Submerged Screen Patents (Class 261/122.1)
  • Patent number: 11939973
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air pumps on vacuum suction cups, and in particular, to an air pump with an automatic air pumping function. The air pump includes a shell and a sealing ring; an automatic air replenishing mechanism is arranged at one end of the shell, and the other end of the shell is sleeved with a mounting barrel; the automatic air replenishing mechanism includes a battery mounting box mounted on an inner wall of the shell; and a battery pack is arranged inside the battery mounting box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG SHIJING TOOLS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Shuaijie Xu
  • Patent number: 11845043
    Abstract: A mixer configured for releasing large bubbles into wastewater is provided. The mixer can include a central draft tube, an upwardly-extending member surrounding the draft tube, and an accumulator surrounding both the upwardly-extending member and the draft tube. A lower end of the draft tube sidewall may be sealed and not include any openings beneath the lower end of the upwardly-extending member, so as to prevent liquid pumpage through the draft tube. A method for treating wastewater in a system that includes at least one large bubble mixer and at least one fine bubble diffuser is also provided. The large bubble mixer and fine bubble diffuser may be supplied gas independently from one another. The method can include multiple modes of operation wherein gas is either supplied to the mixer, to the diffuser, to neither the mixer or the diffuser, or to both the mixer or the diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMICS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventor: Charles E. Tharp
  • Patent number: 11353223
    Abstract: The facility (1A) includes at least two treatment devices (2) each with an exchange chamber (20) intended to contain a liquid bath in the bottom part and at least one injection line (21). An aeraulic means (4), creates by suction or by blowing, simultaneously and in parallel for each treatment device (2), an incoming gas stream (F) originating from outside the exchange chambers (2) and passes through the discharge opening of the injection line (21) by being introduced into the liquid bath contained in the bottom part of the exchange chamber (20), below the surface (S) of said liquid bath. The exchange chambers (20) communicate hydraulically with one another so that when the aeraulic means (4) are shut down, each exchange chamber (20) is suitable for containing or contains, in the bottom part, an initial volume (Vinitial) of liquid, with an initial liquid level (Hinitial) that is identical in all the exchange chambers (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2022
    Assignee: Starklab
    Inventor: Jaouad Zemmouri
  • Patent number: 11344831
    Abstract: A filter (10) includes a receptacle (12) defining a chamber (14). A granular filtering medium (16) is contained in the chamber (14) of the receptacle (12). A disrupter arrangement (18) is mounted in the chamber (14) of the receptacle (12), the disrupter arrangement (18) serving to disrupt agglomeration of the granular filtering medium (16) within the chamber (14) of the receptacle (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: NEXUS EWATER PTY LTD
    Inventors: Tom Wood, Andrew Hermann
  • Patent number: 11305090
    Abstract: A breathing assistance apparatus has a main body. A humidification compartment is defined within the main body and is adapted to receive a humidification chamber. A flow generator is positioned within the main body. The flow generator and the humidification compartment are fluidly connected and a liquid containment compartment is interposed between the flow generator and the humidification compartment. The liquid containment compartment is fluidly connected to both the flow generator and the humidification compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Yi-Cheng Sun
  • Patent number: 11179683
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a microbubble generation device and equipment, wherein the microbubble generation device comprises: a microbubble generation mechanism having a housing and a core tube provided to pass therethrough, wherein at least one filter plate is provided on a peripheral sidewall of the housing, and an annular space is formed between the housing and the core tube; a flow rate control mechanism provided in the annular space, and connected to the core tube that is communicated with the annular space through the flow rate control mechanism, wherein a blocking ball is provided in the flow rate control mechanism and capable of blocking the flow rate control mechanism in a state that a pressure of gas injected into the flow rate control mechanism decreases; and a pressure balancing mechanism provided outside the housing and having a pressure balancing tube and a fluid check valve connected thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: PETROCHINA COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xinglong Chen, Jiazhong Wu, Haishui Han, Shi Li, Hongwei Yu, Zemin Ji
  • Patent number: 11179684
    Abstract: Systems, devices, and methods for manufacturing nanobubbles are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, a nanobubble generator system includes a medium, wherein in the medium is a liquid medium or a semi-liquid medium. A device is immersed in the medium. The device includes a ceramic membrane having a first surface and an opposing second surface, and pores extending through the membrane from the first surface to the second surface, and a hydrophobic porous coating layer disposed on the first surface of the membrane. The system includes a gas source for providing a gas to the medium. In operation, the gas enters pores on the second surface of the membrane and exits the coating layer in the form of nanobubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Wen Zhang, Taha Marhaba, Ahmed Khaled Abdella Ahmed
  • Patent number: 11141727
    Abstract: Methods of removing bubbles from a microfluidic device are described where the flow is not stopped. Methods are described that combine pressure and flow to remove bubbles from a microfluidic device. Bubbles can be removed even where the device is made of a polymer that is largely gas impermeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: EMULATE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Josiah Daniel Sliz, Christopher David Hinojosa, Joshua Gomes, Kyung Jin Jang
  • Patent number: 11135393
    Abstract: A humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700) for humidifying gases is provided comprising: a water tub that is configured to receive a volume of water; a gases inlet for receiving a flow of gases into an interior volume of the humidification chamber; and a gases outlet through which a humidified flow of gases may exit the interior volume of the humidification chamber. One or more fill apertures (120) are provided in fluid communication with the water tub such that the water tub can be filled with water through the one or more fill apertures. A sealing closure (850) is also provided and configured to be releaseably mounted on the humidification chamber (24, 50, 300, 400, 500, 600 or 700), the sealing closure (850) being configured to sealingly close each fill aperture (120) when the sealing closure (850) is mounted on the humidification chamber to resist gas and/or vapour escaping from the one or more fill apertures (120).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2021
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Andrew Martin Letton
  • Patent number: 11098569
    Abstract: A system and method of performing oil displacement by a water-gas dispersion system includes a micro-bubble generation apparatus, a gas source, an ultrasonic oscillation controller, a protective barrel and a support. A first opening is provided in a top end of the protective barrel, into which an internal apparatus enters and is extracted, the first opening is sealed by an end cover. A second opening communicating with a water flooding pipeline is provided in a side wall of the protective barrel, into which fluid flows and from which the fluid exits. The micro-bubble generation apparatus is fixed within the protective barrel by the support. The gas source is connected with the micro-bubble generation apparatus through a gas pipeline, for transporting gas to the micro-bubble generation apparatus. The ultrasonic oscillation controller is connected to the micro-bubble generation apparatus through a signal line, for controlling the micro-bubble generation apparatus to generate micro-bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: PetroChina Company Limited
    Inventors: Xinglong Chen, Jiazhong Wu, Hongwei Yu, Shi Li, Haishui Han
  • Patent number: 11065620
    Abstract: Methods of removing bubbles from a microfluidic device are described where the flow is not stopped. Methods are described that combine pressure and flow to remove bubbles from a microfluidic device. Bubbles can be removed even where the device is made of a polymer that is largely gas impermeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Emulate, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Josiah Daniel Sliz, Christopher David Hinojosa, Joshua Gomes, Kyung Jin Jang
  • Patent number: 10980966
    Abstract: A system is configured to prevent damage from liquid spills in a humidified pressure support therapy device. The system includes a decoupler configured to decouple a humidification chamber in a humidifier from a pressure generator of the pressure support therapy device in response to a cover of the humidifier being opened. This eliminates and/or reduces the possibility of liquid in an overfilled humidification chamber unintentionally and/or otherwise entering the pressure generator and damaging sensitive mechanical and/or electrical components. In some embodiments, the system includes one or more of a pressure generator, a humidifier, a subject interface, a sensor, the decoupler, a processor, electronic storage, a user interface, and/or other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mark William DiMatteo, Mark Wayne Barclay, Michael Eugene Mort
  • Patent number: 10857104
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing bubbles of the present invention includes: injecting an aqueous liquid 10 into a container 20 to a predetermined height; and vibrating the container at the number of revolution of equal to or high than 5,000 rpm such that the aqueous liquid 10 repeatedly collides with an inner surface of the container 20. According to the manufacturing, simply by vibrating the container 20 at a predetermined number of revolution, a large amount of bubbles 1 having a uniform size can be stably generated in the aqueous liquid 10. Furthermore, the vibrating the container 20 is preferably performed in a state where an internal pressure of the container 20 is higher than 1.0 atm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: SONOCORE, INC.
    Inventor: Katsuro Tachibana
  • Patent number: 10792624
    Abstract: An NO-accumulation apparatus, method and use, comprising: a container (120) defining a cavity for accommodating a liquid (105), an inlet (150) for feeding the liquid into the container (120) and an outlet (151) for delivering the liquid from the container (120) to a bath unit; an NO-gas dissolving unit (140) for dissolving gaseous NO in the liquid (105) to produce an NO-containing liquid, wherein the NO-gas dissolving unit (140) is arranged in the container (120) and/or forms a part of the container (120); and an NO-gas port (110) in fluid communication with the NO-gas dissolving unit (140), wherein the NO-gas port (110) is adapted for coupling, particularly for releasably coupling, with an NO-gas supply, whereby the apparatus further comprises means for decoupling the inflow of NO to the liquid (105) within the container from the removal of the NO-containing liquid (NO-decoupling means), so that the removal of the NO-containing liquid is inhibited, when the NO is flowing into the liquid, and also the NO infl
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: BSN medical GmbH
    Inventors: Arthur Ermatov, Karsten Hemmrich, Annahit Arshi, Christian Schulze
  • Patent number: 10752520
    Abstract: A water or wastewater treatment process that includes a dissolved air flotation process for removing suspended solids from influent water or mixed liquor. In one process, the dissolved air flotation process is carried out in the absence of adding a coagulant or a flocculant, but yet produces TSS removal efficiencies comparable to those achieved by conventional dissolved air flotation processes that employ a coagulant and a flocculant. In other processes, a coagulant and/or a flocculant is added directly to the mixing zone of a dissolved air flotation system or is added via a pressurized white water injection system. In another process, the use of a coagulant and a flocculant is useful in removing TSS and reducing the concentration of phosphorus in the water being treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies Support
    Inventors: Abdelkader Gaid, Malik Djafer, Delia Pastorelli
  • Patent number: 10710032
    Abstract: A universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus has a track extending between two distinct elevations that is coupled to a wall and bridge mount. An aeration unit is pivotally coupled to the track and has an aerator adapted to operatively at least partially submerge within and aerate a liquid. A selective mover or drive is adapted to operatively move the aeration unit along the track and thereby vary an elevation of the aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount supports the track and aeration unit. The universal wall and bridge mount has a first configuration for mounting to a structure such as a stationary bridge, and a second configuration for mounting to a wall. The universal wall and bridge mounted aeration apparatus may be adjusted to position the propeller after installation under the surface of the liquid through three axes of motion freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Aeration Industries International, LLC
    Inventors: Randy W. List, Jing Huang, Joseph F. Widman, Brian J. Cohen, Todd M. Schroeder, Gregory R. Harding, Paul P. Gorbunow, Jason L. Jones, Steven R. Carleton
  • Patent number: 10624841
    Abstract: A nanobubbler includes a porous ceramic material, a first inlet configured to inject a gas into the porous ceramic material, wherein the porous ceramic material is configured to emit nanobubbles into the chamber from the surface in response to the injection of the gas, a chamber positioned adjacent to a surface of the porous ceramic material, a second inlet configured to inject a liquid into the chamber so that the nanobubbles are dislodged from the surface of the porous ceramic material into the liquid, and an outlet configured to output from the chamber the liquid infused with the nanobubbles. The nanobubbles infused into the liquid have an average diameter of less than 500 nanometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nanobubbling, LLC
    Inventors: Zvi Yaniv, Igor Alexander Goldman
  • Patent number: 10598447
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a composition that includes nano-bubbles dispersed in a liquid carrier includes: (a) an elongate housing comprising a first end and a second end, the housing defining a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an interior cavity adapted for receiving the liquid carrier from a liquid source; and (b) a gas-permeable member at least partially disposed within the interior cavity of the housing. The gas-permeable member includes an open end adapted for receiving a pressurized gas from a gas source, a closed end, and a porous sidewall extending between the open and closed ends having a mean pore size no greater than 1.0 ?m. The gas-permeable member defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen. The housing and gas-permeable member are configured to form a composition that includes the liquid carrier and the nano-bubbles dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: Moleaer, Inc
    Inventors: Warren Stuart Russell, Bruce Scholten
  • Patent number: 10591231
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a composition that includes nano-bubbles dispersed in a liquid carrier includes: (a) an elongate housing comprising a first end and a second end, the housing defining a liquid inlet, a liquid outlet, and an interior cavity adapted for receiving the liquid carrier from a liquid source; and (b) a gas-permeable member at least partially disposed within the interior cavity of the housing. The gas-permeable member includes an open end adapted for receiving a pressurized gas from a gas source, a closed end, and a porous sidewall extending between the open and closed ends having a mean pore size no greater than 1.0 ?m. The gas-permeable member defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a lumen. The housing and gas-permeable member are configured to form a composition that includes the liquid carrier and the nano-bubbles dispersed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: Molear, Inc
    Inventors: Warren S. Russell, Bruce Scholten
  • Patent number: 10576221
    Abstract: The invention relates to an internal seal system. The internal seal may be incorporated into a pre-filled, small-volume nebulizer assembly with a T-connector. The small-volume nebulizer may be pre-filled with at least one unit-dose of medicine and hermetically sealed until use by an input port seal and the internal seal. The internal seal may operate as a valve when the assembly is changed into a second configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Caddo Medical Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Joseph Dee Faram
  • Patent number: 10561993
    Abstract: A super-fine bubble generation apparatus includes a fine-array porous membrane and a device for generating substantially uniform, super-fine gas bubbles in a liquid. The fine-array porous membrane includes a plurality of pores having a substantially uniform size of <100 ?m, with a variation of <20%. The super-fine gas bubbles generated by this apparatus can have a size of 50 nm-50000 nm, with a substantially uniform distribution with variations <20%. Applications of such super-fine bubble generation apparatus can include a skin cleansing device, or a teeth-cleaning device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventors: Kechuang Lin, Yi-Jui Huang
  • Patent number: 10538435
    Abstract: A hydro-thermal exchange unit (HTEU) for desalinating feed water in accordance with a humidification-dehumidification includes feed water, fresh water and gas conduit circuits for transporting feed water, fresh water, and gas, respectively. The unit also includes an evaporator through which a portion of the feed water conduit and the gas conduit pass. The evaporator causes evaporation of a portion of the feed water to produce vapor that is transported through the gas conduit. The unit also includes a condenser through which a portion of the gas conduit and the fresh water conduit pass. The condenser has input and output ports for coupling the gas and fresh water conduit circuits. The condenser extracts moisture from the vapor transported therethrough by the gas conduit. The extracted moisture is discharged through the fresh water conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Sunlight Aerospace Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Frolov, Michael Cyrus, Allan James Bruce
  • Patent number: 10518895
    Abstract: There is provided a fuel tank inerting system for an aircraft which comprises a catalytic heat exchanger. The catalytic heat exchanger comprises a first flow path and a second flow path for heat exchange with the first flow path. The system also comprises a refrigerant circuit comprising at least the second flow path so that during use refrigerant in the refrigerant circuit is in heat exchange with the first flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: HS MARSTON AEROSPACE LIMITED
    Inventors: Paul Phillips, Berwyn Owain Pollard
  • Patent number: 10512349
    Abstract: An electric wine decanter comprises a housing, an air pump, a spout, the retaining base and a control switch. The retaining base is provided with a vent hole for communicating with the air in the wine container and a wine guide tube for extending to a bottom of the wine container. The housing further includes a directional control valve therein for controlling an air flow switch of the air pump and a drive device for controlling the operation of the directional control valve. The directional control valve includes a valve body and a valve seat mounted to a bottom of the valve body. It is only necessary to install the electric wine decanter on the mouth of the wine container. By the opening and closing of the different valve mouths, the flow path of the air flow is changed to realize the functions of pressure-holding, vacuumizing and decanting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: WENZHOU SORBO TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jianjun Wu, Zhanfeng Liu, Gang Zhou, Qingbao Lin
  • Patent number: 10477883
    Abstract: A gas injection assembly for injecting a gas into a liquid to form a solution includes a vessel that receives the liquid, a flow channel that conveys the liquid from the vessel through an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet that is configured to dispense the solution, and a sparger having a porous surface positioned in the flow channel such that the liquid flows across the porous surface and the porous surface injects the gas into the liquid as the liquid flows across the porous surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Cornelius, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Giardino, Tomasz K. Kasprzycki, Jacob Lukjanowicz, Jose Renteria, Michael Kurtz
  • Patent number: 10377651
    Abstract: Uses of a method of producing small bubbles of gas in a liquid include gas transfer in airlift bioreactors and anaerobic digesters, and particle separation. The method uses a source of the gas under pressure, a conduit opening into a liquid and oscillating the gas passing along the conduit. The oscillation is effected by fluidic oscillator, comprising a diverter that divides the supply into respect outputs, each output being controlled by a control port, wherein the control ports are interconnected by a closed loop. Separation of algae from water involves delivering a laminar flow of microbubbles in the range 10 to 100 ?m diameter. Such bubbles also deliver a laminar flow in bioreactors that delivers enhanced liquid flow despite the small bubbles, which improves mixing and also enhances efficiency of gas exchange and retention of the bubbles in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: PERLEMAX LTD
    Inventors: William Bauer Jay Zimmerman, Vaclav Tesar
  • Patent number: 10376817
    Abstract: An apparatus for removing impurities from water and/or wastewater and a method of installing a fluid distribution system in the apparatus. In the most preferred form of the invention, the fluid distribution system is an air scour system for directing air through the filter bed to assist in cleaning of the filter bed to remove impurities trapped in the filter bed during a service run. In the most preferred form, the method of installing the fluid distribution system in the filter bed is performed by imparting a force to the filter bed to permit the fluid distribution system to be installed in the filter bed without removing media. The fluid distribution system is preferably configured to permit the fluid distribution system to be readily installed in the filter bed and at an optimum orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2019
    Assignee: Roberts Marketing DE, Inc.
    Inventor: R. Lee Roberts
  • Patent number: 10239029
    Abstract: An aeration device includes a housing; a pump module mounted inside the housing and configured to provide a fluid flow; a tube connector mounted inside the housing and fluidly connected to the pump module; an aerator tube configured to be attachable to the tube connector; and a gripping recess mounted inside the housing such that the aerator tube is receivable within the gripping recess. The aerator tube is configured to receive the fluid flow from the pump module and deliver the fluid flow to a liquid in a vessel. The aerator device is configured to rest on a top rim of a vessel during operation of the pump module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2019
    Inventor: Yevgeniy Khayman
  • Patent number: 10213740
    Abstract: This application is in the field of technologies for desulfurization and demercaptanization of gaseous hydrocarbons. The device includes a catalytic reactor loaded with a catalyst solution in an organic solvent, a means of withdrawal sulfur solution from the reactor into the sulfur-separating unit, and a sulfur-separating unit. The said device has at least means of supplying gaseous hydrocarbon medium to be purified and oxygen-containing gas into the reactor, and a means of outletting the purified gas from the reactor. The sulfur-separation unit includes a means of sulfur extraction. The reactor design and the catalyst composition provide conversion of at least 99.99% of hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans into sulfur and disulfides. The catalyst is composed of mixed-ligand complexes of transition metals. The technical result achieved by use of claimed invention is single-stage purification of gaseous hydrocarbons from hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans with remaining concentration of —SH down up to 0.001 ppm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: START-CATALYST LLC
    Inventors: Liudmila Aleksandrovna Tyurina, Alexander Ivanovich Tyurin, Irina Gennadievna Tarkhanova, Alexey Aleksandrovich Tyurin
  • Patent number: 10175001
    Abstract: A ventilation device for transmissions with lubricant comprising water, the device being disposed above the transmission (1) and being connected thereto by way of a line (10) and comprising a pressure equalization opening (13) that leads to the surrounding environment, is to operate without loss of evaporating water to the environment. To this end, the device comprises at least one container (17) designed as a condenser for evaporated water rising through the line (10), the container being provided with a cooling element for dissipating heat (15), the condensate passing from said container (17) back to the transmission (1). In one variant, two containers containing a fluid are described which communicate with one another by way of a U-shaped channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fahrzeugtechnik AG & Co. KG
    Inventor: Franz Mayr
  • Patent number: 9937472
    Abstract: A mixer-sparger assembly includes a first body portion; a second body portion; a gasket positioned between the first and second body portions to form a seal between the two body portions; an inlet disposed in the first body portion; a flexible tube connected to the inlet; a fluid chamber disposed in the first body portion or the second body portion and in fluidic communication with the inlet; an outlet disposed in the first body portion or the second body portion and in fluidic communication with the fluid chamber; and a plurality of supports extending downwardly from the second body portion to form a self-standing assembly with a space disposed below the second body portion. The first and second body portions have a density greater than about 1.0 g/cm3, and the inlet, fluid chamber, and outlet in spatial combination are configured to have an axis of rotational symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Techmetals, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael May, Phillip Daniel Brockman
  • Patent number: 9643140
    Abstract: A bubble generation system includes a gaseous pressure source supplying a gas flow and a wave inducer including a first inlet in fluid communication with the gaseous pressure source to receive the gas flow and a first outlet. The wave inducer transitions the gas flow into a pulsating acoustic wave that exits the wave inducer through the outlet. The bubble generation system also includes a diffuser fluidly coupled to the outlet of the wave inducer. The diffuser is configured to produce bubbles from the gaseous pressure source. The bubble generation system further includes a vent passageway fluidly coupled between the wave inducer and the diffuser. The vent passageway is configured to be in fluid communication with an ambient environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: MikroFlot Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Jose Antonio Ramirez
  • Patent number: 9633452
    Abstract: The resolve operation in multi-sampled anti-aliasing may be avoided on a per pixel basis if all subsamples are determined to have the same color and the same storage is used for the resolved image as for one of the subsample planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Magnus Wendt
  • Patent number: 9579612
    Abstract: A wine aerator includes a gas conduit having a proximal end in fluid communication with a distal end, wherein the gas conduit passes through a seal and wherein the distal end is configured to be insertable into an inside of an uncorked wine bottle. A gas source is connectable to the proximal end of the gas conduit and is in fluidic communication with the gas conduit, wherein the gas source comprises an air pump having an adjustable flow rate of at least 0.1 liters per minute up to a maximum of 20 liters per minute. A bubble-generating aeration element is disposed at the distal end of the gas conduit and in fluidic communication with the gas conduit. The bubble-generating aeration element comprises a porous material having an average pore size of at least 1 micron up to a maximum of 500 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Inventors: Robert A. Stevenson, Wendy L. Stevenson, Jennifer L. Stevenson, Ryan A. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 9579611
    Abstract: An aerator assembly for diffusing a gas in a liquid, including a gas supply conduit and at least one aerator, wherein the gas supply conduit and the aerator are releasably joined to each other by an attachment. The attachment includes a flexible body and a compressor, wherein the attachment is arranged to be reversibly set in an inactive mode, in which the gas supply conduit and the at least one aerator are in mutually released mode, as well as in an active mode in which the flexible body is compressed in its axial longitudinal direction by the compressor and clamps the at least one aerator and the gas supply conduit against each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: XYLEM IP MANAGEMENT S.à r.l.
    Inventor: Anders Berfner
  • Patent number: 9453295
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a main body that includes a washing unit capable of washing laundry and a micro bubble generation unit configured to generate micro bubbles and supply the generated micro bubbles to the washing unit. The micro bubble generation unit includes a circulation unit supplied with water from the washing unit and configured to pressurize the water at a high pressure, an air supplier configured to supply air, a mixer connected to the circulation unit and the air supplier, configured to mix the washing water and the air, and a slit through which the mixed water and air pass through to generate the micro bubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: DONGBU DAEWOO ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hyung Gon Bae, Bae Gyun Kim, Ji Ae Jeong
  • Patent number: 9435027
    Abstract: The present invention is a bubbler having a diptube inlet ending in a bubble size reducing outlet and at least one baffle disc positioned between the outlet of the diptube and the outlet of the bubbler to provide a narrow annular space between the baffle disc and the wall of the bubbler to prevent liquid droplets from entering the outlet to the bubbler. The bubble size reducing outlet is an elongated cylindrical porous metal frit situated in a sump of approximately the same dimensions. A metal frit is placed at the inlet of the outlet of the bubbler. The present invention is also a process of delivering a chemical precursor from a bubbler vessel having the above structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Michael Birtcher, Thomas Andrew Steidl, Xinjian Lei
  • Patent number: 9370752
    Abstract: An aeration element for gasification or aeration of liquids includes an essentially flattened, rigid support element having a substantially oval cross-section and corrugated outer surfaces, the corrugated outer surfaces including ridges defining grooves therebetween; a threaded opening for receiving a cooperating fitting for connection to an air supply; and a flexible membrane of elastomeric material disposed around the support element, The membrane has a plurality of slits, and wherein compressed gas is introduced between the support element and the membrane, the gas can escape via these slits into the surrounding liquid. A retaining clamp holds the membrane around at least one end of the support element. A check valve assembly prevents backflow of liquid, particles, sludge or debris into the interior of the support element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Artemis Rubber Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Claudius Jäger
  • Patent number: 9334184
    Abstract: An apparatus for gas bubble division and distribution to an upflow algae scrubber, an embodiment of which comprises a gas bubble divider edge and a set of gas bubble corridors open on either their bottom or sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Bryan Harold Farrish
  • Patent number: 9279313
    Abstract: There are provided a carbon dioxide storage apparatus and a carbon dioxide storage method which, through direct injection of carbon dioxide into an underground brine aquifer, can store carbon dioxide efficiently in the brine aquifer. A filter formed of, for example, grindstone is provided at a tip portion of an injection well. A pumping apparatus pumps carbon dioxide stored in a carbon dioxide tank. The pumping apparatus feeds carbon dioxide from the carbon dioxide tank into the injection well by means of a pump. In the pumping apparatus, carbon dioxide is held within a predetermined pressure range and a predetermined temperature range. Carbon dioxide is fed through the injection well, and is injected into a brine aquifer. Carbon dioxide injected into the brine aquifer assumes the form of microbubbles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO GAS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Kameyama, Susumu Nishio, Ziqiu Xue, Toshifumi Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 9238906
    Abstract: A water-carrying line section having at least one aerating duct (2), the aerating duct (2), on the inlet side, having at least one duct opening (5) open to atmosphere and, on the outlet side, having at least one duct opening (6) that can be flushed by the water flowing past and/or is adjacent thereto, and in which aerating duct (2) a water jet aerator (7) is provided. The line section is characterized in that the water jet aerator (7) has a filtering or separating device (8) which is configured to be permeable to air in the direction from the at least one duct opening (5) on the inlet side toward the at least one duct opening (6) on the outlet side but is impermeable to water in the opposite direction. With the aid of the water jet aerator (7) which is used in the line section (1) and which serves to aerate the water flowing through a sanitary outlet fitting or the like, the undesired emergence of water can be prevented with certainty in any installation situation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPERL GMBH
    Inventor: Holger Schurle
  • Patent number: 9227035
    Abstract: A humidifier has a base unit with an engagement face that is configured to interface with a flow generator. The humidifier also has a tank configured to be removably received by the base unit and hold a volume of liquid. The tank has a side wall with an air inlet. The humidifier further has an air flow passage configured to receive an air connector of the flow generator at the engagement face of the base unit. The air flow passage is axially offset from a tank inlet. In addition, a cross-section of the airflow passage inlet and a cross-section of the tank air inlet are substantially perpendicular to a horizontal plane. In addition, a flexible face seal is positioned at an end of the air flow passage. An end of the face seal is configured to abut a side wall of the tank that includes the tank inlet when the tank is received in the base unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Geoffrey Crumblin, Michael Thomas Janiak, Dan Kao, Barton John Kenyon, Perry David Lithgow, Rohan Neil Primrose, Jim Saada, John Michael Snow, Duncan Lovel Trevor-Wilson, Alexander Virr, Arthur Kin-Wai Yee
  • Patent number: 9193577
    Abstract: A receptacle for storing, pressurizing, and dispensing packaged beverages. An airtight chamber with a removable lid, wherein the joint between the lid and the chamber is also airtight. A gas valve allows for the inflow and outflow of gas, and a tap port and tap stem allow the beverage to be dispensed without breaking the seal of the chamber. A pressure relief valve allows for more rapid depressurization. Chamber can also be used at high and low pressures, such as a partial vacuum, to prevent oxidation of a number of open beverages, such as beers, wines, and sodas. Can be used with multiple types of gas, and is coupleable with both American and European tap systems. A pressure gauge port allows a user to verify the appropriate pressure for the type of beverage being preserved. Lid may have multiple taps to allow for the storage of multiple beverages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Inventors: Keith W. McIntyre, John J. Parry
  • Patent number: 9157557
    Abstract: A gas distribution assembly includes an outer pipe and an inner pipe, defining a gas supply chamber therebetween. Furthermore, the gas distribution assembly includes a unit for supplying compressed gas to the gas supply chamber, a first end connection connecting first ends of the outer pipe and of the inner pipe, and leaving an orifice of the first end of the inner pipe open outwards, a second end connection connecting second ends of the outer pipe and of the inner pipe, and leaving an orifice of the second end of the inner pipe open outwards. The inner pipe includes a first pipe member including the first end of the inner pipe and a second pipe member including the second end of the inner pipe, which pipe members are in telescopic engagement with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: XYLEM WATER SOLUTIONS U.S.A., INC.
    Inventor: Joseph G. Krall
  • Patent number: 9144237
    Abstract: The sterilizing and deodorizing agents target bacteria, odors, toxic substances, etc. and are made from silver as metal particles and titanium dioxide as ceramic particles by (1) thermal bonding or (2) pressure bonding or (3) thermal/pressure bonding and mixing the resultant with hydroxyapatite as an adsorptive material. The agent can be mixed with ink, bonding agents and paints and applied to a variety of substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Inventors: Tsukasa Sakurada, Charles P. Gerba
  • Patent number: 9067036
    Abstract: A device for humidifying respiratory gases is provided. The device includes: an all-polymer humidification chamber; a heating element positioned independently and proximate to the humidification chamber; a base unit supporting the humidification chamber; a computer that sends adjustment instructions to a water filling valve coupled with the humidification chamber; a plurality of sensors determining light within the humidification chamber and coupled with the base unit; an airflow conduit coupled with the humidification chamber; a heater wire within the airflow conduit; and an insulation material with grooves thereon surrounding the heater wire. The adjustment instructions instruct the water filling valve to self-adjust to meet a predetermined water level objective. The airflow conduit delivers gas to the patient. The heater wire heats the gas being delivered. The grooves on the insulation wire wick water within the humidification chamber away to re-evaporation regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: CAREFUSION 207, INC.
    Inventors: Neil Korneff, Paul David Dixon, Christopher M Varga
  • Patent number: 9061255
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a micro-sized bubble generator. A micro-sized bubble generator using a highly-dissolved solution based on a rotating unit according to an exemplary embodiment of the present includes: a rotating unit receiving a mixture of water and gas and discharging a solution while making the water and gas collide with each other and rotating the same; a dissolving tank storing the solution discharged from the rotating unit; and a nozzle unit receiving the solution and generating micro-sized bubbles in the water. Accordingly, a massive amount of micro-sized bubbles less than 100 nm in size can be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: KOREA INSTITUTE OF MACHINERY & MATERIALS
    Inventors: Dong Kuen Song, Won-Seok Hong, Wan-Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 9010735
    Abstract: A contact reaction tower, including: a central cylinder; and an outer cylinder. Lift pipes and a water inlet pipe(s) are installed in the central cylinder, reflux windows are formed on the wall of the central cylinder, and the water flow circulation between the central cylinder and the outer cylinder is realized through the lift pipes, the water inlet pipe(s), and the reflux windows, such that the water flow internal circulation of the whole contact reaction tower is realized. The contact reaction tower is sealed in its entirety from the outside environment, and a gas guide pipe is installed at the top of the contact reaction tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Nanjing University
    Inventors: Hongqiang Ren, Ke Xu, Lili Ding, Xinkun Ren, Yanru Wang
  • Patent number: 9005971
    Abstract: A container system includes a bag having of one or more sheets of flexible polymeric material, the bag having an interior surface at least partially bounding a chamber that is adapted to hold a fluid. A sparger is secured to the interior surface of the bag so that a compartment is formed between the interior surface of the bag and the sparger. At least a portion of the sparger includes a sparging sheet formed from a flexible sheet of a gas permeable material. A tubular port or tube is coupled with the bag so that a passage bounded by the tubular port or tube communicates with the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Goodwin, Nephi D. Jones, Jeremy K. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8991797
    Abstract: The invention provides a self supporting isobaric structure for electrolyte aeration in an electrodeposition cell for electrolytic refining or winning of non-ferrous metals, and a method of fabrication thereof. The structure is constructed using thermoplastic material pipes the external surface of which is wrapped in a thermosetting polymer composite material and one or more successive wrapped layers of fiber glass mats, thus forming a structural monoblock. The pipes are arranged in a reticular layout having a generally rectangular frame that follows the contour of the cell, transverse structural elements that connect the longer sides of the frame and tubular elements connecting the shorter sides of the rectangular frame. The tubular element provide a means for gas diffusion and aeration in the cell. Furthermore, the invention provides pipe couplings that allow shorter elements to be connected together in order to achieve the reticular configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Ancor Tecmin, S. A.
    Inventors: Victor Vidaurre Heiremans, Edgardo Beltran Navarro