Selective Directive Flow Relative To Filter Patents (Class 210/420)
  • Patent number: 10617977
    Abstract: An outside-in liquid purification system includes a housing and a cartridge. The housing defines an interior space and includes an inlet, an outlet, walls extending between a top side and a bottom side, and an unfiltered volume. The cartridge is disposed within the interior space and includes a top cap adjacent the top side of the housing configured to direct liquid that enters the interior space to the unfiltered volume and a filter having an annular shape and extending between the top cap and the bottom side of the housing such that no portion of the unfiltered volume is below the filter with the filter defining a hollow vertical column such that liquid flows from the unfiltered volume through the filter into the column and then downward out of the housing through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin Edward Roach, Michael Anthony Ziska
  • Patent number: 10571936
    Abstract: A device for forming at least part of a head part of a liquid treatment apparatus is arranged to receive a connecting head of a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge and includes at least one ratio-setting valve. The ratio-setting valve is provided with at least two first ports, each placeable in essentially sealed liquid communication with respective cartridge ports of a connecting head of a replaceable liquid treatment cartridge inserted into the device, and with at least one second port. The ratio-setting valve includes at least one movable regulating part for setting a volumetric flow rate ratio between a first flow of liquid between a first of the first ports and the at least one second port and a second flow of liquid between a second of the first ports and the at least one second port at any of a plurality of values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: BRITA GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Zöller
  • Patent number: 9713782
    Abstract: A filter has first and second fittings, a permeable filter medium, and a housing. The housing defines a fluid flow path within the housing between the first and second fittings, and the permeable filter medium is arranged in the fluid flow path to remove one or more substances from a fluid flowing along the fluid flow path. A reservoir is positioned in an upper region of the housing and includes a wall surrounding the first and second fittings of the filter. Each of the fittings has a topmost portion and the wall of the reservoir has a topmost portion, the topmost portion of each filter fitting being at or below the topmost portion of the reservoir wall. A filter arrangement may include a filter and a manifold assembly having first and second fittings which may be sealingly coupled to or uncoupled from the first and second fittings of the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Lam, Jacob Peter Vanderheyden, Mark William Foohey, Tatsuya Hoshino
  • Patent number: 9687764
    Abstract: Audible features are provided for a fluid filter assembly and a filter cartridge for use with a fluid filter assembly. The audible features generate sound when the filter cartridge is installed in the filter system so as to provide a signal indicating proper installation. Sound can also be created when the filter cartridge is removed. The filter system can also be provided with features for reducing clogging of the fluid path leading to the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Reinhard Krause, Gregory Sergeevich Chernov, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Kevin Farrelly Nolan
  • Patent number: 8986539
    Abstract: In an inside-out flow filter, a transition pressure recovery member is provided at the inlet and has structured contoured guide surfaces guiding fluid flow therealong into the hollow interior of an annular filter element to minimize transition pressure loss from the inlet to the hollow interior. The transition pressure recovery member includes transition flow deceleration surfaces gradually decelerating flow of fluid into the hollow interior and minimizing pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP Inc.
    Inventors: Peter K. Herman, Bradley A. Smith, Benjamin L. Scheckel
  • Patent number: 8888998
    Abstract: A head for a water filter system having a filter element including a three-way valve member movable between a first position, a second position, and a third position. When the valve member is in the first position, incoming water is directed to the filter element to remove sediment and impurities from the water. When the valve member is in the second position, the incoming water is blocked from passing through the filter element and the valve member. Lastly, when the valve member is in the third position, the incoming water passes through the valve member and not the filter element so that the filter element can be removed and replaced without interrupting the incoming water flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Paragon Water Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: David Swain
  • Patent number: 8877056
    Abstract: A potable water distribution system for use in aircraft, as well as potable water systems of boats, recreational vehicles/caravans, residential homes, dental offices, laboratories, vending machines, and the like, provides for sanitizing of the system without opening filter and/or purification units and removing filtering and/or purifying cartridges from the filter and/or purification units during the sanitizing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: General Ecology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard T. Williams, Carl Beiswenger
  • Publication number: 20140263085
    Abstract: A continuously-operable flow stream processing system and method has two or more fluid processing media arranged in a fluid conduit network to provide alternate flow paths for a flow stream to be processed (e.g. filtered). Valves and other flow control devices, e.g. controller module and sensors, are used to redirect the flow stream from one or more service-needed fluid processing media to service-ready fluid processing media without taking the system offline to remove, repair, replace, clean in situ, or otherwise service the service-needed fluid processing media, so that the system may operate continuously to process the flow stream without stoppage. Redirection into alternative flow paths and media may be automatically implemented based on a predetermined threshold or trigger condition, such as may be detected by sensors directly or indirectly monitoring media condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Mark A. Mitchell, Brian Anderson
  • Patent number: 8746283
    Abstract: Faucet diverter valves for use, for example, with faucets and water filtration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Aquasana, Inc.
    Inventors: Steffen Koury, James McGee, Chien Hun Yang
  • Patent number: 8746003
    Abstract: A water filter assembly, and a refrigerator and a water purifier having the same, including: a manifold having a inflow path through which raw water flows in and an outflow path through which filtered water flows out; a case supporting the manifold; and a filter cartridge coupled to a lower side of the case such that it is separable and connected with the outflow port of the manifold, wherein a fluid flow control unit is installed between the manifold and the filter cartridge and rotates according to a rotation of the filter cartridge, the center of the rotation is the same as the center of an outlet of the filter cartridge, and the fluid flow control unit includes a disk having a connection hole allowing the raw water inflow path and an inlet of the filter cartridge to communicate only at a certain position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: WINIMAX Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul Min Yoon
  • Patent number: 8727134
    Abstract: A sealing device (24) of a filter system (10) for filtering fluids, in particular of a motor vehicle, with a sealing ring (26) is described. The sealing ring (26) serves to seal a pipe (16), in particular a central pipe of a filter housing (12), that penetrates through a flange-sided opening (18) of an end plate (20), in particular of an end element of a filter element (14). The sealing ring (26) features a central section (58) that connects it with the end plate (20). The sealing ring (26) features in its axial direction on both sides of the central section (58) elastic sealing sections (60, 62) which cause each a reduction of the inner diameter of the sealing ring (26) compared with the central section (58).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Jokschas, Marco Schweikart, Martin Weindorf
  • Publication number: 20140124460
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of filtering a feed and waste water treatment system using the filtration method. The method utilizes a filtration cake for the filtration, which filtration cake is formed by elements contained in a liquid having a different composition than the feed to the filtered. The invention relates in particular to a method for filtering a liquid containing solid particles of different sizes which utilizes a filtration cake formed at least partly and preferably only from particles contained in said liquid containing solid particles of different sizes. The particles of the filtration cake are deposited on a filtration cake support and the method involves separation of the liquid containing solid particles of different sizes into two fractions: one fraction containing solid particles above a certain size and one containing smaller particles, and filtering the fraction containing smaller particles through the filtration cake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: GRUNDFOS HOLDING A/S
    Inventors: Dominik Marek Dominiak, Tom Bjerregaard Jæger
  • Publication number: 20140083951
    Abstract: A filter assembly includes a filter body, a removable filter cartridge, and a bypass valve with incinerable and non-incinerable portions. The bypass valve includes a valve seat and a movable valve closure element removable with the removable filter cartridge and incinerable. The bypass valve includes a return member remaining in the filter body. A method is provided for controlling bypass valve-opening threshold pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: CUMMINS FILTRATION IP, INC.
    Inventors: Gerard Malgorn, Ismail Bagci
  • Publication number: 20140027372
    Abstract: A multiple flow faucet with passages having at least one base part installed in a mounting element, and a pivoting spout rotatably attached thereto, with at least a cold water line and a filtered water line. The filtered water line has at least one liquid-tight rotatable disconnection point at one or more of the passages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Inventors: Dieter KEITER, Matthias SCHLUETER, Martin WEISS
  • Publication number: 20140021127
    Abstract: A filtration element for filtering a fluid medium comprising a rigid porous support of cylindrical shape having a longitudinal central axis (A) and comprising a plurality of channels for the circulation of the fluid medium to be filtered with a view to recovering a filtrate at the periphery of the support. The channels are parallel to a central axis of the support. The channels have at least three filtration crowns, characterized in that at the three crowns closest to the periphery of the support there is at least a substantial alignment of 3 adjacent axes among the axes of the flow and connection paths and the axes of the channels, which favors the mechanical strength of the support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: TECHNOLOGIES AVANCEES MEMBRANES INDUSTRIELLES
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Publication number: 20130292322
    Abstract: A filter element (32) and a filter device (10). The filter element (32) can be arranged in a filter housing (16) of the filter device. The filter element (32) has an annular closed filter medium (34) connected with at least at one end face with an end member (36, 38). An annular anti-drain membrane (44) opens and closes at least one fluid opening (26) of the filter housing (16) amd is arranged on the side of the at least one end member (38) that is facing away from the filter element (34). The surface of the contact section (60) of the anti-drain membrane (44) has at least one relief-like adhesion disturbance area (64) for disturbing an adhesion of the anti-drain membrane (44) to the contact section (60).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: Andrés Moreno Linares, Florentin Van Uffelen, Silke Miess, Gerhard Seidler, Marco Goedecke
  • Patent number: 8568585
    Abstract: A water distribution system including a water storage tank, a water treatment unit, a diverter valve, and interconnecting water conduits arranged so that the same water treatment unit can be used to treat water supplied from a fill port to the storage tank during a fill operation, as well as water leaving the storage tank for supply to one or more points of water use during a supply operation. A diverter valve is provided which is movable between a fill position wherein the water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the fill port and not the point of water use device, and a supply position wherein the water treatment unit is in fluid communication with the at least one point of water use device and not the fill port. When the diverter valve is in the fill position, water supplied to the fill port can thus flow through the diverter valve and to the water treatment unit for treatment then to the storage tank for storage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: International Water-Guard Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter Daniel Nolan
  • Publication number: 20130277295
    Abstract: A coreless and spirally wound non-woven filter element is provided. The filter element includes at least one band of base media having a selected porosity and an interlay having a different porosity within at least one band of base media. The presence of the interlay in the filter element can create additional surface area within the contiguous construction of a filter element for filtration. This interlay can also create the ability to change direction of flow and to increase the deposition of specifically sized contaminants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Dan Cloud, John A. Krogue
  • Patent number: 8505741
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water filter, having a filter head and an interchangeable filter cartridge, with a blend-adjusting element which is located on the filter cartridge. The water filter is distinguished in that during the operation of installing the interchangeable filter cartridge in the filter head, the blend-adjusting element is positioned together with the filter cartridge on the filter head via adjustable or fixed drivers. In a further embodiment, the water filter is distinguished in that an adjusting device comprises an untreated-water distribution element arranged in or on the filter head and a partial-flow channel guiding element which is complementary with respect thereto and is arranged in or on the filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme GmbH, Lindau Zweigniederlassung Rebstein
    Inventors: Roland Scholz, Andreas Wawrla
  • Patent number: 8499939
    Abstract: A coreless and spirally wound non-woven filter element is provided. The filter element includes at least one band of base media having a selected porosity and an interlay having a different porosity within at least one band of base media. The presence of the interlay in the filter element can create additional surface area within the contiguous construction of a filter element for filtration. This interlay can also create the ability to change direction of flow and to increase the deposition of specifically sized contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Perry Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Dan Cloud, John A. Krogue
  • Patent number: 8491797
    Abstract: Devices, apparatus, systems and methods for preventing backflow current problems which often have caused debris and litter to pass out of screen type baskets used in storm water treatment systems. A half size or full size pivoting panel at the input end of a basket screen system placed in a storm water treatment chamber can downwardly divert incoming storm water so as to prevent back flow currents from being formed. The pivoting panel can work well during high flow conditions. A half size or full size pylon located in the input end of the basket screen can split and divert incoming storm water to also prevent back flow currents from also being formed. The pylon can work well during low flow conditions. Also, both the half pivoting panel and the half pylon can both be used at the input end of the screen basket. Still furthermore a gap in the floor before the input end of the screen basket can allow for sediment coming to pass down and collect beneath the screen basket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Inventor: Tom Happel
  • Patent number: 8491854
    Abstract: A test tube insert includes a flange having a width greater than a width of a mouth of a larger test tube into which the insert is to be inserted. The flange defines a first central opening. An annulus extends integrally downward from the flange. The annulus includes a fenestrated wall and a floor defining a second central opening. A small test tube body, smaller than the larger test tube, extends integrally downward from the floor of the annulus with the second central opening forming a mouth of the small test tube body. The test tube insert is disposed in the mouth of the larger test tube. Fluid is transferred through the central opening and the fluid fills the small test tube body of the test tube insert and flows through the fenestrated wall once the small test tube body is full into the larger test tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: King Saud University
    Inventor: Abdullah Khalid Al-Rasheed
  • Patent number: 8425862
    Abstract: The system has a plurality of dishes (1) for receiving at least one sample, each dish having a perforated base (2) enabling liquid reagents or solutions to pass continuously therethrough, the dishes being superposed in a confining tube (5); a circuit (50) for the continuous outflow of the solutions originating from distinct reservoirs (17); a multipath electrovalve (15); an electric pump (13); and a member for controlling and commanding the pump (13) and the multipath electrovalve (15) in a sequential and coordinated manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite Joseph Fourier
    Inventor: Jacques Lucien Thelu
  • Patent number: 8398853
    Abstract: A water purifying system having a bypass path supplies raw water to an outlet when a filter assembly is separated from a valve assembly. The water purifying system includes a valve assembly having a valve cover with an inlet and an outlet, and a head member moved up and down within the valve cover to form an inflow path and an outflow path, and a filter assembly removably connected to the valve assembly and mounted with a filter. When the filter assembly is connected to the valve assembly through a linear motion, the filter assembly advances the head member so that a fluid flown in through the inlet is guided to the outlet passing through the filter. When the filter assembly is separated from the valve assembly, the head member is retreated so that the fluid flown through the inlet is guided to the outlet bypassing the filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae Koog An, Sang Min Park, Young Gwl Park
  • Patent number: 8377291
    Abstract: A water recycling system that can be used for reclaiming and recycling water, waste water, or grey water, for providing landscape irrigation, or for recycling uses such as for sanitary facilities, as well as for pre-heating clean water to save energy. A water recycling system may include a sealable tank, an influx pipe, a self-clearing filter disposed within the tank, a pump, and an effluent pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Eckman Environmental Corporation
    Inventor: Noadiah S. Eckman
  • Publication number: 20130026101
    Abstract: Fluid filtration systems and methods thereof to filter fluid in a first directional mode and a second directional mode are disclosed. Fluid filtration systems and methods thereof include a first directional mode, a second directional mode, and a filter unit. The filter unit includes a filter housing unit and a filter chamber disposed in the filter unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Wayne J. Schmidt, John A. Thompson, John H. Stewart
  • Patent number: 8337701
    Abstract: Intravenous fluid filter devices including a filter comprising spaced apart first and second filter elements comprising hydrophilic membranes and providing inside-out flow, and methods of using the devices, are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Martin, Jeffrey J. Toma
  • Patent number: 8277656
    Abstract: The filter device is provided with a housing (1) and with a stack of filter plates (10, 11) arranged therein at a spacing from one another. The housing includes an inlet (7) for the fluid to be filtered, an outlet (9) for the filtrate which is connected in a conducting manner to the inside of the filter plates (10, 11), and a cavity extending through the stack and formed by recesses in the filter plates (10, 11). The filter plate stack is arranged fixed to the housing, and a centrifugal pump (14) with several impellers (15) is arranged within the filter plate stack. This pump ensures an intensive through-flow of the filter plate stack and thus a removal of the filter residues.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Grundfos Management A/S
    Inventor: Christian Rasmussen
  • Patent number: 8268179
    Abstract: A liquid vacuuming and filtering device may include a container having a sealed interior, a vacuum pump connected to the interior, a two-way valve connected to the interior, a flexible hose connected to the valve, a filter positioned within the interior and connected to the valve and a standpipe positioned within the interior and connected to the valve. The pump may be adjusted to a filling configuration, in which the pump evacuates the container interior to a pressure below ambient, causing fluid to be drawn through the hose, valve, and filter, which collects suspended particulates; or to a discharge configuration, in which the pump pressurizes the interior to a pressure above ambient, wherein the valve is adjusted to allow filtered fluid within the container to flow through the standpipe, valve and out through the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Exair Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan Peters
  • Patent number: 8252173
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water filter, having a filter head and an interchangeable filter cartridge, with a blend-adjusting element which is located on the filter cartridge. The water filter is distinguished in that during the operation of installing the interchangeable filter cartridge in the filter head, the blend-adjusting element is positioned together with the filter cartridge on the filter head via adjustable or fixed drivers. In a further embodiment, the water filter is distinguished in that an adjusting device comprises an untreated-water distribution element arranged in or on the filter head and a partial-flow channel guiding element which is complementary with respect thereto and is arranged in or on the filter cartridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme GmbH, Lindau Zweigniederlassung Rebstein
    Inventors: Roland Scholz, Andreas Wawrla
  • Publication number: 20120187037
    Abstract: A filter element includes filter media, first and second end caps, a latch arrangement projecting from the first end cap, a tubular neck extending from the first end cap and a valve head oriented within the first end cap aperture constructed and arranged to move between a position sealing the first end cap aperture and exposing the first end cap aperture. A filter assembly includes a filter element, as characterized herein, and including a filter base and a service cover. A method of servicing includes removing an old filter element, operably mounting a new filter element in a filter base including engaging a valve head against a spring member in the filter base, and operably mounting the service cover over the new filter element and filter base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2012
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventor: JOHN R. HACKER
  • Publication number: 20120145625
    Abstract: A liquid filter assembly is provided. The assembly includes a liquid filter cartridge and a housing. The liquid filter cartridge, includes, among other things, first and second, opposite, end caps each having a central aperture therethrough. A seal arrangement including a radially directed seal is mounted on a seal support of the first end cap that projects away from the second end cap. The cartridge includes a seal mount configured to define a seal plane non-orthogonal to a central axis of the cartridge. The housing includes a filter head and a housing sidewall. The filter head includes a filter head having a body, a top cover and a bottom aperture opposite the top cover. The housing extends through the bottom aperture. The cartridge as described is installed in the housing, with an end cap radially sealed against a tube in a bottom of the housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 14, 2012
    Applicant: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Angelo Schiavon, Mauro Cantoni, Andrey Zanettin, Claudio Formica
  • Patent number: 8182676
    Abstract: A gas baffle for a waste water treatment plant filter housing that includes a first and second deflecting plate. The gas baffle has at least one flow-through opening defined by the first and second deflecting plates. The combination of the first and second deflecting plates deflects rising gas bubbles and any solid particulates so that the bubbles and particulates do not enter the filter housing. The gas baffle may include exterior apertures to dissipate the rising gas bubbles that travel on the bottom surface of each deflecting plate. The gas baffle may be integrally formed with the filter housing or created separately and subsequently connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Bear Onsite, LLC
    Inventor: Theophilus B. Terry, III
  • Patent number: 8153001
    Abstract: A liquid vacuuming and filtering device may include a container having an interior sealed from the ambient, a vacuum pump in communication with the interior, a two-way valve connected to the container interior, a flexible hose connected to the valve, a filter positioned within the container interior and connected to the valve and a standpipe positioned within the interior and connected to the valve. The vacuum pump may be adjusted to a filling configuration in which the pump evacuates the container interior to a pressure below ambient, which causes fluid to be drawn through the hose, valve and through the filter, which may collect particulates that contaminate the fluid. Filtered fluid then collects within the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Exair Corporation
    Inventor: Bryan Peters
  • Patent number: 8105485
    Abstract: A filtering device for filtering liquids in internal combustion engines has a filter housing and a filter element inserted into the filter housing. A cover disk closes off the filter housing. The cover disk consists of two individual disks and a central flow connection connects the two individual disks. The two individual disks and the flow connection form a common plastic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kolczyk, Dieter Amesöder, Sven Epli, Michael Thienel, Michael Wein, Luiz Carlos Fritz, Dieter Schreckenberger, Marco Woitoll, Thomas Petschl, Matthias Teschner
  • Patent number: 7997293
    Abstract: According to various aspects, exemplary embodiments are provided of valve apparatus and combination filter valve assemblies. One exemplary embodiment provides a combination filter valve apparatus suitable for filtering objectionable particulate matter from a fluid and for selectively occluding a fluid flow opening. In this exemplary embodiment, the apparatus generally includes an outer member, a sealing member, and filtration media disposed generally between the outer member and the sealing member. The filtration media may be configured to generally support the sealing member for resilient movement relative to a fluid flow opening between open and closed positions. In the open position, the sealing member may be spaced apart from the fluid flow opening. In the closed position, the sealing member may be in sealing engagement with and substantially blocking the fluid flow opening, thereby inhibiting the ingress of fluid into or egress of fluid out of the fluid flow opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Filtertek, Inc.
    Inventor: Ricky R. Ruschke
  • Patent number: 7946430
    Abstract: A fuel filtration apparatus for use in an internal combustion engine comprises an interrupter valve in a flow path from an inlet port of a filter head to a compliant filter. The interrupter valve has an open state and a closed state. In the open state a protruding member of the filter depresses a bottom end of the valve and opens the flow path when the compliant filter is connected to the filter head. The interrupter valve also has a closed state wherein the flow path is closed in the absence of the protruding member of the filter (as with a non-compliant filter).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles W. Hawkins, Zemin Jiang, Yiming Jiang, Barry M. Verdegan
  • Patent number: 7810650
    Abstract: A faucet mounted water filtration system includes a base defining an inlet and a plurality of outlets. The base at least partially defines a filter compartment configured to house a filter cartridge. A first valve assembly is positioned within the base and defines a first passage and a second passage. A valve stem is movably positioned within the first passage. With the valve stem in a first position, the first passage provides fluid communication between the inlet and a first outlet and with the valve stem in a second position the second passage provides fluid communication between the inlet and the filter compartment. A body is rotatably coupled to the base and includes a first cam configured to urge the valve stem from the first position to the second position as the body rotates with respect to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brandon L. Ennis, James Murray Klump, Norman Jacques Boulard, Jeffery W. Borden, Jason Anthony Nichter, Glenn Leon Graham, Sheng-Nan Lin
  • Publication number: 20100243581
    Abstract: A potable water distribution system for use in aircraft, as well as potable water systems of boats, recreational vehicles/caravans, residential homes, dental offices, laboratories, vending machines, and the like, provides for sanitizing of the system without opening filter and/or purification units and removing filtering and/or purifying cartridges from the filter and/or purification units during the sanitizing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventors: Richard T. Williams, Carl Beiswenger
  • Patent number: 7754071
    Abstract: The disclosed invention is a fixed bed ion exchange water purification system. It employs a combination of electronically controlled process steps and specific systems configurations to duplicate the effects of moving resin beds from one operating position to another as is required in moving bed ion exchange water purification systems. The invention combines features of single fixed bed ion exchange systems with those of a moving bed system. The invention applies to the treatment of water having typical industrial and drinking water concentrations of various ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Envirogen Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Jensen, Gerald A. Guter, Dan Ziol
  • Patent number: 7708882
    Abstract: A vertical membrane module unit is allowed to be installed even at a place with a low ceiling. A housing containing a vertical membrane module unit is held by a housing holder. The housing holder holds the housing tiltably such that the housing can be positioned with the longitudinal direction of the membrane module unit being substantially vertical when treated water is extracted, and the housing can be positioned with the longitudinal direction of the membrane module unit being substantially horizontal when the membrane module unit is removed from the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Eco Creative Japan Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7670482
    Abstract: A self-cleaning screen for shallow water pumping includes a rotatable drum made of mesh material for removing debris from water passing into the drum, and a suction chamber within the drum for feeding water to a suction pipe connected to a centrifugal pump. Inlet openings are arranged across a bottom side of the suction chamber. A check valve assembly is provided to prevent water from back flowing through the inlet openings, to thereby maintain a prime in the suction pipe when the pump is off. The check valve assembly includes valve members that are slidably mounted above the inlet openings for movement between closed and open positions. The valve members move upwardly from their closed positions to their open positions upon movement of water through the inlet openings into the suction chamber, and return to their closed positions by force of gravity when water stops flowing into the suction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Inventor: Robert J. Wietham
  • Patent number: 7651070
    Abstract: A combination manifold and single lever cantered element system to which a filter module removably attaches. A ¼ rotation of the single lever mediates simultaneous operation of both valving and filter module release, and facilitates changing removably attachable filter modules without the need for tools.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Clean & Clear Corporation
    Inventor: John C. Ruprecht
  • Publication number: 20090283477
    Abstract: A liquid is filtered with a microsieve. Use is made of a crossflow channel running along a supply surface of the microsieve, and of a drain connected to a drain surface of the microsieve. During a filtering phase, a pressure drop is maintained from a point in the crossflow channel upstream of the microsieve to a point in the drain. The filtering phase is repeatedly interrupted by reducing a flow limitation in the crossflow channel downstream of the microsieve, such that a pressure difference across the microsieve reverses sign. As a result, the pressure reversal coincides with an increase of the flow through the crossflow channel, with a strongly cleaning effect on the microsieve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: November 19, 2009
    Applicant: FluXXioin B.V.
    Inventors: Jan Vos, Petrus Johannes Martinus Adriaans
  • Patent number: 7617939
    Abstract: A faucet mounted water filtration system includes a base having an inlet, a water receiving chamber, and at least one outlet. The inlet is configured to be coupled to a faucet. A body is coupled to the base. The body includes a filter compartment configured to house a filter cartridge. A cover is rotatably coupled to the body. A cam is operatively coupled to the cover. A valve operatively engages a surface of the cam. The cam is rotatable to move the valve to open and close a passageway to the filter compartment. A biasing element biases the cover to a default position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James M. Klump, Daniel Ryan Capelle, Norman J. Boulard, Jeffery Borden, Jay Andrew Broniak, John Steven Holmes
  • Patent number: 7472794
    Abstract: A system, method and apparatus employing the laminar nature of fluid flows in microfluidic flow devices in separating, sorting or filtering colloidal and/or cellular particles from a suspension in a microfluidic flow device is disclosed. The microfluidic flow device provides for separating a particle within a suspension flow in a microfluidic flow chamber. The chamber includes a microfluidic channel comprising at least one inlet port for receiving a suspension flow under laminar conditions, a first outlet port and a second outlet port. The chamber further includes an interface for translating a particle within the channel. The first outlet port receives a first portion of the suspension exiting the said channel and the second outlet port receives the particle in a second portion of the suspension exiting the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Colorado School of Mines
    Inventors: John Oakey, David W. M. Marr
  • Patent number: 7438800
    Abstract: An arrangement for filtering a hydraulic fluid having a bypass line connecting the feed channel to the discharge channel where the bypass line is opened by a pressure switching valve when a pressure change is caused by the contamination of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Sauer-Danfoss Inc.
    Inventor: Reinhardt Thoms
  • Patent number: 7429324
    Abstract: A method for in-line preparation of liquid for an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus that makes provision for placing a filter in correspondence with each of two successive filtration stations, for carrying out a liquid preparation cycle, for removing the filter, which operates in correspondence with a first filtration station, for placing in correspondence with the first filtration station the filter that operated in correspondence with the second filtration station, for placing a new filter in correspondence with a second filtration station and for launching a new sterile liquid preparation cycle. The invention also provides a device for implementing the described method and an apparatus for extracorporeal blood treatment, which incorporates this device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Jacques Chevallet, Guy Mercier, Laurent Simard
  • Patent number: 7407148
    Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed for use in conjunction with a replaceable filter cartridge system. The valve assembly includes a head member having an interior valve chamber defining a central axis, and inlet and outlet passages extending parallel to and communicating with the interior valve chamber. The valve assembly further includes a valve member having an inlet path and an outlet path, adapted for rotation within the interior valve chamber of the head member between a filter position wherein the inlet path of the valve member is in communication with the inlet passage of the head member and a bypass position wherein the inlet path of the valve member is out of communication with the inlet passage of the head member. The valve assembly further includes a seal member seated in an upper surface of the valve member and positioned to seal against an opposing surface of the interior valve chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Laurence W. Bassett, William Contaxis, III, Brian Tubby
  • Patent number: RE40721
    Abstract: A duplex strainer for straining material includes a housing, housing inlet port through which material enters the housing under pressure for straining and an outlet port through which strained material exits the housing. The housing includes a first strainer chamber having the first and second ports in separate fluid communication with the housing. A second strainer chamber includes third and fourth ports in separate fluid communication with the housing. The first port opposes the third port and the second port opposes the fourth port. A valve control structure includes a first three-way ball valve disposed within the housing for controlling fluid flow between the first port, third port and the housing. A second three-way ball valve is disposed within the housing to control fluid flow between the housing, second port and fourth port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Mueller Stean Specialty
    Inventors: Ashvin D. Desai, Robert Whritenour