Responsive To Fluid Flow Patents (Class 210/87)
  • 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: 8888996
    Abstract: A filter (1) to purify the water distributed by a dispenser, fitted with a special sanitizing device incorporated therein. Inside of the said filter (1), below the water chamber (3), is a disinfectant chamber (4) that contains the solution designed to sanitize the said dispenser. A mechanism causes the sanitizing solution to flow into the water chamber (3) of the filter (1) and into the piping, for performing the subsequent sanitizing action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Blupura SRL
    Inventor: Gianni Grottini
  • Patent number: 8882998
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of perfumery and more precisely it concerns a device, and the consumer articles associated therewith, for dispensing an active composition into the surrounding space. The device includes an assembly containing a reservoir holding the active liquid to be diffused into the surroundings and a wick-/emitting member structure composed of a wick member and an emitting/diffusion member, the latter having an evaporative surface to be directly exposed to the surrounding space when the device is activated, the assembly being housed in a casing or carried by a supporting frame, the device further including a pivoting member fixed on the casing or on the supporting frame to allow a swinging motion of the assembly and thus forced evaporation of the active volatile whenever desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Firmenich SA
    Inventors: Lyse Tranzeat, Guy Edmund Robinson, Nicholas O'Leary
  • Publication number: 20140319029
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for continuous monitoring of permeate from membrane elements in a water treatment plant, including a desalination plant. The apparatus includes a probe that includes multiple sensors such that at least one sensor is associated with each membrane element. Each sensor is coupled to a node, which is configured to communicate a signal associated with the permeate quality to a central node sink. The node may communicate wirelessly with the node sink.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Anastasios J. Karabelas, Ioannis Gragopoulos, Nicos P. Isaias
  • Patent number: 8871062
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for controlling the thickness of a flowing, laminar fluid film. The film flow may be gravity-induced or the result of an alternative force. The fluid is deposited on an upper end of a flow surface where a relatively thick layer of the film forms. The film flows over a fluid dispersal region where the surface area is rapidly expanding, which results in rapid thinning of the film thickness. The fluid then flows over an active region where the surface area is designed to control the fluid film thickness. For example, in some applications, it may be desirable to maintain an approximately constant film thickness as the fluid flows over the active region of the surface. The geometry of the flow surface is used to obtain the desired control over the fluid film thickness. The flow surface is the outer surface of a solid with a closed upper end and a lower end that may be open or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Inventors: Charles David Gilliam, Stefanie Renee Gilliam
  • Patent number: 8864985
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating on skimmed oil/water picked up from a body of water to separate the oil from the water and discharge the oil-free water back into the body of water, first feeds the skimmed oil/water into a gravity settling tank wherein the oil tends to settle above the water, removing relatively oil-free water from the bottom of the tank and measuring its oil content with an oil concentration sensor, and either returning the oil/water flow to the settling tank for further processing if the measured concentration of oil exceeds predetermined limits or discharging the water back into the body of water if the oil concentration is measured to be less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: David Usher
  • Patent number: 8858787
    Abstract: A dialysis system includes a dialyzer; a blood pump coupled operably to a dialyzer; a dialysate inlet pump couple operably to a dialysate inlet of the dialyzer; a dialysate outlet pump coupled operably to a dialysate outlet of the dialyzer; a first non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sensor of inlet flowrate of dialysate pumped to the dialysate inlet by the dialysate inlet pump; and a second non-invasive fluid velocity sensor positioned to sense an outlet flowrate of dialysate pumped from the dialysate outlet by the dialysate outlet pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignees: Baxter International Inc., Baxter Healthcare S.A.
    Inventors: Matthew Muller, Donald Busby, Justin Rohde, Mark Jablonski
  • Publication number: 20140299550
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating water including a tank having an inlet and outlet and a water treatment material or resin within the tank. A control valve assembly having multiple, separable levels houses a water usage metering mechanism and a regeneration control mechanism, each having associated turbines. An inlet/bypass valve communicates source water with the tank inlet or directly to a system outlet. When the treatment material is exhausted, it is regenerated by actuating the bypass valve to communicate the source water with the system outlet. The turbine driven regeneration control then sequences the steps of regeneration, including opening a control valve to communicate inlet water to a venturi in order to aspirate brine solution and deliver to the tank outlet. The brine solution passes through the treatment material and is discharged through the tank inlet which is communicated to a system drain.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jerome P. Kovach, Stuart L. Park, Francis A. Red, Keith E. Brown, James W. Kewley, George R. Jordan, Jimmie L. Hunt, Dale J. Spangenberg, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140291239
    Abstract: A wastewater disposal method using a two-way oxygen supply horizontal-flow biofilm includes a carrier that is formed of a permeable material so that oxygen is supplied to the biofilm from the bottom layer of the biofilm adjacent to the surface of the carrier, so as to achieve a mode of simultaneously supplying oxygen from the surface layer and the bottom layer of the biofilm. Wastewater disposal equipment using a two-way oxygen supply horizontal-flow biofilm includes a water intake system, a reaction system and a water discharge system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Rongchang Wang, Yalei Zhang, Jianfu Zhao
  • Patent number: 8845887
    Abstract: A water purifier determining an appropriate discarded water quantity includes: a purified water supply; an integrated flow quantity measuring part; and a control and calculation part. The control and calculation part is configured to determine whether purified water is unsuitable for use based upon the integrated flow quantity measured for a period of time from when the supply is started. A value of water quantity Qti at the Nth time is determined based on a length of time from when the purified water supply stops the supply at the (N?1)th time up to when the purified water supply starts the supply at the the Nth time; and a difference between a quantity of water measured for a period of time from when the supply at the (N?1)th time is started to when the supply at the (N?1)th time is stopped and a value of Qti at the (N?1)th time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takashi Morisue
  • Publication number: 20140262986
    Abstract: An installation for processing thermal oils at thermal solar plants, includes an intake for connecting to an outlet circuit of the solar thermal plant; an oil-cooling device; a first decanting tank (4); a second decanting tank (7); a third tank (8), which serves as a flow-control tank, receiving oil that has been treated before the oil is fed back into the plant; a filtering unit (12) placed downstream of the second tank (7) and upstream of the third tank (8); a set of control valves; and a set of inspection pressure gauges, thermometers and flowmeters placed at various points of the facility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: GD ENERGY SERVICES S.A.U.
    Inventor: Jesús Lacalle Bayo
  • Patent number: 8834712
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a seawater desalination system includes a membrane filtering pump, a first to third flowmeter, a filtering membrane, a high-pressure pump, a pressure gauge, a reverse osmosis membrane, a discharge valve and a control module. The membrane filtering pump outputs seawater according to a first control signal. The first flowmeter measures flow rate Q1. The high-pressure pump outputs filtered water from the filtering membrane according to a second control signal. The first pressure gauge measures pressure P1. The reverse osmosis membrane desalinates the filtered water into fresh water. The second flowmeter measures flow rate Q2. The third flowmeter measures flow rate Q3. The discharge valve discharges a high-concentration salt water according to a third control signal. The control module performs first, second, and third flow rate control with reference to the flow rate Q1, Q2 and Q3 and the pressure P1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Kyosuke Katayama, Takeshi Matsushiro, Futoshi Kurokawa, Takanori Fukagawa, Kazuhiko Kimijima, Koichi Matsui
  • Patent number: 8795517
    Abstract: A machine-readable medium with instructions for pumping blood from a patient's blood stream into an access line, introducing an anticoagulant solution into the pumped blood, filtering the pumped blood and delivering it to a return line, introducing a substitution fluid into the pumped blood, introducing a calcium and magnesium solution into the blood traveling through the return line, and returning the blood back to the patient's blood stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Nikkiso Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Michel Lannoy
  • Publication number: 20140197082
    Abstract: A filtration assembly generally includes a housing having a first end configured to interface with an outer container and having a second end configured to interface with an inner sleeve, wherein the housing includes a plurality of apertures configured to pass a liquid therethrough, and a counting device carried by the housing, wherein the counting device is configured to indicate to a user that an associated filter is exhausted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: GRAYL INC.
    Inventors: Nancie Weston, Travis Merrigan, Michael Bargiel
  • Publication number: 20140190876
    Abstract: A sorbent based monitoring system for measuring the solute concentration of at least one component of a fluid. The system has a sorbent regeneration system for regeneration of the fluid and has a sorbent cartridge that has at least one material layer. The fluid is conveyed through the sorbent cartridge and contacts at least one sensor after having contacted at least one material layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: MEDTRONIC, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Meyer, David B. Lura, Bryant J. Pudil, Martin T. Gerber
  • Publication number: 20140166555
    Abstract: The invention relates to apparatuses, machines, systems and methods for the recovery and purification of proteins, peptides, nucleic acids, biologically produced polymers and other compounds from aqueous fluids. The aqueous fluids can comprise enzyme concentrates and or a fermentation broth with or without cells or other starting material. The fermentation broth can be produced by fermentations of fungal, yeast, bacterial, mammalian, insect or plant cells.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: Danisco US Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin R. DIBEL, Robin FONG, Meng H. HENG, Glenn ROZEBOOM
  • Patent number: 8709796
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for preparing a body fluid for a bacteriological analysis thereof comprising a container provided with a chamber (4) wherein a piston (5) is mobile between an opening position and a closing position, the chamber (4) including a separation zone (7) and means for introducing (15, 16) a fluid into said chamber and the piston (5) including a closure means (8) co-operating with the separation zone (7) so as to define an upper volume (9) and a lower volume (10) on either side of said zone, the upper volume (9) and the lower volume (10) mutually communicating when the piston (5) is in opening position and being tightly isolated from each other when the piston (5) is in closing position. The invention also concerns a preparation method using such a device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Isabelle Besson Faure, Jean-Pierre Hermet, Sébastien Ribault
  • Patent number: 8709241
    Abstract: A control unit for a softening device, comprising a primary inlet for untreated water, a primary outlet for blended water, a sensor for determining the water hardness of the untreated water WHraw, or the blended water WHblend, a secondary outlet, a secondary inlet, a bypass line, a blending means which can be automatically adjusted for mixing a blended water flow Vblend(t) from a first partial flow (V(t)part1soft of the secondary inlet and a second partial flow V(t)part2raw of the bypass line, and an electronic control means, wherein the control means is designed to readjust the adjustment position of the blending means by means of the determined water hardness in such a fashion that the water hardness in the blended water flow Vblend(t) is adjusted to a predetermined desired value, enables partial softening of water on the basis of fully automatic blending, thereby utilizing already existing softening devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Judo Wasseraufbereitung GmbH
    Inventors: Carsten Dopslaff, Ralf Soecknick, Klaus Neidhardt, Alexander Haug, Siegfried Melcher
  • Patent number: 8702977
    Abstract: A water distribution system configured for control by a remote control system is disclosed comprising of a water filtration unit for filtering water and a water storage unit for storing the filtered water and including a water dispenser. A control unit is provided that is configured to control the operation of the water filtration unit and includes a sensor system to measure the quality and the quantity of the water filtered, and to monitor the functioning of one or more components of the water filtration unit. A point of sale device is also provided comprising of a service management device mounted on the water dispenser and is configured to control the operation of the water dispenser and a user interface to receive user inputs and is configured to process user payments for the dispensing of water at the remote control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Piramal Enterprises Limited
    Inventors: Anand Shah, Naman Shah, Sameer Kalwani
  • Patent number: 8702979
    Abstract: A method for determining online adequacy parameters for any hemodialysis, hemofiltration and hemodiafiltration treatment modality is provided. Blood equilibrated dialysate samples at the begin and/or at the end of the treatment; and a continuous measurements of waste compounds in the effluent dialysate by means of spectroscopic techniques, are required. With the data coming from the measurements and a simple mathematic approach Kt/V and reduction ratios for different compounds, which are important from the medical point of view, are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: B. Braun Avitum AG
    Inventor: Alex Castellarnau
  • Patent number: 8696893
    Abstract: There is a water enhancement system coupled to a water conduit, wherein the water enhancement system is configured to enhance a water supply. The water enhancement system includes a filtration system coupled to a water conduit, configured to filter water flowing therethrough. The water enhancement system also includes an enhancement system coupled to the filtration system, configured to treat water flowing therethrough by dispensing a fluid therein. The enhancement system includes a plurality of cartridge sockets and matching cartridges configured to selectably couple together and contain enhancing fluid. The water enhancement system further includes a treatment bracket coupled about the water conduit and to the enhancement system. The water enhancement system additionally includes a treatment device coupled about the treatment bracket and configured to alter a characteristic of the water flowing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Inventor: David Hall
  • Publication number: 20140097130
    Abstract: A valve arrangement includes various improvements useable in the context of a fluid additive system, such as a water softener. For example, the valve assembly may include a seal assembly engaged by a reciprocating piston, in which the seal assembly includes a minimal number of parts, is easily assembled, and can be easily inserted in the bore of the valve body without jeopardizing the integrity of the seals. The valve assembly may further include a quick-disconnect system which allows a “control head” including a valve actuation system and electronic controls to be disconnected from the rest of the valve arrangement with only a partial rotation of the control head. The valve assembly may also include a venturi used for drawing regeneration fluid into the system, and an associated venturi cleaner system which allows a user to unclog the fluid-flow orifice of the venturi without any disassembly of parts of the valve arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Rudy B. Wilfong, Robert D. Rohr
  • Patent number: 8691086
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system and method of operating the same includes a first pump receiving feed fluid at a first pressure and increasingly pressurizing the feed fluid to a second pressure higher than the first pressure. A membrane housing having an inlet, a membrane, a permeate outlet and a brine outlet. The inlet receiving feed fluid. A hydraulic energy management integration system (HEMI) having a turbine portion, a pump portion and a motor. The brine outlet fluid is in fluid communication with the turbine portion. The reverse osmosis system also includes a second pump and a controller controlling the motor to retard rotation of the HEMI while the first pump increasingly pressurizes the feed fluid to the second pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140091019
    Abstract: A normal flow filtration system having a housing with one or more filters contained within a bowl and attached to the outlet of the system. Liquid enters the bowl, contacts the surfaces of the one or more filters. Impurities are trapped in the filter and the filtered liquid flows through to the outlet. Parameter(s) such as flow rate, transmembrane pressure drop and/or time are measured and when met, filtration ceases. A backflushing occurs through the filter(s) so as to remove the impurities from the filter. This backwashed material is directed to an outlet of the bowl that is connected to a drain. Additionally a port formed in the side of the housing adjacent an outer surface of the filter(s) can be used to provide a lateral washing of the filter(s). The system is then recirculated in a downstream manner to reestablish equilibrium and filtration is then restarted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: EMD Millipore Corporation
    Inventors: Felipe Merino, Luis Penacho, Miquel Iribarren, Antonio Vicente, Angel Cabria, Juan Carlos Pineiro
  • Patent number: 8668825
    Abstract: An extracorporeal blood treatment device including a filter having a primary and a secondary chamber separated by a semi-permeable membrane, a withdrawal line connected to the primary chamber and associated to a first pump, a return line at the outlet of the primary chamber, a first pre-infusion line (109) connected to a citrate container on the withdrawal line (106), associated to a second pump, a first post-infusion line connected to a calcium solution container and to the return line, and associated to a third pump, an effluent line from the secondary chamber connected to a drain pipe and associated to a fourth pump, a CPU including first means programmed to receive the signal output by the pumps and second means programmed to control the third post-infusion pump (121) as a function of the input flow rate, effluent liquid flow rate, and anticoagulation liquid flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Gambro Lundia AB
    Inventors: Dominique Pouchoulin, Jacques Chevallet
  • Patent number: 8656728
    Abstract: An assembly for filtering water includes a housing and a water inlet for supplying unfiltered water to the housing. A water filter includes an outer casing attached to the housing in communication with the water inlet and a filter medium within the outer casing. The outer casing has at least one portion that is at least partially translucent. The water filter filters the unfiltered water through filter medium to provide filtered water. A water outlet is attached to the housing for transferring filtered water from the outer casing to a device via the housing. An illumination device is mounted adjacent to the outer casing for selectively illuminating the portion of the outer casing that is at least partially translucent. Related refrigeration appliances incorporating such devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Alan Joseph Mitchell
  • Publication number: 20140048461
    Abstract: A seal arrangement for a ship's propeller shaft includes at least one oil-filled seal chamber bounded by seal rings around the shaft, as well as an oil reservoir tank, an oil supply line connecting the tank to the bottom portion of the seal chamber, an oil circulation pump interposed in the supply line between the tank and the seal chamber, and an oil return line communicating from the upper portion of the seal chamber back to the tank. Thereby, oil is continuously circulated through the seal chamber, and thereby flushes out any contaminant particles, air or water that might enter the seal chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Blohm + Voss Industries GmbH
    Inventors: Marko WRAGE, Carlos FANGAUF
  • Publication number: 20140042102
    Abstract: Systems and methods are described for flushing one or more filters using a pressurized permeate stream. The permeate stream can be pressurized within a front flush unit, which can also receive a feed water stream. Energy needed to increase the pressure of the permeate stream to a pressure sufficient to cause flushing of the filters can be generated through work exchange with the pressurized feed water stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: WORLD WIDE WATER SOLUTIONS
    Inventor: Dennis Chancellor
  • Patent number: 8636899
    Abstract: A detachable vented signaling alarm apparatus is provided which is capable of being attached to a skimmer basket commonly used with pool skimming systems. There are many different configurations and sizes of skimmer baskets with which the present apparatus is capable of attachment merely by drilling a hole generally centrally in the skimmer basket bottom. The detachable signaling alarm may be readily removed from the skimmer basket for various reasons such as pool vacuuming or maintenance and includes a vented stem for minimizing damage to the basket when debris has accumulated therein. An alarm of any type can be used with the vent mechanism for indicating when the skimmer basket is substantially blocked by debris by generating of an alarm condition responsive to airflow through the vent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Inventors: Frank Tesauro, Joseph Tesauro
  • Patent number: 8623200
    Abstract: A water filtering system having its components contained within a single housing. The filter system uses a first filter pair of filters which can be first manually isolated from the water flow; and a second pair of filters which can also be manually isolated from the water flow. The two pairs of filters operate in parallel, thereby allowing one pair to be isolated for cleaning/repair without having to curtail operation since the other pair of filters remain operational.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Green Water Innovations, LLC
    Inventor: David Williamson
  • Patent number: 8617397
    Abstract: The present invention relates to reverse osmosis filtration devices, and more particularly, to membrane filtration devices (10, 11, 12) that have flow meters and fluid conductivity meters powered by RFID tags. Embodiments of the present invention comprise reverse osmosis filters and filtration systems comprising measuring devices, including flow and conductivity meters. The meters of the present invention are preferably located on or within permeate core tubes (16) of filtration devices and systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignees: Hydranautics, Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Norio Ikeyama, Mark Wilf
  • Publication number: 20130319915
    Abstract: According to the present invention, a fluid and/or aqueous additive delivery system is provided. According to the present invention, a modular fluid container is described for consumption of liquids. Fluid containers according to the present invention include any combination of four distinct modular components; (1) an end-point filter purification module for removal of impurities from water, (2) a UV purification module for emitting ultraviolet (UV) light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection, (3) a tablet storage and dispensing module to emit ultraviolet (UV) light in a germicidal spectrum for disinfection of a volume of drink liquid held in the container, (4) a flow meter module for quantitatively monitoring hydration in real time. The user can personalize the bottle with any or all modules that are required.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: December 5, 2013
    Applicant: Floz, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Gellibolian, John Stump
  • Patent number: 8580109
    Abstract: A water filter system includes a filter unit having a body portion adapted to be rotatingly received into a filter head assembly. An engagement protrusion extends from the body portion and is adapted for reception in a complementary receiver in the filter head assembly. An electronic device is disposed on the filter unit having a memory storage unit. A laterally extending key member is disposed on the body portion between the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface. The laterally extending key member is adapted to reposition an interference member from an interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly to a non-interference position, whereby the body portion can be fully inserted into the filter head assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher A. Kruckenberg, John W. Morrison, Peter J. Richmond, Jeffrey A. Spindler
  • Publication number: 20130284675
    Abstract: A valve (16) comprising a housing (30), a valve filter media (34) and an actuator (48). The housing (30) defines a chamber (32) having an inlet (44) and outlet (48). The media (34) is positioned within the chamber (30) such that liquids flowing between the inlet (44) and outlet (48) pass through the media (34). The valve filter media (34) is formed of a material which can absorb hydrocarbons, causing the media (34) to change its material properties thereby restricting the flow of liquids through the valve (16) and increasing the pressure differential across the media (34). The actuator (48) has at least a portion positioned within the housing chamber (32). If the pressure differential across the media (34) exceeds a predetermined threshold, the media (34) bears against the actuator (48) causing the actuator (48) to restrict the flow of liquids through the valve (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventor: Phillip R. Core
  • Patent number: 8568596
    Abstract: Provided are a membrane filtering device managing system by which the membrane filtering device can be managed with a better precision and membrane filtering device for use therein, as well as to a membrane filtering device managing method. At least two sensors of an electric conductivity sensor 11, a flow rate sensor 13, and a pressure sensor 15 are provided in at least two membrane elements 10 provided in a membrane filtering device 50. A managing device 200 obtains data from the at least two sensor, and compares the data with comparison data that represents a correlative relationship between a position along the axial line direction in the membrane filtering device 50 and a standard value obtained from the at least two sensor. Accordingly, it is possible to specify the cause of change occurring in the membrane filtering device 50 more definitely, and to carried out a suitable maintenance in accordance with the cause, so that the membrane filtering device 50 can be managed with a higher precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Takahisa Konishi, Norio Ikeyama, Kouji Maruyama, Yukio Fujiwara, Akira Ootani, Toshiki Kouno
  • Publication number: 20130240446
    Abstract: A method of operating a membrane separation device in a continuous flow process includes in the membrane separation device, separating a supply liquid into a first partial stream and a second partial stream, wherein flow rate of the second partial stream and/or recovery rate of the second partial stream is influenced by at least one influencing variable that varies during operation, and varying the flow rate of the first partial stream to compensate for a change of the at least one influencing variable to control flow rate and/or recovery rate of the second partial stream to a preset value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: BWT Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andrea Pavan, Jürgen Johann, Marc Fink
  • Publication number: 20130233798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a blood treatment device with at least one extra-corporeal blood circuit with a filter element and with at least one centrifugal pump means, wherein furthermore a monitoring means is provided, by means of which the flow resistance of the extracorporeal circuit can be determined, wherein the flow resistance can at least partly be determined with reference to the flow in at least one portion of the extracorporeal blood circuit and the speed of the centrifugal pump means. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a monitoring means for a blood treatment device and to a method for operating a blood treatment device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Wiktor, Arne Peters, Alexander Heide
  • Patent number: 8529761
    Abstract: A reverse osmosis system includes a plurality of feed pumps each having a feed pump input and a feed pump output, an input manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump inputs and a membrane feed manifold in fluid communication with the feed pump output. The system also includes a plurality of membrane chambers each in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold and generating a permeate output and a brine output, each brine output in fluid communication with a brine manifold. The system further includes a plurality of booster devices each having a turbine portion with a turbine input in fluid communication with the brine manifold and a pump portion having a booster device pump input and a booster device pump output, each booster device pump output in fluid communication with the membrane feed manifold. The system includes a pump input manifold in fluid communication with the booster device pump input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Fluid Equipment Development Company, LLC
    Inventor: Eli Oklejas, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130193039
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a method for detecting the direction of the fluid flow through a dialyzer, as well as an extracorporeal blood treatment apparatus which comprises a device for detecting the direction of the fluid flow through the dialyzer. The devices and methods according to the present invention are based on the change in a physical and/or chemical property, for example the substance concentration or the temperature, of a fluid flowing into the one chamber of the dialyzer and the measurement of the change in the physical and/or chemical property of the fluid flowing out of the one chamber of the dialyzer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
    Inventor: Pascal Kopperschmidt
  • Publication number: 20130193038
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment system includes independent wastewater treatment facilities. Each of the facilities has a number of wastewater treatment subsystems. A wastewater collection subsystem holds wastewater to be treated. A pump subsystem moves wastewater from a wastewater collector to a filtration subsystem having a bioreacting filter. The filter has a sump and a fluidized-bed filter therein and supports the filter upright. The filter has an upwardly expanding, hollow, conical filter body with filter media. A monitoring subsystem measures wastewater process parameters. Control devices receive control commands and, dependent upon the command received, alter parameters of the wastewater treatment subsystems.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: BIOFILTER SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventor: Biofilter Systems, LLC
  • Patent number: 8496118
    Abstract: A device for the tangential filtration of a fluid to be processed and intended to be divided into a filtrate and a retentate includes, in an outer case, a series of filtration elements of tubular form lying parallel to each other, at least one output for the filtrate, communicating with the filtrate collection receptacle, a first communication chamber in which are fitted the separation resources, communicating with respectively a first series and a second series of filtration elements forming the go and return circuits of a circulation loop for the fluid to be processed, where the separation resources include a turbine of a circulation pump. The input for the fluid to be processed opens into the first communication chamber of the outer case between the turbine of the circulation pump and the filtration elements of the series forming the return circuit of the circulation loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Societe Industrielle de la Vallee de l'Aigues—S.I.V.A.
    Inventor: Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 8480894
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a desalination system comprising a plurality of elongated pressure vessels (PV). Each PV has a longitudinal axis, oriented such that the longitudinal axis thereof is of a vertical orientation. Each of the PVs is adapted to receive therein a plurality n of desalination membranes. The membranes located above the lowermost membrane within the PV have a total weight allowing them to function as a mechanism limiting axial expansion of the lowermost membrane, whereby the PV is free of any additional limiting mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: I.D.E. Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Boris Liberman, Miriam Faigon, Yosef Pinhas, Maya Ilevicky-Ozel, Yacov Ben-Yaish, Erez Reuveni
  • Patent number: 8480214
    Abstract: In a liquid jetting head unit, a tank case in a head tank includes a first connection path connecting a downstream chamber of the tank case and a discharge path, and a second connection path connecting an upstream chamber of the tank case and the discharge path. The discharge path includes a filter member provided between a first part of the discharge path connected to the first connection path and a second part of the discharge path connected to the second connection path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kengo Tsubaki
  • Patent number: 8480883
    Abstract: A pipe coupling (10) which comprises a coupling body (12) having an inlet end (22) for connection to a water outlet; an outlet end (24) for connection to a water inlet, and a liquid flow passage (26) which connects the inlet and outlet ends (22, 24) and which defines a water flow path (28) through the coupling body (12); a sealable filter and flow detector access opening (14) which is provided on the coupling body (12); and a filter element (16) and a flow detector device (20) which are removably receivable in the coupling body via the access opening and positionable on the flow path to extend across at least a part of the lateral extent of the liquid flow passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: DLP Limited
    Inventor: Robert William Stimpson
  • Patent number: 8469916
    Abstract: Certain examples describe systems and methods for increasing plasma extracted from donor blood. An example method includes receiving blood extracted from a donor connected to a blood collection machine. The example method includes filtering the blood using a filtration device to remove at least a portion of plasma included in the blood to separate the plasma removed from remaining blood. The example method includes routing the plasma removed for collection. The example method includes re-filtering the remaining blood using a or the filtration device to remove additional plasma from the remaining blood. The example method includes routing the additional plasma removed for collection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Fenwal, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher J. Wegener, Daniel R. Boggs, Kyungyoon Min, Prakash Mathew, Marc N. Weasler, Benjamin E. E. Kusters
  • Patent number: 8465641
    Abstract: A dialysis liquid circuit with conduits for conducting dialysis liquid and elements for detecting air in the dialysis liquid. The elements includes at least one gas sensor traversed continuously by the dialysis liquid, which is configured such that it measures at least one property of the dialysis liquid which depends on the presence of air bubbles in the dialysis liquid, and which is arranged downstream of a region to be monitored of the dialysis liquid circuit. During operation of the dialysis liquid circuit a negative pressure exists with respect to atmospheric pressure, and the elements includes an evaluation unit which is connected with the gas sensor and which is configured such that the property measured by means of the gas sensor is evaluated with regard to the presence of air bubbles in the dialysis liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Maierhofer, Alfred Gagel, Malte Gross
  • Patent number: 8460552
    Abstract: A method and device that identify impairments of the blood flow in an extra-corporeal blood circuit during extracorporeal treatment of the blood using an extracorporeal haemodialysis device, where the phase angle of at least one harmonic oscillation of an oscillating pressure signal that propagates in the extracorporeal blood circuit is determined. Impairments of the blood flow are detected in the extracorporeal blood circuit based on a characteristic modification of the phase angle of at least one harmonic oscillation of the pressure signal. A temporal modification of the phase angle may be compared with a predefined threshold value and an impairment is detected if the value of the modification of the phase angle is greater than the predefined threshold value. The method and device permit an early identification of a coagulation of the blood that flows through the haemodialysis unit, so that countermeasures can be initiated promptly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Pascal Kopperschmidt, Malte Gross
  • Patent number: 8460556
    Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a bacterial eliminator suitable for reduction in size or lowering of cost. A UV filament lamp is preheated by a control section even when water is not flowing. Consequently, the UV filament lamp can be lit immediately upon flow of water. The lamp can thereby be kept unlit when water is not flowing. Consequently, the lamp is unlikely to overheat easily when water is not flowing. Also, power consumption is reduced and lifespan of the lamp can be prolonged. If the lamp overheats and unheated water flows in, there is a possibility of the lamp being damaged. In order to avoid such damage, a special structure or material is normally required. Since overheating of the lamp can be avoided with the invention, a special structure or material for avoiding damage to the lamp due to unheated water are not necessary, or the structure can be simplified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Youichi Nishioka
  • Publication number: 20130126402
    Abstract: A water filtering system having its components contained within a single housing. The filter system uses a first filter pair of filters which can be first manually isolated from the water flow; and a second pair of filters which can also be manually isolated from the water flow. The two pairs of filters operate in parallel, thereby allowing one pair to be isolated for cleaning/repair without having to curtail operation since the other pair of filters remain operational.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Inventor: David Williamson
  • Publication number: 20130105404
    Abstract: An oil filtration system for a load tap changer includes a filter configured to filter oil, a pump fluidly coupled to an oil tank and configured to pump the oil from the oil tank through the filter and to return the oil to the oil tank, and a control system, electrically coupled to the pump. The control system monitors ambient air temperature and controls an operation of the pump in accordance therewith. Additionally or alternatively, the control system monitors at least one of a high-pressure sensor, a flow sensor, a leak sensor, and a low flow sensor and controls an operation of the pump in accordance therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: WAUKESHA ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventor: WAUKESHA ELECTRIC SYSTEMS, INC.