With Residue Removing Means Or Agitation Of Liquid Patents (Class 210/407)
  • Patent number: 5803100
    Abstract: A soil separator for a dishwasher includes a centrifugal soil collection wall surrounded by a spill over guide channel, surrounded by a shallow annular soil accumulator channel. The soil accumulator channel is open to the dishwasher chamber but covered by a filter screen. The accumulator channel is shallow beneath the screen and empties downwardly into an accumulator sump where accumulated soil is periodically drained. The shallow accumulator channel allows water to flush an inside of the screen to carry soil to the accumulator sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Edward L. Thies
  • Patent number: 5770057
    Abstract: The water screening apparatus of the invention includes a conduit in which is positioned a discharge pipe opening through which water flowing in the conduit is to be dispatched completely during normal water flow conditions. The discharge pipe opening is positioned adjacent the conduit bottom wall portion so that as long as the water level does not rise above it, the water is completely dispatched therethrough. A bar screen is transversely disposed inside the water conduit and downwardly slopes from the conduit upstream end to the discharge pipe opening and covers the whole conduit width. When the water level rises above the discharge pipe opening, the water flowing above the discharge pipe opening will flow through the bar screen, the latter intercepting any macroparticles beyond a set threshold level carried by the water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: John Meunier Inc.
    Inventor: Gilles Filion
  • Patent number: 5728297
    Abstract: An apparatus for the mechanical cleaning of liquids, especially cooling water delivered from a heat exchanger and flowing in a pipeline (10), with a rotationally symmetrical, conical sieve (12) of substantially the size of the pipe diameter, as well as a coaxial suction device (20) which is disposed on the upstream side of the sieve, is mounted for rotation continuously or with interruptions for the duration of a cleaning interval, and during the cleaning interval sucks bit by bit the entire surface of the sieve (12) on the upstream side, the sieve (12) being divided into areas, the intake nozzle (22) of the suction device (20) can cover each area, and in each area of the actual sieve surface and of the suction device there is a cavity for the temporary accommodation of contaminants, the sieve (12) being divided on its upstream side by substantially radial barriers (36) into individual sectors forming the areas, the intake nozzle (22) of the suction device (20) has such a shape that, at the moment in which th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventor: Josef Koller
  • Patent number: 5681483
    Abstract: A process is provided for the treatment of suspensions comprised of oil, water and solids in which the suspension is subjected to centrifugation employing a centrifugal filter, coated with an organic powder having an index of compressibility comprised between 0 and 1.2, and wherein under the effect of the centrifugation, the suspension is subjected to an acceleration comprised between 10 and 2500 times the gravity force, that is, 100 to 25000 m/s.sup.2. The solids are retained by the coating and the centrifugate is collected. The invention is useful for the treatment of crude oil, of lubricants and oils which produce suspensions or emulsions rich in fats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignees: Elf Antar France, Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Francois-Pierre Navaree, Alain Fraux, Bernard Michel Bossand
  • Patent number: 5676848
    Abstract: Materials including suspended particles are brought together and then separated into two streams one of which only contains the particles, the output streams having different composition from inlet streams. Separation is effected in filtration modules which include a moving runner with wall conditioning elements which dislodge accumulated particles from porous walls of filters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5674386
    Abstract: The screen comprises a set of spaced parallel grating bars set at an inclination of about 35 degrees. The grating bars retain solids carried by the water flowing between the bars. These solids are automatically pushed down the bars and away into a collecting trough transverse to the bars by water streams flowing within longitudinal grooves formed from the top of the bars. The cross-sectional area of each groove decreases from the upper end to the lower end of the bar, so that the water accelerating down the bar grooves will constantly fill the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: John Meunier Inc.
    Inventor: Gilles Filion
  • Patent number: 5667682
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for filtering a fluid containing contaminants is provided whereby the apparatus includes an inlet for drawing fluid from a fluid source, a housing having attached thereto the inlet, a contaminant outlet, a clean outlet, a filtering assembly and a mechanism for agitating the filtering assembly. The filtering assembly has an upper or upstream end connected to the inlet and a lower or downstream end connected to the contaminant outlet. The filtering assembly is disposed within the housing and is connected to the contaminant outlet whereby fluid is introduced to the filter assembly at an upper end of the filtering assembly by the fluid inlet and whereby fluid is passed through the filtering assembly to provide clean, filtered fluid which is discharged via the clean outlet, and debris and other contaminants contained in the fluid are separated from the fluid and retained by the filtering assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Water Renewal Systems L.P.
    Inventor: Kenneth Edward Laird
  • Patent number: 5656161
    Abstract: An improved salt basket for dewatering solids, particularly salts resulting from evaporation of industrial wastewaters. The salt basket system includes a pressurizable vessel having a screen floor situated above a bottom liquid collection head, an inlet for the brine/solids slurry from which solids are to be separated and dried, an inlet for air, an inlet for steam (the latter two inlets may be combined, where convenient), an inlet for solids free feed, and a drain outlet (these two may be combined where convenient into a combination feed/drain connection). Preferably, an automated system for introducing feed brine and for removing the solids product is provided. For safety, a pivotally attached lower door has a hydraulic failsafe closure mechanism and locking safety latches to prevent the door from inadvertently opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Ionics, Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert L. Solomon, Ferris C. Standiford, Joseph Bostjancic, Dan Peterson, George R. Jones
  • Patent number: 5653889
    Abstract: A filter element surface is coated with particulate polyamide which serves as a filter aid to trap polyamide oligomers suspended in water. The particulate polyamide is preferably coated onto a surface of a bag filter so that polyamide oligomers flowing through the coated bag filter surface will adhere to the polyamide particles forming an oligomer cake thereon which encapsulates the polyamide particles. Momentarily equalling the pressure differential across, or reversing flow through, the coated bag filter surface (i.e., back-pulsing) will cause the oligomer cake and polyamide particles encapsulated thereby to break into relatively large-sized solid aggregate particles which may be easily recovered. Since the polyamide particles which are encapsulated by the oligomer cake are chemically compatible with one another, the entire particulate aggregate may be subjected to depolymerization processing so as to recover monomers from which the polyamide is formed (e.g., caprolactam).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: BASF Corporation
    Inventor: Karl H. Buchanan
  • Patent number: 5647990
    Abstract: A method and device for concentrating macromolecules from a solution is provided by spinning a concentrated device in a centrifuge. The device has a sample reservoir (1) for receiving a sample to be concentrated or purified, a filter for filtering the sample, a centrifuge tube (5) for collecting the filtrate, and a concentrate pocket (4) for retaining the concentrate. A portion of the sample reservoir (1) is a filtration chamber (3) having a volume which is only a small fraction of the total volume of the sample reservoir. The filter is arranged in a sidewall of the filtration chamber, and the concentrate pocket (4) is arranged in a bottom wall of the filtration chamber. Liquid sample is placed in the sample reservoir, and a unit including the sample reservoir (1) and the filter (2) is placed, at least partially, into the centrifuge tube for collecting the filtrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Inventor: Vincenzo Vassarotti
  • Patent number: 5643450
    Abstract: A filter apparatus for thermoplastic synthetic plastics material melts comprises a housing (2) in which two filter disks (5,6) are disposed in parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. The melt to be filtered is supplied to these filter disks (5,6) via an upstream channel (19). The impurities gathering on the upstream side of the filter disks (5,6) are continuously scraped off by a scraper (8) that carries a plurality of scraper elements (10) disposed along curved lines spaced apart from each other so that they convey the impurities towards the center of the filter disks (5,6). There, the impurities reach a conveyance channel (22) in which they are conveyed off by at least one worm (23,24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Inventors: Helmut Bacher, Helmuth Schulz, Georg Wendelin
  • Patent number: 5618424
    Abstract: A rotary drum type device for separating solid particles from a liquid includes a rotary screen drum having support rods extending in the axial direction and arranged cylindrically and having a projecting portion in a radially outward end portion, and a wedge wire wound spirally on the outer periphery of the support rods in substantially crossing direction to the support rods. The wedge wire is arranged with its one side facing outward and two other sides forming a slit which widens radially inwardly between adjacent wedge wire portions and with an inward apex of said wedge wire being welded to the projecting portion of the support rods at crossing points. The rotary drum type device further includes a container containing a liquid to be treated disposed outside of the rotary screen drum, a suction device connected to the rotary screen drum for reducing pressure in the rotary screen drum, and a scraper for stripping off cake produced on the outer periphery of the rotary screen drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: Nagaoka International Corp.
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 5575913
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus and method having a housing, a filter element, an inlet, a first discharge outlet and a second discharge outlet. The housing includes a bottom and an upwardly extending surrounding wall. The filter element is disposed in the housing and spans the surrounding wall with the filter element spaced above the bottom of the housing to define an upper chamber and a lower chamber, and the filter element being angled, preferably 45 degrees from the horizontal, so that one end of the filter element is lower relative to the other end. The inlet is in fluid communication with the upper chamber for receiving waste water containing particulate contaminants. A first discharge outlet is in fluid communication with the lower chamber for discharging filtered waste water. The second discharge outlet is in fluid communication with the upper chamber adjacent the lower end of the filter element for discharging filtered particulate contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Inventor: James P. Sharkey
  • Patent number: 5569387
    Abstract: A system for treating wastewater and improving the quality of wastewater effluent by preventing solids from being discharged in the effluent is disclosed. Wastewater having a concentration of waste solids flows into a wastewater collection container through a waste-water inlet and solids are allowed to distribute into a lower horizontal sludge layer and an upper horizontal scum layer with a horizontal layer of liquid therebetween. A substantially upstanding elongate tube is immersed in the wastewater within the container and the interior of the tube is exposed to the horizontal layer of liquid through a plurality of inclined slots in the tube. Liquid flows from the horizontal liquid layer through the slots into the interior of the tube and thereafter through a liquid effluent outlet of the container. Preferably, the slots extend vertically along a majority of the depth of the wastewater in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Inventors: William C. Bowne, Gary L. Thorsby
  • Patent number: 5565110
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for improving the operation of a vacuum drum filter. A hollow and perforated shower roll is located at the top of a vacuum drum apparatus for drying and cleaning paper pulp. The interior of the shower roll is provided with a liquid distribution pipe having a plurality of spaced openings therealong, the pipe also having a substantially vertically extending dam which extends radially to adjacent the lower interior surface of the shower roll. In operation, rotation of the vacuum drum in a vat of paper pulp to be dewatered results in the continuous formation of layer of pulp on its exterior surface, the layer being compressed by the shower roll at the nip between the vacuum roll and the shower roll. Concurrently, the shower roll discharges or exudes water onto and into the pulp layer at the nip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: International Paper
    Inventors: C. Lamar Brady, Gary E. Keller
  • Patent number: 5560835
    Abstract: A self-cleaning filter apparatus for use in removing particulate matter from a transport fluid, such as air, which includes a housing having a pair of spaced pulleys over which an endless filter belt is positioned to present two generally straight filter reaches and two generally curved filter reaches. The endless filter belt includes a permeable substrate formed as an endless belt and a plurality of pleats of filter media extending outwardly from the surface of the substrate so that the transport fluid can pass inwardly therethrough an deposit the particulate material on the exterior surface of the pleats. A suction nozzle is positioned adjacent the outer surface of the endless filter at one of the curved reaches thereof for removing particulate matter deposited on the pleats as they pass along such curved reach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Pneumafil Corporation
    Inventor: Roger D. Williams
  • Patent number: 5558042
    Abstract: An aquaculture system is provided for filtering water and includes a filter rotatably carried in a container for receiving water to be filtered. The filter includes a porous resilient filter screen forming an outer layer of the filter for removing particulate from water passing through the filter screen. A vacuum cleaning device is positioned in direct contact with the resilient filter screen for removing particulate collected at the outer surface of the resilient filter screen. A water nozzle supplies a stream of water to the resilient filter screen to remove particulate therefrom not previously removed by the vacuum cleaning device. A rotation device is coupled to the filter to rotate the filter in the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Inventors: James E. Bradley, Duane C. Leach
  • Patent number: 5545318
    Abstract: A water valve inlet screen has a mesh network for filtering contaminates, and openings to allow water to pass through the inlet screen and into the valving cavity. Ribs of differing heights are formed on the mesh network to hold large particles away from the openings and allow water to flow around the particles. Additionally, the ribs increase the turbulence of water flow and, thus, reduce the stability of contaminates lodged on the ribs and encourage them away from the openings that they rest in front of. A flange is located on the downstream end of the inlet screen with serrations to provide openings for allowing water passage through the flange. Water passing through the flange encourages large particles to accumulate at the downstream end of the inlet screen, and leaves the upstream end of the inlet screen with fewer obstructions to block the free flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: James W. Richmond
  • Patent number: 5538630
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for refining waste water. The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet for receiving the waste water and an outlet for delivery of refined water; a cylindrical drum member rotatably mounted in the housing, the drum member having a radial thickness t between inside and outside surfaces thereof, a multiplicity of circularly cylindrical passages being formed in the drum member, the passages having a passage diameter d of approximately 0.75 inch, at least a portion of each passage terminating with the outside surface at a corner radius r of not more than approximately 0.002 inch; a vent for admitting air into the housing; and a drive for rotating the drum to a peripheral speed of at least 1000 feet per second, whereby molecules of the waste water are physically separated from the contaminants for forming the refined water, the refined water flowing from the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Inventor: James L. Burns
  • Patent number: 5527462
    Abstract: A self-cleaning pressure filter system including a housing having an unfiltered liquid inlet and a filtered liquid outlet, a filter element of substantially constant cross section having an interior communicating with the unfiltered liquid inlet and an exterior communicating with the filtered liquid outlet for filtering solids from the liquid and wherein filtered out solids are left in the interior of the filter element. A cleaning unit is moved axially along the interior of the filter element and carries at least one radially expansible, substantially annular cleaning member movable in an axial path along the interior face of the filter element for removing solids accumulated thereon. In an least one embodiment of the invention, the radially expansible cleaning member is a split ring circumferentially exhaustible by a spring member. In at least one embodiment of the invention, axial reciprocation of the cleaning member is achieved without need to reverse a rotating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 18, 1996
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott J. Davis, John D. Vander Ark
  • Patent number: 5460715
    Abstract: In a process for filtering plasma by separating blood into blood cells and plasma by a primary filter and filtering the separated plasma by a secondary filter to remove macromolecules from the plasma as harmful components, the loss of plasma to be discarded from the system by a procedure for eliminating plugging of the secondary filter can be diminished by opening an inner chamber of the secondary filter to the atmosphere to thereby lower the internal pressure of the chamber every time increase of the pressure to an upper limit value due to an increasing plugging tendency of the secondary filter is detected, and washing the interior of the secondary filter from the inner and outer chamber sides after the internal pressure has lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.
    Inventors: Akio Kawamura, Motoki Yonekawa, Eiji Sakashita, Hiroshi Kamogawa
  • Patent number: 5447630
    Abstract: A waste treatment system in which incoming waste is initially separated by a separator into solid and liquid components, without significantly emulsifying the solid components. The separator requires no energy to provide a solid waste component having a very small amount of liquid therein. The solid waste is then incinerated in a microwave reactor chamber which requires little energy, and which results in an extremely small amount of resulting ash, on the order of 0.1% of the incoming solid volume, with the solid treatment requiring little energy as a result of the effective separation accomplished by the separator. Optionally, a liquid treatment module can also be provided for removing any suspended solid remnants from the liquid component exiting the separator, with the liquid treatment module separating any suspended solids from the liquid component. The solid remnants removed from the liquid are also incinerated, with the liquid then subjected to further processing and purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: John M. Rummler
  • Patent number: 5427680
    Abstract: A processing wall is made part of a boundary of a continuous re-entrant lumen, another part of which is a return section. A free, wall conditioning shuttle circulates around this lumen, clearing accumulated material from the processing wall and returning through the return section to circulate again. While the shuttle is in the return section it blocks flow through the return section and while the shuttle is circulating through the processing wall a blocking structure blocks flow through the return section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5397465
    Abstract: A filter including one or more regenerative plates which can be moved along the surfaces of filter grids to simultaneously create turbulence and physically dislodge a filter media cake within the filter by use of an externally extending driver rod, so as to regenerate the filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Jacuzzi Inc.
    Inventor: Howard M. Stewart
  • Patent number: 5362403
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus and a method for discharging filter cake from a filtration vessel of the filtration apparatus, the method including loosening filter cake from filter elements of a filtration vessel; conveying the loosened filter cake from the filter vessel towards a discharge shaft, which discharge shaft is in pressure communication with the filter vessel, is vertically disposed, and includes a bottom end having closure means; sensing the height of the filter cake within the discharge shaft; and cyclically opening and closing the closure means thereby discharging the filter cake by pressing or blowing out the filter cake due to the pressure within discharge shaft, the closure means being opened for a period of open time in response to sensing a selected maximum height of filter cake within the discharge shaft whereafter the closure means is closed automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Inventor: Martin Dosoudil
  • Patent number: 5360572
    Abstract: A porous light-weight getter which collects particulate and molecular contaminates that is believed a significant improvement over the prior art is provided in which a metal mesh matrix is coated with a low-density porous aerogel. In the prior art bare metal mesh matrices have been employed as getters, which are subject to ablation from high-velocity contaminant particles. In the composite getter of the present invention, the low-density aerogel coating protects the enclosed metal matrix from ablation and also can attract and hold the incoming high-velocity particle. On its part, the metal mesh provides reinforcing support to the aerogel covering and also good thermal conductivity therein so that such covering can be cooled to the low temperatures that attract such contaminants. The invention further provides method for manufacture of the composite getters of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Steven P. Hotaling, Deidra A. Dykeman
  • Patent number: 5350526
    Abstract: A filtration apparatus specifically intended for removing particulate contaminants from commercial laundry waste water has at least one porous mesh-like filter bag coupled between an inlet manifold for receiving waste water containing particulate contaminants and an outlet manifold for discharging the particulate contaminants separated from the waste water. The filter bag is agitated by a paddle, so as to prevent the mesh-like material of the filter bag from being clogged. Also disclosed is a method for filtering waste water containing particulate contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1994
    Assignee: James P. Sharkey
    Inventors: James P. Sharkey, Richard Bonasera
  • Patent number: 5342514
    Abstract: A filter (10) comprises a stack of flat rectangular filtrate-collecting chambers (12) defined by sheets (26) of stainless steel filter medium, and connected via respective thyristors (54, 58) to a power supply (50). Anode plates (14) are arranged between adjacent chambers (12). At intervals a current (of for example 1000A) is supplied to each chamber (12) in turn such that it is a cathode, for a short time sufficient to remove any fouling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
    Inventors: Andrew D. Turner, Stanley D. Derham, Peter C. Lovegrove
  • Patent number: 5308486
    Abstract: A multi-deck filter comprising a plurality of filter plates arranged horizontally one above another which are held in parallel planes by respective frames surrounding them. A filtrate chamber and a sludge chamber are formed in each case alternately between adjacent filter plates and frames. A filter belt, which is moveable stepwise by a transport device, is positioned between two pairs of filter plates. The filter belt is unwound from a supply roll positioned outside of the multi-deck filter and, after removal of the dirt filter cake, collected by the multi-deck filter wound onto a collecting roll. A scraper, which contacts the surface of the filter belt, is positioned transversely and obliquely to the filter belt between multi-deck filter and collecting roll, for scraping off the dirt filter cake from the filter belt. An abutment positioned below the filter belt is associated with the scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Burkhard Heintze, Josef Triesch
  • Patent number: 5292074
    Abstract: A rigid primary conduit directs fluid into an arcuate manifold. The arcuate manifold includes a concave surface having a plurality of spray nozzles directed into the manifold in fluid communication with the primary conduit to direct individual spray applications about the surface of an associated pool filter to enhance cleaning thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventors: Steven J. Clark, Evelyn J. Clark
  • Patent number: 5286376
    Abstract: A filter medium is provide in a tubular structure configured in the form of a closed loop. Filter maintenance structures mounted on a continuous string lying within the lumen of the tubular structure are continually driven over the surface of a filter medium to maintain an optimum condition of the filter surface. This string with attached filter maintenance structures is driven around the loop of the tubular structure by hydraulic forces generated by the fluid introduced into the apparatus for filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5284581
    Abstract: A processing wall is made part of a boundary of a continuous reentrant lumen, and wall conditioning runners circulate around this lumen to dislodge accumulated material from the processing wall and thereby continually restore the wall to the condition required for efficient operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 8, 1994
    Inventor: Robert A. Benson
  • Patent number: 5279734
    Abstract: A filtration system for use in a settling tank includes a star shaped filter having equally spaced radial panels with the filter septums forming the downwardly extending sidewalls of each panel or compartment. The framework of the filter allows radial removal of the filter septums for cleaning and maintenance. A unique pressurized wet seal seals the filter to a clean liquid vacuum delivery duct and can also seal the system pump in the settling tank to the vacuum duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Inventor: Barry A. Nehls
  • Patent number: 5275024
    Abstract: A wire-type pulp washing machine includes an endless moving foraminous wire which extends about a breast roll defining an on-running end and a couch roll defining an off-running end with a generally horizontal upper run of the wire extending between the rolls with showers providing a counter-current washer. The endless wire forms a wire return run having a horizontal wire section beneath the upper run. Pulp which has been washed on the upper counter-current washer may be removed and subjected to a chemical action, such as a bleaching action, and then reapplied to a horizontal return run section of the wire by a headbox to form a pulp mat on the inside surface of the wire. This pulp mat is subject to further countercurrent washing by the application of wash water to an upper surface of the mat and by draining of the wash water through the wire by suction boxes. This wash water may advantageously be applied as the wash water to the last stage of the counter-current washer along the upper run.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: The Black Clawson Company
    Inventor: Clinton R. Parks
  • Patent number: 5246580
    Abstract: An improved method for separating solid particles from liquids, such as dewatering and thickening of sludge collected in a container (1), involves the use of at least one drainage unit (9) having doubled screened jacket walls (25, 26) defining a dewatering chamber (10). The liquid relieved of solids within the chamber is subjected to a turbulent motion acting against said screened jacket walls for obstruction of the solids deposition at the wall surfaces of the chamber facing the sludge in the container. The turbulent motion is obtained by a forced fluid F introduced in the chamber through one or more tubes (30, 31). The fluid may favourably be in form of compressed air or water returned from the reject system (14, 16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Inventor: Hans Stedfeldt
  • Patent number: 5240606
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide automated collection and transfer of particles from a liquid suspension to a glass slide for visual examination. A solution which contains particles, for example cells, is drawn through a filter element so that particles too large to pass through the filter element collect against a first surface of the filter element. A transfer fluid, such as alcohol, is applied from a second surface of the filter element to the first surface, to transfer cells from the filter element to a glass slide positioned adjacent the filter element. An alternative transfer mechanism applies a selected pneumatic signal to the filter element for transferring collected cells to the viewing slide. The apparatus includes a device for dispersing the liquid suspension of particles prior to the collection process and particles collect against the filter element with a spatial distribution advantageous for visual examination. The transfer operation maintains this spatial distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Cytyc Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley N. Lapidus, Lewis T. Polk, Jr., Fredric L. Farber, J. Morgan Barlas, Anne A. Hurley
  • Patent number: 5178759
    Abstract: A method for removing a liquid stripper composition from a slurry comprised of the liquid stripper composition and of photoresist film particles which were removed from a circuit board substrate by using the liquid stripper composition. The slurry flows over the inner surface of the porous wall of a drum under gravity to form a generally uniform layer on the inner surface of the drum. Liquid escapes from the slurry through the porous wall of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1993
    Inventors: Marshall I. Gurian, James R. Carter
  • Patent number: 5174966
    Abstract: A laboratory device and method are adapted to subject a same rock sample to successive liquid treatments without any intermediary handling of the sample. The device combines a chamber comprising a first part fitted with an inlet for introducing a rock sample and liquid reagents into the chamber; a heater for regulating the temperature in the chamber and a plug fitted within an open port for protecting the chamber from an overpressure. The first part also comprises means for stirring the contents of the chamber including a liquid by introducing gas as bubbles into the liquid. A second part of the chamber is located under the first part and a selective filtering unit is interposed between the first and second parts of the chamber, the filter has a porosity selected for retaining organic material contained in the sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1992
    Assignee: Institut Francis du Petrole
    Inventors: Bernard Durand, Thierry Lesage, Jean-Claude Monin, Jean-Max Charpentier
  • Patent number: 5167839
    Abstract: An improved conveyor system for machine tool cleaning applications comprises a sump internal to a machine tool, a recirculating system in fluid communication with the sump, a hinge belt conveyor, portions of which are interposed between the sump and the recirculating system for removing coarse solids from the fluid, and a fine filter interposed between the sump and the recirculating system for removing fine solids from the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: H & W Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Kemble Widmer, II, George F. Coogan, Bobby L. Heffner, Bryce E. Bairey
  • Patent number: 5167813
    Abstract: Disclosed are a process for laminating a functionally gradient material and a laminating apparatus for the same. The process therefor includes a suspending step and a functionally gradient material laminating step. In the functionally gradient material laminating step, solid-liquid separation is carried out to a suspension while varying the mixing rates of the suspension particles contained therein continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner. Therefore, the functionally gradient material layer thus laminated offers a composition gradient varying continuously or in a multi-staged stepwise manner in the thicknesswise direction thereof in a superior continuity, and the composition fluctuates less in the planewise direction thereof. In addition, the process and the laminating apparatus have obviated the atomizing and the spraying which adversely affect a working environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1992
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Nagao Kogyo
    Inventors: Masashi Iwata, Won-Deok Yi, Niichi Hayashi, Shigeo Watanabe, Norio Ota
  • Patent number: 5160616
    Abstract: Filtering apparatus for the separation of microparticles such as bacteria has two planar sheets each with an array of laser drilled or etched pores. One or both of the sheets can be displaced relative to the other under feedback control to bring the pores into greater or lesser register. The effective pore size is thus varied to provide controlled selectivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1992
    Assignee: Public Health Laboratory Service Board
    Inventor: B. C. Blake-Coleman
  • Patent number: 5156749
    Abstract: A dewatering system for use in the treatment of waste water is disclosed which includes a tank, an inclined filter bed having a plurality of filter elements and components for inducing a flow of air through the filter bed to accelerate drying of the removed solids. Also disclosed are components for adjusting the angle of inclination of the filter bed and mechanical components for removing solids from the filter elements. In one embodiment, the filter bed is disposed within an upper unit mounted for rotation on the tank floor to facilitate cleaning of the filters. Adjusting the angle of inclination of the filter bed provides access from the frame, below, for cleaning the underside of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Inventor: Jack R. Williams
  • Patent number: 5143627
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide automated collection and transfer of particles from a liquid suspension to a glass slide for visual examination. A solution which contains particles, for example cells, is drawn through a filter element so that particles too large to pass through the filter element collect against a first surface of the filter element. A transfer fluid, such as alcohol, is applied from a second surface of the filter element to the first surface, to transfer cells from the filter element to a glass slide positioned adjacent the filter element. An alternative transfer mechanism applies a selected pneumatic signal to the filter element for transferring collected cells to the viewing slide. The apparatus includes a device for dispersing the liquid suspension of particles prior to the collection process and particles collect against the filter element with a spatial distribution advantageous for visual examination. The transfer operation maintains this spatial distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1992
    Assignee: Cytyc Corporation
    Inventors: Stanley N. Lapidus, Lewis T. Polk, Jr., Fredric L. Farber, J. Morgan Barlas, Anne A. Hurley
  • Patent number: 5133863
    Abstract: An improved stripping device effectively strips filter cake from the belt of a rotary belt filter while avoiding damage to the belt. A cross bar type body extends transversely to the filter belt and scrapers for the belt are fixed to the body and directed towards the belt. The cross bar type body is part of a tilting device which pivots about a transverse shaft arranged parallel to the cross bar type. The body is subjected to force in the form of a weight whose center of gravity is between the transverse shaft and the belt and which acts against the direction of movement of the belt. A acts against the direction of the force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1992
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans G. Zander
  • Patent number: 5112481
    Abstract: A fluid filter comprising a housing having a central aperture formed in the bottom thereof, a filter element rotatably disposed in the housing and arranged to receive a flow of fluid to be filtered from an upstream side of the element to a downstream side thereof, and a fluid inlet and outlet manifold disposed at the bottom of the housing in communication with the central aperture for providing fluid inlet and outlet communication through said aperture with a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet. The filter element is supplied with filter aid material which is periodically regenerated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1992
    Inventor: Mordeki Drori
  • Patent number: 5102534
    Abstract: Automatic filter cleaning device for liquid circuits, including at least one filter in the passage of the liquid. The device includes a filter situated above a decanting tank for impurities so that its upstream wall is turned towards the tank, while an ultrasound generator is provided to generate ultrasounds in the decanting tank and is connected by a modulator to a projection of a sidewall of the tank. Advantageously, a liquid circuit branch conduit with a branch circuit control valve is provided in order to short-circuit, at least in part, the filtration assembly comprised of the filter and the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1992
    Inventor: Andre Gabet
  • Patent number: 5071567
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously supplying and recycling machining liquid in an EDM device employ a filter between a liquid reservoir and a machining location at which the liquid is used. In one embodiment of the invention a buffer reservoir is provided between the filter and the machining location, while in another embodiment a second filter is connected in parallel with the first-mentioned filter. In either case, an assured alternative supply of filtered liquid is provided while the filter is repeatedly stopped and started in response to one or more operating parameters representing a degree of filter clogging. The stopping of the partially-clogged filter unexpectedly permits self-regeneration of the filter without the need for dismounting or backflushing for cleaning; even though cleaning is not performed, the repeated stopping by itself extends the useful life of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Charmilles Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Francois Corcelle, Omar Moussli
  • Patent number: 5061380
    Abstract: The invention is a screening device suitable for screening a liquid material having solid matter suspended in it, which comprises a number of sets of discs, the discs of each set being rigidly mounted on a shaft, with the discs on each shaft being separated from one another axially, means mounting the shafts about parallel axes, with the discs of adjacent shafts being interleaved with one another and means to cause the shafts to rotate independently in the same rotational sense such that successive shafts rotate progressively faster to cause the solid matter suspended in the liquid material to be moved in a direction from the slowest shaft to the fastest shaft. The device is used particularly in sewage processing plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Mono Pumps Limited
    Inventor: Christopher Stevenson
  • Patent number: 5039412
    Abstract: A high speed stock thickener has a foraminous endless wire. The stock thickener is of the type in which an open mesh endless wire is trained over a pair of rolls and paper stock to be thickened is applied between the wire and the rolls and is carried on an inside surface of the wire for dewatering, particularly at the regions where the stock is carried between the wire and a roll. The improved wire is formed with a width greater than that of the rolls with a marginal edge of the wire extending beyond the face of the rolls. A guide belt is attached at each of the marginal edges of the wire and runs with a side wall in engagement with the end of the adjacent roll. The guide belts are attached to the wire by an adhesive bond between the backs of the belts and the adjacent wire surfaces, and by a continous thread which is sewn through each belt from the bottom of the belt and through the back thereof and into the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1991
    Assignee: The Black Clawson Company
    Inventor: Paul G. Marsh
  • Patent number: 5021159
    Abstract: In apparatus for thickening a suspension of pulp material which includes an endless foraminous belt wrapping two spaced horizontally supported rolls, a special doctor mechanism is provided for transferring thickened pulp from the bare surface of the second roll into a trough mounted in the space bounded by the two rolls and the upper and lower runs of the belt. More specifically, the doctor mechanism includes a rigid doctor blade mounted with its working edge in close but spaced relation with the bare surface of the roll to remove pulp therefrom without contact with the roll surface. Provision is also made for periodically oscillating the blade about a horizontal axis to move its working edge away from and back to its closely spaced working relation with the roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: The Black Clawson Company
    Inventors: Terry L. Bliss, David E. Chupka, Christopher E. McCarthy, Larry J. Walters