With Program Actuator Patents (Class 210/141)
  • Patent number: 8137542
    Abstract: Disclosed is a water treatment system including a raw water tank, a module which includes a filtration membrane, a feed pump, a filtered water tank, a backwash pump which flows filtered water backward from the filtered water tank to the module, a valve and a channel which switch the direction of the water flow between the forward and reverse directions, a controller which suspends the supply of raw water from the raw water tank to the module, switches the valve and channel to the reverse direction, makes the backwash pump to supply filtered water from the filtered water tank to the module thereby backwashing the filtration membrane, and washing drainage treatment line including which treats backwashing drainage generated by backwashing of the filtration membrane, and returns the water to the raw water tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Norimitsu Abe, Seiichi Murayama, Takeshi Ide, Akira Morikawa, Shojiro Tamaki
  • Publication number: 20120061328
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for treating water with already-slaked lime to arrive at a lime slurry that is in a solution or suspension, and delivering the thus treated water to a separating device which separates grit particles therefrom, to recover a high quality lime/water solution or suspension. An automated system controls the addition of lime and water to a lime mixing vessel. An acid wash system is provided which comprises an automated method and apparatus for removing scale buildup, for delivering an acid wash solution to the lime mixing vessel, the lime slurry holding tank and/or the delivery system, or any of them, thereby dissolving the scale buildup.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 15, 2012
    Applicant: RDP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Richard W. Christy, Michael Quici, Louis Litz
  • Publication number: 20120055885
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of sanitizing drinking water to be dispensed from a water dispenser having a reservoir includes the steps of providing the ozone gas generator that generates an ozone gas stream, transmitting the ozone gas stream from the generator to the water dispenser reservoir, mechanically breaking up the ozone gas stream inside the reservoir to produce ozone gas bubbles, and using the ozone gas bubbles to disinfect water in the reservoir. The ozone gas stream can be mechanically broken up using a pump such as, for example, an impeller type pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: S.I.P. TECHNOLOGIES, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Davis, James Jackson Shelton
  • Publication number: 20120055859
    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).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Applicant: BLUE ARRAY, LLC
    Inventors: JAMES PHILLIP REILLY, Victoria Ann Jelderks
  • Publication number: 20120043279
    Abstract: A method for priming a hemodialysis treatment includes (i) providing a sorbent cartridge for cleaning spent dialysate fluid returning from a dialyzer: (ii) preparing a batch of dialysate in a quantity commensurate with being recycled through the sorbent cartridge multiple times; (iii) priming a dialysate circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using the batch of dialysate; and (iv) reversing a blood pump at least one time to prime a blood circuit in fluid communication with the dialyzer using a biologically safe fluid other than dialysate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicants: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Kelly, Robert W. Childers, Don Busby, Rodolfo Roger, Waleed Mutasem El Sayyid, Shahid Din
  • Patent number: 8118997
    Abstract: A filter assembly is provided for an appliance that performs a useful cycle of operation on a physical article and uses a resource that passes through the filter assembly. The filter assembly includes at least one replaceable filter mounted in a filter holder. The filter holder has at least one control board having software architecture configured for communication on a network including other control boards or clients. The control board has at least one functionality of a universe of functionalities, and the functionality has a unique identifier, where the unique identifier can be communicated by the software architecture over the network. The filter assembly has at least one node in communication with the network, so that the filter assembly can monitor and record events, communicate, or affect the cycle of operation of the appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Richard A. McCoy, Peter J. Richmond, Ronald L. Voglewede
  • Publication number: 20120024796
    Abstract: A sustainable method and system for treating and maintaining bodies of water at low cost for low density recreational use is disclosed. A system of the invention generally includes at least one containing means, at least one coordination means, at least one chemical application means, at least one non-intrusive mobile suction means, and at least one filtration means. The coordinating means can receive information regarding water quality parameters that are controlled, and can timely activate the processes necessary to adjust the water quality parameters within their respective limits. The disclosed methods and system filter only a small fraction of the total water volume, up to 200 times less per day than the flow filtered by conventional swimming pool filtration systems. The disclosed methods and system also use less chemicals, up to 100 times less than conventional swimming pool water treatment systems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Crystal Lagoons Corporation LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Banjamin Fischmann T.
  • Publication number: 20120024794
    Abstract: A low cost method and system for treating water, which will be used in an industrial process, is provided. A system of the invention generally includes at least one containing means, at least one coordination means, at least one chemical application means, at least one mobile suction means, and at least one filtration means. The coordination means can control the necessary processes depending on the system needs (e.g., water quality or purity). The method and system of the invention purifies the water and eliminates suspended solids without the need of filtering the totality of the water volume, but only filtering a small fraction of up to 200 times less than the flow filtered by a conventional water treatment filtration system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: Crystal Lagoons Corporation LLC
    Inventor: Fernando Fischmann T.
  • Publication number: 20120018361
    Abstract: To provide a reliable solid-liquid separating method and apparatus for a slurry, even though the solid component of the slurry is finely divided particles and/or of a shape difficult to entangle, without exudation through gaps in processed portions and, also, with no need to exercise a maintenance work such as replacement of filters, a solid-liquid separating apparatus includes a mold having a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, a gate for opening and closing a second open end of the mold, and a pressing rod slidable into the mold to compress the slurry. Sheet-like fibrous filters are placed on a leading end face of the pressing rod and an inner surface of the gate to seal gaps between the mold and the pressing rod and between the gate and mold. With the filters so placed, the slurry within the mold unit is compressed to provide a solidified product, thereby accomplishing solid-liquid separation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kanji Nakamura
  • Publication number: 20110315614
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; and electronic circuitry including: (i) a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit, and (ii) a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect a supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicants: BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A., BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Publication number: 20110290706
    Abstract: A water purifying apparatus comprises: a filtering unit; a water tank unit for storing water having passed through the filtering unit; an extraction unit for selectively extracting the water stored in the water tank unit; and a cleaning system for sequentially controlling a cleaning process and a rinsing process of the water tank unit. Since cleaning and rinsing processes for the water purifying apparatus are automatically executed by a series of consecutive processes, the user may directly clean the water purifying apparatus if necessary without requiring a Codi's visit. Furthermore, the number of times that the Codi visits the use's home for cleaning of the water purifying apparatus is reduced. This may allow the Codi to have an enhanced working efficiency, and to pay less effort to a cleaning process for the water purifying apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Deul-Re Min, Min-Je Cho, Young-Jin Kim, Sung-Yong Shin
  • Publication number: 20110290737
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water. The system is self-contained within a standard shipping container, with all components disposed in-line within the shipping container. Float is removed from the flotation tank with a skimmer that drives float downstream onto a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt conveys float away from the flotation tank, in the downstream direction, and deposits the float in a collection tank. Clean water may be drawn from the flotation tank continuously, while float may be removed periodically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2011
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Patent number: 8066886
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide pulsed fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing pulsed magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert William Holland
  • Patent number: 8048313
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of fluid treatment for a plurality of fluids with a first and a second non-magnetically conductive fluid flow conduit sleeved within at least one segment of magnetically conductive conduit providing a plurality of distinct areas of concentrated magnetic energy. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert William Holland
  • Patent number: 8043511
    Abstract: A method and apparatus provide fluid treatment at a plurality of distinct points utilizing magnetic energy concentrated in a plurality of distinct areas along a fluid flow path and at least one region of pulsed fluid treatment within a fluid treatment chamber. The instant invention prevents the formation and accumulation of contaminants within conduits and on equipment utilized in the transportation, delivery and processing of fluid columns. It may also be utilized to accelerate the separation of oil and water and increase the efficiency of oil/water separation equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Inventor: Herbert William Holland
  • Publication number: 20110253639
    Abstract: A spa sanitizing apparatus including a sanitizing agent generating cell, an H-Bridge circuit arranged to supply a voltage to electrodes of the cell, a controller circuit for controlling the operation of the H-Bridge circuit, and a watch dog circuit for monitoring a voltage applied to the electrodes and for shutting down power if the voltage departs from a pre-determined limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Publication date: October 20, 2011
    Inventors: Eugene B. Kook, Michael McCague
  • Patent number: 8034235
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit; and a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect the supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Publication number: 20110240537
    Abstract: A user interface for a machine for extracorporeal blood treatment comprises a touch screen and a controller programmed to display on a screen (16) a display in which two distinct areas are arranged, one of which (161) exhibits a series of touch keys (17). Activation of any one touch key (17) causes visualization of an image in a second area (162) of the screen. The images are displayed alternatively and are at least partly different one from another. Each touch key (17) is associated to an instruction, or to a group of instructions, all concerned with readying the machine for use. Each image is a pictograph of a configuration of the machine, correlated with an instruction associated to the touch key (17) selected. The operator is aided in making the machine ready for treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Lorenza FERRARINI, Danielle PELLETIER, Massimo ZACCARELLI, Jeffrey J. LETTERI
  • Publication number: 20110226683
    Abstract: A sewage treatment system is revealed. Water with contaminants is drawn from sources to the sewage treatment system for automatic and fast water purification. Thus clean drinking water is generated. The water with contaminants is sent to a treatment tank by a motor. Then non-toxic and odorless chemicals are sprayed in the treatment tank. By stirring and mixing of movable blades, the contaminants are coagulated and precipitated into a funnel under the treatment tank to be discharged. Next clean water in the treatment tank is sent to a centrifuge separator to be filtered and dehydrated by centrifugation. Water comes out from the centrifuge separator is drinking water. The sewage is converted into clean water. The system can provide clean safe drinking water to regions without water treatment plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventor: CHI-HSUEH RICHARD
  • Publication number: 20110226684
    Abstract: A water purification system including at least: a water purification apparatus comprising one or more water purification components to provide a purified water stream, the apparatus having one or more user-operable controls; a programmable controller in the water purification apparatus, and connected to the user-operable control(s) for receiving control commands from the controls, the programmable controller configured to control the water purification apparatus in response to the control commands; and a data interface for receiving a remote operator program from a detachable communication device for controlling operation of the apparatus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Inventors: Lee Underwood, Jonathan Fleisig
  • Publication number: 20110192772
    Abstract: A device for filtering a liquid processing medium used in cutting has an intake and first filter cells with inlet, filter element, and outlet. The filter elements can be back-flushed. A disposal container as well as a suction conveying device are provided. For filtering, the intake is connected by first valves with first filter cell inlets and first filter cell outlets are connected to a discharge. For back-flushing, inlets of the first filter cells are connected through the first or a further valve to the disposal container. A second filter cell with filter element for contaminated processing medium of the disposal container is disposed above or inside the disposal container. The second filter cell, for filtering, is connected by the suction conveying device to the discharge. A cleaning device for the second filter cell is provided so that waste products removed during cleaning pass directly into the disposal container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Matthias Leipoldt
  • Publication number: 20110186507
    Abstract: A system and method for processing and reusing graywater. At least two vertical flow wetland units are provided, each of which comprises a container filled with at least one granular substrate and at least one species of a hygrophilous plant, and an outlet. At least one of the wetland units is set to an inactive state during a predetermined period of time such that influx of graywater to each of the inactive units is prevented, to regenerate each inactive wetland units. At least one of the wetland units is set to an active state to allow introduced graywater to be purified. Purified graywater is discharged from the outlet of each active unit to a sink. At least a portion of the purified graywater is recirculated to each active wetland units so that a portion of the purified graywater, when desired, is discharged to a domestic site for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: Moshe Elazar Ernest
  • Patent number: 7981280
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus includes a blood treatment unit, a treatment fluid circuit, and a blood circuit. The treatment fluid circuit has a treatment fluid pump for circulating treatment fluid around the treatment fluid circuit and through the blood treatment unit. The blood circuit has a dual chamber blood pump for circulating blood around the blood circuit and through the blood treatment unit. An arterial line withdraws blood from a patient and delivers the withdrawn blood to the blood treatment unit. A venous line returns the treated blood to the patient. The arterial and venous lines can be switched between a first condition in which they are connected to the patient and a second condition in which they are disconnected from the patient and connected to each other for recirculation of blood through the blood circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Renal Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Carr, Stephen R. Ash
  • Publication number: 20110168611
    Abstract: The wastewater treatment system provides multiple techniques for decontaminating wastewater contained within a single system, thus optimizing the decontamination of the wastewater. In one embodiment, the wastewater treatment system includes a steel-reinforced plastic tank having first and second partition walls dividing the tank into first, second and third chambers. The first chamber includes at least one first effluent filter and further contains anaerobic bacteria for removal of organic waste material from the wastewater received therein. The first chamber is configured for at least partial removal of particulate and organic matter from the wastewater. The second chamber includes an air diffuser and further contains aerobic bacteria for further removal of organic waste material from the wastewater received therein. The third chamber includes a sludge pump assembly and at least one second effluent filter. Resultant purified water is selectively discharged from the third chamber through an outlet port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Daniel M. Early, Scott F. Easter
  • Publication number: 20110168616
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Mark B. Robertson, David O'Keefe, John D. Cox, Daniel T. White
  • Publication number: 20110168615
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a liquid containing impurities may comprise: a filtering chamber for receiving liquid containing impurities, the filtering chamber containing granular media and configured to permit the granular media to interact with the liquid containing impurities, thereby removing impurities from the liquid to produce filtrate; a filtrate section in communication with the filtering chamber for receiving the filtrate, the filtrate section being in communication with a first outlet for outflow of the filtrate; a gas supplying system for delivering gas to the granular media in the filtering chamber for transport of a portion of the granular media to a granular media washer; and a reject section in communication with the granular media washer for receiving a reject mixture comprising liquid and impurities from the granular media washer. The reject section may be in communication with a second outlet for outflow of a portion of the reject mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: July 14, 2011
    Inventors: Brett H. BOYD, Russell L. Cook, Adrian Streng
  • Publication number: 20110163033
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes at least one pneumatic valve, a pneumatic pump in fluid communication with the pneumatic valve, a pneumatic line communicating with an inlet and an outlet of the pneumatic pump, a flow restrictor placed in the pneumatic line, and a logic implementer. The logic implementer is programmed to operate the pneumatic valve to either (i) communicate the pneumatic outlet with the pneumatic inlet of the pneumatic pump through the flow restrictor and the pneumatic line, or (ii) communicate the outlet of the pneumatic pump with a component of the dialysis system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicants: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A.
    Inventors: Paul Chapman, Robert W. Childers, Gideon Hecht, Anders Wellings
  • Publication number: 20110114545
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning sewage, having a housing (1) of substantially rectangular outline which is formed in the manner of a transportable container, wherein a plurality of compartments (C1, C2, C3, C4) are provided one behind the other along a longitudinal direction of the outline, wherein a first compartment (C1) contains at least two treatment basins (B1, B2, B3, B4) and an adjoining, second compartment (C2) contains a tank (7) with a lamellar separator (8) and a clarifying basin (9) arranged one after the other downstream of it. In order to improve the cleaning efficiency, it is proposed according to the invention that the clarifying basin (9) be arranged between the lamellar separator (8) and the first compartment (C1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 25, 2009
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: INVENT UMWELT-UND VERFAHRENSTECHINK AG
    Inventors: Marcus Hoefken, Walter Steidl, Peter Huber
  • Publication number: 20110079255
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2009
    Publication date: April 7, 2011
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: John A. Fitzsimmons, Richard O. Henry
  • Patent number: 7914681
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a hemodiafiltration apparatus capable of easily and efficiently removing medium to large molecule solutes at a low cost. Provided is a hemodialysis apparatus which uses a hemodialyzer accommodating a hollow yarn membrane in hemodiafiltration to cause a dialysis fluid to flow from a dialysis fluid circuit side to a blood circuit side by forceful back-filtration via the hemodialyzer, and to cause a fluid in the blood circuit to reflux to a dialysis fluid circuit side by filtration via the hemodialyzer, the hemodialysis apparatus being characterized in that a flux operation of the fluid from the dialysis fluid side to the blood circuit side by the back-filtration, and a reflux operation of the fluid from the blood circuit side to the dialysis fluid circuit side by the filtration are repeated intermittently and for at least a plurality of times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2011
    Assignee: JMS Co.
    Inventors: Sung-Teh Kim, Kunihiko Yamanaka, Naritomi Maeda, Katsunori Masaoka
  • Publication number: 20110049023
    Abstract: A swimming pool cleaning vehicle is disclosed herein. The vehicle includes a housing and the housing having a body shell and a frame and an interior with the housing. The housing, having an outlet, for releasing air from the shell. The shell being removable attached to the frame, the frame including a base. The vehicle including a filtration system having a pump motor for pumping pool water through filtration system, the pump creating a suction force, the suction force being sufficient to allow the vehicle to climb the pool walls. The vehicle capable of climbing the pool walls. And, the vehicle capable of breaking the surface of the water as it climbs pool walls. The vehicle including logic means for first, initiating vehicle movement, second, shutting off pump, and third, re-starting pump.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2009
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventor: Wing-kin HUI
  • Publication number: 20110042317
    Abstract: The invention provides extraction columns for the purification of an analyte (e.g., a biological macromolecule, such as a peptide, protein or nucleic acid) from a sample solution, as well as methods for making and using such columns. The columns typically include a bed of extraction media positioned in the column between two frits. In some embodiments, the extraction columns employ modified pipette tips as column bodies. In some embodiments, the invention provides columns characterized by low backpressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Inventors: Douglas T. Gjerde, Christopher P. Hanna
  • Patent number: 7892419
    Abstract: Device for treating water with a supply (3); a treatment tank (4); a drain (9); a regulator (13); and a bypass (22) which connects the supply (3) to the drain (9), characterised in that in the main canalisation (2), on either side of the regulator (13), is provided a shut-off valve (12, 14); in that the device (1) comprises a first shunt canalisation (18) which bridges the first shut-off valve (12) and the regulator (13) and comprises a second shunt canalisation (20) which bridges the regulator (13) and the second shut-off valve (14), whereby both shunt canalisations (18, 20) comprise a shut-off valve (19, 21), and whereby the shut-off valves (12, 14) are open on either side of the regulator (13) during the treatment phase, whereas the other shut-off valves (19, 21) are open during the rinse or regeneration phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Delta Water Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Guido Van De Moortele
  • Patent number: 7892423
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, and a logic implementer configured to synchronize the duty cycles of the first and second heaters so that (i) power is not supplied to the first heater when power is supplied to the second heater and (ii) power is not supplied to the second heater when power is supplied to the first heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Publication number: 20110017678
    Abstract: The present invention includes capturing water from rain, HVAC condensate and refrigeration blowdown/bleed blowdown that is recycled and reutilized in integrated mechanical processes. Water is monitored for volume, flow rate, and contaminants; and automatically cleaned through filtration and/or chemical and/or biological treatment techniques to meet acceptable health and safety standards for engineered end uses. The process components are integrated into an engineered system that includes: 1) water collection from air conditioning and refrigeration units and rain water; 2) custom design, engineering and implementation of a real time and/or scheduled water monitoring for water volume and water quality; 3) custom design, engineering and implementation of a real time and/or scheduled water treatment system to ensure water quality standards are met with respect to the end use of the recovered water; and 4) utilization of the recovered water by an engineered water distribution system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2010
    Publication date: January 27, 2011
    Inventors: Dennis M. Anderson, Devon Eric Anderson
  • Publication number: 20110009800
    Abstract: A dialysis system that includes a dialysis machine, a tube connected to the dialysis machine, and a sensor system. The sensor system includes a head having a slot configured to receive the tube and a plurality of sensors secured to the head adjacent the slot. At least one of the plurality of sensors includes a light emitting element configured to transmit light through the tube when the tube is disposed in the slot and a light receiving element configured to receive the light emitted by the light emitting element after the light passes trough the tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: January 13, 2011
    Inventors: Naim Dam, Martin Joseph Crnkovich, Roland Levin
  • Publication number: 20110000830
    Abstract: A hemodialysis apparatus includes a hemodialysis treatment administering unit including a blood treating unit for treating patient's blood; and a controller for controlling the hemodialysis treatment administering unit. The controller includes a maximum change rate setting unit for setting the maximum rate of change in circulating blood volume, and an adjustment line forming unit for forming an adjustment line for adjusting the rate of change in circulating blood volume so as to be equal to or less than the maximum change rate set in the maximum change rate setting unit. The controller controls the hemodialysis treatment administering unit based on the adjustment line formed in the adjustment line forming unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Inventor: Atsushi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7857980
    Abstract: Plant for filtering substances to be cleaned of various kinds of semi-solid or liquid polluting substances, constituted by filtering devices (5) connected to each other, including a first circulation circuit of the substances to be cleaned introduced into each filtering device (5) for discharging the polluting substances after having been cleaned; a second circulation circuit of the cleaned liquids and the exit from the plant, and the possible collection into suitable containers; a third circulation circuit of suitable plant washing liquids, so as to clean the various plant component parts of the polluting substances remaining after one or more working cycles. The plant being arranged to set pre-established operative programs, such as to determine a working cycle composed by a first rest step, a second filling step, a third filtering step, a fourth emptying step, a fifth discharge step, a sixth rinsing step and a seventh washing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Antoni Paolo Bellussi
  • Publication number: 20100314302
    Abstract: A dissolved air flotation system and method for purifying fresh water. The system is self-contained within a standard shipping container, with all components disposed in-line within the shipping container. Float is removed from the flotation tank with a skimmer that drives float downstream onto a conveyor belt, and the conveyor belt conveys float away from the flotation tank, in the downstream direction, and deposits the float in a collection tank. Clean water may be drawn from the flotation tank continuously, while float may be removed periodically.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Inventors: David P. Lambert, James J. Houtz
  • Publication number: 20100274172
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of removing blood from an extracorporeal blood circuit following termination of a blood treatment session, wherein blood is concurrently removed both from an arterial conduit portion and from a venous conduit portion of the extracorporeal blood circuit. It further relates to a method for recognizing and/or eliminating air inclusions in or from an extracorporeal blood circuit and a treatment apparatus as well as a tube system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventors: Goetz GUENTHER, Joachim MANKE
  • Patent number: 7807059
    Abstract: During collection of pollutants having a density lower than that of water and carried by a surface layer of a body of water, water of the surface layer is caused to flow into and through a collection vessel having a separation compartment with a top wall, pollutants entrained by the inflowing surface layer water are allowed to collect gravimetrically as a supernatant layer carried beneath the top wall of the separation compartment on water in the separation compartment, and changes of the weight of the collection vessel in the body of water are monitored. Intake and discharge phases may be initiated and terminated to in response to the said weight reaching predetermined values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Surfcleaner AB
    Inventors: Stig Lundback, Jonas Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100241045
    Abstract: A renal therapy blood cleaning system includes: a blood filtering device in communication with an extracorporeal circuit; a first pump configured to pump fluid to the blood filtering device; a second pump configured to pump fluid from the blood filtering device; a balance chamber in fluid communication with first and second lines, the first and second lines in fluid communication with the first and second pumps, respectively, the balance chamber configured to exchange like volumes of fresh and spent fluid; a plurality of valves; and a control scheme programmed to operate the plurality of valves to enable spent fluid taken from the balancing chamber through one of the first and second lines to be recirculated to the balance chamber through the other of the first and second lines to compensate for a volume of fresh fluid delivered to the blood filtering device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicants: BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC., BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A.
    Inventors: Thomas D. Kelly, Waleed M. El Sayyid
  • Publication number: 20100230335
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods related to centrifugal liquid chromatography are described. An angular velocity can be simultaneously imparted to a large number of chromatographic enclosures. Via centrifugal forces, a mobile phase fluid including a sample can be driven through a stationary phase within the chromatographic enclosure to perform a chromatographic separation process on components of the sample. The use of centrifugation as a driving force can allow significantly smaller stationary phase particles to be employed as compared to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Further, for an equivalent chromatographic separation process, the use of centrifugation can provide much greater separation efficiencies than HPLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: TERRASEP, LLC
    Inventors: Robert R. Kerr, James D. Whitaker, Thomas M. Kerr
  • Publication number: 20100228056
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic separation apparatus for continuous separating and recovering magnetic solid particles from a solid-liquid mixture. The apparatus includes at least one magnetic separation unit and each unit includes: an outer cylindrical vessel having a material inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet; an inner cylindrical vessel, at least part of which extends along the axis inside the first cylindrical vessel without contacting with the inner surface of the outer cylindrical vessel; and a magnet, rendering the bottom of the inner cylindrical vessel magnetism during the first period and making the part of the surface lose its magnetism during a second period. When the solid-liquid mixture flows through the magnetic surface of the inner cylindrical vessel in the passage, the magnetic solids are absorbed and separated from the mixture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Jiangsu Sinorgchem Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nongyue Wang, Xiaogen Feng, Xiaohui Mao
  • Patent number: 7785463
    Abstract: A system, program product and method continuously optimize an ultrafiltration rate during an extracorporeal renal replacement process by modeling physiological and actual rate data. The system maps the sensed, physiological data to a mathematical model to assess the data in terms of the ultrafiltration rate. The model provides parameters used to predict where the treatment is headed based on current conditions. The system processes the parameters in terms of preset criteria to generate the optimized ultrafiltration rate. Where the system is networked, communication of the data may be accomplished using remote and online communication techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Children's Hospital Medical Center
    Inventors: John J. Bissler, Nat Hemasilpin, Marios M. Polycarpou
  • Patent number: 7780848
    Abstract: A single needle hemodiafiltration apparatus is provided. The single needle hemodiafiltration apparatus includes circuits for blood supply from a patient and blood return to a patient, a dialysis fluid supply system for supplying a dialysis fluid, and a system for controlling the blood flow and dialysis fluid flow in a separation device which is equipped to perform filtration and back-filtration operations. A controller is provided that controls, in a series of coordinated operations, the flow of blood from the patient into the separation device, the flow of filtration fluid and back filtration fluid, and the return of blood to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: JMS Co.
    Inventors: Sung-Teh Kim, Kunihiko Yamanaka, Naritomi Maeda, Katsunori Masaoka, Kayoko Segawa, Chieko Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100176058
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a simulated moving bed process, wherein at least one adsorbent is washed after binding of target compound and wherein the outlet of wash liquid from the adsorbent is subsequently passed onto another adsorbent for binding of target compound removed by the washing. In one embodiment, the method comprises binding of at least one target compound using three or more adsorbents connected in series and elution of target compound from said three adsorbents. After the binding to an adsorbent, wash liquid is passed across the adsorbent to recover desorbed and/or unbound target compound, and the outlet of such wash liquid is directed to the adsorbent after the next in the series, to which no feed has yet been added. The target compound is recovered by eluting target compound from the washed adsorbents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: GE HEALTHCARE BIO-SCIENCES AB
    Inventors: Mattias Bryntesson, Martin Hall, Karol Lacki
  • Publication number: 20100170854
    Abstract: Methods, apparatus and systems for dewatering and drying the dewatered sludge. Sludge pumped into the sludge dewatering apparatus is mixed in-line with a pre-measured quantity of polymers to agglomerate solids entrained in the sludge. The agglomerated sludge is routed to a filtration station comprising filtration chambers. The filtration chambers are fitted with industry standard filter bag. The agglomerated sludge is subjected to dewatering in the filter bags and the dewatered sludge is subsequently compacted, dried and discarded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Applicant: SEVERN TRENT DE NORA, LLC
    Inventors: Dana Casbeer, Tommy Reeves, Rubin Bariya
  • Publication number: 20100163470
    Abstract: A water dispenser including a water inlet adapted to receive water from a water supply, a water filter operative to filter water received from the water supply via the water inlet, a water outlet operative to provide filtered water received from the water filter, a water spill collector and a pivotably mounted drainage-equipped water container support having a first operative orientation underlying the water outlet and defining a downwardly inclined water spill drainage pathway communicating with the water spill collector and a second, non-operative, orientation not underlying the water outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: TANA INDUSTRIES (1991) LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Oranski, Avner Sadot, Israel Heifetz, Yoav Dracher
  • Publication number: 20100155339
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to systems and methods for a solar and/or AC current powered water disinfection system that is sized for portable use and is specifically tailored for use in under-developed areas of the world or in areas where natural disasters have occurred. Embodiments herein disclosed provide for a system that utilizes an ultraviolet light that is operatively coupled to a pump, inverter, battery, and a charge converter that is adapted for use with a solar panel or AC current. The system is placed into a storage container, or the like, and the water in the storage container is pumped through the ultraviolet light, which kills most waterborne, water-washed, and water-based diseases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Andrew W. Gunter