between the respective phases of the specimen being separated.

Abstract: A blood processing device is self-contained within a case, which sized to enable hand transport. Self-contained in the case is a blood separation device, which, for example, can comprise a centrifuge. A controller is also self-contained in the case. The controller includes a control program for carrying out one or more blood processing procedures. A fluid processing system employs a centralized cassette containing preformed, fluid pressure actuated pump stations, preformed fluid flow paths, and preformed, fluid pressure actuated valves in the fluid flow paths. A fluid pressure actuator in the case holds the cassette and selectively applies fluid pressure force to the valves and pump stations in response to the control program. The control program thereby operates the cassette to convey blood to and from the blood separation device through the fluid processing system.

Abstract: An electronic controller for controlling the fill, settle and draw operations of three settling tanks which are used with a reverse osmosis unit. The three settling tanks provide a pair of liquid level input signals which indicate the water level within each of the three settling tanks. A bounce eliminator circuit eliminates oscillations from the input signals, providing at its outputs steady state liquid level signals which are active low. The liquid level signals are supplied to a programmable logic device which has a state machine. The state machine sequentially controls the fill, draw and settle operations of the three settling tanks. The programmable logic device provides logic signals which are active low and which activate fill and draw valves associated with each of the three tanks.

Abstract: A water saving device for a reverse osmosis water fountain machine is provided in which an aspirating pipe with a solenoid valve is coupled to an intake pipe line at the front end of the reverse osmosis cylinder. Before that joint, another solenoid valve is connected to the intake pipe line. The rear end of the aspirating pipe extends into a reservoir. A solenoid valve is connected to a drain pipe line of the reverse osmosis cylinder, and extends into an input pipe of a reservoir. All of the solenoid valves are controlled by a central processing unit to change the working state of the water purification system. One such operating state is the recycling of the waste water from the reverse osmosis cylinder, thereby reducing the amount of waste water produced.

Abstract: A method for automatic dialysis using a dialysis unit which, in service, is connected to a patient undergoing a dialysis treatment, including the phases of acquiring allowed values of input parameters and desired values of patient parameters, acquiring actual values of the patient parameters, the patient parameters including the relative variation in blood volume (BV) and the weight loss (WL), acquiring actual values of machine parameters including the weight loss rate (WLR) and the conductivity of the (CD) dialysis fluid, and controlling the operation of the dialysis unit using controlled values of the machine parameters to make the patient parameters take on the desired values.

Abstract: To thicken remaining residues in ultrafiltration or microfiltration for clarifying fruit juices, systems having membrane module groups (1, 2, 3) connected in series are used in the cross flow process with a residue circuit. The groups (1, 2, 3) can be individually switched on or off in succession, depending upon the present thickening gradient of the residue in the residue feed stream. By operating a suitable number of groups (1, 2, 3), an operationally favorable working pressure is kept constant at the membrane modules until as great as possible a desired value of the thickening gradient of the residue is reached. In this way, an improvement of the overall capacity of filtration systems is achieved.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for separating an effluent into a filtered liquid component and a concentrated sludge component are described. A screen for filtering the effluent is positioned to divide a chamber into two compartments, one for concentrating sludge and one for receiving filtered liquid. The screen is curved in an arc that extends away from the liquid outlet, and a spray arm is mounted for arcuate motion to conform to the curvature of the screen to dispense a fluid against the screen to dislodge attached sludge, to unclog the screen apertures.

Abstract: The method of cleaning porous ceramic filters with a backwashing apparatus comprising an accelerating circulation path and a unit for mixing accelerated water with high-pressure air can be implemented with compact equipment to achieve efficient cleaning. The pool water purifying apparatus and system that adopt this method of cleaning porous ceramic filters comprise a filtering system that uses the ceramic filters, a disinfecting unit and an adsorbing unit and, optionally, an ultrafiltration unit as an additional filtering unit, and are capable of removing not only bacteria but also viruses so that the water purified by this apparatus and system may be as clean as potable water. Such an extremely high efficiency of water purification achieved by the apparatus and system can be maintained over a prolonged period since both the filtering and adsorption means can be cleaned by backwashing.

Abstract: A method of cleaning a filtration tank having a plurality of side-by-side gravity flow filter cells, each having an outlet port in communication with a filtrate channel common to all of the cells in an automatic backwash/rewash system, by subjecting each compartment, sequentially, to a backwashing operation and then a rewashing operation wherein, during backwashing, backwash liquid is pumped through a first of the filter chamber ports to flow upwardly through a first of the compartments in a direction opposite to a normal filtration flow direction, and during rewashing, rewash liquid is drawn downwardly through the first cell in the normal filtration flow direction. For any given cell after a first of the plurality of cells, utilizing at least a portion of the rewash liquid from a rearwardly adjacent filter cell is used as backwash liquid in the given cell.

Abstract: A machining solution filtration apparatus for a machining device which includes: a filter, a filter medium which is arranged separately from the filter and supplied continuously; a unit for supplying a contaminated machining solution to the filter medium; a unit for generating a difference in pressure between the upper surface and lower surface of the filter medium; a unit for returning a machining solution filtered via the pressure difference to a filtered solution vessel; a unit for selecting the filter to allow the machining solution to be filtered only thereby for a predetermined period of time; a unit for detecting the presence/absence and/or remaining amount of the filter medium; and a unit for controlling the speed of supplying the filter medium.

Abstract: A wastewater aeration system in which the volume of wastewater is divided into a plurality of different zones which are aerated sequentially one at a time with the full capacity of the blower supply sized for oxygenation needs. In the case where the oxygenation needs ar significant, the number is obtained by dividing the aeration rate required for mixing by the aeration rate required for oxygenation and rounding upwardly to the nearest integer. The blower capacity should continuously deliver the oxygenation rate to assure adequate aeration for both oxygenation and mixing while minimizing energy consumption. The air supply pipe network includes a header supply pipe for each zone and a valve for each header supply pipe which is automatically controlled by a programmable programmer. In the case where mixing only is required, the number of zones is limited by practicalities in order to prevent undue settling.

Abstract: A cover for enclosing the open top of a container, such as a liquid waste receptacle. The cover comprises an annular support dimensioned to fit generally coaxially within the open top of the container. The annular support defines an opening for passage of materials therethrough and into the container. The cover further comprises a mechanism for releasably securing the annular support to the upper edge margin of the container, a straining element in the annular support having a straining area coextensive with substantially the entire area of the opening in the annulaar support for straining solid objects of a predetermined maximum dimension from entry into the container while permitting entry of liquids through the opening and into the container, a lid dimensioned for covering the opening in the annular support, and a hinge for securing the lid to the annular support.

Abstract: A vending machine that dispenses either purified ice or purified water in predetermined quantities in response to a fixed payment by a user. The machine consists of compartmentalized sections for each specific function, comprising a water purification and storage portion, an ice making portion, an ice storage portion, and a product dispensing and control portion. Water from an outside source is processed to eliminate particulate and chemical impurities and it is stored for ready availability to purchasers. At the same time, a portion of the purified water is converted to ice and similarly stored in a separate compartment. Just prior to dispensation to a purchaser, the water is further treated by ultraviolet radiation to eliminate micro-organisms. As the supplies of either water or ice are depleted, the machine automatically replenishes them by processing more feed water.

Abstract: A pressurized filter is disclosed of the type including a filter media layer disposed in a filter chamber which is pressurized with a feed layer to cause filtering flow therethrough, and a diaphragm in the chamber operated to dewater the chamber after each cycle of operation, featuring a total volume totalizer measuring the volume of liquid inflow required to operate the diaphragm during each dewatering cycle, the duration of the next filtering cycle adjusted in a direction to increase or decrease the cycle duration so as to increase or decrease the accumulation of filtered solids to achieve on optimal accumulation. A plurality of filter units are stacked and organized into independently operated sets, enabling continuous filter operation by alternate cycling of each set.

Abstract: A water supply system for use in connection with a variety of water using equipment such, for example, as commercial ice makers and commercial steam cooking equipment wherein the water supply system utilizes a reverse osmosis unit thereby providing water of low mineral content to be used as product water in the equipment and at the same time utilizing the waste water generated from use of the reverse osmosis unit to provide cooling or condensing water for the same units to which the low mineral water is supplied.