With Storage Unit Patents (Class 210/257.1)
  • Patent number: 8496810
    Abstract: A device for being received within a downspout of a rain gutter assembly is provided. The device is configured for being received in a downspout of the type having an inlet at a top portion thereof and an outlet at a bottom portion thereof. The device includes a housing defining a longitudinally extending passageway for allowing flow of uncollected water therethrough, at least one laterally extending collection aperture defined in the housing for allowing flow of collected water therethrough, a collection chamber in communication with the at least one drain for collecting water, and a drain outlet in communication with the chamber for allowing flow of collected water therethrough. A storage tank such as a flexible bladder may also be provided. The storage tank may be in communication with a siphon pump assembly. The storage tank may also be provided with a camouflaging pattern and ultraviolet and rot resistant materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Rainflex, LLC
    Inventor: Paul Bradley Forrest
  • Publication number: 20130186841
    Abstract: A filter assembly is provided. The filter assembly includes a filter cartridge with a containment bag including a vent port and a support housing, including a split lid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: Purolator Liquid Process, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Johnson, Benjamin Harrison
  • Patent number: 8486265
    Abstract: A stackable modular ultra pure water machine has at least one water tank module, at least one terminal processing module, at least one purification module, at least one water outlet module and a control module that connected together in a stack. The control module has an LED display and a faceplate. Therefore, it is convenient to add or remove modules with different functions to form a customizable ultra pure water machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Inventor: Ying-Chen Lin
  • Patent number: 8480895
    Abstract: Liquid filter assemblies including an upper sample reservoir, a sample filter and a lower storage bottle are supported by a vacuum base. The base has a vacuum inlet port and, for connection to the liquid filter assembly, a vacuum outlet port. A vacuum is provided through the base to below the sample filter to draw sample liquid through the sample filter into the storage bottle. The base may include an auxiliary vacuum outlet port for connection with additional devices. The bases may be connected from one to another through auxiliary vacuum outlets and the vacuum inlets to make a chain of liquid filter assemblies supplied from one vacuum source. Alternatively, one base may include multiple vacuum outlet ports so that it may support and supply vacuum to a plurality of liquid filter assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Roush Life Sciences, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Taylor, Jeffrey F. Kane, Vito Lore, Sean Landis Phillips
  • Patent number: 8460544
    Abstract: The supply device for dialysis apparatuses, comprising a permeate line and at least one concentrate line for supplying permeate and dialysis concentrate(s) to a dialysis apparatus to be mixed so as to obtain dialysis liquid, and comprising a waste water line for discharging waste water out of the dialysis apparatus, is characterized in that the waste water line is in communication with a substantially funnel-shaped outlet container into which the waste water falls in a free fall, thereby impinging on an inclined wall section of the outlet container. Virtually no noise is created that would be noticed by a patient, and a pivotable door is preferably arranged at the outlet container for permitting the taking of samples in an easy way from the outlet container by means of small test rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Manfred Völker
  • Patent number: 8443985
    Abstract: A deposition of bubbles or foams to an inner wall of a liquid supplying member is prevented, thereby improving ejecting performance of the bubbles or foams. In the liquid supplying member which forms a flow path for supplying a liquid to a liquid discharging apparatus, the inner wall surface has a concave/convex shape in which a mountain portion and a valley portion are repeated at a predetermined spatial frequency. Assuming that an opening diameter of a filter provided for the liquid discharging apparatus is equal to R (?m), one period f (?m)of the spatial frequency lies within a range from R or more to ?{square root over (2)}·R or less and a maximum height Ry (?m) of the mountain portion is equal to ?{square root over (2)}·R/2 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Aoyama, Manabu Sueoka, Yoshiyuki Kurita
  • Publication number: 20130092637
    Abstract: Systems and methods for separating fluids from drill cuttings, specifically, shakers that incorporate modifications including vacuum systems and/or partitions and methods of operating such shakers to affect a high degree of fluid separation. The systems and methods are effective across a variety of screen sizes, vacuum flows and vacuum designs. The systems are also particularly effective in assisting in the separation of gases from drilling fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Daniel Guy Pomerleau
  • Patent number: 8419949
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for separating fossil and native organic matter from mixtures of organic substances. The invention is characterized by subjecting the mixture of organic substances to a dewatering step (30, 31), to thermomechanical cell lysis (32), to a subsequent dewatering step (33) and to a final sieving step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Ecoenergy Gesellschaft fuer Energie-und Umwelttechnik mbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Schu
  • Patent number: 8414768
    Abstract: The present invention constitutes dialysate formulations that are suitable for use in preparing dialysate solutions for use in batch and/or proportioning systems and for improving dialysis efficiency by reducing or preventing clotting of the dialysis flow paths. The dialysate chemical formulations for one batch of dialysate comprise an acid concentrate stored in a first vessel, and a citrate-containing bicarbonate concentrate stored in a second vessel. The contents of the first and second vessels are emptied into a dialysate preparation tank and mixed with water to form a batch quantity of dialysate solution. Alternately, a dry acid and/or a dry citrate-containing base concentrates are dissolved separately in measured quantities of water to form liquid concentrates which are then used in conjunction with a proportioning machine to generate on-line a final dialysis solution stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Dilip H. Shah, Todd Ing
  • Patent number: 8398859
    Abstract: Device for haemodiafiltration, which comprises a first circuit for a dialysis solution and a second circuit for blood, so that the toxic substances from the blood flow pass into the dialysis liquid within a haemofilter (11), a liquid pump (20) located upstream of the haemofilter (11) in the first dialysis liquid circuit, is adapted for injecting replacement liquid into the dialysis solution flow after a blood pump (15) finishes pumping blood to the interior of the haemofilter (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fundacion Para la Investigacion Biomedica del Hospital Gregorio Maranon
    Inventor: Juan Francisco Del Cañizo López
  • Patent number: 8398852
    Abstract: A drainless reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system provides relatively pure water for on-demand dispensing, while recycling brine to a domestic hot water system. The drainless purification system includes a pre-filter catalyst cartridge for removing chlorine-based contaminants from a tap water supply upstream from an RO membrane. The catalyst is regularly refreshed by a high through-flow of water to a conventional cold water dispense faucet, thereby significantly prolonging the service life of the RO membrane. The RO membrane is incorporated into a multi-cartridge unit adapted for facilitated slide-out removal and replacement as needed. A control valve recycles brine from the RO membrane to the hot water system during pure water production, and recirculates tap water through the RO membrane when a pure water reservoir is substantially filled. The multi-cartridge unit may further include an air filtration system for providing a flow of filtered air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Inventor: Bruce D. Burrows
  • Patent number: 8394270
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of a fluid comprising at least two of the fractions solid particles, liquid and/or gas is described having at least one inlet portion and two or more outlet portions, and being arranged to separate solid particles over a predetermined size from the liquid by at least one screening apparatus and then carrying the fractions out of the system. The system (1) being substantially fluid-tight between the at least one inlet and outlet inlet portions and being provided with at least one underpressure-generating device arranged to provide an underpressure in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cubility AS
    Inventors: Jan Kristian Vasshus, Trond Melhus
  • Patent number: 8388833
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Biofilter Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Mark B. Robertson, David O'Keefe, John D. Cox, Daniel T. White
  • Publication number: 20130015136
    Abstract: A water treatment device includes an inner canister or cylinder that includes a seal and a filter assembly attached on one end. The water treatment device also includes an outer canister which is filled with unpurified water. The inner canister or cylinder is pressed into the outer canister to produce pressure on unpurified water that forces the unpurified water through the filter assembly. The inner canister or cylinder can be opened to reveal drinkable, or substantially purified water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Rex BENNETT
  • Publication number: 20130015140
    Abstract: A method is for the treatment of ballast water, in which the ballast water is carried into a ballast tank via a down pipe and in which an underpressure created at the upper portion of the down pipe induces the formation of gas bubbles in the ballast water. Before flowing into the down pipe, the ballast water is carried via a throttling device into a closed container at the upper portion of the down pipe, the closed container having a flow area larger than the flow area of the down pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 21, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Knutsen Ballastvann AS
    Inventor: Per Lothe
  • Publication number: 20130012718
    Abstract: A diagnostic imaging agent useful for positron emission tomography (PET) imaging as well as to improved hardware for producing such imaging agents is described. Flutemetamol (18F) Injection for the imaging of b amyloid plaques in the brain and methods and devices for preparing same are described including the automated synthesis and purification of [18F]flutemetamol by means of solid phase extraction (SPE).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: GE HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Eric Horn, Steven Fairway, Dimitrios Mantzilas, Nigel Powell
  • Patent number: 8349174
    Abstract: A fuel-cell powered medical fluid processing machine or dialysis machine is disclosed. The machine is intended for remote or rural areas where standard household or utility power is not available or is subject to interruption. The fuel cell is powered by hydrogen or other source of protons, or may instead be powered by methanol or ethanol, such as a direct methanol fuel cell. The fuel cell may be operated directly, as in powering a portable, wearable dialysis device, or may be operated indirectly, to generate and store power in an electric power storage device of the medical fluid or dialysis device. The medical fluid processing machine or dialysis machine may include circuitry allowing for use by household or utility power while also including a fuel cell for use when other power is not available. A catalytic heater may be used to warm the dialysis fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: John A. Bedingfield, Richard E. Kienman, Brian C. Lauman
  • Patent number: 8349176
    Abstract: In a kind of modular integrated water purifying device, including reaction tank, sedimentation tank and filter pool, a pump is connected to the top side of the reaction tank through pipes and valves. There are variable grid hole mixing paddles in the reaction tank, forced outlet pipe at the bottom of sedimentation tank and the same-flow ramp board in the middle. The sedimentation water collector is set up below the board, with the purified water outlet tube connected. The traveling sludge sucker sits on the top of filter tank and move back and forth. Blanket-shape filters is vertically fixed in the filteration tank, the mud-suction pump below to the raveling mud-suction machine connects to the mud-suction pipe another side to the blanket-like wedge filters. At the bottom of the filteration tanker lie the water-collecting main pipe and clean water outlet, the effluent weir is fixed inside of the filteration tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Tongji University
    Inventors: Yalei Zhang, Zhiping Kuang, Yisun Chen, Yongkuan Huang, Gu Chen, Xuefei Zhou, Wei Huang, Zheng Shen
  • Patent number: 8337704
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device and a method for the manipulation of a liquid sample material in which magnetic microparticles are suspended whereby the microparticles have a functionalized surface and an analyte is bound to the surface. The sample material is introduced into a device with a liquid system through an injection device (50) and in a first mobile phase the sample material is carried to an extractor (90). In a first section (97a) of the extractor (90) the microparticles are immobilized by means of a magnetic field of a controllable device (96) and separated from the remaining sample material. By switching over of a switching unit (110) a second mobile phase (75) is carried to the extractor (90) and the second mobile phase (75) detaches the adsorbed analyte from the surface of the microparticles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vogeser
  • Patent number: 8337705
    Abstract: Described are a device and a method for the manipulation of a liquid sample material in which magnetic microparticles are suspended whereby the microparticles have a functionalized surface and an analyte is bound to the surface. The sample material is introduced into a device with a liquid system through an injection device (50) and in a first mobile phase the sample material is carried to an extractor (90). In a section (97) of the extractor (90) the microparticles are immobilized by means of a magnetic field of a controllable means (96) and separated from the remaining sample material. By switching over of a switching unit (110) a second mobile phase (75) is carried to the extractor (90) and the second mobile phase (75) detaches the adsorbed analyte from the surface of the microparticles. The second mobile phase (75) with the dissolved analyte(s) can be analyzed by way of chromatographic separation (130) and subsequent detection (140).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Vogeser
  • Publication number: 20120292238
    Abstract: A piston pressurized water filter activated by the user or external source. The water filter assembly includes a hollow cylindrical water reservoir, a hollow cylindrical piston threaded into the top of the water reservoir, and a water filter threaded into the bottom of the water reservoir. The interior of the water reservoir is sealed by the piston and water filter. When the water reservoir is filled with unfiltered water, the piston can be threaded down into the water reservoir to create sufficient pressure on the unfiltered water and force the water into the water filter. The water filter can include any combination of carbon, ceramic or other filtering material in a block or disk form. Water is forced into the water filter, through the carbon or ceramic filter mass, and into a container that may or may not be coupled to the water filter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: INSTAPURE BRANDS, INC.
    Inventors: William Scott Wright, Bradley J. Florin
  • Publication number: 20120279930
    Abstract: A grease separator includes a strainer bowl and funnel. The strainer bowl has a sieve in a lower surface. The funnel is mounted to the lower surface so as to depend downwardly from the bowl in fluid communication with the sieve apertures. The sieve apertures are aligned with, so as to all be in fluid communication with the upper end of funnel. The funnel forms a base under said bowl for stabilizing and supporting the bowl on a kitchen counter or storage cabinet surface. A disposable, biodegradable, grease-absorbing liner may be provided, cooperating in size with the funnel, so that the liner snugly mounts into a reusable heat-resistant container, the funnel inserts into the open upper end of the liner, and the grease is poured into and captured by the liner and the container. The liner is then removed for disposal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: CAR-KOR ENTERPRISES LTD.
    Inventor: TERENCE R. ICETON
  • Patent number: 8298415
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment ship is provided which is capable of purifying and treating oil bearing wastewater collected from a ship or the sea, wastewater such as domestic water and of reusing the purified water on the ship and easily discharging it. The wastewater treatment ship has a hull able to navigate by being towed or being self-propelled and a purification treatment unit disposed on the hull and configured to collect, purify, and treat wastewater. The purification treatment unit includes a floated oil collecting tank to collect floated oil collected from raw wastewater tank, a stirring tank having a cylindrical straight drum and a funnel-shaped bottom to stir wastewater taken out from the raw wastewater tank together with a coagulant and a collecting path to discharge precipitates, a plurality of filter treatment tanks to be used in multistage filtering treatment of wastewater in the stirring tank, and purified water tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Kanto Kosan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soujirou Imahashi
  • Publication number: 20120267327
    Abstract: A water-on-water filtration system is provided that includes a filter member (480), two water-on-water vessels, and a precision metering device. Each water-on-water vessel also includes a first and a second chamber as well as a first piston (412) defining a mixing portion and a driving portion of the first chamber and a second piston (422) defining a concentrate portion of the second chamber. The system includes a plurality of valves that are controlled to place the first vessel in a fill state in which the first vessel is being filled with filtered water and concentrate, and a service state in which the diluted concentrate is pushed through a product conduit to its end use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Andrew M. Candelora, Robert E. Astle, Laurence W. Bassett
  • Publication number: 20120267325
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wastewater treatment plant and method for treating wastewater, and to a wastewater treatment system having a plurality of filter layers disposed one under the other for purifying the wastewater, wherein at least one feeding device (200) for feeding wastewater to the filter layer (110) and at least one discharge device (300) for discharging the purified wastewater from the filter layer (110) is associated with each filter layer (110). The feeding device (200) for at least two of the filter layers (110) is directly fluidically connected to a wastewater feeding line (400) and the discharge device (300) is directly fluidically connected to an intermediate store (600), such that the unfiltered quantity of wastewater fed to each filter layer (110) can be filtered by said filter layer (110).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Inventors: Tariq Kaddoura, Gert Köhler
  • Publication number: 20120267301
    Abstract: A method of removing a filtrate storage bottle from a water bath includes inserting at least two finger underneath a radially protruding lip of a filtrate storage bottle sealing cap and raising the at least two fingers to lift the bottle from the water bath. A side wall portion of the filtrate storage bottle sealing cap is smaller in perimeter than a circle surrounding the radially protruding lip. The cap creates a liquid tight seal with the filtrate storage bottle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: ROUSH LIFE SCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey F. Kane, Thomas Taylor, Vito Lore, Sean Landis Phillips
  • Patent number: 8292088
    Abstract: A water supply system in accordance with the invention includes pumping in which there is a mechanical co-dependency between the generations of liquid-draw pressure and filtration-drive pressure, but a hydraulic dependency of the application of the filtration-drive pressure upon release of water from the liquid-draw pressure. In one preferred embodiment, the system is enabled by a retrofit assembly in which a second, filtration-drive pump is mechanically connected to the pump handle of a water intake pump. The retrofit assembly may include multiple arms and hinge points for coupling the second pump to the pump handle, as well as a flow path from the output of the water intake pump to the input of the second pump and a flow path from the second pump to a filtration system. The flow path between the two pumps typically includes an unfiltered water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Acuity/Sparkle, Ltd. (Cayman)
    Inventors: Michael H. Francisco, Sumeet Mehra, Subhash Mehra
  • Patent number: 8287729
    Abstract: A lightweight water treatment system which can be easily distributed and employed by disaster survivors for treating locally available freshwater sources. The water treatment system includes an internal storage volume for maintaining a predetermined volume of water, a water fill port in communication with the internal storage volume provided at a first end of the elongated container for receiving the predetermined volume of water, a sealing member disposed at about the first end of the elongated container for maintaining the volume of water within the internal storage volume, a second end of the elongated container for receiving sediment settling out of the predetermined volume of water and a discharge port disposed superjacent to the second conically-shaped end for controllably releasing at least a portion of the water maintained within the internal storage volume of the elongated container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: California Polytechnic Corporation
    Inventors: Trygrve J Lundquist, Patricia M. Compas
  • Patent number: 8282818
    Abstract: A single submerged attached growth bioreactor interconnected to an equalization tank and a clear well. The equalization tank receives raw wastewater and provides primary settling of solids from the waste water. The output from the equalization tank is sent into the bioreactor. The wastewater flow path through the bioreactor biofilter is serpentine. Wastewater enters the first cell of the biofilter and flows downward to an opening at the biofilter bottom that hydraulically connects the first cell to a biofilter second cell. In the second cell the wastewater flows up from the bottom to an opening above the media within the cell, which connects the second cell with a third biofilter cell. Wastewater then flows downward through the third cell to the bottom and exits the biofilter through a pipe connected to a pump in the clear well. The hydrostatic pressure created by the differential liquid levels drives forward flow through the cells and into an effluent pipe at the bottom of the third cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Inventors: Keith Dobie, Andrew R. McBrearty, Philip B. Pedros
  • Publication number: 20120248017
    Abstract: A dialysis system including a housing, a dialysate pump disposed in the housing, and a dialysate line configured to be operatively connected to the dialysate pump such that the dialysate pump can pump dialysate through the dialysate line when the dialysate line is in fluid communication with a dialysate source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael James Beiriger, Robert Dale Parks, Ryan Christopher Kaintz
  • Publication number: 20120241368
    Abstract: An liquid ejecting apparatus includes a head main body which ejects liquid and a flow channel member to which the head main body is fixed, the flow channel member includes a plurality of liquid chambers to which the liquid is supplied, and a filter chamber which communicates with each liquid chamber and in which a filter is provided, the liquid passing through the liquid chamber and the filter chamber is supplied to the head main body, inlets which are opened to the liquid chamber and communicate with each filter chamber, the filter chamber includes a plurality of first filter chambers which are juxtaposed in a first row and a plurality of second filter chambers which are juxtaposed in a second row, the first filter chambers directly communicate with the inlet, and the second filter chambers communicate with the inlet through the communicating flow channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiji HARA, Hajime NAKAO
  • Publication number: 20120241390
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a method of removing at least one component from a feed stream, the method including steps of subjecting the feed stream to high shear separation in a high shear device to produce a high shear-treated product stream; and substantially separating the at least one component from the high shear-treated product stream to produce a component-reduced product stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: H R D CORPORATION
    Inventors: Abbas Hassan, Aziz Hassan, Krishnan Viswanathan, Gregory G. Borsinger, Rayford G. Anthony
  • Patent number: 8273255
    Abstract: An economical fat, oil and grease removal assembly and method includes a container having a bottom, a top, a sidewall, an inlet and an outlet. The outlet is spaced above the bottom and below the top to define a static water level for liquid in the container. The container includes at least one baffle extending downwardly to a level below the static water level. The container further includes a port at an elevation such that F.O.G. floating on water in the container can flow from the container out through the port when the liquid level in the container is raised above the static water level. The assembly further includes an inlet bridge, an outlet bridge and a storage tank arranged to accept F.O.G. that is flowed out of the container. A hub on the storage tank interfaces the container with the storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Thermaco, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. Batten, Bruce W. Kyles, Randolph H. Batten
  • Patent number: 8268172
    Abstract: A waste fluid treating apparatus including a pure water generating unit including an ion exchanger for purifying a fresh water sent by a fresh water pump to obtain a pure water. The ion exchanger includes a housing, an anion exchange resin layer accommodated in the housing, and a mixed resin layer accommodated in the housing. The anion exchange resin layer is composed of only anion exchange resin, and the mixed resin layer is composed of a mixture of anion exchange resin and cation exchange resin. The housing is provided with a fresh water inlet for introducing the fresh water into the anion exchange resin layer and a pure water outlet for discharging the pure water from the mixed resin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Miki Yoshida, Takeshi Furonaka
  • Patent number: 8257594
    Abstract: A water-on-water filtration system that includes a filter member and two storage vessels. The system includes a plurality of valves that are controlled to place a first of the storage vessels in a fill state in which the first storage vessel is being filled with filtered water, and concurrently place the second of the storage vessels in a service state in which filtered water held in the second storage vessel is delivered as an output of the filtration system. The filtration system can be configured to supply a constant output of filtered water to meet a constant demand while using a relatively small filter member and relatively small storage vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Astle, Martin J. Blaze, Katrina Prutzman
  • Patent number: 8257588
    Abstract: An oil-water separator with a self-priming pump of high oil-water separation ability enables a mixed liquid to be introduced into the oil-water separator without causing emulsification. A separator portion separating a mixed liquid includes a rough cyclone separation portion. A main separation portion downstream of the rough separation portion performs main separation according to specific gravity. A water discharge portion connected to the main separation portion discharges water. An oil storage tank stores the oil separated from the water and overflowing the main separation portion. A self-priming liquid pump connected downstream of the separator portion and connected to the water discharge portion sucks the mixed liquid from an exterior to enable venting and discharging of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: World Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoji Mori, Yasuichi Haga, Yuji Ikehara
  • Patent number: 8252174
    Abstract: A vehicle-integrated water harvesting system is provided that enables water-vapor or condensation in a vehicle to be captured, and made available onboard the vehicle for drinking or other uses. The system includes a water emitting component and may include a purification system operatively connected to the water emitting component. The purification system at least partially purifies the water and then sends the purified water to a storage reservoir or directly to a dispenser or outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Thomas A. Jones, Therese A. Tant, Gregory A. Major, Frances H. James, Jeffrey M. Pleune
  • Patent number: 8246826
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to hemodialysis and similar dialysis systems, including a variety of systems and methods that would make hemodialysis more efficient, easier, and/or more affordable. One aspect of the invention is generally directed to new fluid circuits for fluid flow. In one set of embodiments, a hemodialysis system may include a blood flow path and a dialysate flow path, where the dialysate flow path includes one or more of a balancing circuit, a mixing circuit, and/or a directing circuit. Preparation of dialysate by the preparation circuit, in some instances, may be decoupled from patient dialysis. In some cases, the circuits are defined, at least partially, within one or more cassettes, optionally interconnected with conduits, pumps, or the like. In one embodiment, the fluid circuit and/or the various fluid flow paths may be at least partially isolated, spatially and/or thermally, from electrical components of the hemodialysis system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Michael J. Wilt, Jason A. Demers, Kevin L. Grant, Brian Tracey, James D. Dale
  • Patent number: 8247012
    Abstract: The invention can be used in varies industries, in particular, in the food, paper, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The inventive method consists in separating unpasteurized cow milk in a separator, wherein a skimmed milk and fats are separated. Said method is characterized in that it consists in pasteurizing said skimmed milk in a pasteurizer at a determined temperature, in cooling said milk and conveying it to an intermediate balance tank from which the milk is supplied to a micro-filtering membrane-type filter for dividing it into casein and whey proteins, in supplying the separated casein protein to a membrane-type ultrafiltration-defiltration filter, wherein the concentrated product is transferred to a drier for drying, and in cooling and packing the thus produced water-soluble casein flour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Inventors: Vytautas Fedaravicius, Adomas Juska
  • Publication number: 20120205299
    Abstract: A device (1) for subjecting a liquid to a purifying process comprises an assembly of a first container (10) and a second container (20) for receiving and containing a liquid, wherein means (11) for performing a purifying action on the liquid are arranged in the first container (10), wherein the second container (20) is arranged for receiving an overflow from the first container (10), and wherein a liquid passage (15) is present between the first container (10) and the second container (20). Furthermore, the device (1) comprises means (16) which are associated with the liquid passage (15) between the first container (10) and the second container (20), and which are adapted to assume various states, including a state for blocking the liquid passage (15), and a state for deblocking the liquid passage (15), wherein the device (1) may also be equipped with means (17) for controlling the blocking/deblocking means (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Gert-Jan Darwinkel, Narendra Nilkanth Pawar
  • Publication number: 20120192482
    Abstract: Waste material, such as municipal solid waste or source separated organic waste, is subjected to a first separation treatment that separates organic and inorganic waste components from the waste material and that forms the organic waste component into organic slurry containing waste water, oil/grease and organic material. The organic slurry is subjected to a second separation treatment that separates the waste water, oil/grease and organic material in the organic slurry from one another. The waste water, oil/grease and organic material are subjected to further processing to produce useful products, including animal feed additives, and raw materials for cosmetics, fertilizers/composts, and renewable fuels for producing renewable energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Thomas E. ASHER
  • Publication number: 20120181238
    Abstract: A water treatment system can be essentially non-electric, and can use gravity to produce water that is safe for drinking. By such a system there can be provided a low cost, reliable way to treat water that is contaminated by water borne pathogens, to reduce or eliminate such contaminants to a safe level, and thereby produce water that is drinkable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: PRISTINA CAPITAL PARTNERS, LLC
    Inventors: Arthur SUSSMAN, Lora Sussman
  • Patent number: 8221617
    Abstract: An apparatus for reclaiming hot process water from a animal processing facility includes a screen portion, a filtration portion and optionally a UV sterilization portion. The screen portion receives dirty hot process water and removes macroscopic debris to produce raw tank water. Raw tank water is pumped through the filtration portion at relatively high pressure in order to remove substantially all solids to produce a permeate side stream. The permeate is optionally passed through a very intense ultra-violet field in order to produce uncontaminated reclaimed hot process water which may be safely reintroduced as hot scald water for the poultry cleaning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: American Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: Danny E. Gates, James E. Loewen, Aron T. Wilde
  • Patent number: 8216478
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for monitoring the supply of replacement fluid during an extracorporeal treatment of blood is disclosed. Detection of the supply of replacement fluid upstream or downstream of the dialyser or filter is based on a measurement of the optical or physical density of the blood or of a constituent of blood in the extracorporeal circulation. To detect pre- or post-dilution, the blood flow rate and/or the replacement rate and/or the flow rate of the fluid removed from the blood through the dialyser membrane is altered, and the density of the blood or of the constituent of blood is measured upstream and/or downstream of the dialyser. Additionally, an apparatus for treating blood with an apparatus for monitoring the supply of replacement fluid is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Noack, Joerg Dreyhsig
  • Patent number: 8206578
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes: a water purification unit; a dialysate generation unit configured to use water purified by the water purification unit; a dialysate delivery unit configured to deliver dialysate prepared by the dialysate generation unit; a supplemental power source; and electronic circuitry including: (i) a first electrical connection configured to electrically connect a branch power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit, and (ii) a second electrical connection configured to electrically connect a supplemental power source with at least one of the water purification unit, the dialysate generation unit and the dialysate delivery unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Justin Rohde, William W. Han
  • Patent number: 8206594
    Abstract: A novel system and method for fluid management for accurate continuous venovenous hemofiltration (CWH) in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The fluid management or CWH system is automated and configured for operation as a stand alone unit and can be easily integrated with an ECMO system. The fluid management system is capable of producing either perfect or negative fluid balance between ultrafiltrate removal and replacement fluid delivery. The fluid management system can achieve electrolyte replacement over a range of flow rates needed to care for patients ranging from neonates to adults. Finally, the novel fluid management system preserves patient safety, maintains sterility during operation, is easy to operate, and is compact enough to fit near a patient's bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: Emoery University, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: James D. Fortenberry, Ajit P. Yoganathan, Philippe Sucosky, Lakshmi Prasad Dasi, Matthew L. Paden
  • Patent number: 8202420
    Abstract: A method and device for blood treatments that use fluids such as dialysate and replacement fluid for renal replacement therapy. In an embodiment, fluid is passed either by pump or passively by gravity feed, through a microporous sterilization filter from a fluid source to a replacement fluid container. The latter forms a batch that may be used during treatment. The advantage of forming the batch before treatment is that the rate of filtering needn't match the rate of consumption during treatment. As a result, the sterilization filter can have a small capacity. In another embodiment, a filter is placed immediately prior to the point at which the sterile fluid is consumed by the treatment process. The latter may be used in combination with the former embodiment as a last-chance guarantee of sterility and/or that the fluid is free of air bubbles. It may also be used as the primary means of sterile-filtration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: NxStage Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Brugger, Jeffrey H. Burbank, Brian C. Green
  • Publication number: 20120145634
    Abstract: A high efficiency water purification system is provided incorporating a process to recover a portion of the concentrate wastewater associated with the reverse osmosis unit to reduce the overall volume of concentrate wastewater requiring discharge/disposal by reusing the purified concentrate of a concentrate recovery units as RO feed water. The initial municipal feedwater is pressurized and passed through an RO membrane, and separated into a permeate flow and a concentrate flow. After passing through the membrane, a portion of the higher pressure concentrate is then directed to an additional set of thin film composite membranes (concentrate recovery membranes). The concentrate is drawn from the primary RO unit upstream of a concentrate flow control valve where the pressure is typically 100-600 psig. The concentrate recovery membranes are arranged in an array such that the concentrate pressure is adequate to provide the force required to drive the concentrate through the recovery system membranes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Inventors: Joseph Hooley, William E. Kovacs
  • Publication number: 20120138541
    Abstract: Systems, compositions, and methods for dewatering and/or increasing a mechanical strength of mine tailings. These systems, compositions, and methods may include combining mine tailings with wicking fibers to form a composite mine tailings mixture. The wicking fibers may provide a conduit for the removal of fluid from the composite mine tailings mixture. The composite mine tailings mixture further may include a binder that may decrease repulsive forces among fine particles that comprise the mine tailings and/or increase attractive forces among the fine particles, leading to a separation of the fine particles from at least a portion of the fluid contained within the composite mine tailings mixture. The composite mine tailings mixture may be placed in a storage or dewatering area as a composite mine tailings mixture deposit, which may include internal structure, such as layers of the composite mine tailings mixture and/or long-range orientation of the wicking fibers contained therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventors: David C. Rennard, Robert D. Kaminsky, Thomas R. Palmer
  • Patent number: 8187861
    Abstract: For extracting phosphorous from algae-in a body of water, the algae are deposited into a sealable tank (200) that is then evacuated, thereby rupturing the algal cell walls. The ruptured algae are then moved to a second tank (260), mixed with water and bacterial cultures, and allowed to settle until the lipids rise to the top and the oil-less debris settles to the bottom. The second tank also contains sacrificial (295) and rusted electrodes (320). The phosphorous from the algae combines with the rust. The lipids and debris are then removed. Next, an electrical source (315) causes the rust to be removed from the rusted electrodes and settle. In addition, a phosphorous-rich scum floats to the top. These components are placed in storage containers for later use and the water is returned, thereby reducing its phosphorous content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Inventor: Allen John Schuh