With Additional Separator Patents (Class 210/223)
  • Patent number: 6632354
    Abstract: A combined oil filter and magnet apparatus of the invention generally is comprised of an oil filter and a removable and reusable magnet unit attached to the oil filter. The removable and reusable magnet unit attracts and retains ferro-magnetic particles present in the oil flowing inside the oil filter, thereby separating those particles from the flowing oil. Inside the oil filter, an oil flow director is provided to direct oil flow to the vicinity of the removable and reusable magnet unit. With a first embodiment of the invention, the removable and reusable magnet unit is partially received in a centrally located filtered oil flow space inside the oil filter. With a second embodiment of the invention, the removable and reusable magnet unit is completely external to the interior of the oil filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Inventor: Joseph C. Caiozza
  • Patent number: 6623983
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed which facilitate immobilization of magnetically labelled particulate entities, e.g., cells, preferably in a defined pattern, on a collection surface via binding between specific binding pair members, as an aid to particle analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Immunivest Corporation
    Inventors: Leon W. M. M. Terstappen, Galla C. Rao
  • Publication number: 20030168393
    Abstract: A device comprises a joint member having a water or liquid fuel inflow passage, a front member of housing for receiving untreated water or liquid fuel therein from the joint member, a screw guide for accommodating permanent magnets therein, having multiple helical water or liquid fuel passages and providing a magnetic field crossing the water or liquid fuel passing through water or liquid fuel passages to magnetically treat water or liquid fuel, a cylinder of housing for accommodating screw guide therein and a rear member of housing for flowing the treated water or liquid fuel out. The screw guide is a ceramic mold made of multiple element coexistence special ore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventor: Toshiaki Tsunematsu
  • Patent number: 6616623
    Abstract: A system is presented for correction of a patient's biological fluid, such as his blood, lymph or spinal fluid, containing various low-, medium- and high-molecular toxins. The system comprises an extracorporeal flow line in the form of a flexible tube interconnected between outlet and inlet means attached to appropriate location(s) on a patient's body. A small amount of the biological fluid, i.e., substantially not exceeding 100 ml, substantially continuously flows through the tube, and is mixed with magneto-conductive particles capable of adsorbing the various toxins. An obtained mixture of the biological fluid with the particles passes through a magnetic field region, and substantially all of the magneto-conductive particles are retained therein. Particle-free biological fluid is then returned into the patient's body through the inlet means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Assignee: Idializa Ltd.
    Inventor: Michael Kutushov
  • Publication number: 20030159999
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Inventors: John Oakey, David W.M. Marr
  • Publication number: 20030141234
    Abstract: A water treatment device includes four filtering members connected in series and the filtering members include a porous film, an active carbon, a ceramic tank or magnets and porous objects. The magnets activate the water and the mineral substances can be solved in the water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Publication date: July 31, 2003
    Inventor: Yi-Yu Chien
  • Publication number: 20030136740
    Abstract: Waste water to be treated is introduced into a first electrolytic bath, and then, hydroxide iron particles are supplied into the waste water through the electrolysis reaction at iron electrodes. Impurities such as organic compounds, phosphoric compounds, persistent compounds and the like are physically absorbed onto the hydroxide iron particles. Then, the hydroxide iron particles (flocks) with absorbed impurities are discharged via a drain valve, to purify the waste water to some degree. The waste water is introduced into a second electrolytic bath with a water pump. In the second electrolytic bath, the remnant impurities in the waste water are chemically dissolved and removed through the oxidation reduction reaction between the surfaces of metallic oxide electrodes and the waste water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: JAPAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROMOTION OF SCIENCE
    Inventors: Tsuneo Watanabe, Ikko Ihara, Kiyoshi Kanamura, Iori Kanamori
  • Patent number: 6596174
    Abstract: A fuel recirculation and cleaning assembly comprising a planar surfaced support base, an upright support secured to the support base and a flange extending from support base to form an enclosed area around the planar surface. A filter assembly for separating water from fuel and trapping particulate matter is mounted to the upright support and a discharge pump is fluidly connected to the filter assembly discharge water separated from the fuel by the filter assembly to a water storage tank. A magnetic microbial decontamination device is secured to the upright support and fluidly connected to the filter assembly by a conduit to receive filtered fuel from an outlet of the filter assembly and pass the fuel through a magnetic field which destroys microbial residues in the fuel. A circulation pump is mounted on the support base and is fluidly connected to an outlet of said microbial decontamination device by conduit means to discharge treated fuel to a fuel storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventor: Alexander C. Marcus
  • Publication number: 20030116505
    Abstract: A magnetic fluid filter for filtering metallic particles from a fluid flow system. The filter comprises a cylindrical case, a magnetic array, a support for the magnetic array, and fluid line connection pieces for incorporation of the filter into a fluid flow line. The magnetic array includes a plurality of disc shaped magnets arranged with poles in opposition, interleaved with disc shaped pole pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Stewart D. Elsegood
  • Publication number: 20030116494
    Abstract: A magnetic fluid filter for filtering metallic particles from a fluid flow system. The filter comprises a magnetic array, a central support for the magnetic array, and arm pieces for positioning the effective range of the magnetic array in a fluid flow environment. The magnetic array includes a plurality of disc shaped magnets arranged with poles in opposition, interleaved with the arm pieces and disc shaped pole pieces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventor: Stewart D. Elsegood
  • Publication number: 20030116506
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating dirty water or other liquids containing particles of varying size includes a magnetic treatment unit and a centrifugal separator through which the liquid flows as a stream in sequence. The magnetic treatment unit causes very small sized particles to agglomerate, nucleate or otherwise to be amassed into larger particles which are then more easily separated by the centrifugal separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2002
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Applicant: Clearwater Systems, LLC
    Inventor: John W. Lane
  • Patent number: 6576128
    Abstract: A magnet assembly includes a ring shaped magnet having a face with an inner surface that is removably attachable to a ferrous metal housing of a fluid filter. The face has a plurality of circumferentially spaced pairs of poles that concentrate the magnetic strength of the magnet on the face and form magnetic loops in the filter housing to cause any ferrous metal particles in the fluid being circulated through the filter housing to be trapped against interior walls of the filter housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Inventor: Otto V. Jackson
  • Patent number: 6565744
    Abstract: The present invention provides treatment of wastewater containing oil, organic and inorganic industrial compounds, urea, and e.t.c. The resulting products will be purified water, dry fertilizer, pure carbomide, uncontaminated gas and liquid fuel, and other products that can be separated from the concentrate after ultrafiltration. In order to accomplish those and other objectives the present invention improves the system for cleaning wastewater by subjecting the wastewater to a magnetic field and heating it before the initial settling process. In addition, before ultrafiltration, the liquid is treated in an electroflotation device. The wastewater cleaning system can also be comprised of a urea separator for separating urea from other products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Inventors: Mikhail Levitin, Boris Khaytin
  • Patent number: 6554999
    Abstract: A magnetic device for attachment to an exterior wall of an oil filter canister whose purpose is to attract ferrous particles being conducted through the oil passing through the oil filter canister and cause such to be adhered to the inner wall surface of the sidewall of the oil filter canister. The device has an enclosing frame within which is mounted a series of thin walled plates. The plates are located in a stacked relationship. The plates permit flexing of the enclosing frame so that a plurality of magnets that are mounted in conjunction with the frame will always be located flush against the exterior wall surface of the canister even though the diameter of the canister may vary by the canisters being constructed by different manufacturers. The magnets are coated with a plastic coating to prevent contact with moisture to prevent rusting of the magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Inventor: William J. Brunsting
  • Patent number: 6540922
    Abstract: A device for treating liquid medium has an ultrasound emitter located relative to a compartment of a container holding a liquid medium and a microbubble emitter located relative to the compartment. The ultrasound emitter emits high-frequency ultrasound between about 200 KHz and 10 MHz. The microbubble emitter emits bubbles with an average diameter of less than 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Ashland, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric De Meulenaer Cordemans, Baudouin Hannecart, Marie-Françoise Lepeltier, Yves Canivet
  • Patent number: 6539742
    Abstract: An ice maker is provided including a refrigeration system for cooling an ice forming surface below the freezing temperature of water. The ice maker further includes a water supply inlet, a water collecting device connected to receive a supply of water from the water supply inlet and arranged to receive a flow of water from the ice forming surface, a recirculating pump having an inlet connected to the water collecting device, a recirculating passage connected at a first end to an outlet of the recirculating pump and arranged to direct water toward the ice making surface, and a magnetic field generating device positioned along a length of the recirculating passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alan J. Mitchell, Herbert P. Sabelhaus, John P Tinney
  • Patent number: 6527953
    Abstract: A water purifier including a cover body mounted on top of a cylindrical seat having a partition board, with a delicate filtering cylinder and a plurality of filtering cylinders mounted on to the partition board in two rows. The partition board has a surrounding edge provided with a plurality of circular holes, each of the plurality of circular holes having a cavity box arranged underneath, each of the plurality of cavity boxes having two magnets and a cover board. A plurality of water conduits connects said delicate filtering cylinder and said plurality of filtering cylinders via said circular holes. The cylindrical seat also includes control panel provided with a water inlet for connecting to a tap, a water outlet port for magnetized and purified water, and an overflow port for removing water which accumulates at the partition board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Tai
  • 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: 20020195383
    Abstract: A combined oil filter and magnet apparatus of the invention generally is comprised of an oil filter and a removable and reusable magnet unit attached to the oil filter. The removable and reusable magnet unit attracts and retains ferro-magnetic particles present in the oil flowing inside the oil filter, thereby separating those particles from the flowing oil. Inside the oil filter, an oil flow director is provided to direct oil flow to the vicinity of the removable and reusable magnet unit. With a first embodiment of the invention, the removable and reusable magnet unit is partially received in a centrally located filtered oil flow space inside the oil filter. With a second embodiment of the invention, the removable and reusable magnet unit is completely external to the interior of the oil filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph C. Caiozza
  • Publication number: 20020195382
    Abstract: A magnet assembly apparatus is provided for attachment to a portion of a motor vehicle, such as the top of an oil filter canister or an oil pan member. The magnet assembly apparatus comprises first and second bottom magnet unit reception cup members made from ferromagnetic material. The cup members include retention pin reception channels. A plurality of first magnet units are placed in the first bottom magnet unit reception cup member in a first magnetic polarity orientation. A plurality of second magnet units are placed in the second bottom magnet unit reception cup member in a second magnetic polarity orientation, which is opposite to the first magnetic polarity orientation. A locking pin is received in the respective retention pin reception channels. Assembly-to-vehicle mounting means are connected to the respective bottom magnet unit reception cup members for mounting the magnet assembly apparatus onto the portion of a motor vehicle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph C. Caiozza
  • Publication number: 20020195395
    Abstract: The invention provides a method of and apparatus for the removal of bacteria, microbes and other cell growth from a body of water by the application of an electromagnetic signal to a section of pipe communicable with the body of water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 26, 2002
    Inventors: David Brian Telfer, Terence Edward Morris
  • Publication number: 20020189990
    Abstract: In a magnetic filter apparatus in which permanent magnets are arranged to oppose each other with a container therebetween so as to generate a magnetic line of force in a direction substantially orthogonal to the moving direction of the fluid in the interior of the container, while regulating a filter passage time of the fluid in the range of 0.5 to 1.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2002
    Publication date: December 19, 2002
    Inventors: Sachihiro Iida, Kenji Nakagawa, Naoto Ueno, Katsuhiko Kato
  • Patent number: 6485634
    Abstract: A filtration system includes a magnetic drum for removing ferrous shavings and a dual canister filter unit equipped with replaceable filter bags. This palletized system may be plugged into most machine tools to filter the shavings-laden coolant to remove the metal shavings, tramp oil, sludge and dirt from liquid coolant to extend its useful life and minimize or eliminate down time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Synergy Applications Inc.
    Inventors: Harry F. Warren, Jeffrey S. Demenik, Jeffrey A. Enterline
  • Patent number: 6482327
    Abstract: In a liquid treating process according to the present invention, colloidal particles in stable hydrated states or in meta-stable hydrophobic colloidal states in a liquid are rendered hydrophobic and separated from liquid molecules by an electric field formed by a microwave. The separated colloidal particles are allowed to collide against one another to become flocculated under a cavitation effect by a ultrasonic wave having a frequency in a low frequency range, and the liquid is deodorized by an electromagnetic ultrasonic wave having a frequency in a high frequency range. Therefore, it is possible to easily and reliably remove the colloidal particles dissolved in the liquid and to deodorize the liquid without need for a large-scaled equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Proudo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshikazu Mori, Mitsuo Tsuda
  • Patent number: 6478955
    Abstract: Water to be treated is passed through a membrane (net), magnetic floc positioned in a portion below a level of the water to be treated is deposited to a surface of the membrane, and the surface of the membrane with the magnetic floc deposited is moved to an atmospheric portion above the level of the water to be treated. In the atmospheric portion, excess water from the magnetic floc flows downward due to gravity to concentrate the magnetic floc. A permanent magnet is located near a position to which the membrane surface with the magnetic floc deposited thereon moves. There are further provided between the magnet and the membrane surface a moving body (shell) formed by a non-magnetic material, a spatula for scraping the magnetic floc from the moving body, and a sludge vessel in which a released magnetic floc is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Norihide Saho, Hisashi Isogami, Minoru Morita, Tadashi Sano
  • Publication number: 20020157998
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a structure of a water purifier comprising a cylindrical seat, a cover body, a delicate filtering cylinder and a plurality filtering cylinders, wherein the cover body is mounted onto the top of the cylindrical seat, and the top of the delicate filtering cylinder and the plurality of the filtering cylinders are provided with a screw cap, and the top face is provided with a water port and the bottom section is provided with a screw rod seat for mounting within the interior of the cylindrical seat, characterized in that the lower section of the cylindrical seat is provided with a partition board having a plurality of connection holes, and a plurality of circular holes being formed at the surrounding edge, and the side of the bottom face of the circular hole is provided with a cavity box for the mounting of a magnet, the partition board is used to hold the delicate filtering cylinder and a plurality of cylinders, and the water port of the control panel is used for connection with
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2001
    Publication date: October 31, 2002
    Inventor: Yu-Cheng Tai
  • Patent number: 6471860
    Abstract: A micro column system is provided for high gradient magnetic field separation of macromolecules and/or cells. The system provides fast kinetics and high efficiency as well as the purity and simplicity of a column separation. A yoke provides a magnetic field to a plurality of micro columns. A separation and release process for purifying biological material on the column includes release of the biological material from magnetic particles and elution from the column while the magnetic particles are still magnetically retained by the matrix inside the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Miltenyi Biotech GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Miltenyi, Gregor Siebenkotten, Mathias Koester
  • Patent number: 6468809
    Abstract: A magnetic sensing element detects the presence of magnetic particles in a binding assay. The magnetic sensing element has at least one planar layer of electrically conductive ferromagnetic material that has an initial state in which the material has a circular magnetic moment within the plane of the layer. The magnetic sensing element has molecules of a first specific binding member attached to it. The device also includes a fluid test medium to which the magnetic sensing element is exposed during the course of a binding assay. The fluid test medium includes magnetizable particles that become immobilized during the assay in relation to the amount of analyte in the test medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gary A. Prinz, Michael M. Miller
  • Patent number: 6464863
    Abstract: A transmission fluid filter assembly includes a filter media, a fluid discharge conduit associated with the filter media, a magnetic particle trap, and a connector arranged to lie under the filter media and the magnetic particle trap. The connector is adapted to be coupled to a filter mount provided at an opening in a transmission pan to support the filter media, fluid discharge conduit, and magnetic particle trap in an interior region of a transmission pan containing transmission fluid to be filtered. The magnetic particle trap attracts and retains particles of ferrous material to minimize discharge of such particles from the transmission pan through the fluid discharge conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Ledu Quoc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6465225
    Abstract: For manipulation of particles in a fluidic microsystem (15) in which the particles are moved in a predetermined reference direction in a suspension liquid, the microsystem (15) is closed off at least at its end (17a, 17b) pointing to the reference direction. The particles move under the influence of centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces in the suspension liquid which is stationary in relation to the microsystem (15), with the centrifugal forces and/or gravitational forces essentially extending parallel to the reference direction. Furthermore, the particles in the microsystem (15) are exposed to deflection forces whose direction differs from that of the reference direction. (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Evotec OAI AG
    Inventors: Günter Fuhr, Rolf Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 6461504
    Abstract: In a fluid filter, magnetic filtration of ferrous particles is provided by an adhesive having magnetic properties which is placed within a filter assembly in either a structural or nonstructural capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry A. Bolser, Edmond H. Cote, Jr., Richard J. Berkey
  • Patent number: 6458274
    Abstract: A device for treating fluid with ultra-high magnetic force including the casing of the device as subdivided with partition panels into Nos. 1, 2, 3 chambers, and a separation chamber, as well as fluid passages. Both a louver and a plurality of latticed bodies providing magnetic fields are juxtaposed into the No. 1 and 3 chambers, respectively, to magnetically treat the fluid. The No. 2 chamber is provided to free the floc from the fluid, and a separation chamber is provided to precipitate the floc and discharge it outside. Slats of the louver are designed to taper off downstream. The louver and latticed bodies are removable from either the No. 1 or No. 3 chambers, respectively, and one side of the casing is detachable from the body of the casing. Permanent magnets are secured to each of the outer surfaces of both sides of the casing, providing magnetic fields through the Nos. 1, 3 chambers and a separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Morioki Sangyo Company Limited
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Mori
  • Publication number: 20020134719
    Abstract: A magnetic device for attachment to an exterior wall of an oil filter canister whose purpose is to attract ferrous particles being conducted through the oil passing through the oil filter canister and cause such to be adhered to the inner wall surface of the sidewall of the oil filter canister. The device has an enclosing frame within which is mounted a series of thin walled plates. The plates are located in a stacked relationship. The plates permit flexing of the enclosing frame so that a plurality of magnets that are mounted in conjunction with the frame will always be located flush against the exterior wall surface of the canister even though the diameter of the canister may vary by the canisters being constructed by different manufacturers. The magnets are coated with a plastic coating to prevent contact with moisture to prevent rusting of the magnets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: September 26, 2002
    Inventor: William J. Brunsting
  • Publication number: 20020121479
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the treatment and purification of drinking water combines the use of an ion-exchange resin and a membrane filter (12) in a single process tank. The ion-exchange resin is removed from the process tank (14) and regenerated for reuse.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Paul Mueller, Anthony G. Myers
  • Patent number: 6444123
    Abstract: A magnetic oil filtering apparatus is provided which fits onto an oil filter mounting stem of an engine block which includes oil output channels. The magnetic oil filtering apparatus includes an adaptor unit which fits onto the oil filter mounting stem and includes a magnetic assembly attached to the adaptor unit. Engine oil flows from the engine, through the oil output channels, through the adaptor unit, through the magnetic assembly, back through the adaptor unit, through an oil filter cartridge which is attached to the oil filter mounting stem and which is in communication with the adaptor unit, through a stem oil input channel in the oil filter mounting stem, and back into the engine. As a result, engine oil is treated with magnetic lines of force to trap metal particles in the vicinity of the magnet elements prior to entry of the engine oil into the oil filter cartridge. In addition, an oil cooler assembly can be connected to the adaptor unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Inventor: Joseph Caiozza
  • Patent number: 6440302
    Abstract: An improved portable water purifier of a type having a pitcher with a lower terminal wall and being divided vertically by a lateral partition into an upper compartment for holding raw water and a lower compartment for holding purified water, and a filter depending from the lateral partition into the lower compartment for purifying the raw water into the purified water. The improvement includes a base having a weight and replaceably supporting the pitcher thereon and acting as a coaster therefore, and a permanent magnet having a weight and encased throughout the base for delivering a concentrated and polarized magnetic charge through the lower terminal wall of the pitcher and into the purified water so as to polarize the purified water until its molecules are gradually rearranged from a normal agglomerated state into a more linear, organized, and substantially more permeable state that increases a body's ability to absorb and assimilate the purified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Inventor: Herb Leipziger
  • Patent number: 6428697
    Abstract: Methods comprise processing wastewater to produce useful products. Preferably wastewater is ash leachate from landfills which is processed using magnetohydrodynamic treatment followed by electrolytic cell treatment to produce sodium hypochlorite. Methods further comprise removal of hazardous substances from wastewater for subsequent storage and processing of wastewater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Inventor: William W. Edgar
  • Patent number: 6423215
    Abstract: A filter unit for coupling in-line with a transmission fluid line is provided for filtering ferrous and non-ferrous particulate matter from the transmission fluid. The filter unit includes a filter element 21 situated within a casing 12. The filter unit has an annular magnet 26 mounted on an end thereof. In an operational condition, the magnet is seated against an inner surface of the casing. As the filter becomes clogged, the filter element moves to a bypass position unseating the magnet from the casing. Fluid then bypasses the filter element but still flows around the magnet which continues to attract and trap ferrous particulate matter. A ferrous indicator flag 49 may be positioned on the outside of the casing when the filter element is in its operational position and is released and falls away as a visual indication of a clogged filter element in the bypass position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Inventor: Myron Stein
  • Patent number: 6413421
    Abstract: In an oil filter for filtering oil from an internal combustion engine, a protection member is inserted into an inner peripheral side of a filter element assembly, a recess portion is provided in the protection member to be recessed from an outer peripheral surface of the protection member, and a magnetic member having a thickness approximately equal to a recess dimension of the recess portion is disposed in the recess portion. Thus, a holding state of the magnetic member between the recess portion of the protection member and the filter element assembly can be sufficiently maintained without depending on a contact state between the magnetic member 31 and the recess portion of the protection member. Thus, the oil filter can filter impurities mixed in oil and can remove very fine iron powder contained in oil, while the holding state of the magnetic member can be sufficiently maintained with a simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Masami Nakatsukasa, Kazuo Tominaga
  • Patent number: 6413417
    Abstract: An apparatus for treatment of fluorine waste water has an introduction tank, a main treatment tank, a calcium hydroxide tank, a polychlorinated aluminum tank, a macromolecular flocculant tank, a settling tank, and a concentration tank. Fluorine waste water is introduced from the introduction tank into a lower part of the main treatment tank through a lower inlet pipe. Also, return sludge from the concentration tank and silicon sludge from a silicon waste water treatment system are introduced into an upper part of the main treatment tank. Thus, silicon recovered from silicon waste water is recycled for treatment of fluorine waste water. Also, unreacted chemicals, which have been loaded in the calcium hydroxide tank, polychlorinated aluminum tank, macromolecular flocculant tank, are recycled. The main treatment tank has no stirrer and thus conserves electrical energy, but can still neutralize the waste water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Yamasaki, Kazumi Chujo, Seiji Okamoto, Yukihiro Tao
  • Patent number: 6402948
    Abstract: A filter separator for purification of liquid hydrocarbons has a housing provided with an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, a filtering element located in the housing, a magnetic screening including a plurality of rods, a drive provided for the magnetic screen, the drive being formed by a plurality of cup-shaped blades connected with the rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Phoenix Environmental Assets Corp.
    Inventors: Victor Pakki, Irina Arnoldi, Greg Pakki, Arcady Beleske, Michael Pakki
  • Patent number: 6387710
    Abstract: Provided is a liquid handling device comprising: a cylindrical actuator cavity in a substrate, the actuator cavity intersected by two or more actuator channels; one or more chambers with an access channel adapted to connect to a separate one of actuator channels; and a actuator comprising (a) a cylindrical body having a cylinder axis and having therein a liquid-handling compartment with, arrayed along the cylinder axis, a first end and a second end, the liquid-handling compartment being closed at the second end, (b) a dispensing channel located at the second end and traversing the cylindrical body, the dispensing channel adapted to be separately aligned with the actuator channels, wherein the actuator is adapted to receive in a seal-tight manner a plunger that operates to confine an effective chamber defined by the plunger and the second end by moving toward the second end or to expand the effective chamber by moving toward the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Sarnoff Corporation
    Inventors: Zvi Gerald Loewy, Christopher Carter Gregory, Zygmunt Marian Andrevski
  • Patent number: 6383397
    Abstract: A method for separating magnetic particles dispersed in a fluid by magnetic attraction, characterized in that an object fluid in which magnetic particles are dispersed is passed through a magnetized rotary tube, magnetic particles are made to adhere by magnetic attraction to magnetized surface in the tube, the flow of the fluid is suspended before the capacity of magnetic attraction of the tube lowers, the magnetized surface is demagnetized, an exhaust fluid for exhausting magnetic particles in the tube is made to flow under pressure through the tube, the exhaust fluid mixed with magnetic particles is discharged, and the magnetic particles are separated from the exhaust fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Inventor: Haruo Kojima
  • Patent number: 6368553
    Abstract: An ultrasonic energy source is used to provide a variable force for measuring the binding forces between molecular entities and for sensing the presence of an analyte in a test sample. The device includes a surface that has a first binding member attached thereto and one or more particles that have a second binding member attached thereto. A reaction vessel is provided for exposing the surface to the particles whereby, if the first binding member has a binding affinity for the second binding member, a complex is formed between individual first binding members and individual second binding members and the particles thereby become immobilized with respect to the surface. The ultrasonic energy source is positioned for applying a variable ultrasonic force onto the surface, and the position of the particles is monitored as the intensity of the ultrasonic force is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Gil U Lee
  • Patent number: 6355166
    Abstract: Materials and methods for making and using magnetically enhanced composite materials are provided. Surfaces coated with such composites can be used to improve fuel cells, material separators, and other applications. A variety of devices can incorporate such composites, including fuel cells, separators, batteries, and electrodes that effect electrolysis of magnetic species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: The University of Iowa Research Foundation
    Inventors: Sudath Amarasinghe, Shelley Minteer, Lois Anne Zook, Drew C. Dunwoody, Catherine Spolar, Hachull Chung, Johna Leddy
  • Patent number: 6355178
    Abstract: A cyclone or hydrocyclone for separating fluids and particles includes an electrostatic charge generator, a direct current power source, a magnet or an electromagnet for augmenting the centrifugal separation forces generated by the cyclone or hydrocyclone. The cyclone or hydrocyclone also includes a physical vibration generator or a sonic wave generator or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Inventors: Theodore Couture, Norman Arrison
  • Patent number: 6337012
    Abstract: A dis-attached, monlithic magnetic filter hand inserted into the inner chamber of an oil filter canister or a fuel line enables a non-skilled user to turn an ordinary oil filter into an improved magnetic filter for attracting particles less than 30 microns contained in the recycled oil, without a substantial reduction in flow through the oil filter. The inexpensive magnetic filter insert may be re-usable or disposable and includes various optional elongated profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2002
    Inventor: Arthur J. Devine
  • Patent number: 6328887
    Abstract: A tow wound filter cartridge comprises a permeable core and one or more tows wound in a helicoidally or diamond-like shaped way or serpentine-like way around the core, having a zero twist degree, in order to obtain a filter rating of below 75 micrometer. The tows may comprise metal fibers. Preferably the tows of the filter cartridge consist only of metal fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: N. V. Bekaert S.A.
    Inventor: John Joseph Toon
  • Patent number: 6312595
    Abstract: A water filtering system includes a first filtering device connected between an inlet pipe and a fluid volume meter. A second filtering device is connected to the fluid volume meter and has a ceramic tube received therein. A third filtering device is connected to the second filtering device and has activated carbon particles received therein. The third filtering device is connected to a fourth filtering device which has a plurality of units received therein. Each unit has three partitions and two of which receive two magnetic members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Inventor: Kuang-Hui Chien
  • Publication number: 20010032808
    Abstract: A device for intercepting and filtering cold and hot water for water treatment plants includes a body passed through by a first cold water transit sluice and by a second hot water transit sluice. In these sluices there are inserted a usually open stop valve (17), a filtering filter (19), a magnetic anti-limestone conditioner (22) and a pressure balancer (21) at least along the hot water sluice (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Inventor: Giordano Otelli