Automatic Control Patents (Class 210/143)
  • Patent number: 8137543
    Abstract: A vessel system comprising a vessel is presented. The vessel system comprises at least one internal wall located within the vessel. The vessel system further comprises at least one inflatable seal to create a seal between an outer periphery of the internal wall and an internal cavity wall of the vessel. The vessel system further comprises a shaft longitudinally traversing the vessel and adapted to transmit a force applied on the at least one internal wall to an end of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Christian Pays, Christophe Corailler
  • Patent number: 8137540
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved methods and apparatus for radiolabeling, particularly methods and apparatus for large scale in-line radiolabeling of products, such as proteins and antibodies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Peregrine Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventors: Raimo Pellikka, Steven W. King, Peter Bläuenstein, Pius A. Schubiger
  • Patent number: 8137549
    Abstract: A column packing system comprises a control unit provided with software for calculating the breakpoint where a movable adapter comes into contact with a settled bed of bed media. The calculated breakpoint is used by the control unit to determine how much further the movable adapter has to move into the column in order to achieve a desired amount of bed compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Torvald Andersson, Mats Olsson, Bengt Asberg, Lars Andersson
  • Patent number: 8133395
    Abstract: A method for automatically without any required manual interaction packing a media bed in a column (3) from a slurry being a dispersion of said media particles and a liquid, said method comprising the steps a)-f) which all are performed automatically: a) filling the column (3) with a certain volume of slurry; b) packing a media bed from the slurry to a predefined target bed height or a predefined target bed compression; c) testing the separation efficiency of the packed bed; d) automatically unpacking the bed if test results not are acceptable or alternatively flow conditioning the packed bed if test results not are acceptable and return to c); e) calculating new volume of slurry to be filled into the column based on the test results; f) repeat from a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventors: Johan F. Karlsson, Joakim Lundkvist
  • Publication number: 20120053278
    Abstract: A process for the anti-sticking treatment of polymer pellets comprising: a) pelletizing the polymer in the presence of cooling water; b) drying the polymer pellets by means of a centrifugal drier, wherein in step b) an aqueous composition comprising an anti-sticking agents is metered inside said centrifugal drier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: BASELL POLIOLEFINE ITALIA S.R.L.
    Inventors: Decio Malucelli, Marco Consalvi
  • Patent number: 8123956
    Abstract: An interactive sanitizer controller/display pad and method for controlling and selecting a dispensing rate in a sanitizer dispensing system based on the time the system is in a periodic dispensing mode and for indicating when a sanitizing dispenser needs replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: King Technology
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Mark Snetting, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120043264
    Abstract: A flocculation-magnetic separation is provided which reduces the usage amount of flocculation agents as well as the usage amount of magnetic powders and realizes an improvement in the quality of treated water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Inventors: Hisashi Isogami, Satoshi Miyabayashi, Akira Mochizuki
  • 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: 20120037550
    Abstract: A hemodialysis system includes (i) blood tubing; (ii) a peristaltic blood pump contacting the blood tubing to pump blood through the blood tubing; (iii) a dialyzer in fluid communication with the blood tubing; (iv) first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps; (v) a dialysate heater; (vi) a plurality of pinch valves; and (vii) a cassette including a rigid structure, a heating portion, first and second dialysate pumping tubes, and a plurality of incoming tubes, the rigid structure when the cassette is mounted for operation orienting (a) the heating portion adjacent to the dialysate heater so that dialysate can be heated by the dialysate heater, (b) the first and second dialysate pumping tubes adjacent to the first and second peristaltic dialysate pumps, and (c) the plurality of incoming tubes adjacent to the plurality of pinch valves to enable the tubes to be individually closed by the pinch valves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicants: BAXTER HEALTHCARE S.A., BAXTER INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Robert W. Childers, Thomas D. Kelly, Rodolfo Roger
  • Publication number: 20120037570
    Abstract: A water tank overflow dechlorinating assembly is used with a water tank including an overflow pipe with exit above an overflow discharge region with an air gap between the two. The assembly includes a dechlorinating material delivery assembly comprising a guide tube having a material supply region and a perforated region positioned within the air gap. Overflow water passes through the perforated region for interaction with dechlorinating material therein. Depleted dechlorinating material within the perforated region is automatically replaced by dechlorinating material from the material supply region. A weight can be used to bias the dechlorinating material within the material supply region into the perforated region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: Caifornia Water Service Comapny
    Inventor: Danilo Blanusa
  • Publication number: 20120031837
    Abstract: A system and method for treating wastewater by continuously flowing wastewater into a chemostat and continuously discharging clean water out of the chemostat. The system can include sensors and an electronic controller for on-line measuring ambient parameters in the chemostat and adjusting the chemostat's operating conditions accordingly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: Biological Petroleum Cleaning Ltd.
    Inventors: David AMIR, Eugene Rosenberg, Gili Bittan-Banin
  • Patent number: 8110096
    Abstract: A system and method includes an aeration subsystem that excites enzymes in the liquid waste passing through the septic system. The aeration subsystem includes a compressor section that compresses the liquid waste and an injector section that injects oxygen into the compressed liquid waste. The system further includes a driver subsystem for driving the compressor section and a control subsystem for activating and deactivating the driver subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Kistner, Carolyn R. Kistner
  • Publication number: 20120024781
    Abstract: The present application relates to systems and methods for processing organic materials. The method may, for example, yield nutrient-rich materials that may have various agricultural uses. The method can include, in some embodiments, forming a slurry from components comprising liquid and organic material; combining the slurry with microorganisms to form a biomass; anaerobically digesting the organic material in the biomass; and at least partially separating liquid components from the digested biomass. In some embodiments, the anaerobic digestion produces low amounts of methane. The systems may, in some embodiments, be configured to perform the method of processing organic materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: WISErg Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Lugo, Larry LeSueur
  • Patent number: 8105258
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Lannoy
  • Patent number: 8091572
    Abstract: A method for tracking a pollution source in process water is presented. Firstly, variation curves of drain water drained from different rinsing tanks are respectively obtained, and a water quality concentration of the drain water drained to a buffer tank is detected, so as to output a water quality variation curve. Then, an analytical comparison is performed on each drain water amount variation curve and the water quality variation curve within a same time interval, so as to output an analytical result of each flow of drain water in a range exceeding a predetermined water quality standard. In this manner, the drain water that exceeds the predetermined water quality standard can be tracked in real-time according to the analytical result, thereby quickly improving the process for discharging the drain water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Chen, Ching-Yi Hsu, Chen-Hua Chu, Meng-Shun Huang
  • Publication number: 20110315641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus to continuously monitor and control acoustic energy and vacuum pressure to maintain a net unidirectional flow of multi-phase heterogeneous fluids through a porous filter or membrane. The heterogenous fluid may come form a variety of sources including biological sources such as, blood, bone marrow aspirate (BMA), adipose tissue (lipoaspirate), urine, saliva, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: SMITH & NEPHEW PLC
    Inventors: Stephen John Curran, Jonathan Nicholas Ridgway, Pei-Sheng Chen, Michael Pratt, Marc Tanner, Stephen Latham, Nick Reback
  • Patent number: 8083935
    Abstract: A system for recycling a drilling fluid that includes a first cuttings storage vessel, a second cuttings storage vessel, and a module fluidly connected to the first and second cuttings storage vessels, the module having a valve configured to fluidly connect the first and second cuttings storage vessels. The module further includes a filter system configured to fluidly connect to at least the second cuttings storage vessel, and at least one pump to facilitate the flow of a fluid between the first and second cuttings storage vessels. Also, a module for use at a drilling location that includes a valve for directing drilling fluid between at least a first cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module and a second cuttings storage vessel disposed outside the module. The module further includes a filter system for filtering the drilling fluid and at least one pump for facilitating the flow of the fluid between at least the first and second cuttings storage vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: M-I LLC
    Inventor: Jan Thore Eia
  • Publication number: 20110308395
    Abstract: A run-safe filter system is provided for confirming installation of a qualified filter element in a housing. An electrical switch has a first electrical condition in response to a qualified filter element being installed in the housing, and a second electrical condition in response to the absence of a qualified filter element installed in the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP INC.
    Inventors: Mark P. Adams, Axel J. Dahlberg, Matthew L. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20110303593
    Abstract: A fitting element, in particular for an HPLC application, is configured for providing a fluidic coupling of a tubing to a fluidic device. The fitting element includes a gripping piece configured to exert, upon coupling of the tubing to the fluidic device, a grip force between the fitting element and the tubing. The gripping piece includes a grip force distributor configured to transform an axial force, provided in an axial direction with respect to the tubing, into a plurality of individual grip force components, each grip force component is exerting on the tubing spaced apart in the axial direction from another grip force component, and the plurality of individual grip force components result in the grip force.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Applicant: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 8075768
    Abstract: A liquid chromatograph device was provided wherein operations inside a thermostatic chamber can be safely performed even while a heat block is being heated. The liquid chromatograph device comprises: a thermostatic chamber; outer doors and that are disposed at the front surface of the thermostatic chamber; a heat block; heater for heating said heat block; temperature sensor for the heat block; flowing means for flowing air between the inside and outside of the thermostatic chamber; a control means for controlling the supply of power to the heater based on the result of the temperature sensor; and an inner door between the outer door and the heat block, the inner door comprising a hollow inner door main body, a heat-insulating material that is housed within the inner door so as to form an air chamber between the heat-insulating material and the surface of the outer door of the inner door main body and inlet/outlet slits and that are formed in the inner door main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Takao Okado
  • Patent number: 8070941
    Abstract: A control system comprising a timer based controller and a valve wherein the timer-based controller has a fixed period and the timer based controller regularly cycles the valve between a first condition and a second condition with the first portion of the cycle directing a first flow of water through a dispensable material and the remaining portion of the cycle directing a lesser flow of water through the dispensable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: King Technology
    Inventors: Joseph A. King, Jeffrey D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8066882
    Abstract: A method for packing a media bed in a column (3) from a slurry being a dispersion of said media particles and a liquid, said method comprising the steps of: a) estimating a slurry concentration; b) filling the column (3) with a certain volume of the slurry from a slurry tank (13) connected to the column; c) packing a test media bed from the slurry; d) detecting where the test media bed is consolidated; e) use the information about the consolidated test media bed height for providing to the column an amount of slurry that after further packing will give a user target bed height; f) packing a media bed from the slurry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventor: Niklas Edblad
  • Publication number: 20110284436
    Abstract: A water purifying apparatus, comprises: a filtering unit for filtering water supplied from a wellhead into purified water; a water tank unit including a cold water tank for storing the purified water in a cold water state, and a hot water tank for storing the purified water in a hot water state; a discharging unit for selectively discharging out the purified water stored in the water tank unit; a state detecting unit for detecting an operation state of at least one of the filtering unit, the water tank unit, and the discharging unit; a controller for comparing the information detected by the state detecting unit with a preset reference, thereby judging an abnormal state of the water purifying apparatus; and a state displaying unit for displaying the abnormal state information to outside. When the water purifying apparatus has a breakdown, mal-operated components of the water purifying apparatus may be checked by being displayed on the state displaying unit, without being checked by an A/S specialist.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung-Yong Shin, Deul-Re Min
  • Publication number: 20110284434
    Abstract: A water treatment system including a pair of water treatment tanks, each tank defining a flow path extending from a tank inlet to a tank outlet and containing a water treatment material disposed along the flow path for treating water as it travels from the inlet to the outlet. A system controller controls which of the tanks is on-line and which of the tanks is off-line and controls the regeneration of an exhausted tank. A multi-stage, spring-loaded control valve assembly controls the communication of fluid to a regeneration control turbine. The control valve assembly includes a piston head and a seat-carrying stem. An upper end of the stem is coupled to the piston head in an arrangement that allows relative movement between the stem and the piston head. A spring urges the stem away from the piston head. An opposite end of the stem carries a seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Inventors: Christopher L. Hansen, Peter Halemba
  • Patent number: 8062513
    Abstract: In one embodiment an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine includes: at least one pump; a logic implementer storing a plurality of therapy prescriptions by which to operate the at least one pump, each therapy prescription pre-approved for a particular patient; and an input device operating with the logic implementer to allow the patient to select one of the therapy prescriptions for a particular therapy. In another embodiment, the input device operating with the logic implementer allows a doctor/clinician to select or approve one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the APD machine. In a further embodiment, the logic implementer is programmed to select or suggest one of the therapy prescriptions to be run on the is APD machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Anping Yu, Robert W. Childers, Borut Cizman
  • Patent number: 8065023
    Abstract: Apparatus for managing a residential wastewater treatment system includes an in situ control unit that monitors an individual system. The control unit provides local control and alarms, and also sends status reports and/or alarms to a remote monitoring center via a telemetry device. The remote monitoring center makes information concerning the individual system available through a website.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory D. Graves
  • Patent number: 8057679
    Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis system includes: an automated peritoneal dialysis (“APD”) machine configured to remove ultrafiltrate (“UF”) from a patient and record how much UF has been removed; and a logic implementer configured to (i) form a first moving average UF removed trend, (ii) determine a trending range around the first moving average UF removed trend, (iii) determine at least one of an upper and lower UF removed limit from the trending range, (iv) form a second moving average UF removed trend, and (v) alert if the second moving average UF removed trend moves outside of the at least one UF removed limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Anping Yu, James Grayson, Robert W. Childers
  • Patent number: 8057674
    Abstract: An orbital wastewater treatment system includes a tank assembly, at least one impeller, a flow-diversion mechanism, an actuator, optionally at least one sensor disposed in the tank assembly, and a control unit. The tank assembly has an anoxic zone and an aerobic zone and passages between the two zones. The impeller is disposed in the tank assembly for aeration and for moving mixed liquor under process about the tank assembly. The flow-diversion mechanism is disposed at least one of the passages between the aerobic and the anoxic zone. The actuator is operatively connected to the gate for regulating the flow state or configuration thereof in response to a signal generated by the control unit at least partially pursuant to a predetermined schedule and/or at least partially in accordance with input from the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ovivo Luxembourg S.{dot over (a)}r.l.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Leland, Frederick M. Riser, Peter W. Reko
  • Publication number: 20110272356
    Abstract: A separation device has a first separation chamber for housing a packing material representing a stationary phase configured for separating compounds of a fluid sample. The separation device comprises a first separation device element and a second separation device element, configured to be coupled together to provide the first separation chamber. Each of the first separation device element and the second separation device element comprises a retaining element configured to retain the packing material within the first separation chamber. The first separation chamber is provided by the first separation device element and the second separation device, with the retaining elements of both the first separation device element and the second separation device closing the first separation chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Bernd HOFFMANN
  • Publication number: 20110275973
    Abstract: A HIV filtration machine and method of filtration using the machine and method of detecting HIV, the said machine comprising an acrylic cylindrical tube divided into three portions i.e. needle portion (2), barrel portion (10), and tray (16), characterized in that the needle portion consists of three needle points (3, 4, 5), the said needle points are detachably connected with three blood carrying tubes (27, 28, 29) serially fixed into barrel portion, a valve (12) is provided at the end point of said blood carrying tubes, a piston (9) is detachably fixed above the plunger (22) and connected with a spring for creating movement of the plunger towards the tray, the said tray is one inch or less diameter in round shape and connected with steel ring of filter (14) and is connected with chip and micro camera, for data transmission to the remote computer or mobile device, the said filter having less than 1 micron to more than 8.5 micron.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Mohammad Saklain Rizvi, Mukulbhai Thakorbhai Amin, Kantibhai Ambalal Patel
  • Patent number: 8048312
    Abstract: A separation analyzer for transferring solutions, while changing mixing ratios of the solutions, wherein a flow passage from a first pump, a flow passage from a second pump, and a passage for sample introduction section, the flow passages being connected, which further comprises a flow switching means for temporarily storing the solutions, whereby the flow switching means alternatively makes a first state for pushing out the solutions in a second sampling loop to the sample introduction section by the second pump, while transferring the solutions to the first sampling loop; and a second state for pushing out the solutions in the first sampling loop by the second pump, while transferring the solutions from the first pump to the second sampling loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Kisaburo Deguchi, Shinya Ito, Masahito Ito
  • Publication number: 20110264268
    Abstract: Methods for reducing response time of membrane based electrochemical cells. A probe correction factor is calculated based on a percent rate of change in probe signal with time. A staged correction may be applied such that as signal change gets smaller, the effect of the compensation is reduced to prevent over shoot on the calculated residual. Control systems and techniques can regulate or control operations of a water treatment system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventors: Kevin Anthony Foster, Andreas Ganser
  • Patent number: 8043556
    Abstract: An ablutionary installation including a mixing valve having respective inlets for hot and cold water and an outlet for temperature controlled water, a temperature sensor for monitoring outlet water temperature and providing a signal representative of the outlet water temperature to an electronic controller, a user interface permitting selection of outlet water temperature up to a pre-determined temperature, the electronic controller being operable to compare the selected and sensed outlet water temperatures for controlling the mixing valve to adjust the ratio of hot and cold water delivered to the outlet according to the selected outlet water temperature, and apparatus for initiating a disinfection cycle to deliver water to the outlet at a temperature higher than the pre-determined temperature, wherein the initiating apparatus includes an operating sequence with at least two inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kohler Mira Limited
    Inventors: Kevin Peel, Timothy James Shepherd, Geoffrey Hawke Whale, Paul Vigars, Nicholas John Beck
  • Patent number: 8038870
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a rotational mechanism, a housing, a rotating feed pipe and a basket. The housing includes at least one side and defines an interior volume. The basket is positioned in the interior volume of the housing and is operatively coupled to the rotational mechanism such that rotation of the rotational mechanism is imparted to the basket. The rotating feed pipe extends into the basket through a pipe support positioned over the basket. The rotating feed pipe includes a nozzle operable to direct a flow of liquids, solids or combinations thereof onto a sidewall of the basket. The rotating feed pipe is operable to rotate from a first position towards a second position thereby increasing the distance between the nozzle and the sidewall and varying an angular orientation of the nozzle with respect to a normal to the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: The Western States Machine Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey R. Hoffmann
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8034244
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is a fixed bed ion exchange water purification system. It employs a combination of electronically controlled process steps and specific systems configurations to duplicate the effects of moving resin beds from one operating position to another as is required in moving bed ion exchange water purification systems. The invention combines features of single fixed bed ion exchange systems with those of a moving bed system. The invention applies to the treatment of water having typical industrial and drinking water concentrations of various ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Envirogen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Jensen, Gerald A. Guter, Dan Ziol
  • Patent number: 8032256
    Abstract: A system that control levels of liquids in reservoirs may include a control component that causes a compressor to pump gas through a tube extending in a liquid in a reservoir to an air bell for a predetermined amount of time responsive to a pump pumping portions of a liquid from the reservoir. The control component may also cause the compressor to pump gas through the tube for a predetermined amount of time responsive to the control component determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed since the compressor was previously operated. The control component may also cause the compressor to pump gas through the tube for a predetermined amount of time, responsive to the control component determining that a pressure sensor component in fluid communication with the tube indicates a possible decrease in the liquid level to at least a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: SJE-Rhombus
    Inventors: Aaron R. Wolf, William D. Chandler, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8025796
    Abstract: The disclosed process and system are used for the denitrification of wastewater. The system comprises: an influent concentration analyzer for measuring an influent dissolved oxygen concentration, an influent nitrate concentration, and an influent nitrite concentration; and a feed chemical controller for providing a feed chemical at a controlled rate. The feed chemical controller is responsive to one or more output signals provided by an automated control loop that accepts input signals from the influent concentration analyzer, which input signals relate to at least two of the influent nitrate concentration, the influent nitrite concentration, and the influent dissolved oxygen concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Parkson Corporation
    Inventors: Dominic Janssen, Michael McGehee
  • Publication number: 20110220572
    Abstract: Disclosed is a filtering system and method which facilitates to maximize cleaning efficiency, minimize heat energy consumption for cleaning, and shorten cleaning time by a concentrated heating only in a filtering membrane for a maintenance cleaning or recovery cleaning, wherein the filtering system comprises a membrane module including a filtering membrane; an air supplying means for cleaning the filtering membrane; and a heater for heating air supplied from the air supplying means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 15, 2011
    Applicant: KOLON INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Kwang-Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 8012758
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for monitoring microbiological activity in a process stream by measuring dissolved oxygen is disclosed. Bulk microbiological activity and surface associated biological activity are measured using this apparatus and method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Michael V. Enzien, Laura E. Rice, Stephen B. Ashton
  • Patent number: 8007665
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an advanced wastewater treatment device. The device includes a wastewater treatment bath having an anaerobic bath in which phosphorus is discharged, an anoxic bath in which denitrification of nitrate nitrogen is performed, and an aerobic bath in which decomposition and nitrification of organic matter is performed. A first movable divider separates the anaerobic bath from the anoxic bath and is movably provided in the wastewater treatment bath to change relative volume of the anaerobic and anoxic baths. A second movable divider separates the anoxic bath from the aerobic bath and is movably provided in the wastewater treatment bath to change relative volume of the anoxic and aerobic baths. A divider moving unit moves the first and second movable dividers. An air supply unit includes air nozzles, an air pump, and valves. A recycling unit recycles activated sludge of the aerobic bath to the anoxic bath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Sis Eng Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takao Kamiyama
  • Patent number: 8010329
    Abstract: A computer-implemented system for designing a pressure-dosed drain field comprising: a screen that allows a user to specify length and diameter for pipes that comprise the forcemain and discharge assembly, specify the pumping liquid level and discharge elevation, select the number of laterals and enter a specified residual pressure, enter or select a coefficient to be used in calculating friction losses, and enter the diameter and length of each manifold segment; a minor loss screen that calculates minor losses based on fitting selections made by the user; a pump file; a tabulated results screen; a gauge screen; and system and pump curves. A computer-implemented method of using the above system to design a pressure-dosed drain field. The purpose of the system and method is to enable an engineer to design a pressure-dosed drain field that will meet regulatory requirements for the system flow differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: Kallenbach, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas J. Kallenbach
  • Patent number: 8002976
    Abstract: A magnetic separation filtering and cleaning apparatus for adding flocculant and magnetic powder to raw water containing pollutant particles to form magnetic floc in treated fluid and separating and removing the magnetic floc from the treated fluid, comprising: a magnetic field generation device being provided in a rotating body for suctioning the magnetic floc on a surface of the rotating body from the treated fluid containing the magnetic floc, a magnetic field rotating device for rotating the magnetic field generation device, a sludge recovery device for separating sludge including the magnetic floc mechanically from the surface of the rotating body of the magnetic field generation device; and a filtering device having a rotating net for filtering out the magnetic floc from the treated fluid including the magnetic floc and flowing down the treated fluid filtered through the rotating net.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihide Saho, Hisashi Isogami, Akira Mochizuki, Tomoko Akiyama
  • Patent number: 7998352
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of inhibiting and/or removing deposits from internal surfaces in a hot water system. The method includes controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to alter the dynamic between deposit constituents and the bulk water of the system to inhibit deposition or initiate deposit removal. The method is equally effective for a system undergoing a wet layup sequence or in an online operational system. The invention further includes a multi-component deposit inhibition and/or removal device, including a receiver, a processor, and a transmitter that work in unison to alter the system dynamics to inhibit or remove deposits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
  • Publication number: 20110192807
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, apparatus and system for the treatment of organic and inorganic waste in a waste fluid. The method involves a co-current plug flow of fluid in a reactor in which ozone mass transfer conforms to the effective life of the ozone used in the treatment. Hydroxide and hydrogen peroxide can be added to the waste fluid. The combined fluids to be treated travel the reactor through a series of surfaces in a packed reactor. The apparatus includes a diffuser for ozone which assists in the co-current plug flow of fluids. The diffuser can have a porosity of about 10 microns. The invention further envisions a compact system for efficient treatment of waste fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: ACOS, LLC
    Inventors: Harry C. Conger, James W. Muzzy, Michael E. Mullins
  • Publication number: 20110186517
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a dialysis machine, in particular a peritoneal dialysis machine, to which a fluid system having a multi-chamber container with at least two chambers with individual solutions separated by a partition arrangement to be opened mechanically can be coupled having a controller and at least one sensor for the determination of a measured variable in the fluid system, wherein the controller has an apparatus for the automatic checking of the proper opening of the partition arrangement of the multi-chamber container which automatically checks the proper opening of the partition arrangement of a multi-chamber container of a fluid system coupled to the dialysis machine with reference to the measured variable determined by the sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventors: Frank Hedmann, Sven Sebesta
  • Publication number: 20110186529
    Abstract: A water purification apparatus enables water purification in the field. An illustrative water purification apparatus can comprise at least one water purification filter and a solar-powered pump configured to pump source water through the at least one water purification filter, producing purified water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Inventor: A. Vernon Wright
  • Patent number: 7988849
    Abstract: A peritoneal dialysis machine includes an enclosure; dialysate pump located within the enclosure; a graphical user interface connected to the enclosure and configured to display a parameter associated with the dialysate pump; and a projector configured to project the parameter onto a surface external from the enclosure so as to allow a patient to readily view the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: John A. Biewer, Andrey Kopychev, Merrick F. Kossack, Philip J. D'Almada Remedios
  • Publication number: 20110180480
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a reverse osmosis system having an apparatus for noise cancellation of the reverse osmosis system, wherein the apparatus has at least one sensor for the detection of at least one noise emitted by the reverse osmosis system; at least one controller connected to the sensor for the evaluation of the signal or signals obtained from the sensor; and at least one actuator connected to the controller, with the actuator being designed such that it generates an acoustic signal or a vibration by means of which the noise emitted by the reverse osmosis system is damped or cancelled out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2009
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Inventors: Peter Kloeffel, Olaf Nicholas, Reiner Spickermann
  • Patent number: RE42907
    Abstract: Device for conditioning water produced by environmental conditioning or dehumidification apparatuses or plants, comprising a device (2) for measuring the quantity of water produced by a condenser (1) which transforms atmospheric humidity into water, a feeder (4) of a corrective composition of salts and mineral substances, preferably in the form of tablets (P), for dispensing at least one of them in proportion to the quantity of water measured, a mixing vessel (5) receiving the measured water and at least a tablet (P) provided by the feeder (4), a control and command unit (6) that activates the feeder (4) in proportion to the quantity of water measured and received, and a tank (7) for collecting and filtering the water provided with means (70) for filtering micro-organisms and bacteria and a valve (81) for the exit of potable water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Inventor: Osman Akkad