Affecting Structure, Article, Etc., Submerged In Marine Environment Patents (Class 422/6)
  • Patent number: 10532116
    Abstract: A processing unit and method for separating hydrocarbons from feedstock material. The processing unit includes at least one rotating conveyor in communication with a material inlet and a material outlet; a vacuum pump providing a vacuum atmosphere within the rotating conveyor; at least one material transfer device positioned at the material inlet and at least one material transfer device positioned at the material outlet, each material transfer device configured to allow transfer of feedstock material into or out of the rotating conveyor whilst maintaining the vacuum atmosphere within the rotating conveyor; and an electrostatic generator connected to the rotating conveyor providing a static charge to the vacuum atmosphere within the rotating conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: FULCRUM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Phillip Cauley
  • Patent number: 10030122
    Abstract: A grout compositions, storable with the exclusion of water, and crosslinkable upon ingress of water at room temperature is prepared by admixing a relatively minor proportion of a moisture-curable organopolysiloxanes, composition containing an alkoxysilyl-terminated, urethane-group-containing polymer and a silicone resin, with a major proportion of aggregate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: WACKER CHEMICAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Daniel J. Mania, Uwe Scheim
  • Patent number: 9140445
    Abstract: A superheated steam generator, capable of generating superheated steam which exceeds about 400° C. even if a litz wire is adopted as an induction heating coil, is generally described. The generator may include induction heating elements that can generate heat by electromagnetic induction and that are housed in a heat-resistant container. The generator may also include a hose that allows cooling water to pass therethrough and which is wound around an outer peripheral surface of the heat-resistant container. A water supply unit for the cooling water is connected to one end of the hose, and the other end of the hose is connected to a steam inlet of the heat-resistant container. An induction heating coil is mounted on an outer peripheral surface of the hose, and a high-frequency power supply unit is connected to the induction heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: TOKYO DENKI UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Hideo Tomita, Takeshi Maruyama, Shinzo Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 9028747
    Abstract: Water treatment compositions are provided that are effective for mitigating corrosion or fouling of surfaces in contact with aqueous systems. The water treatment compositions can include one or more azole compounds, one or more transition metals, and one or more dispersants, in addition to various other additives. The water treatment compositions can exclude phosphorus and still be effective. Methods for mitigating corrosion or fouling of a surface in an aqueous system are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Ecolab USA Inc.
    Inventor: Jasbir S. Gill
  • Publication number: 20150118101
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods for reducing fouling of a surface of an optically transparent element (102) with a light source. According to one aspect, the invention is a system including an LED (108) for emitting UV-C radiation, a mount for directing emitted UV-C radiation toward the optically transparent element (102), and control circuitry for driving the LED (108). The system may be used to remove a desired amount of biofilm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Phillip Cauley
  • Patent number: 8980173
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for monitoring and controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey V. Fox, George T. Totura, Peter Hicks, David A. Grattan, Martin Godfrey
  • Patent number: 8951467
    Abstract: An embodiment prevents equipment fouling (deposition of unwanted material) in an oil recovery system via implementing passivation of metallic components. By preventing or at least slowing or inhibiting corrosion of equipment or components via passivation, such as passivating heat exchangers, metallic piping, and the like, an embodiment in turn reduces fouling thereof. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Chemtreat, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Wright Bedinger, III, Benjamin Edward Niemaseck, Mark Jason Puchovich, John Richardson
  • Patent number: 8940227
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of a polyesteramine or a polyester polyquaternary ammonium compound as a corrosion inhibitor for metal surfaces, and to a method for protecting a metal surface from corrosion by contacting the metal surface with said corrosion inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Akzo Nobel Chemical International B.V.
    Inventors: Per-Erik Hellberg, Natalija Gorochovceva
  • Patent number: 8846732
    Abstract: Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Jenneman, Anne Greene, Gerrit Voordouw
  • Patent number: 8821787
    Abstract: A catalytic composition with a corrosion-inhibiting effect on metal surfaces is described. Also described, is a corrosion-inhibiting process and use of a corrosion inhibitor. Further, the catalytic composition can have a corrosion-inhibiting effect on metal surfaces in contact with an esterification medium comprising a carboxylic acid and an alcohol, wherein the composition comprises as a catalyst, a strong protonic acid and, as corrosion inhibitor, an iron(III) carboxylate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rhodia Poliamide e Especialidades Ltda
    Inventors: Carlos Eduardo Marenco, Wagner Lourenco, Renato Bresciani, Sergio Martins, Mario Pattaro, Wellington Bonifacio, João Carlos Lazarini
  • Patent number: 8784733
    Abstract: Chlorine dioxide generation systems and methods are disclosed. One or more reactants, such as sodium hypochlorite, may be electrolytically generated on-site for delivery to a reaction column. Low concentration reactants may be used to generate chlorine dioxide as part of a mixed oxy-chloro product stream containing free available chlorine. In at least one embodiment, an optical analyzer may be positioned along a reactant feed line to measure a concentration of reactant supplied to a reaction column. A controller may adjust a flow rate of the reactant in response to information provided by the optical analyzer. The controller may also perform pH control within the system. In some embodiments, the chlorine dioxide generator may be incorporated in an all-liquid water disinfection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Evoqua Water Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Vince G. Alarid, Edward M. Martens, Bobby J. Owings, Glenn W. Holden
  • Patent number: 8771593
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed or remove one or more active chemical species into or from the hot water system and further operable to change at least one system parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
  • Patent number: 8753568
    Abstract: A microprocessor preprogrammable autonomous device with biofouling control and method for monitoring aquatic environment by disposing environmental sensors in a sensor chamber which programmably opens for allowing direct communication between the sensors and the fluid of interest for sampling and which is closed after the sampling sequence is completed to create an anti-fouling environment in the sensor chamber by dissolving a biocide salt in the chamber and exposing the sensors to the anti-fouling environment for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Inventors: Vincent M. Kelly, Louis Anthony Codispoti, Steven Edward Suttles
  • Patent number: 8709338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of cleaning a surface by applying highly propagating ultrasonic energy to said surface, the method comprises immersing at least a portion of the surface into a fluid, wherein said fluid is in contact with an highly propagating ultrasonic energy emitting assembly; and emitting highly propagating ultrasonic energy from the assembly into the fluid to generate cavitation at the surface thereby cleaning said surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Cavitus Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Darren M Bates, Andrew Sin Ju Yap, Arthur R Mcloughlin
  • Patent number: 8623273
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of preventing or reducing scale formation or corrosion by combining at least one scale-forming fluid comprising at least one scaling compound with at least one anti-scale material chosen from at least one scale-adsorbent agent. The methods may reduce or prevent the formation of scale on surfaces of liquid-related process equipment, such as boilers and heat exchangers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Imerys Filtration Minerals, Inc.
    Inventor: Jie Lu
  • Patent number: 8475714
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the invention, a selective ultraviolet disinfection method is provided. The method includes selecting operating parameters for an ultraviolet disinfection process of flowing liquid carrying first and second types of entities to affect the first type of entities while the second type of entities remains intact, illuminating the liquid with ultraviolet light according to the operating parameters and continuously adjusting the operating parameters based on real-time measurements of ultraviolet transmission and flow rate of the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Atlantium Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Limor Barak, Vladimir Glukhman, Iian Wilf
  • Patent number: 8445864
    Abstract: A system includes a UV light source and an optical medium coupled to receive UV light from the UV light source. The optical medium is configured to emit UV light proximate to a surface to be protected from biofouling. A method corresponds to the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Matthew D. Thoren, Andrew M. Piper
  • Patent number: 8349966
    Abstract: Marine coatings including cationic polymers hydrolyzable to nonfouling zwitterionic polymers, coated marine surfaces, and methods for making and using the marine coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: University of Washington
    Inventors: Shaoyi Jiang, Hong Xue, Shengfu Chen
  • Publication number: 20120298575
    Abstract: Poly(?-peptoid)s selected from the group consisting of poly(N-methyl-?-alanine)s (PMeA) and poly(N-ethyl-?-alanine)s (PEtA) and polyl(methyl-?-alanine-co-ethyl-?-alanine) copolymers (P(MeA-co-EtA) are found to be good anti-fouling materials in that they resist protein adsorption. A process for protecting a surface of an object from protein adsorption comprises the steps of binding such poly(?-peptoid)s to the surface. A medical implant is coated with such poly(?-peptoid)s. A medical drug delivery device is coated with such poly(?-peptoid)s. A filtration device has pores coated with such poly(?-peptoid)s, and an object placed in freshwater or saltwater and having a surface in contact with the freshwater or saltwater has that surface coated with such poly(?-peptoid)s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Li Jia, Lingyun Liu
  • Patent number: 8226964
    Abstract: A process for improving a liquid carrying system comprising physically disrupting a biofilm on interior surfaces of the liquid carrying system and then providing molecular iodine onto the disrupted biofilm in a concentration in aqueous material onto the biofilm of at least 10 parts per million. The reactants may be provided before physical disruption also. The molecular iodine may be added in gaseous or liquid or solid state, and may be formed in situ in the interior of the liquid carrier system using available or added water in the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Biolargo Life Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Code
  • Patent number: 8176771
    Abstract: An endoscope washing and disinfecting apparatus includes: a connecting portion connected to a bending transmitting portion of an endoscope to transmit driving force; a distal end driving portion for transmitting the driving force to the bending transmitting portion through the connecting portion; a fluid supplying unit for supplying gas into an inner space of the endoscope; and a control unit for controlling a pressure detecting portion for detecting pressure in the inner space and the distal end driving portion to provide the bending portion with bending motion, and for determining occurrence or nonoccurrence of water leak in the endoscope by comparing the pressure detected by the pressure detecting portion and a preset threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Olympus Medical Systems Corp.
    Inventors: Hideto Onishi, Kenichi Kobayashi, Keisuke Nozaki, Shintaro Suzuki, Naoya Taya, Masahiko Tomita, Toshiaki Noguchi, Eiri Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8153057
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in a hot water system to inhibit corrosion in the hot water system. The method includes defining one or more operational protective zones in the hot water system. One or more of the operational protective zones includes an oxidation-reduction potential probe that is operable to measure a real-time oxidation-reduction potential in the hot water system at operating temperature and pressure. The probe transmits the measured real-time potential to the controller, which assesses and interprets the transmitted potential to determine whether it conforms to an oxidation-reduction potential setting. If the measured potential does not conform the oxidation-reduction potential setting, the controller is operable to feed one or more active chemical species into the hot water system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventors: Peter D. Hicks, David A. Grattan
  • Patent number: 8038937
    Abstract: The device with biofouling control for monitoring aquatic (or gaseous) environment encloses an environmental sensor instrument in a sensor chamber which programmably opens for allowing direct communication between the sensors and the water of interest for sampling and which is closed after the sampling sequence is completed to create an anti-fouling environment in the sensor chamber by adding a biocide into the chamber and exposing the sensors to the anti-fouling environment for a predetermined period of time. The monitoring device includes a microprocessor which is preprogrammed prior to deployment of the device (and which may be re-programmed from a remote host computer during the deployment) into the aquatic environment and which controls the operation of the entire device for a long deployment (up to several months).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science
    Inventors: Vincent M. Kelly, Louis A. Codispoti, Jay Harford
  • Patent number: 7972561
    Abstract: The invention relates to a microfluidic device comprising at least one micro-channel connected at one end to an enclosed area, characterized in that it also comprises an inlet circuit and an outlet circuit connected to the enclosed area and between which the fluid can be discharged without any contact with the micro-channel, wherein at least one of said inlet and outlet circuits can be controlled in such a way that the pressure at the end of the micro-channel can be modified independently from the pressure at the other end of the micro-channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche, Institut Curie
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Viovy, Claus Futterer, Nicolas Davis Minc, Jean Rossier, Jean-Hugues Codarbox
  • Patent number: 7927543
    Abstract: The method is for treating a marine object. A composition is provided that has an organic substance. The composition is applied to the marine object. The composition has a first layer and a second layer. A first organic substance on the first layer attracts bacteria. The bacteria consume the first organic substance and during this process use oxygen. The bacteria thus reduce an oxygen level in a boundary layer adjacent to a surface of the marine object. The first layer of the composition erodes to expose the second layer. The bacteria consume a second organic substance of the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: Ekomarine AB
    Inventors: Mikael Haeffner, Claes Tarras Ericsson
  • Patent number: 7922984
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus for delivery of a gas, e.g., carbon dioxide and/or chlorine dioxide, and methods of its use and manufacture. The apparatus includes a sachet constructed in part with a hydrophobic material. The sachet contains one or more reactants that generate a gas in the presence of an initiating agent, e.g., water. The apparatus can also include a barrier layer and/or a rigid frame. In another embodiment, the apparatus is combined with a reservoir that can be used to deliver a gas to the reservoir and, optionally, a conduit. In another embodiment, the apparatus is incorporated into a fluid dispersion system that includes a dispersion apparatus, e.g., a humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Selective Micro Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Richard A. Hamilton, John J. Warner
  • Patent number: 7910647
    Abstract: Non-ionic surfactants are used to reduce the adhesion of microorganisms to surfaces of materials by coating such surfaces with the surfactants or incorporating the surfactants into the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventors: Mirko Weide, Stefan Frey, Juergen Stodt, Andreas Bolte, Roland Breves, Thomas Gerke
  • Patent number: 7833551
    Abstract: Biogenic sulfide production is synergistically inhibited by treating sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) with a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor. The biocide directly kills a first portion of the SRB. The metabolic inhibitor inhibits sulfate-reducing growth of a second portion of the SRB without directly killing the second portion of the SRB. The treatment of SRB with both a biocide and a metabolic inhibitor provides effective biogenic sulfide inhibition at significantly lower concentrations than would be required if the biocide or metabolic inhibitor was used alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: ConocoPhillips Company, University Technologies International, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary E. Jenneman, Anne Greene, Gerrit Voordouw
  • Patent number: 7833474
    Abstract: A sterile device immersed in a sterile buffer and a method for providing same. The sterile device may be a medical device such as a biosensor having a biomolecule as a sensing element such as, for example, a glucose oxidase enzyme. The buffer may be a bicarbonate solution. Both the device and the buffer may be packaged and stored over long term while maintaining sterilization. The sterilization method may comprise a combination of gaseous, liquid and light sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Swanson, Jennifer M. Reynolds, Rajiv Shah
  • Patent number: 7811513
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for treating of marine growth on the surface, such as the holes of boats and ships. A confinement arrangement is used to confine a volume of heated fluid against the surface. The confinement arrangement is retained against the surface by maintenance and mounts rollers so that it can be moved over the surface to treat other parts of the surface. A heated fluid is provided to the confined volume from an external heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Inventors: Keith Johnson, Timothy Johnson
  • Patent number: 7794583
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to synergistic corrosion management systems designed to deliver two or more different types of corrosion inhibiting compounds (e.g., two or more different types of corrosion inhibiting compounds) to an enclosure, and to method for using same. More specifically, the present invention relates to synergistic corrosion management systems designed to eliminate, manage, control and/or mitigate corrosion in containers, enclosures, cisterns and/or storage tanks (e.g., above ground storage tanks). In one embodiment, the present invention utilizes a combination of at least one cathodic-based corrosion prevention or mitigation system, at least one soluble corrosion inhibitor, and at least one volatile or vapor phase corrosion inhibitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Northern Technologies International Corp.
    Inventor: Efim Ya Lyublinski
  • Patent number: 7727406
    Abstract: There is provided a water sterilizer. The water sterilizer includes an ultraviolet light source electrically connected to an electrical power source, a light-protective housing encasing the lamp and having an inlet and an outlet, and a pump to draw the water into the housing to expose the water to ultraviolet light. Electric power supplied to the ultraviolet light source has an operating potential of not greater than 24 Volts. There is also provided a method for water sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Ka Duk Lam
  • Patent number: 7695675
    Abstract: A method of inactivating microorganisms such as viruses within a fluid such as a biological fluid is disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a UV reactor, which may take the form of an elongated generally annular reaction chamber surrounding at least one elongated UV lamp, moving the fluid within the reaction chamber in a primary flow directed along the length of the UV lamp, and inducing a circulating secondary flow within the fluid with the secondary flow being superimposed on the primary flow. As the fluid moves through the reaction chamber in the primary flow, it is circulated repeatedly toward and away from the UV lamp in the circulating secondary flow to provide uniform and controllable exposure of the entire volume of fluid to ultraviolet radiation. Microorganisms such as viruses are thus inactivated while desirable components in the fluid, such as proteins, are preserved without the use of a free radical scavenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignees: Bayer Healthcare LLC, Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Kaiser, Hans-Juergen Henzler, Joerg Kauling, Rolf Treckmann, Kathryn Remington, Cynthia J. Galloway
  • Patent number: 7691324
    Abstract: In a reaction chamber, which constitutes a component of a process installation for obtaining foodstuffs or foodstuff components, biological products in harvested form that are whole or in pieces are subjected to pulsed electric fields as they pass through said reaction chamber, said electric fields forming pores in the cell walls so as to irreversibly open the latter, thus making the content of the cells more easily accessible. This is achieved by electrode groups, which can be energized to a high voltage and are located in the wall of a longitudinal passage of the reactor through which the process material is moved past grounded electrodes located in an opposing longitudinal wall area. Each electrode group is connected to an electric energy accumulator such as for example, a Marx generator, by means of a switch, in order to rapidly establish electric fields of multiple directions between the charged and the grounded electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: Südzucker AG, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 7682526
    Abstract: A imidazoline concentrate, uses of the concentrate, and methods of increasing a storage stability of solutions containing the concentrate are disclosed. The concentrate may include a reaction product of a fatty acid, an alkylene polyamine, a hydrocarbyl succinic acid or anhydride, and an alkoxylated alkylphenol component. The concentrate may contain from about 2 to about 50 wt. % of the alkyphenol component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Afton Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Scott Anthony Culley, José L. Reyes-Gavilan
  • Patent number: 7651660
    Abstract: Described is a reactor for irradiating ultraviolet light into a fluid reaction medium (3). The reactor consists of at least one housing (15) which encloses a tubular cavity, with a radiation source (1) for generating ultraviolet light and an inner tube (2) which, together with the housing (15), forms an irradiation chamber (26) which, in particular, is of annular shape, the irradiation chamber (26) being connected at least with an inlet (13) and an outlet (14) for the reaction medium (3) and is perfused by reaction medium (3) in the longitudinal direction of the tube (2), the irradiation chamber (26) being equipped with means (6, 25) for generating an additional radial flow routing of the reaction medium (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Kaiser, Jörg Kauling, Hans-Jürgen Henzler, Isabell Günther, Franz Schmitt, Erhard Beckers, Stefan Quest
  • Patent number: 7645419
    Abstract: Described are a method of killing microorganisms in aqueous industrial systems or products for industrial applications based on water by adding from 0.001 to 5% by weight of a water-soluble or water-dispersible polymer containing from 30 to 100 mol % of styrenesulfonic acid, from 0 to 40 mol % of an N-vinyllactam and/or N-vinylamine, and from 0 to 30 mol % of further free-radically polymerizable monomers as biocidal additive, and a method of protecting articles by applying an antimicrobial aqueous composition comprising such an additive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: BASF SE
    Inventors: Frank Dietsche, Nathalie Bouillo, Karl Kolter, Christoph Hamers
  • Patent number: 7341695
    Abstract: An anti-fouling apparatus and method includes a configurable cleaner connected to an object for physically removing foulants on the object. A UV light device is connected to the object for preventing the growth of foulants on the object and a camera is connected to the object for observing the presence of foulants on the object. The configurable cleaner removes foulants from the object as well as the UV light and the camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Inventor: Stuart Garner
  • Patent number: 7150852
    Abstract: A method and system for preventing galvanic corrosion associated with a fastener of a first metal type and within an orifice of a second metal type for receiving said fastener. The method includes coating the fastener with a corrosive inhibitor and by further coating at least one of the fastener and orifice with an anaerobic composition that expands after the fastener is inserted into the orifice. The system includes a corrosive inhibitor coating at least a portion of the fastener adapted to contact the second metal type; and an anaerobic composition interposed between the corrosive inhibited portion of the fastener and orifice, and adapted to expand after the corrosive inhibitor portion of the fastener is inserted into the orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Barbara Beierle, legal representative, Jules F. Senske, Carl J. Beierle, legal—incapacitated
  • Patent number: 7144549
    Abstract: An electric submersible pump has one or more components coated with a biocide-incorporated coating for the purpose of controlling the activity of bacteria. The portions exposed to well fluid are coated for inhibiting bacteria from growing. Both centrifugal and progressing cavity pumps are applicable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Dan L. Adams
  • Patent number: 6972111
    Abstract: The invention relates to new and known compounds as well as methods for preventing the attachment of aquatic organisms to surfaces which are submerged for extensive periods of time in water. More particularly, this invention relates to the protection of submerged surfaces with new isonitrile, formamide, isocyanate and isothiocyanate anti-fouling agents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2005
    Assignees: Bayer Aktiengesellschaft, Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast, Natuurweten-schappelijk Onderzoek & Sigma Coatings
    Inventors: Franz Kunisch, Martin Kugler, Jean-Claude Braekman, Mark Plehiers, Gabriele Ferrari, Marcel Vos
  • Patent number: 6923936
    Abstract: A sterile device immersed in a sterile buffer and a method for providing same. The sterile device may be a medical device such as a biosensor having a biomolecule as a sensing element such as, for example, a glucose oxidase enzyme. The buffer may be a bicarbonate solution. Both the device and the buffer may be packaged and stored over long term while maintaining sterilization. The sterilization method may comprise a combination of gaseous, liquid and light sterilization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Medtronic Minimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron J. Swanson, Jennifer M. Reynolds, Rajiv Shah
  • Patent number: 6858180
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for scale inhibition using random copolymers of acrylic acid and a monomer that is hydrophobic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Ashland Inc.
    Inventors: Sridevi Narayan-Sarathy, Laurence G. Dammann, Davor Zidovec
  • Patent number: 6793882
    Abstract: A container (30) for use in sterilizing an object has a first end (35) and a second end (38). The container (30) is suitably sized to receive an endoscopic telescope (45) for sterilization. Once the endoscopic telescope (45) has been inserted into the container (30), a lid (46) having a vapour permeable section (47) is fitted to the container. The container and object are then sterilized, for example, by autoclaving. After sterilization, use of the container requires a noon-sterile nurse in an operating theatre to push the ends (35, 38) together. A collapsible or deformable portion (42) collapses and the ends (35, 38) move closer together to thereby force the telescope (45) out of the container (30), where is can be removed by a sterile nurse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Fairmont Medical Products PTY LTD
    Inventor: Mark Verschuur
  • Patent number: 6749809
    Abstract: A clustered creature exterminating method efficiently exterminates clustered creature such as cyanobacteria in large quantity with use of a pressure which is substantially lower than that of the conventional method. The exterminating method includes the steps of: pressurizing a fluid containing a clustered creature such as cyanobacteria through a pump; suddenly lowering the pressure applied to the fluid by injecting the fluid from nozzle groups; and destroying a bonding in the clustered creature by a cavitation caused by the pressure drop. The nozzle groups may be arranged to oppose to one another to collide the injected fluids with each other, which divides the cyanobacteria into many small pieces. As a result, the cyanobacteria lose the ability to rise, and sink at the bottom of water, therefore, die because they cannot photosynthesize.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignee: Karasawa Fine, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yukihiko Karasawa
  • Publication number: 20040101796
    Abstract: The method of the invention concerns operation of a furnace utilising a hydrogen-rich gas as furnace fuel. The furnace has multiplicity of burners for burning fuel supplied thereto. The method comprises providing ignition means for lighting a flame at at least one burner of the multiplicity of burners. An oxygen-containing gas and a combustible gas comprising a hydrocarbon gas are supplied to each of the multiplicity of burners in amounts capable of forming an ignitable mixture. A flame is ignited at the predetermined one burner which is then allowed to propagate from the at least one predetermined burner to the other burners of the multiplicity of burners. Then the composition of the combustible gas is altered over a period of time so as to replace at least a major part of the hydrocarbon gas by a hydrogen-rich gas until a hydrogen flame is established at each of the multiplicity of burners.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2003
    Publication date: May 27, 2004
    Inventors: Michael Hilton, John Wilson Kippax
  • Publication number: 20030215353
    Abstract: This invention relates to a process for scale inhibition using random copolymers of acrylic acid and a monomer that is hydrophobic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2002
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: Srideve Narayan-Sarathy, Laurence G. Dammann, Davor Zidovec
  • Patent number: 6605254
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of fumigating closed systems susceptible to microbially influenced corrosion (MIC). The method is particularly useful in a method for mitigating MIC in fire protection sprinkler systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony Mark Aguilera, Ronald Gordon Bitney, Stephen Alan Conviser, Barbara Ruth Decaire
  • Publication number: 20030147770
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for precisely monitoring and collecting data relating to the light treatment of a product in a treatment system. In one implementation, a method for use with a treatment system using light comprises the steps of: illuminating a product with a light treatment comprising light having a spectrum of wavelengths within a range of 170 to 2600 nm, the light treatment for treating the product; and measuring a fluence of a portion of the light treatment for each of a plurality of wavelengths of the spectrum of wavelengths simultaneously. In preferred implementations, the light treatment is a pulsed light treatment and the product is a biological fluid product flowed through a treatment chamber. Furthermore, in preferred implementations, the light treatment is for the deactivation of microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, fungus, and other pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Publication date: August 7, 2003
    Applicant: PurePulse Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eddie Lee Brown, Edward Domanico, William M. Fries, Jeffrey M. Holloway, Richard E. May, Kenton J. Salisbury, John S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 6399021
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for inhibiting the corrosion of ferrous and other metals by passivating the metals. The system includes novel buffered compositions which may be applied to metal products, and novel combinations thereof with metals, for preventing or retarding corrosion, as well as methods for applying the buffered compositions to metal products, such that corrosion protection of the products is achieved. The methods include an in-situ application to existing structures with metal reinforcement as well as applications to metal products during manufacture. Generally, the compositions may be in various forms and comprise one or more layers, at least one of which includes a water repellent but water vapor permeable carrier component and one or more pH buffer components. The buffer is selected to produce a passivating pH at the surface of the metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Elisha Technologies Co LLC
    Inventors: Robert L. Heimann, William M. Dalton, David R. Webb, Nancy M. McGowan