With Heater Or Heat Exchanger Patents (Class 210/175)
  • Publication number: 20040129620
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for physically treating drinking water, in particular, for reducing the formation of limestone. The invention device comprises at least one water inlet (3b) and at least one water outlet (3c), whereby the device is mounted in the cold water supply line (3) of at least one water heater (1), preferably a boiler, and the device is placed in good heal-conductive thermal contact with the hot water area of the water heater (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2004
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Klaus Leiter, Gerhard Walder, Franz Mair
  • Publication number: 20040129615
    Abstract: Radioactive laundry liquid wastes are supplied in a liquid waste heating vessel. Hydrogen peroxide and an alkali solution are supplied to the liquid waste heating vessel. pH of radioactive laundry liquid wastes is adjusted to 7 or higher by the alkali solution. The radioactive laundry liquid wastes are heated to 50° C. or higher by a heating device. The heated radioactive laundry liquid wastes are introduced to first and second aeration vessels. Ozone is supplied from an ozone generator by way of an ozone gas discharge port to the first aeration vessel. Ozone discharged from the first aeration vessel is introduced from the ozone gas discharge port to the second aeration vessel. Therefore, the amount of ozone dissolved into the radioactive laundry liquid wastes is increased so that the amount of hydroxy radicals formed for decomposing organic substances increases, since the laundry liquid wastes are heated to 50° C. or higher under the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Matsuo, Takashi Nishi, Takayuki Matsumoto, Masami Matsuda, Atsushi Yukita
  • Publication number: 20040112812
    Abstract: A scale removing operation of the heat exchange means or a regenerating operation of ion removing means is carried out using electrolytic water, thereby reducing the water processing amount. The present invention provides a water heater capable of preventing deterioration of performance caused by adhesion of scale, capable of preventing a trouble caused by clogging, and capable of increasing the lifetime. The water heater comprising a heat source, heat exchange means for heating supplied water, and electrolytic water generating means, wherein a removing operation of scale having salt as main ingredient deposited in a water pipe of the heat exchange means is carried out using produced water of the electrolytic water generating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2003
    Publication date: June 17, 2004
    Applicant: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshikazu Kawabe, Kazuo Nakatani, Yuji Inoue, Noriho Okaza, Shigehiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20040104154
    Abstract: A water processing device for removing contaminants from water for consumption, consisting of: 1) a heat exchanger; 2) a heater; 3) a boiler chamber; 4) a liquid level control device; 5) a demister; 6) a degasser; and, 7) a self-cleaning component. A water seal to prevent steam from leaking from the device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2003
    Publication date: June 3, 2004
    Applicant: Stephan B. Sears
    Inventor: Stephan B. Sears
  • Patent number: 6743355
    Abstract: A heated fuel strainer assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a strainer made of a metal material and adapted to be connected to an inlet of a fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank. The heated fuel strainer assembly also includes a power source connected to the strainer supply power to the strainer to heat the strainer allow fuel to flow through the strainer to the inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Roth, John G. Fischer, Mitchal A. Peterson, Mohammed Aslam
  • Patent number: 6730235
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus enabling water-conditioning processes to be performed using a heater initially equipped with an aquarium tank for the purpose of supplying heat. Instead of allowing heat to propagate globally, reactor housing is introduced in the tank enclosing the heater so as to form a localized hot zone. The temperatures of the hot zone are maintained at high degrees sufficient to initiate various water-conditioning processes with efficiency, including alga control, ammonia control, water-hardness control, and sterilization. The construction of the reactor housing is simple and inexpensive, and its geometry is compatible to a heater which can be purchased commercially. In short, multiple functions are added to a heater installed in an aquarium, performing water-conditioning processes in addition to the basic task of supplying heat, allowing water quality of the aquarium to be improved and maintained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Hoton How, Yung-Ching Chu
  • Patent number: 6730231
    Abstract: A device for separating the constituents of a multi-constituent material includes a substantially cylindrical plasma chamber and two, axially opposed plasma injectors. The injectors convert the multi-constituent material into a multi-species plasma and inject the multi-species plasma into a core portion of the plasma chamber. Ions in the plasma diffuse from the core portion to an annular volume within the chamber where the ions are separated according to their respective mass to charge ratios. To effect separation, electrodes and coils are provided to establish crossed electric and magnetic fields in the annular volume. With the crossed electric and magnetic fields, low-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on small orbit trajectories and drift axially for capture at the ends of the plasma chamber. High-mass ions in the annular volume are placed on large orbit trajectories for capture at the cylindrical wall of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Archimedes Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Sergei Putvinski
  • Publication number: 20040074832
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for the disinfection of water for water consumption units (3) designed for health and dental care purposes. According to the invention, a cold-water flow is diverted from an existing service conduit (1), which via a main valve (12) is divided in a first part flow to a heater (7) in which the water is heated to a bactericidal temperature, as well as a second part flow to a heat exchanger (8) in which the cooling water cools the disinfected, hot water from the heater to a temperature acceptable to the tissue of man. From the heat exchanger (8), the disinfected, cooled water is fed to the consumption unit (3), and the cooling water that has served its time from the heat exchanger (8) is evacuated to a drainage (6).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Inventor: Peder Holmbom
  • Publication number: 20040074850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the recovery of heat energy, e.g., the heat of compression, from the production of pressurized gases, in particular nitrogen (N2), but also other gases such as compressed dry air. This invention is directed to a system and method for increasing the efficiency in use of energy by recovering energy normally wasted in one device and using the energy in another device needing the energy. In particular, this invention is directed to recovering the heat of compression from a gas generation plant to warm cooling water that is also used as feed water to an ultra pure water generation plant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Publication date: April 22, 2004
    Applicant: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Martin Kelly
  • Patent number: 6716343
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a point-of-use water treatment system unit. The unit includes a filter housing assembly having a filter tank assembly and a closure which utilizes a handle and cammed reciprocating lock blades to secure the closure to the filter tank assembly. A UV tank assembly includes a planar baffle plate and a vaned baffle plate to induce plug flow about a UV lamp assembly. A UV lamp assembly is used which simultaneously electrically and sealingly mounts to a UV tank assembly and electrical cap assembly using a bayonet mount. A bi-planar manifold assembly is used to interconnect components of the WTS unit and to provide an envelope for accommodating a water pipe assembly. The bi-planar manifold assembly enhances the compactness of the design of the WTS unit. Also, a support plate is disclosed which provides support to subcomponents of the WTS unit while also dissipating heat from a UV tank assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: Dennis J. Kool, Roy M. Taylor, Jr., James A. Woodard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6716356
    Abstract: The present invention provides a hemodialysis or hemodiafiltration system and method using two dialyzer stages (122, 138), wherein the temperature of a dialysate fluid stream of the first cartridge (122) is increased such that the blood in the first cartridge (122) is dialyzed or diafiltered at an elevated temperature, while blood in the second cartridge (138) is dialyzed or diafiltered against a dialysate stream at normal blood temperature. This results in an increased solute diffusivity and a corresponding increase in removal of blood substances by diffusion. When diafiltration is performed, an additional removal of substances occurs by convection as a larger portion of plasma water from a blood compartment (142) can be filtered across a semi-permeable membrance (140) at the same transmembrane pressure due to the reduced viscosity of the heated blood and plasma water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nephros, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory R. Collins, James Summerton, Edward Spence
  • Patent number: 6709601
    Abstract: In addition to the contactor and reactor arrangement (10, 83), a hydrothermal treatment system (60) includes an effluent stream splitting arrangement (86) for receiving hydrothermal reaction effluent and splitting this effluent to produce two separate effluent streams. These separated effluent streams are used to heat at least a water stream and first reactant material stream before these streams are injected into the contactor and reactor arrangement (10, 83). A first split effluent heat exchange arrangement (81) places one split effluent stream in a heat exchange relationship with the water input to the contactor and reactor arrangement (10, 83). A second split effluent heat exchange arrangement (79, 80) places the other split effluent stream in a heat exchange relationship with both the first reactant material and the water input to the contactor and reactor arrangement (10, 83).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hydroprocessing, L.L.C.
    Inventors: William Tracy Wofford, III, James Walton Griffith, Richard Wayne Humphries, Justin Wade Lawrence
  • Publication number: 20040050792
    Abstract: A method and system (10) for utilizing water to transfer heat are provided. In one embodiment, the system (10) includes two water softeners (16) for removing the hardness of the feed water. The water softeners (16) are coupled to a filtration device (14) and deliver the softened water thereto. The filtration device (14) removes minerals from the water so as to produce a filtered water volume and a rejected water volume. The filtration device (14) delivers the filtered water volume to a heat exchanger (12). The heat exchanger (12) evaporates the filtered water volume and produces a mineral deposit volume. The mineral deposit volume is delivered to the filtration device (14) for removal of the mineral deposits so as to produce a recycled water volume and a blowdown water volume. Thereafter, the recycled water volume is delivered to the heat exchanger (12) for reuse, and the blowdown water volume is discharged to the waste vessel (24).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2002
    Publication date: March 18, 2004
    Inventors: Robert Jay Bonds, James A. Beshaler, David R. Sizemore
  • Publication number: 20040033619
    Abstract: A heater module is described that includes a heat distribution plate including a bottom portion having first and second sides and a plurality of projections extending away from one of the sides. A heat source is provided for heating the heat distribution plate, and, optionally, a heating tray can be used to receive the heat source and heat distribution plate. The heater module is adapted to engage a sample purification tray having a plurality of purification and/or discharge columns which can extend through openings in the heater module and direct a sample into a sample receiving tray. Methods of heating samples using the heater module are also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Todd A. Weinfield, Gary Lim, Donald R. Sandell, Kevin S. Bodner, Mark Borodkin, Mark Oldham, Jon Hoshizaki
  • Publication number: 20040011718
    Abstract: A method of treating wastewater sludge includes pumping, continuously, raw sludge into a first digester and treating the raw sludge at a specific temperature of between about 51° C. to 60° C.; transferring the treated wastewater sludge to a batch tank; treating the wastewater sludge in the batch tank, anaerobically, at a thermophilic temperature which is not more than 2° C. warmer than the specific temperature in the first digester; and disposing of the treated wastewater sludge as a Class A biosolid. A wastewater sludge treatment system includes a first thermophilic digester for treating raw wastewater sludge at a specific temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C., and discharging a treated wastewater sludge; a batch tank for receiving the treated wastewater sludge discharged from the first digester and for thermophilically treating sludge at a temperature in a range of between about 51° C. to 60° C. and not more than 2° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Applicant: Columbus Water Works
    Inventors: Clifford J. Arnett, Joseph B. Farrell, Daniel T. Hull, Steven J. Krugel, Perry L. Schafer, Billy G. Turner, Warren R. Uhte, John L. Willis
  • Patent number: 6676838
    Abstract: An apparatus (10′) for extracting biomass includes an extractor (11), evaporator (12), compressor (13) and condenser (14) connected in series by pipework (17) to define a closed loop extraction circuit. A transfer line (18) selectively supplies hot solvent vapor from the outlet side of the compressor (13) to the interior of the extractor (11), where the solvent vapor heats the biomass. This causes stripping of solvent from the biomass. The transfer line (18) includes control elements (19,20) for controlling the flow of solvent vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Ineos Fluor Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Stuart Corr, Paul A. Dowdle, Robert E. Low, Frederick Thomas Murphy, James David Morrison
  • Publication number: 20030230534
    Abstract: A system and method of desalinating brackish water from an inland, underground water supply is disclosed. The system includes a source of underground water, at least one distillation and/or non-distillation desalination stage, and a source of waste heat from a power generator. The method includes desalinating brackish water drawn from an underground source using waste heat from a power generator and one or more non-distillation and/or distillation desalination stages. Potable water is recovered from both the brackish underground water using waste heat from the power generator, while dissolved salts are taken to dryness and removed as solids and from the flue gases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: December 18, 2003
    Inventors: Burl Donaldson, Joseph Genin, Matthew S. Lavery
  • Patent number: 6663770
    Abstract: A water processing device for removing contaminants from water for consumption, consisting of: 1) a heat exchanger; 2) a heater; 3) a boiler chamber; 4) a liquid level control device; 5) a demister; 6) a degasser; and, 7) a self-cleaning component. A water seal to prevent steam from leaking from the device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Stephan B Sears
  • Patent number: 6660169
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for reclaiming deicer from produced water of an oil or gas well includes a fractionation tower having a top condenser section, a bottom heat exchanger section and an intermediate packing section. A deicer outlet is positioned in the condenser section, for removal of condensed deicer. An inlet is provided to receive produced water contaminated by deicer. The inlet is coupled to the condenser section such that produced water must pass through the condenser to enter the inlet. A water outlet is provided in the heat exchanger section. Operation of the water outlet is controlled to maintain a predetermined level of accumulated water in the heat exchanger section. The heat exchanger is adapted to be coupled with a source of hot fluids produced by an external heat source. The circulation of hot fluids through the heat exchanger heats accumulated water in the heat exchanger section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Kevin Melvin Kjelland
  • Patent number: 6656423
    Abstract: A sterile water generator (B) generates a stream of sterile water on demand. A water heater (130) heats incoming, unsterile water to a sufficient temperature to achieve sterilization of the water. The sterile water is then passed through a heat exchanger (110) which transfers excess heat from the sterile water to the incoming water. This reduces the energy consumption of the water heater and reduces the temperature of the sterile water ready for use. The sterile water is delivered to a site (A), at which the water is to be used, through a sterile water delivery pathway (C) to avoid recontamination of the water. A first portion (162) of the pathway is pre-sterilized by flowing steam or hot water, generated by the water heater, along the pathway (C). A second portion (212) of the pathway is sterilized with a liquid antimicrobial from the site. The first and second portions of the pathway have at least one common leg (164).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Steris Inc.
    Inventor: Larry J. Joslyn
  • Publication number: 20030217961
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a dialysis system is provided. The dialysis system includes an enclosure having an interior, a fluid pump located within the enclosure, and a conductive member located within the enclosure and operated at an input mains voltage. The dialysis system also includes a number of conductive parts connected to the enclosure and spaced apart from the conductive member, and electrical insulation located between the conductive member at the input mains voltage and each of the number of conductive parts. The insulation includes double insulation having at least two layers of electrical insulation and reinforced electrical insulation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventor: Peter Hopping
  • Publication number: 20030220607
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a peritoneal dialysis apparatus is provided that includes a body provided with an operating portion and a display, a mounting portion provided on the body for detachably mounting a cassette, a pumping actuating device for setting a diaphragm in a positive and negative pressure state to distribute fluid from the dialysis fluid container to the drained fluid container, and a heater for heating an amount of dialysis fluid. The apparatus further includes a flow path switching device for opening/closing a flow path switching portion in order to form a flow path through which the heated dialysis fluid is distributed into and drained from a peritoneal cavity of a patient, and a controller for controlling operation of the operating portion, the display, the pumping actuating device, the heater, and the flow path switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Don Busby, Peter Hopping, Robert Childers, Shahid Din, Brian Lauman, Rick Kienman, Ian Richardson, Joseph H. Bowman, Loren M. Lundtveit, Jose Alvaro, Bruce Ming-Da Eu, Sherwin Shang
  • Publication number: 20030217975
    Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for performing peritoneal dialysis are provided. To this end, in part, a method of controlling a medical fluid heater is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a first heater control output based on a number of measured inputs for the heater and at least one mathematical relationship between at least two of the measured inputs, determining a second heater control output based on at least one fuzzy logic membership function and at least one fuzzy logic rule, and determining a third heater control output based on the first and second outputs and using the third heater control output to control the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: November 27, 2003
    Inventors: Alex Anping Yu, Peter Hopping
  • Patent number: 6638436
    Abstract: A method and a system for regenerating a metal bath contaminated by mixed crystals, particularly a tin bath (17) in a hot-dip coating process. A partial stream of the tin bath (17) is removed from the coating tank (15) and is first of all heated above its liquidus temperature in a heating unit (24). Subsequently, the tin bath is conducted over a cooling unit (27) and, while flowing through a filter (29), is cleaned of mixed crystals coming down as a result of the cooling. The filter 29 is a ceramic foam filter made of silicon carbide. Subsequently, the regenerated tin bath (17a) is heated in a melting tank to process temperature, and returned from there to the coating tank (15).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Stolberger Metallwerke GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Klaus Elbern, Robert Leffers, Albert Rumbach
  • Patent number: 6632369
    Abstract: A collector for use in removing metal ions from a plasma in a vacuum chamber includes a collector plate that is mounted inside the chamber and formed with an internal cooling channel. An injector introduces a dissociated salt into the chamber with a first throughput value, and it introduces a plasma including metal ions into the chamber with a lower second throughput value. A pump is used to pump a liquid coolant through the cooling channel to maintain the collector plate at a temperature that forms a portion of the salt as a protective layer on the collector plate, and causes the salt to thereafter deposit on the layer in a molten condition at a faster rate than evaporation therefrom to trap metal ions therein. The trapped metal ions are then removed with the molten salt from the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Archimedes Technology Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian P. Cluggish, Stephen F. Agnew, Sergei Putvinski
  • Patent number: 6627072
    Abstract: A paraffin filter system (10) includes an in-line low-profile particulate filter (20) connected to a suction tube (14) which is used as an inlet to the paraffin filter system (10). A paraffin pump (54) pumps the melted paraffin from a paraffin spa (12) through the particulate filter (20) to a transfer container (11) via a discharge tube (22). A heater (78) is controlled by control logic (146) to operate in certain modes to melt any residual paraffin in the filter (20) and pump (54) before operation of the pump (54). The control logic (146) provides various modes of operation of the filter system (10) to assure that the system is ready to operate, irrespective of the operation of a control panel switch (6) by the user. When the paraffin is transferred back to the spa (12) from the transfer container (11), the melted paraffin is carried through a bacteria filter (21) in the filter system (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Robert A. Ridge
  • Publication number: 20030178352
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method and an apparatus enabling water-conditioning processes to be performed using a heater initially equipped with an aquarium tank for the purpose of supplying heat. Instead of allowing heat to propagate globally, reactor housing is introduced in the tank enclosing the heater so as to form a localized hot zone. The temperatures of the hot zone are maintained at high degrees sufficient to initiate various water-conditioning processes with efficiency, including alga control, ammonia control, water-hardness control, and sterilization. The construction of the reactor housing is simple and inexpensive, and its geometry is compatible to a heater which can be purchased commercially. In short, multiple functions are added to a heater installed in an aquarium, performing water-conditioning processes in addition to the basic task of supplying heat, allowing water quality of the aquarium to be improved and maintained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2002
    Publication date: September 25, 2003
    Inventors: Hoton How, Yung-Ching Chu
  • Publication number: 20030168402
    Abstract: A fluid treatment apparatus for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle includes a fluid supply line leading from a fluid supply tank of an associated engine and a fluid pretreatment device communicating with the fluid supply line. The fluid pretreatment device includes a housing, a conical structure extending in the housing, a collection cup supported on the housing, and a draw tube. The housing includes a wall, and the wall cooperates with the conical structure to define a particle separation chamber in the housing for separating particles from a fluid flowing through the separation chamber to produce a pre-cleaned fluid. The collection cup receives and holds the particulate matter separated from the fluid in the particle separation chamber. The draw tube extends into the particle separation chamber for leading the pre-cleaned fluid back to the fluid supply line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Applicant: Webb Inc.
    Inventor: Allen McKay
  • Publication number: 20030164339
    Abstract: By treating potable water at a temperature of at least 230° C. (446° C.) and at a pressure at least equal to the pressure of saturated steam at said temperature, can produce pyrogen-free water using treatment times of 0.05 to 5 seconds or less. The addition of an oxidant, in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid, further decreases the required treatment time to less than 0.05 second. The reduction in equipment size achieved with this rapid treatment time allows the utilization of treatment units small enough to be easily transported to remote locations or installed in the restricted space environment existing in ships and submarines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Applicant: Applied Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiong Li, Jean J. Renard
  • Patent number: 6610210
    Abstract: A disposable cartridge device is provided for use in a heated cartridge water treatment system in which particles, formed by the heat-induced reaction of bicarbonates in the water, can be efficiently collected in non-turbulent particle settling zones. The cartridge includes multiple containers which are assembled to fit into each other and which form channels for the flow of water within gaps between the walls of the containers. When the particle collecting section becomes full, the water flow automatically is blocked, or cut-off, which signals the need to replace the cartridge. The cartridge also can include a polishing filter and a heater mounted to a surface of the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: The Coca-Cola Company
    Inventor: George Plester
  • Patent number: 6607662
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for purifying nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA or proteins such as enzymes and antibodies from microorganisms such as viruses and bacteria or animal and plant tissues, the apparatus being capable of fast processing of a plurality of samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsunori Ikeda, Yoshiaki Nishiya, Masahiro Kusumoto, Masahiro Suzuki, Yoshihisa Kawamura
  • Publication number: 20030146147
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cooling device comprising a cooling unit (10) through which a fluid to be cooled, especially hydraulic oil, can flow and comprising a filter unit (12) for filtering the fluid. By virtue of the fact that the cooling unit (10) and the filter unit (12) are joined together as one piece and that the filter unit (12) is placed together with the cooling unit (10) inside a device housing (14), the inventive cooling device can be constructed in a manner that is considerably more compact and lighter while having an output that is comparable to that of prior art solutions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Inventors: Patrik Pohl, Guiseppe Zeolla
  • Publication number: 20030136714
    Abstract: A vapor transferring apparatus for purification of organic functional materials is disclosed, which comprises a furnace having at least a furnace gate, furnace walls, and a heater; wherein said furnace gate is mounted on said furnace walls of said heater; at least a glove box having at least a box gate, box walls, and at least one glove; wherein said box gate is mounted on said box walls of said glove box; and a shifting chamber having at least a valve and at least a surrounding wall, locating between and connecting with said furnace gate of said furnace or said box gate of said glove box; wherein said valve is mounted on said surrounding wall of said shifting chamber; wherein the heater, the glove box, and the shifting chamber are hermetical and hollow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: RITDISPLAY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tien-Rong Lu, Jinna-Shyng Shiue, Jih-Sheng Shiu
  • Patent number: 6592763
    Abstract: A novel method for purifying, by means of an essentially closed circuit water purification system, an aqueous flow from a processing unit includes the steps of: (a) supplying to a bioreactor, and combining therein, the aqueous flow, as well as a discharge flow from a membrane filtration unit; (b) allowing microbiological conversion of biodegradable constituents to take place therein, thereby, generating an effluent flow; (c) supplying the bioreactor effluent flow to an ultrafiltration unit, thereby, separating the effluent flow into permeate and concentrate flows; (d) supplying at least some of the permeate flow to a membrane filtration unit, thereby, generating a product flow and the discharge flow; and (e) supplying the discharge flow to the bioreactor, as noted in step (a), and supplying at least a portion of the product flow to the processing unit. Apparatus related thereto are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignees: N.V. Waterleiding Friesland, B.V. Beheermaatschappij Frisia
    Inventors: Hendrik Rienk Benedictus, Walterus Gijsbertus Joseph Van Der Meer, Jacobus Cornelis Van Winkelen
  • Publication number: 20030121856
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Nikolay Voutchkov
  • Patent number: 6585890
    Abstract: By treating potable water at a temperature of at least 230° C. (446° C.) and at a pressure at least equal to the pressure of saturated steam at said temperature, can produce pyrogen-free water using treatment times of 0.05 to 5 seconds or less. The addition of an oxidant, in the form of a gas, a liquid, or a solid, further decreases the required treatment time to less than 0.05 second. The reduction in equipment size achieved with this rapid treatment time allows the utilization of treatment units small enough to be easily transported to remote locations or installed in the restricted space environment existing in ships and submarines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Applied Research Associates, Inc.
    Inventors: Lixiong Li, Jean J. Renard
  • Patent number: 6585896
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus are provided for altering the biological, chemical, and molecular activity of primary materials, such as metals and ceramics, in order to confer atypical energetic effects on the so-altered primary materials. Such primary material is bombarded by varying frequencies of energy from an array of sources, causing vibrational excitation of the primary material at the molecular level which changes the molecular nature of the so-treated material. The primary material is then effective in altering the biological, chemical, and molecular activity of secondary materials brought in close proximity thereto. The invention sets forth a process and apparatus for producing water-purifying tools and a process and apparatus for purifying water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Inventors: Leon M. Silverstone, Fred M. Slingo
  • Patent number: 6579494
    Abstract: A device for preparing a sterile liquid includes structure for validating a sterilization treatment applied to the liquid. The validating structure includes structure for calculating, from at least one operating parameter of the device, a parameter representing a sterilizing value for the sterilization treatment, and structure for comparing the calculated parameter to a threshold value corresponding to the sterility of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2003
    Assignee: Hospal Industrie
    Inventors: Jacques Chevallet, Thierry Court, Michael John Dunkley, Alain Frugier, Lennart Jonsson, Nicholas John Kerry, Hiram Rada, Jean-Louis Romarie
  • Patent number: 6576144
    Abstract: Spent caustic and other wastewater streams are pretreated by continuous chemical oxidation. According to one aspect, a wastewater stream is pretreated by continuous chemical oxidation in a plug flow reactor. According to another aspect, a catalyst and an oxidizer are fed into a wastewater stream at first and second predetermined points of addition. Compounds in the wastewater stream susceptible to chemical oxidation are reacted with the chemical oxidizer. A modular, optionally fully automated apparatus is provided for pretreating spent caustic and other wastewater streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: MPR Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark K. Vineyard
  • Patent number: 6572764
    Abstract: A fryer filtration arrangement includes an oil drain pan and associated filter assembly. The filter assembly may be removably connected to the pan by a friction fit coupling arrangement. The pan may be positioned in latch-free movable drawer. The fryer vat may be shaped such that particulate matter settles therein along a substantially linear region and oil circulated during a filtration operation may flow along the substantially linear region to push the settled particulate matter to the pan and filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Alfred Edward Mullaney, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6565752
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a new separation method and a device therefor, especially to a device and method for chromatographic chemical analysis. In the method according to the invention, the driving of the mobile phase fluid in, through and out the separation channel, said channel being defined by at least two channel elements, is mainly caused by a relative movement of at least one channel element compared to at least one of the other channel elements preferably the movement of the mobile phase fluid and the sample to be separated through the separation channel is sustained by relief elements, such as one or more protrusions, recesses, holes or irregular porous-like structures, which are arranged on at least one of the channel elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Vrije Universiteit Brussel
    Inventors: Gino Baron, Gert Desmet
  • Publication number: 20030089651
    Abstract: A treatment system for use in a water delivery system for eradicating bacteria such as the Leionella bacteria. The treatment system includes an ultraviolet light source for killing bacteria entering the water delivery system, a electrochemical precipitation unit and a blending valve in communication with water discharged from the precipitation unit and a source of hot water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Robert R. Peterson
  • Patent number: 6558550
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the treatment of septage, particularly grease trap waste, is disclosed. The inventive process will convert the septage into Biosolids (sludge) and water dischargeable to the environment. The treated septage achieves pathogen reduction, and reduced vector attraction. Treatment of septage by pasteurization causes the destruction of harmful pathogens. Pasteurization of septage having high water content provides for even temperature elevation and distribution of heat within the thermal mass of the septage allowing for consistent pathogen destruction. An alkaline compound is utilized to form a filter cake from the solids fraction of the pasteurized septage preventing vector attraction, while producing a beneficial bio-solid. The liquid fraction of the septage is treated by biological process allowing for its discharge into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Inventor: Robert J. Kelly
  • Publication number: 20030066793
    Abstract: A collector for use in removing metal ions from a plasma in a vacuum chamber includes a collector plate that is mounted inside the chamber and formed with an internal cooling channel. An injector introduces a dissociated salt into the chamber with a first throughput value, and it introduces a plasma including metal ions into the chamber with a lower second throughput value. A pump is used to pump a liquid coolant through the cooling channel to maintain the collector plate at a temperature that forms a portion of the salt as a protective layer on the collector plate, and causes the salt to thereafter deposit on the layer in a molten condition at a faster rate than evaporation therefrom to trap metal ions therein. The trapped metal ions are then removed with the molten salt from the chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: April 10, 2003
    Inventors: Brian P. Cluggish, Stephen F. Agnew, Sergei Putvinski
  • Publication number: 20030047519
    Abstract: A heated ultrasonic treating device (6) comprising a sump (13) through which suspended matter-containing liquid passes, a temperature-controllable heater (14) disposes in the sump (13), and a ultrasonic vibrator (15) disposed in the sump (13). The heated ultrasonic treating device (6) uses the ultrasonic vibrator (15) to apply ultrasonic waves while heating organic drain passing the sump (13) with the heater (14), thereby pulverizing suspended matters and reducing the amount of SS. In addition, a treating column, where pulverized suspended matter-containing liquid is aerobically treated by aerobic microorganisms, is prevented from efficiency lowering due to clogging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventor: Atsushi Yamada
  • Publication number: 20030038086
    Abstract: A method of increasing the service life of metal working fluids by at least partially inactivating microorganisms in the metalworking fluids includes heating metal working fluids to at least the minimum temperature at which the microorganisms are inactivated on reaching a pre-determined cell density of organic microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Applicant: DaimlerChrysler AG.
    Inventors: Kai Krueger, Johann Mehlstaeubl, Werner Sternad, Iris Trick
  • Publication number: 20030034298
    Abstract: A device (100) for heat-treating water is provided, comprising a confined heating zone, a passage way (15) for transporting the water to said confined heating zone (23) so as to facilitate heating of the water, a controller (27) for preventing the heated water from leaving the device (100) until pathogens entrained in the heated water are killed; and an antimicrobial substrate (20) for preventing pathogens entrained in unheated water from leaving the device (100).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventor: Brian Keith Walker
  • Patent number: 6521133
    Abstract: The present invention pertains to a system for thermal disinfection of sludge with the aim of pathogen reduction. Such thermal sludge treatment systems require a certain minimum detention time t dependent on the temperature T of the heated sludge. The system according to the present invention is a continuous flow system. The system includes means for continuous sludge heating. The heated sludge flows continuously through at least one chamber, whereby the flow through the chamber has a substantially vertical direction. The mean residence time t2 of the sludge between entering the chamber and leaving the chamber is minimum 2 times the time period t required by regulations for conventional batch systems. The ratio of the flow path length of the flow through the chamber or chambers to the hydraulic diameter of the vertical flow through the chamber or chambers l/d is at least 3:1. The higher the ratio t2/t, the smaller can be the required ratio l/d. The relationship is: l/d*t2/t>8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2003
    Assignee: Roediger Pittsburgh, Inc.
    Inventor: Markus Roediger
  • Patent number: 6514406
    Abstract: A water treatment apparatus comprises a first housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber defined therebetween wherein the inlet is connected to an upstream water pipe. A series of magnets are arranged for attachment about the upstream water pipe for directing a magnetic field onto water flowing downstream into the first housing chamber. First and second electrodes of a copper and silver alloy are positioned in the first housing chamber for releasing copper and silver ions into the water therein to reduce bacteria levels of the water. A heating coil is disposed in the first housing for boiling the water in the first housing chamber. The apparatus includes a second housing having an inlet, an outlet, and a chamber defined therebetween. A conduit connects the outlet of the first housing with the inlet of the second housing for supplying water vapor from the first housing chamber to the second housing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Katehis
  • Publication number: 20030019803
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a point-of-use water treatment system unit. The unit includes a filter housing assembly having a filter tank assembly and a closure which utilizes a handle and cammed reciprocating lock blades to secure the closure to the filter tank assembly. A UV tank assembly includes a planar baffle plate and a vaned baffle plate to induce plug flow about a UV lamp assembly. A UV lamp assembly is used which simultaneously electrically and sealingly mounts to a UV tank assembly and electrical cap assembly using a bayonet mount. A bi-planar manifold assembly is used to interconnect components of the WTS unit and to provide an envelope for accommodating a water pipe assembly. The bi-planar manifold assembly enhances the compactness of the design of the WTS unit. Also, a support plate is disclosed which provides support to subcomponents of the WTS unit while also dissipating heat from a UV tank assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Applicant: Alticor Inc. (f/k/a Amway Corporation)
    Inventors: James A. Woodard, Dale Aberegg