Including A Filter Patents (Class 210/295)
  • Patent number: 6210574
    Abstract: A system for separating nucleated cells from a blood sample includes a charge-flow separator (CFS), which separates blood into fractions according to the surface charge density characteristics coupled with an affinity-filtration separator which either outputs a separated blood fraction to the CFS or receives a separated blood fraction from the CFS. The system permits separation of nucleated fetal red blood cells, erythroid progenitor cells and other nucleated cells found in blood samples.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: BioSeparations, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Sammons, Garland E. Twitty, Joseph G. Utermohlen, Rizwan Sharnez
  • Patent number: 6210572
    Abstract: A filter for removal of magnetic particles in which a liquid flows through a first compartment containing magnetic balls tightly packed together so that there is no direct flow path but only around these magnetic balls. Increased mixing of flow coupled with strong intensity of a magnetic field across the flow promotes better attraction and retention of the magnetic particles on the magnetic balls. The second compartment contains commonly known porous materials of known porosity to remove smaller non-magnetic particles. The filter is particularly useful as a fuel or oil filter for an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, the magnetic portion is made removable and individually replaceable to extend the life of the filter. The filter is capable of removing magnetic particles for an extended period of time without clogging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Technology Commercialization Corp.
    Inventor: Leonid Tulchinskiy
  • Patent number: 6197260
    Abstract: The reagent package includes a container housing section and a container lid that are sealed together to define one or more inside chambers. An opening in the container lid provides access to a corresponding chamber. The chamber opening is controlled by a valve that is pivotable from an open position to a closed position and vice versa. When the valve is in an open position the container chamber can be accessed through the valve with an aspiration probe and a dispensation probe. The reagent package accommodates a filter screen member and a glass ampoule in the container chamber. The glass ampoule contains one reagent ingredient, which can be a dry powder and the space within the chamber outside the glass ampoule can contain a reconstituting liquid. When the reagent package is ready for use a pressure force is imposed on the outside wall of the chamber adjacent the glass ampoule to crush the ampoule and permit the liquid within the chamber to mix with the dry powder released from the glass ampoule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Bayer Corporation
    Inventors: Randolph Bradshaw, Andrew Oakes, Nicholae Dumitrescu, Robert L. Berger, William M. Jameson, Chris Robinson, James R. Laskey
  • Patent number: 6190548
    Abstract: An enclosed, elongated structure for placement in the ground to filter and biologically pretreat wastewater after it leaves a septic tank and before it enters a drain field. The structure includes an upstream chamber or compartment connected to an inlet and containing a filter media such as stone and two or more baffles positioned crosswise to the direction of flow to direct the wastewater through multiple, sequential downward and upward flow paths through the stone for filtering and for anaerobic biological conversion of undesirable substances in the wastewater. A downstream chamber or compartment vented to atmosphere contains a filter media such as gravelly sand and receives the wastewater flow from the upstream chamber for further progressive filtering and for aerobic biological conversion of undesirable substances. Beneath the gravelly sand is a U-shaped perforated pipe for collecting the wastewater and directing it to an outlet leading to the drain field.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Inventor: Albert Frick
  • Patent number: 6149802
    Abstract: A solvent recovery apparatus for recovering low volatility solvent from a washing fluid slop includes a settling system and a filtering system. The settling system includes one or more settling stages and an off-take by which settled, re-usable solvent may be recovered. The filtering system uses a single filter press to filter batches of wastewater, with solids, and batches of solvent sludge, with solids, such that cleaned wastewater filtrate may be discarded, benign removed solids may be dried and sent to landfill, and solvent filtrate may be returned to the input end of the solvent recovery apparatus for re-processing. The solvent recovery apparatus can use a two stage settling system which permits an initial separation of most of the wastewater, and a secondary settling of a solvent rich portion of the slop. The secondary settling can be performed with a system of alternating settling tanks in which one tank is allowed to settle while another is being filled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Toronto Star Newspapers Ltd.
    Inventors: Dino Louis Zavarise, Kenneth Oswald Dunn, Bernardus Murray Antoine Henri Tangelder
  • Patent number: 6146530
    Abstract: Particles of paint overspray present in floating, and in dispersed form, as well as in submerged and coagulated form are removed from an aqueous turbid liquid. The dispersed and submerged particles of paint overspray form sediment and the sediment is then removed. The sediment is allowed to settle out of a quiescent, turbid liquid onto the bottom of a first tank, whereas the floating particles remain on the surface of the turbid liquid. The sediment is flushed into a second tank by lowering the surface level of the turbid liquid and is then concentrated in this second tank. The surface level of the turbid liquid is then raised and the turbid liquid is allowed to overflow across a flow edge in such a way that the floating particles of the paint overspray are floated off. The turbid liquid, such as turbid water that has been cleansed is drained off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Olt Oberflaechen-, Luft-und Trocknugstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Heinz-Georg Vollmer
  • Patent number: 6129841
    Abstract: A portable water treatment assembly and water treatment method are disclosed in which the water to be purified is placed in an upper container together with a suitable bactericide, and is held in that container until the bactericidal action is complete. At that time, an elongate dowel is manually manipulated to open a passage between the upper container and a lower container to drain the purified water through a sediment cartridge in the upper container to remove sediment from the water, and through a cartridge in the lower container containing a medium to remove the bactericide and/or other potentially distasteful ingredients from the water, and the purified water is collected in the lower container for subsequent dispensing and use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Eagle Spring Filtration, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen R. Dann
  • Patent number: 6123838
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for purifying separator waste water from a dry cleaning process. The present invention utilizes 3 stages of purification. In Stage one, highly contaminated separator waste water is put into a solvent separator tank. Liquid solvent settles out of the separator waste water, sink to the bottom of the solvent separation tank where it accumulates below the separated water. In Stage 2 air bubbles are introduced through the separated water, stripping out much of the solvent which is dissolved in the separated water and reducing the dissolved solvent concentration. This air stripping process dramatically extends to useful life of the granulated carbon in the granulated eaton filter. Stage 3 takes the air stripped water and filters it through a granulated carbon filter, which results in the carbon purified water having a dissolved solvent of less than 0.7 parts per million. The carbon purified water can then be safely and economically disposed of without harming the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Evaporation Technology International, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce Grossman
  • Patent number: 6103107
    Abstract: Ferrofluid coated particles resulting from a ferrofluid materials separation process are washed with a solvent which is the same material as the liquid carrier employed in the ferrofluid. The result is a "dirty" solvent which is a very weak ferrofluid. The dirty solvent is then filtered or centrifuged to remove dust particles and other impurities and then the solvent is recovered by distillation in a distillation unit. The solvent can then be reused in the materials reclamation process. The residue in the distillation unit is surfactant-coated particles of ferrofluid. This residue is mixed with either clean or unprocessed solvent in the right proportion and the slurry is passed through an attritor to convert it to a high grade ferrofluid. The ferrofluid can also be reused in the materials separation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Ferrofluidics Corporation
    Inventor: Kuldip Raj
  • Patent number: 6090276
    Abstract: A separator for separating solids from a liquid/solid mixture. The separator has a cylindrical separation chamber in which a stream is subjected to centrifugal forces against a separation wall. An exit port near the bottom of the separation chamber passes solids and some liquid into a filter chamber where the liquid passes through the filter and in response to a negative pressure in the separation chamber the liquid is made to return the separation chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Claude Laval Corporation
    Inventor: Steven D. Ford
  • Patent number: 6083406
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for improved in-line contaminant removal from engine lubricating oil are provided which employ gravity to achieve a desired flow rate of oil. The invention is adapted for use with an existing engine oil lubrication system and continuously processes a side stream that after processing, is returned to the engine oil. During processing, the oil is first filtered and then drained and deposited upon the upper central surface portions of a heated dome whereon the oil forms a thin film from which relatively low boiling volatile impurities (especially water) are rapidly separated in a gaseous state. The gas is vented through a pressure relief valve to the manifold while the recovered reconditioned oil is collected and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Marine Oil Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael T. DePaul, Frank DePaul
  • Patent number: 6039868
    Abstract: A system for separating plasma from whole blood comprises a blood separation device and a blood separation driver. The blood separation device includes a flexible tube having a needle and shield at one end and a filter member at the other end. The needle may be used to access blood in a conventional blood collection device. The separation driver applies a peristaltic force to the flexible tube of the blood separation device, thus drawing blood from the collection device through the tube and to the filter member. Plasma may be collected from the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Assignee: First Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael P. Allen, Stoughton L. Ellsworth, Lawrence M. Ensler, Kumar Subramanian
  • Patent number: 6015494
    Abstract: Polyolefin oil/water separator. An oil/water mist separator for use with exhausts from air compressors, air separators, air receivers, and air dryers, as examples, is described. The separator utilizes fibrous polyolefin strips placed in a hollow receptacle therefor to separate the oil from the water in the mist, the oil being retained on the polyolefin, while the water, now having sufficient purity, may be discharged in conventional sanitary drains. The separator may also be used to separate oil from water from other sources thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2000
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Todd D. Siverling, William Anthony Chroninger, William Andrew Chroninger, Kreg T. Gauss, William S. Radzinski
  • Patent number: 5997652
    Abstract: A food starch seperator comprising a serially connected centrifuge and a membrane seperator further comprising a sintered pipe providing pore flow paths including a pumped source of food plant liquor, outputs for the centrifuge and membrane seperator and a control system to regulate the flow of the food plant liquor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Inventors: J. Leon Potter, Gary L. Hensley
  • Patent number: 5989416
    Abstract: A filter bed base for the treatment of wastewater discharged from a dwelling, business or like producer. The filter bed base is generally rectangular in shape and includes an upper and lower surface. The upper surface of the filter bed base has a plurality of orifices for distributing filtered effluent into various chambers inside the base. The lower surface of the base has a plurality of orifices which are positioned beneath a select number of the chambers for discharging a portion of the filtered effluent into the soil underlying the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1999
    Inventor: Stuart Albert Gorton
  • Patent number: 5985145
    Abstract: A drive system for a filtration apparatus includes a housing, a motor, an input gear driven by the motor, a ring gear, an eccentric gear assembly, an internal gear assembly, and an output gear. The ring gear is driven by the input gear about a central axis. The eccentric gear assembly includes an eccentric plate rotatable about the central axis, concentric rollers, and eccentric rollers. The eccentric plate is fastened to the ring gear to rotate therewith. The concentric rollers are interposed between the eccentric plate and the housing to enable rotation therebetween. The eccentric plate is eccentrically movable about the central axis within a bore of the housing. The internal gear assembly has an eccentric plate rotatable about the central axis and circular bores extending through the eccentric plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Henry Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen N. McEwen
  • Patent number: 5972215
    Abstract: A particle separator having a housing, a radially centered core, helical augers which force a fluid stream in a helical flow direction, and separator devices for the progressive separation of particles from a particulate contaminated fluid stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Inventor: Refaat A. Kammel
  • Patent number: 5968353
    Abstract: A rectangular clarifying tank has an inclined beach formed of sheet metal and having 575 holes per square inch, each hole having a diameter of 20 thousandths of an inch. Two side chain drives advance several scrapers along the beach. Each scraper has a rotatable knurled pipe which turns the sludge and aids dewatering through the beach. The sludge removed from the clarifier has a solids content of between eight and twelve percent. Additional dewatering may be accomplished by applying a vacuum to the last one-quarter of the beach. A tray positioned beneath the beach collects water which drains through the beach. The drain water may be returned to the clarifier tank or may be directly treated as clarified water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Beloit Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard P. Herbert, William A. Gero
  • Patent number: 5965015
    Abstract: An oil-water separator system and method to separate contaminated oil and water into clean water and free coalesced oil for collection and removal. The system includes a process tank for the oil and water, a pump to pump the oil and water through first and second stage oil-coalescing filters and through a full depth, fibrous filter under back pressure to provide filtered clean water of selected purity; typically, less than 20 ppm. The coalesced and filtered oil-water is returned and recycled to the process tank wherein a free coalescing oil layer forms on the surface, which free coalesced oil is removed by a belt skimmer for collection and removal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Whatman Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Ronan, Kenneth A. Perrotta, Paul E. Rebe
  • Patent number: 5958240
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for treating waste water to generate clarified water for reuse in industrial processes which includes the steps of adding agents to the waste stream to generate floccules, aerating the waste stream to cause a portion of the floccules to float, decanting floating floccules and lighter than water immiscible pollutants from the top surface of the waste stream, directing the waste stream through an incline clarifier so as to permit heavier than water floccules to form sludge in a bottom region of the clarifier. Sludge and decanted pollutants are sent to a bioremediation tank where hydrocarbons are decomposed and the remaining sludge is dewatered and compacted to a solid condition for disposal in a public waste facility. The clarified water is transferred to a steam generator or pressurized water delivery system for reuse. The invention is particularly useful for equipment cleaning operations such as in truckyards or airports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Inventor: Timothy L. Hoel
  • Patent number: 5954955
    Abstract: An oil-water recovering and separating apparatus for separating a raw fluid consisting of a mixture of oil and water into an oil part and a water part on the basis of difference in specific gravity, comprising: intake means for taking in the recovered raw fluid; a separation tank for separating the taken-in raw fluid; a water-part reservoir tank continued to the separation tank; a drain tank continued to the water-part reservoir tank; an oil part recovery portion disposed in the separation tank, the oil part recovery portion having a recovery port disposed slightly above the fluid level of the raw fluid in the separation tank; and scrape-up means provided in a position facing the recovery port so as to move along the fluid level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: World Chemical Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoji Mori, Isao Mori, Masami Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5935446
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for purifying water used for forming a water curtain of a wet spray wall in paint spray and/or glue processing booths, wet dust removal plants and the like. The water to be purified is caught in a receptacle (1) and the water is sucked out under the surface of the water present in said receptacle (1), mixed with air and introduced into a basin (14) at the bottom side of said basin (14). The water mixed with air is introduced into a basin (14) which widens in upward direction, and contaminations floating on the surface of the water present in said basin (14) are pushed towards an outlet disposed near one side of said basin (14) by means of a pusher, whilst the water flows out on the opposite side of the basin via an overflow. A few perforated plates disposed one above the other are provided in the basin (14) whose sectional area gradually increases in upward direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Inventor: Robbert M. H. H. Weisz
  • Patent number: 5910233
    Abstract: For production of mineralized drinking water, water is distilled and then passed through a layer of soil which is taken from an area adjoining the source of natural mineral water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Inventors: Gary Berg, Dmitriy Taubman, Jakov Verchivker
  • Patent number: 5908550
    Abstract: A water reclamation system for a vehicle wash system that provides water that is purified to enable reclaimed water to be used in a positive displacement pump. The reclamation system provides for continuous flow of water through the vehicle wash settling pit with an aerator to oxygenate the water and prevent odors typically produced by stagnant water from wash system settling pits. The water reclamation system is operable to clean the carwash system settling pit except for the primary pit in which the debris accumulated from the secondary settling pit is deposited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: InterClean Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Pasi Kaipainen
  • Patent number: 5906733
    Abstract: A liquid cleaning system, which includes a barrier type filter having a back-flush arrangement for recovering filter contaminants from the back-flushed liquid which is available only at a low, not necessarily consistent, rate, includes a fluid-powered centrifugal cleaner which, in addition to the normal shaft-mounted rotor through which liquid is passed to separate contaminants centrifugally due to rotor speed, includes fluid drive means in the form of fluid reaction drive nozzles supplied with pumped liquid from the system as a drive fluid to rotate the rotor at a speed above the minimum to effect centrifugal separation of the contaminants from the back-flushed liquid in the rotor and accumulation of the outlet of the rotor. The spent drive fluid mixes with the cleaned back-flushed liquid in a discharge region and both may be re-used in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: The Glacier Metal Company Limited
    Inventor: Ronald J. Purvey
  • Patent number: 5904847
    Abstract: A waste water filter for use within a septic tank. The waste water filter comprises a shield including an upstanding peripheral wall, the peripheral wall defining a shield interior within the shield. The shield further includes an inlet opening for allowing the entry of unfiltered wastewater into the shield interior. A filter enclosure is disposed within the shield interior at a spaced apart distance from the shield. The filter enclosure includes an upstanding peripheral wall, a top end, and a bottom end. The bottom end includes a bottom panel for preventing the passage of unfiltered waste water into filter enclosure. The filter enclosure further includes at least one filter surface disposed intermediate the top and bottom ends of the filter enclosure for allowing the passage of water restricting the passage of solids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Inventor: Tom Bovington
  • Patent number: 5891332
    Abstract: A method is provided for purifying raw water taken from a raw water reservoir. The method includes the steps of subjecting the raw water to magnetic treatment, causing the magnetically treated water to flow through a filter medium in a first direction for purification of the treated water, and discharging the purified water into the raw water reservoir. The method further includes the steps of causing the magnetically treated water to pass through the filter medium in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and discharging the oppositely passing water into the raw water reservoir. The apparatus for realizing the above method includes a water intake assembly, a filter assembly and a water discharge assembly. A magnetic treatment device is mounted on the water intake assembly for subjecting the raw water to magnetic treatment. A switching device is operated to cause the magnetically treated water to flow through the filter assembly selectively in the first and second directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Business Center Organization Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Shouzou Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5882486
    Abstract: Contaminated glycol is refined by vacuum distillation. Specifically the evaporator is heated to a temperature below the degradation temperature of the glycol. The vacuum is used to bring the flashpoint down sufficiently so that glycol evaporates or flashes at that temperature. The glycol is condensed and filtered through activated granular carbon. The principal use of refining the glycol is to refine the triethylene glycol used in natural gas dehydration plants. For such purposes the equipment is mounted upon a trailer to be taken to the plant for cleaning glycol. In such instance, in addition to refining the glycol, a cleaning agent (which contains a degreaser) is added to the refined glycol. The glycol is refined while the natural gas dehydration plant is in normal operation and therefore it is not necessary to stop the natural gas dehydration plant for refining the glycol used therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Inventor: John W. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5882530
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating a suspension, comprising a collection vessel; and a cyclone fixably received within the collection vessel, the cyclone having an inlet for receiving the suspension, a wall having at least a porous section for separating the suspension into at least two components, and a lower underflow outlet for dispensing one of the two components, wherein the other of the two components is received by said collection vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: The University of Akron
    Inventor: George G. Chase
  • Patent number: 5879545
    Abstract: A compact cyclonic filter assembly used for separating unwanted debris from a fluid. The cyclonic filter assembly uses the centrifugal forces to separate large pieces of debris from the fluid and a filter to separate the remaining unwanted debris from the fluid. The present invention can be contained in a compact single housing which may be disassembled for easy cleaning and replacement of parts. The cyclonic filter assembly of the present invention has a vertically oriented cylindrical tube which receives a tangential injection of the debris laden fluid. The tangential injection causes the fluid to circulate around a cylindrical vortex finder which is inside of and coaxial with the tube. The centrifugal forces acting on the debris causes the debris to move outward away from the center of the vortex. The vortex finder has an opening which pulls in the relatively clean fluid near the center of the vortex while the debris laden fluid settles into a collection chamber below the cylindrical tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Gregory S. Antoun
  • Patent number: 5868927
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for processing relatively small volumes of waste water such as that found in residential home use. The system first comprises a chamber adapted to hold the waste water. The system further comprises a first filter adapted to remove course material from the waste water and a second filter adapted to remove fine materials from the waste water. The system further comprises a disinfectant chamber adapted to disinfect the waste water. The system comprises a pump adapted to pump the waste water from the chamber through the first and second filters, and the disinfectant chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1999
    Assignee: Smith & Mercer, Inc.
    Inventors: Carole M. Smith, Philip W. Mercer
  • Patent number: 5866000
    Abstract: A mixture of liquid particles dispersed in a fluid is introduced into an upright cylindrical separator at one end of an involute channel formed therein by a coaxial spiral partition of fibrous material to flow continuously under near plug-like flow conditions in an involutional or evolutional direction. The centrifugal force of the fluid in the channel causes the particles to impinge the fibrous material, separate from the fluid, and form films of the liquid which drains by gravity to a collection at the bottom of the separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: George C. Yeh
  • Patent number: 5858238
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for salvaging blood from a patient are disclosed. A blood salvaging and/or blood processing circuit coupled to a cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, cardiotomy circuit, or directly to the patient comprises a hemocentrator for removing water, fluids, and low molecular weight solutes by ultrafiltration and a sorbent-containing plasma separator for removing a selected solute, such as heparin. A combination device for salvaging blood comprises a closed plasma chamber containing a plasma chamber solution, a hollow fiber plasma-separating membrane for receiving blood and permitting plasma to be transported therethrough into the plasma chamber solution and for refiltering the treated plasma back into the blood circuit, a selective sorbent for contacting the selected solute in the plasma and binding the selected solute, and an ultrafiltration membrane for removing water, fluids, and low molecular weight components from the plasma.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Baxter Research Medical, Inc.
    Inventors: James C. McRea, Stephanie Poulsen, Yong Nian Xia, Kirk Fowers
  • Patent number: 5858793
    Abstract: Methods of maintaining or providing sterile or specific pathogen free environments are disclosed. The methods involve the use of semi-permeable membrane materials between the sterile or pathogen free environment and surrounding potentially hostile environments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Hampshire Advisory and Technical Services Limited
    Inventors: Michael Wilson, Philip Monro
  • Patent number: 5851386
    Abstract: A waste-oil cleaning apparatus includes a processing tank for holding waste-oil, and arranged such that non-oil liquids in the waste-oil settle in the base of the tank. A conduit and valve arrangement is provided for withdrawing the settled non-oil liquids from the base of the tank. The apparatus also incorporates an oil cleaning unit including a pump, a mesh filter and a centrifuge. Waste oil in the tank is cleaned by pumping oil out of the tank and passing the oil sequentially through the mesh filter and the centrifuge after the settled non-oil liquids are withdrawn from the base of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Inventor: Christopher G. Paul
  • Patent number: 5837140
    Abstract: The present invention provides a blood filter comprising a housing having a top portion, a base portion and a sidewall portion and a blood inlet. A filter element is disposed within the housing and divides the housing into an inlet chamber in flow communication with the blood inlet and an outlet chamber. The filter element comprises a portion of non-woven filter material and a portion of screen filter material and both the non-woven filter material portion and the screen filter material portion are in contact with the inlet chamber and the outlet chamber. The housing also comprises a blood outlet in flow communication with the outlet chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Dideco S.p.A
    Inventors: Massimo Fini, Nicola Ghelli, Giuseppe Grandi
  • Patent number: 5830366
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a method and apparatus for filtering or straining water taken into a marine vessel so as to remove solid contaminants that may impede operation of water consuming devices on the vessel such as electrical generators, air conditioners, refrigeration systems, propulsion engines and the like. Solid contaminants retained by a filter or strainer are collected and then macerated and removed by a macerator pump. The solid contaminants removed and macerated include marine weeds, grasses, solid matter and marine organisms, including, but not limited to jellyfish and fish of such size as may be able to enter the sea water intake served by the invention. The water so treated may be fresh, brackish or salt water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Inventor: Charles B. Husick
  • Patent number: 5811251
    Abstract: A rapid, convenient, and highly sensitive method and kit for counting the number of living microorganisms are disclosed. A test solution is filtrated through a membrane filter element having a plurarity of hydrophilic sections substantially perfectly separated from each other by hydrophobic partitions. A microparticulate spray is then applied to said filter in order to add extracting and luminescence-inducing reagents in such an amount that allows the filter membrane within each section to become wet. Thereafter the sample obtained is processed by applying a highly sensitive bioluminescence image analyzing system thereto. The employment of a spray method for applying the extracting and luminescence-inducing reagents allows to substantially perfectly entrap the reagents and extracted substances within each of the hydrophilic sections, thus enabling, when combined with the use of a bioluminescence image analyzing system, to rapidly count the number without any or substantial requirement of cultivation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Nihon Millipore Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Atsumi Hirose, deceased, Susumu Seto, Takuji Kataoka, David Wang
  • Patent number: 5804079
    Abstract: Systems and methods separate whole blood containing leukocytes in a first separation chamber into a first layer comprising red blood cells, a second layer comprising a suspension of platelets, and an interface between the first and second layers. The systems and methods convey the suspension of platelets into a second separation chamber while simultaneously filtering the suspension of platelets to reduce the number of leukocytes. The systems and methods separate the filtered suspension of platelets in the second separation chamber into a platelet-rich concentrate and platelet-poor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard I. Brown
  • Patent number: 5795159
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to treat dental waste water has been developed in ch a slurry of water and solid waste particles, including mercury-containing amalgam and soluble and suspended mercury and other heavy metals, is collected under vacuum into an main chamber. The particulate-containing liquid slurry settles into a main chamber and into the central collection well of a removable filter while the vacuumed air exits the main chamber and continues toward a vacuum source. The liquid slurry is drawn by vacuum through a removable filter making the effluent substantially free of mercury-containing particulate material. The resulting filtered effluent is ready for further treatment of soluble and suspended mercury, if necessary, before being conveyed into a public sewer system. When a certain level of particulate material has been collected, the removable filter can be sealed and the particulate contents disposed or reclaimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Stephen Alden Ralls, William Corry Roddy
  • Patent number: 5776335
    Abstract: A flotation/entrainment reactor is poured with a plurality of concentric tubes forming respective chambers, the tubewear for receiving and filtering a liquid from solids contained therein, and with an inlet cylindrical base receiving the liquid and guiding it and, a rising flow along a cone wall of a frustoconical cap mounted on the base to the region of formation of a foam column in one of the concentric tubes encompassing an imaginary apex of the cone wall of the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Julich GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Overath
  • Patent number: 5774816
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning a separator is disclosed. Generally, the apparatus includes a vessel connected to a well that produces an effluent. The vessel is used for separating the effluent. Also included is a discharge member which is attached within the vessel for discharging a liquid onto solids located at the bottom of the vessel, and a drain adapted for draining the solids from the bottom of the vessel. The apparatus may further include a chemical injection device, operatively associated with the discharge member, for injecting a radioactive dissolution chemical. A process for cleaning the vessel and treating the entrained solids of the effluent with the radioactive dissolution chemical is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Inventors: Chris W. Fontenot, Karl K. Burdette
  • Patent number: 5770058
    Abstract: A centrifugal soil separator for a dishwasher having a rotating centrifuge connected for rotation with a centrifugal impeller, the centrifugal impeller providing a majority of recirculating wash water for the dishwasher while the centrifuge accepts a second portion of flow and spins that portion of flow for soil separation and to achieve a pumping action to move that quantity of water to the wash water delivery system with the quantity of water moved by the centrifugal impeller. By a coordinated stopping, reversing and starting action of the centrifuge, soil collected therein can be disposed to a soil sizing and drain apparatus for flushing and draining the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Todd M. Jozwiak
  • Patent number: 5766448
    Abstract: A pressure screening system for processing contaminated pulp fiber including a pressure screen apparatus for separating an accepts stream of clean fiber from a rejects stream carrying contaminants, and a feed tank for supplying a pulp fiber slurry to the inlet of the pressure screen apparatus, wherein the feed tank has a flotation section for receiving the rejects stream together with air for generating a froth separating a rejects overflow of contaminants from the remainder of the feed stock for recovery of additional pulp fiber from the rejects stream. The air may be contained in the rejects stream when it enters the flotation section, or it may be introduced at or near the input to the flotation section. The feed tank with flotation section can receive the rejects streams from multiple pressure screen stages, or a separate feed tank can be used for each pressure screen stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Markham
  • Patent number: 5762790
    Abstract: A filtering system for filtering effluent in a septic system comprising a filter housing with sides, a top and an open bottom, a filter element holder secured within the filter housing, wherein the filter element holder contains a top and a side portion, a discharge opening in the filter housing located generally above the filter element holder for discharging filtered effluent from the filter housing, a plurality of filter elements, each secured to the filter element holder, each with a top, bottom and side, wherein the bottom of each filter element is closed to prevent flow of the effluent through the bottom of the filter element, wherein each filter element contains filtering slots for filtering solids contained in the effluent and a separation element for separating one filter element from other filter elements, which element does not significantly impede the flow of effluent through the filtering system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Assignee: Zoeller Co.
    Inventor: Kenneth E. Zoeller
  • Patent number: 5755958
    Abstract: A device for removing material screened or filtered out of a liquid flowing in a channel (3), especially in waste water treatment plants, is described. The device comprises an unpowered cylindrical grating surface (8) being immersed partly in the liquid and being formed by a plurality of substantially semicircular grating bars (10) located with distance to each other. The device further comprises a removing beam (12) rotatably driven about the axis (2) of the grating surface (8) and having removing elements (15) extending between the grating bars (10) from the inside of the cylinder to the outside. A conveying device (17) for the material is provided which is positioned with respect to the grating surface (8) and leads to a point outside the liquid in the channel (3), the device having a tube-like housing (22) with an opening (23) for the entry of the material and a driven screw (20) inside the housing (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Hans Georg Huber
  • Patent number: 5707488
    Abstract: A process for cleaning recycled pulp includes an upright cylindrical vessel having an upright cylindrical screen member open at its top and bottom ends and having a perforated screen wall which is centered on a vertical axis in the vessel. A plurality of upright, elongated blades are mounted for rotation on the vertical axis in close proximity to the screen wall. A pulp slurry entrained with pressurized air is introduced under pressure into an inlet in the bottom of the vessel. The rotating blades clear the screen wall while creating a rising vortex of air bubbles produced by the pressurized air for carrying ink and/or contaminant particles upwardly through the inner volume of the screen member. An "accepts" outlet at the center of the vessel draws off pulp in suspension that has been passed through the screen wall. A "rejects" outlet at the top of the vessel draws off ink and contaminant particles carried by the air bubbles in the upwardly-moving vortex.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: International Paper Company
    Inventor: Larry D. Markham
  • Patent number: 5702617
    Abstract: A particulate removal assembly for a fluid distribution system comprising a particulate collection chamber having an inlet through which particulate and fluid enter said collection chamber; a detector for sensing when said chamber has fried to a preselected degree with particulate; said chamber having an intermittent discharge responsive to said detector whereby the particulate is flushed from said chamber. The particulate removal assembly for a fluid distribution system further comprising a closure member for said intermittent discharge; said closure member actuated by fluid pressure delivered from said collection chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventor: Arnold James Price
  • Patent number: 5698099
    Abstract: A hydro-dynamic separator incorporating a solids interceptor (21) upstream of the overflow (19) for intercepting solid matter above a predetermined size entrained in liquid flowing towards the overflow (19), the solids interceptor (21) comprising: (a) a wall (51) terminating in an upper edge (51a) which constitutes a weir in the flow path of liquid flowing to the overflow (19); (b) a barrier (53), extending from the said wall (51) towards a solids collection region (55), said barrier (53) comprising a plurality of openings (69) to permit flow of liquid therethrough but to retain solids, the upper surface of the barrier (53) being disposed such that solids retained on the barrier (53) are washed across the surface by the flow of liquid towards the solids collection region (55); and (c) a liquid collection region (59) beneath the barrier (53) for collecting liquid flowing through the openings (69) in the barrier (53), said liquid collection region (59) being in fluid communication with the overflow (19) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1997
    Assignee: Hydro International plc
    Inventors: Garry William Fagan, Timothy John Lamb
  • Patent number: 5676834
    Abstract: An upflow clarifier comprises an enclosure defining a bounded volume for holding liquid. An inlet is coupled to the enclosure, and an outlet is coupled to the enclosure above the inlet. A barrier is provided in the enclosure, between the inlet and the outlet. The barrier has a plurality of apertures therethrough, and the barrier defines an upper compartment above the barrier and a lower compartment below the barrier. A plurality of filter membranes are respectively mounted to the apertures, wherein liquid flowing through the apertures flows through the filter membranes. The filter membranes extend upwardly from the barrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Assignee: Spokane Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James Kuntz