With Means For Exchanging Heat Patents (Class 494/13)
  • Patent number: 11511214
    Abstract: A method for cleaning fuel oil for a diesel engine includes providing a fuel oil to be cleaned, supplying said fuel oil to be cleaned to a centrifugal separator, and cleaning said fuel oil in the centrifugal separator to provide a clean oil phase. The method further includes measuring the viscosity of the fuel oil to be cleaned before cleaning in said centrifugal separator or the viscosity of the clean oil phase, and regulating the temperature of the fuel oil to be cleaned based on said measured viscosity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventor: Mitul Sawjani
  • Patent number: 10471441
    Abstract: A housing of a centrifuge having an abutment for a ground on which the housing sits, as well as to a centrifuge. The housing is divided into two parts, i.e. a first housing and a second housing which is connected to the first housing via a pivot bearing, with at least one energy absorber being arranged between the first housing and the second housing, which energy absorber will counteract the forces, in particular the torques, generated in the event of a crash and will absorb the energy of the crash so as to prevent at least the part of the second housing which rests on the ground from moving relative to the ground, which pivot bearing allows the first housing to rotate relative to the second housing against the action of the one or plural energy absorber(s) which is/are separate from the pivot bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: ANDREAS HETTICH GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Guenter Eberle, Martin Kuster
  • Patent number: 9687758
    Abstract: A foam removing device, containing: a liquid container; a foam-containing liquid supply pipe; an air bubble outlet pipe; a foam-removed liquid outlet pipe; an inner rotating cylinder; a liquid supply opening; and an air bubble outlet, wherein the inner rotating cylinder contains a foam-removed liquid guide hole formed therein, where the foam-removed liquid guide hole is configured to guide the foam-removed liquid reached to an area adjacent to a perimeter surface of the inner rotating cylinder by the centrifugal separation into a foam-removed liquid accommodating space between an outer surface of the inner rotating cylinder and an inner surface of the liquid container, and a foam-removed liquid outlet opening is provided in the foam-removed liquid accommodating space of the liquid container, where the foam-removed liquid outlet opening is configured to connect the foam-removed liquid outlet pipe with the liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Satoshi Nakazawa, Shuji Hanai
  • Patent number: 9518967
    Abstract: A device and associated method can detect hydrocarbon gas with at least a control module having a plurality of different gas detection means housed in a mobile enclosure, the control module configured to activate at least two different gas detection means to provide amounts and types of gases present in a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Inventor: Carl Bright
  • Patent number: 8852069
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a vacuum pump machine configured of an auxiliary vacuum pump and an oil diffusion pump for exhausting gas inside a rotary chamber to outside, in which a rotor rotates at high speed. In the centrifuge, a thermistor for detecting a temperature of oil and an oil surface inside a boiler of the oil diffusion pump is provided inside the boiler, and power of a heater is adjusted with the temperature detected by the thermistor, so that a degree of vacuum inside the rotary chamber is stably reduced from atmospheric pressure to a high vacuum state. Besides, when the heater does not heat, a current is carried through the thermistor for self-heating, and it is determined from variation in a resistance value whether the oil exists or not at a position at which the thermistor 8 is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinichi Haruki, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20140249011
    Abstract: A method for clarifying pyrolysis oil includes at least the following steps: (a) at least clarifying the pyrolysis oil in a centrifuge; and (b) before and/or during the clarification according to step (a), heating the pyrolysis oil in order to reduce the viscosity of the pyrolysis oil. A system is provided for clarifying pyrolysis oil according to the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Publication date: September 4, 2014
    Applicant: GEA Mechanical Equipment GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Mense, Nick Fernkorn, Sascha Westerwalbesloh, Juergen Mackel
  • Patent number: 8734751
    Abstract: A method is provided for recycling and treating the wastes of silicon wafer cutting and polishing processes. To begin with, a dewatered filter cake is mixed with water so that the filter cake is diluted to form a working fluid. The water reacts with silicon in the filter cake to produce silicon dioxide and hydrogen. After the hydrogen is extracted for storage, specific gravity separation takes place via water so that silicon carbide and silicon particles are separated for sorting. Then, solid-liquid separation is performed on the remaining working fluid to separate silicon dioxide (solid) from water and PEG (liquid), before PEG is separated from water. Thus, the useful silicon particles, silicon carbide, silicon dioxide, and PEG are recycled from the filter cake to reduce the total amount of wastes. Moreover, as the side product, hydrogen, is of high commercial value, the method also adds value to recycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Taiwan Water Recycle Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jr-Jung Iang
  • Patent number: 8668634
    Abstract: Methods for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, apply a centrifuge to process a solids-enriched output of a fluids/solid separation device. The centrifuge may be a horizontal decanter-type centrifuge. The output may be heated. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. The fluids/solids separation device may comprise a shale shaker and/or a main centrifuge for example. The output material may have a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Inventor: Rod Wick
  • Patent number: 8636634
    Abstract: Disclosed are a reaction and separation processor and a process for producing biodiesel. The processor is comprised of a stationary casing and a rotor located internal to the casing, with a gap formed between the rotor and casing. A fluid inlet port is located at the upper end of the casing for delivering fluid, which is used to produce the biodiesel, into the reaction zone of the processor, in which the reaction zone is defined as a gap between an upper portion of the rotor and casing. Surface irregularities for inducing fluid turbulence in the reaction zone are located on an inner surface of the casing, an outer surface of the rotor, or both. A rotor inlet port is located at a lower end of the rotor for directing fluid from the reaction zone into the separation zone, which is located within the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: RASP Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mark Allen, Robert Miller
  • Publication number: 20130095992
    Abstract: Provided are closed-cycle continuous flow separator systems for isolating target cell populations, which comprises in operable connection, a binding area for binding a target cell to a binding particle; a first continuous flow centrifuge for separating target cell bound binding particles from non-target cells; a de-binding area for de-binding the target cell from the binding particle; and a second continuous flow centrifuge for separating the target cell from the binding particle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: Empire technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Ezekiel Kruglick
  • Patent number: 8409068
    Abstract: A centrifuge comprises a rotor for holding a sample, a rotation chamber for housing the rotor, a motor for rotating the rotor, an oil diffusion pump for reducing a pressure within the rotation chamber, and a control unit for controlling the heater temperature of the oil diffusion pump for a target set temperature. The control unit changes the target set temperature from a first given temperature to a second given temperature that is lower than the first given temperature after a given period of time elapses since the start of control of the heater temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouichi Akatsu, Masahiro Inaniwa, Hisanobu Ooyama, Shinichi Haruki
  • Patent number: 8287441
    Abstract: Apparatus for separating liquids, such as oils from solids, such as drill cuttings, comprises a decanter-type centrifuge. In example implementations the centrifuge has a bowl angle of four degrees or less and a low fluid depth of two inches or less. A material conveyor such as an auger is provided to carry material having a relatively high initial solids content, such as 50% or more into the centrifuge. The apparatus may comprise heaters to heat the material. In example implementations the decanter-type centrifuge processes solids from a main centrifuge and/or a shale shaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Inventor: Rod Wick
  • Publication number: 20120135846
    Abstract: The present invention provides a centrifuge capable of adjusting a temperature of a material. The centrifuge is a spinning and revolving type centrifuge that applies centrifugal force on a contained material contained within a container by spinning the container while rotating the container. The centrifuge includes: a rotating body configured to be capable of rotating around a predetermined rotation axis line; a container holder that holds the container and is attached in a rotatable manner to the rotating body in a position that is a predetermined distance away from the rotation axis line of the rotating body; a compartment body that compartmentalizes a space including an area in which the rotating body rotates; one or a plurality of projection bodies that project from an inner surface of the compartment body towards the area in which the rotating body rotates; and a temperature adjustor that adjusts the temperature of the compartment body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: Thinky Corporation
    Inventor: Jianguo Yao
  • Publication number: 20120040816
    Abstract: The invention relates to a centrifugal separator comprising a casing which delimits and seals off a space in which a rotor is arranged. The rotor forms a separation space which is sealed or isolated from the space, and in which separation space centrifugal separation of a higher density and a lower density component from a fluid takes place. An inlet extends into the rotor for introducing fluid to the separation space, and a first outlet extends from the rotor for discharge of a component separated from the fluid. The space is connected to a pump device which is arranged to remove gas, thereby maintaining negative pressure in said space. The rotor comprises at least one second outlet extending from the separation space to the space for discharge of at least one higher density component separated from the fluid. The invention also relates to a method in such a centrifugal separator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Applicant: ALFA LAVAL CORPORATE AB
    Inventors: Peter Thorwid, Roland Isaksson, Peter Hagqvist, Carl Häggmark, Lars Hillström
  • Patent number: 7972520
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for operating a centrifuge which has a drive shaft used for loading, a drum which is connected to the drive shaft and has a drum casing and a drum base, a filter with a working region situated within the filter, an annular space formed between the filter and the drum casing, at least one drum base opening which is formed in the drum base and opens out into the annular space, and at least one swirl nozzle which is arranged in such a manner that it injects a fluid through the at least one drum base opening into the annular space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Fima Maschinenbau GmbH
    Inventor: Joachim Schmid
  • Patent number: 7934603
    Abstract: The delivery system of the present invention is comprised of at least two chambers which store, individually, an activated blood component and an inactivated blood component. The first chamber comprises an activating agent and a filter which may be one in the same thus allowing the formed clot to be triturated thereby isolating the thrombin from the clot. The second chamber stores the inactivated blood component that when mixed with thrombin will produce a gel. The first or second chamber may further contain agents which are desired to be delivered to a specific site. The unique design of the delivery system allows for ease in operation of combining two agents at a specific time and place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Arteriocyte Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Julie S. Eaton, Robert F. Baugh, Lisa M. Lim, John G. Rivera, Victor D. Dolecek
  • Publication number: 20100216621
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator assembly including a polygonal separator chamber formed of planar wall sections joined with each other to provide a substantially gas tight structure and having at least four pairs of planar opposite wall sections. The chamber includes a tapered portion formed by having a first inward bending in each of the wall sections. The tapered portion extends as a discharge channel for separated particles from the separator chamber, which discharge channel is formed of first and second pairs of opposite wall sections being perpendicular to each other. In the discharge channel for separated particles, the first pair of wall sections extends into the area between the second pair of wall sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: FOSTER WHEELER ENERGIA OY
    Inventor: Pentti Lankinen
  • Patent number: 7775961
    Abstract: Centrifuge samples may be exposed to microwave energy to heat the samples during centrifugation and to promote separation of the different components or constituents of the samples using a centrifuge device configured for generating microwave energy and directing the microwave energy at a sample located in the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventor: David H. Meikrantz
  • Publication number: 20090050620
    Abstract: A heating arrangement for heating one or more liquid-containing microcavities (102) that are present on a microdevice (101) in which there is a contact surface (Sdev) (108). The arrangement comprises a heating support (104,204) that has: a) a support contact surface (Ssup) (110) which is apposed to Sdev (108), when the microdevice (101) is placed on the heating support (104,204), and b) one or more heating elements (120,220) each of which are in thermal contact with Ssup (110), and also with at least one of said microcavities (102), when the microdevice (101) is placed according to (a) with said microcavities (102) matched to said heating elements (120,220), The characteristic feature of the arrangement is that it comprises a sub pressure system (113-119) that is capable of creating sub pressure between said support (104,204) and said microdevice (101) via the support when the microdevice (101) is placed on the support (104,204).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2005
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Applicant: GYROS AB
    Inventors: Per Andersson, Gunnar Kylberg
  • Publication number: 20090036288
    Abstract: In an embodiment, a wetted wall cyclone comprises a cyclone body including an inlet end, an outlet end, an inner flow passage, and an inner surface defining an inner diameter. In addition, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a cyclone inlet tangentially coupled to the cyclone body. The cyclone inlet includes an inlet flow passage in fluid communication with the inner flow passage. Further, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a skimmer extending coaxially through the outlet end of the cyclone body. The skimmer comprises an upstream end disposed within the cyclone body, a downstream end distal the cyclone body, and an inner exhaust passage in fluid communication with the inner flow passage. Still further, the wetted wall cyclone comprises a first annulus positioned radially between the upstream end and the cyclone body having a radial width W1 between 3% and 15% of the inner diameter of the cyclone body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM
    Inventors: Shishan HU, Andrew R. McFARLAND
  • Publication number: 20080250723
    Abstract: Process for completely recovering the reusable components of an abrasive slurry used in slicing crystalline materials of silicon, quartz or ceramics when it becomes exhausted and enriched with undesired waste matter. The process consists of an initial centrifuge separation of the exhausted slurry as such and of a wet size-sorting treatment of the fraction containing the abrasive grains obtained from the centrifuge, carried out in a battery of hydrocyclones or centrifuges connected in series. The section for the recovery and purification of the abrasive grains comprises a multifunctional apparatus that performs all the required operations within a single pressure vessel. The process enables the complete recovery of the reusable abrasive grains contained in the exhausted slurry as well as of the suspending or cutting liquid of the abrasive slurry, in order to reuse both components in the manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: October 16, 2008
    Inventor: Guido Fragiacomo
  • Publication number: 20080058192
    Abstract: A centrifugal force based microfluidic device including a thermal activation unit, a microfluidic system including the same, and a method of operating the microfluidic system are provided. The thermal activation unit accompanies a temperature change in order to carry out its functions and having heat generation particles that absorb electromagnetic waves and generate heat in the activation unit therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yoon-kyoung CHO, Jeong-gun LEE, Beom-seok LEE, Jong-myeon PARK
  • Patent number: 6953424
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator, a temperature sensor is provided in contact with a vibration isolation rubber that elastically supports an induction motor to a motor base. A Peltier element for heating/cooling the vibration isolation rubber is provided in contact with the vibration isolation rubber. The temperature sensor and the Peltier element is connected to a controller. Based on a detected temperature input from the temperature sensor, the controller controls heat generation or cooling effected by the Peltier element, thereby maintaining an optimum temperature of the vibration isolation rubber to maintain its damping characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Hitachi Koki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Kusumoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6860845
    Abstract: A system for separating a multi phase mixture into a first liquid phase component, a second liquid phase component and a solid phase component includes a three phase centrifuge and a control system for the centrifuge. The control system includes a fuzzy soft sensor programmed with fuzzy logic rules and a feed forward controller in signal communication with the fuzzy soft sensor. The feed forward controller is configured to adjust a feed rate and a feed temperature of the mixture based on the rules, the cold feed temperature, the percent change of water in the mixture, and the percent change of solids in the mixture. The system also includes a feedback controller configured to adjust the feed rate and the feed temperature of the mixture based on the rules, and the basic water and solid (BS&W) content of the first liquid phase component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventors: Neal J. Miller, William Jerry Parkinson, Ronald E. Smith
  • Patent number: 6852074
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selectively expressing one or more selected fluid materials out of a fluid container, including a centrifuge rotor having a round centrifuge chamber of selected volume, a round expandable enclosure disposed within the centrifuge chamber having a rotation axis coincident with the central rotation axis and a flexible wall, a pump for controllably pumping a selected volume of expresser fluid into and out of the expandable enclosure wherein the fluid container is receivable within the centrifuge chamber, and a retaining mechanism for holding the fluid container within the centrifuge chamber in a coaxial position. The flexible wall of the fluid container is in contact with the flexible wall of the expandable enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: ZymeQuest, Inc.
    Inventors: Glen Jorgenson, Donald Barry, Bruce H. Edwards, John P. O'Brien, Victor Sacco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6800053
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for sterilization of laboratory equipment, which are particularly suited for sterilization of internal passages of a centrifuge centrate gate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, LP
    Inventor: Mark J. Fox
  • Patent number: 6783993
    Abstract: The efficient temperation of a sample is achieved when the sample is subjected to centrifugation simultaneously wish heating and optionally also cooling. This is achieved in a device comprising at least a rotor (1) for holding reaction vessels (2), a motor (3), connected to the rotor, a processor (4) for controlling the speed of the rotor, and elements (5 and 6) for heating and cooling the contents of the reaction vessels, wherein the elements (6) for heating cover the apices of the reaction vessels for at least part of the rotational path of the vessels and that the elements for heating operate at a temperature significantly higher than the meeting temperature of the reaction vessels. The invention further relates to a method for performing chemical reactions and in particular a method for performing biochemical reactions involving thermocycling, for example PCR-reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Alphahelix AB
    Inventor: Mats Malmquist
  • Publication number: 20040157718
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for sterilization of laboratory equipment, which are particularly suited for sterilization of internal passages of a centrifuge centrate gate assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventor: Mark J. Fox
  • Publication number: 20040142807
    Abstract: A two-tube centrifuge separates light material and heavy material from an input mixture. A hollow drive shaft rotates a central body member about an axis of rotation. Two hollow arm assemblies, each having circular cross-section, are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the central body. Each arm assembly includes an outer housing tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube that is longer than the intermediate tube. An end cap having a removable plug is mounted on the outer end of the housing-tube of each arm assembly. The inner ends of all three tubes are mechanically interlocked in a manner to cantilever mount the inner and intermediate tubes to the central-body with their outer ends spaced from the internal surface of the end cap. An input-mixture path extends through the hollow drive shaft, through the central-body, and into a cylindrical space between the inner and intermediate tubes of each arm assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Publication date: July 22, 2004
    Inventors: Paul J. Cornay, Ernest Peter Tovani, Gary Matzen
  • Publication number: 20040023778
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator, a temperature sensor is provided in contact with a vibration isolation rubber that elastically supports an induction motor to a motor base. A Peltier element for heating/cooling the vibration isolation rubber is provided in contact with the vibration isolation rubber. The temperature sensor and the Peltier element is connected to a controller. Based on a detected temperature input from the temperature sensor, the controller controls heat generation or cooling effected by the Peltier element, thereby maintaining an optimum temperature of the vibration isolation rubber to maintain its damping characteristics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Publication date: February 5, 2004
    Applicant: HITACHI KOKI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shoji Kusumoto, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 6605028
    Abstract: A centrifuge system with a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of fractions removed or output from the centrifuge to a collection chamber. In one embodiment, the centrifuge system provides an integral heater element operable by a temperature controller to control the temperature of the collection chamber or dispenser assembly. A temperature sensor is provided to allow the temperature controller to accurately monitor the temperature of the fraction held in chambers or syringes in the dispenser assembly. In a more particular embodiment, the centrifuge system is utilized to separate and extract platelets from blood samples. The heater element is positioned adjacent collection syringes in the dispenser assembly and selectively operated to maintain the temperature of the platelets in the collection syringes within an activation temperature range to activate the platelets and facilitate creation of autologous platelet gel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventor: Victor D. Dolecek
  • Patent number: 6593143
    Abstract: A coaxial-drive centrifuge provides for contactless regulation of sample temperature. The sample is contained in a multi-station chemical-processing circuit that has a metal receptor at each station. On demand, a stationary inductor induces eddy currents in the receptor as it spins by. Dissipation of the eddy current heats the receptor and the surrounding sample. The receptor has a thermal sensor that provides an optical indication of the sample temperature. A stationary contactless reader reads the optical indication. A controller activates the inductor when the reading indicates an actual temperature below a predetermined target temperature. When heating is required, the inductor is pulsed as the receptor is aligned with a gap in the inductor. The chemical-processing circuit is designed for a specific series of chemical reactions, in this case, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is implement as an iterated series of three steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary B. Gordon
  • Publication number: 20020147097
    Abstract: A centrifuge system with a temperature control system for controlling the temperature of fractions removed or output from the centrifuge to a collection chamber. In one embodiment, the centrifuge system provides an integral heater element operable by a temperature controller to control the temperature of the collection chamber or dispenser assembly. A temperature sensor is provided to allow the temperature controller to accurately monitor the temperature of the fraction held in chambers or syringes in the dispenser assembly. In a more particular embodiment, the centrifuge system is utilized to separate and extract platelets from blood samples. The heater element is positioned adjacent collection syringes in the dispenser assembly and selectively operated to maintain the temperature of the platelets in the collection syringes within an activation temperature range to activate the platelets and facilitate creation of autologous platelet gel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventor: Victor D. Dolecek
  • Patent number: 6461287
    Abstract: A large capacity centrifugal vacuum concentrator includes a rotor assembly mounting a plurality of vertical spaced rotors mounted on a drive shaft and intervened with spacers between each lower rotor and a rotor next above, the rotors and spacers having interengaging drive transmission means for transmitting drive to the rotors and spacers when the drive shaft is driven. The rotor assembly is enclosed by a, e.g., cylindrical stainless steel cover which sits on a base and with the base defines a vacuum chamber. When the cover is elevated to open position, four quadrant access is available for loading and unloading of samples on the rotors. The rotor assembly is made up of interchangeable rotors, spacers and vessel holder frames which are selected from families of such dependent on particular vessel capacity and holder frame requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Thermo Savant Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Glater
  • Patent number: 6416454
    Abstract: Separation performance in sedimenting centrifuges, particularly generally cylindrical sedimenting centrifuges, and most particularly imperforate basket centrifuges, is controlled and enhanced by identifying a level of mixing that will produce improved separation performance and then varying the bowl-to-feed temperature differential and/or the centrifuge design to produce a desired level and type of mixing while reducing the tendency toward undesirable type of flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen B. Kessler, Ascher H. Shapiro, William M. Cox
  • Patent number: 6387253
    Abstract: The solid-liquid separating device 10 is capable of separating a concentrated liquid from a slurry by centrifugation and includes a centrifugation unit 12 having a rotating vessel 15 with a porous outer wall surface through which liquid is transmissible and a heater unit 18. Preferably, a portion of the slurry to be treated that is closest to a central axis of rotation of the centrifugation unit 12 is heated by the heater unit 18 during the centrifugation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: Food Machinery Development Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahito Shibata, Yasuhiro Sugimura, Shigetaka Hisada, Kazuhiko Kawamura, Toshiro Asaoka
  • Publication number: 20020032111
    Abstract: A two-tube centrifuge separates light material and heavy material from an input mixture. A hollow drive shaft rotates a central body member about an axis of rotation. Two hollow arm assemblies, each having circular cross-section, are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the central body. Each arm assembly includes an outer housing tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube that is longer than the intermediate tube. An end cap having a removable plug is mounted on the outer end of the housing-tube of each arm assembly. The inner ends of all three tubes are mechanically interlocked in a manner to cantilever mount the inner and intermediate tubes to the central-body with their outer ends spaced from the internal surface of the end cap. An input-mixture path extends through the hollow drive shaft, through the central-body, and into a cylindrical space between the inner and intermediate tubes of each arm assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventors: Paul J. Cornay, Ernest Peter Tovani, Gary Matzen
  • Patent number: 5865993
    Abstract: A filter centrifuge includes a centrifuge drum having a solids removal opening for solids collected in the centrifuge drum. A solids drying housing into which the solids removal opening opens is provided. The solids drying housing has a sieve bottom, a gas inlet for introducing a drying gas, and a gas outlet for removing the drying gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Inventor: Heinz-Jurgen Wienicke
  • Patent number: 5866085
    Abstract: A syringe encapsulation device having a melt chamber heated by forced hot air to sufficient temperature to melt the plastic bodies of the syringes, where the melt chamber is coaxially mounted onto a rotating shaft and rotated when the plastic is in the molten state such that the molten plastic is centrifugally driven to the outer periphery of the melt chamber to safely encapsulate the needles once the molten plastic has hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Imagination Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Yelvington
  • Patent number: 5743840
    Abstract: A centrifuge of the type including a housing and a rotatable bowl, and including a heating jacket located therebetween. The heating jacket is established through inflatable seals which selectively seal a space located between the bowl and the housing. The seals may be inflated when the bowl is stationary. A heating fluid is then introduced into the heating jacket so that collected solids in the bowl may be heated and dried. A vacuum may be applied to the bowl to assist in the removal of moisture from the solids. A scraper assembly, including at least one scraper, is disposed within the bowl. The scraper assembly pivots between a stowed position and an operative position to remove the solid that has collected on the inside wall surface of the bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Carr Separations, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert B. Carr
  • Patent number: 5724819
    Abstract: A refrigerated centrifuge system. The system includes at least one thermoelectric cooler which is operatively connected to a centrifuge chamber by an egress conduit and an ingress conduit. In one embodiment the egress conduit carries away from the centrifuge to the thermoelectric cooler warm air where it is cooled by the thermoelectric cooler. The cooled air then returns to the centrifuge. In another embodiment the warm air in the centrifuge is first passed through a liquid heat exchanger whereby the warmed air transfers heat to a liquid which then is pumped through an egress conduit to a thermoelectric cooler where the liquid is cooled. The cooled liquid is then pumped back to the liquid heat exchanger through an ingress conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventors: John W. Boeckel, Michael J. Parisi
  • Patent number: 5163895
    Abstract: A centrifugal drier for a product, comprises a horizontally supported rotating drive shaft including an axial passageway adapted to be a filling pipe for the product; a drum having a closed end secured to one end of the drive shaft and an open end; a conical filter mounted inside the drum, tapering from narrow to wide toward the drum open end; a rotatably mounted baffle disk being displaceable between a closed position sealing the drum open end and an open position for adjustable discharge of the dried product, the filter and the baffle disk defining a work area, the axial passageway communicating with the work area; an annular duct operably associated with the drum open end and cooperating with the baffle disk for receiving the dried product when the baffle disk is in the open position; and a backflusher disposed outside the filter for backflushing the filter with fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1992
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Titus
  • Patent number: 5084133
    Abstract: The centrifugal evaporator-concentrator comprises a central tubular pivot (18) surmounted by a nozzle (35) and constituting the pivot axis of a rotor (9) rotating in a vessel (8) closed by a cover (11). With the rotor rotating in the partial vacuum created by a vacuum pump (33), a small quantity of gas or air is temporarily and periodically admitted into the vessel, this gas being heated by a heating resistor (38) inside the vessel for the purpose of heating by conduction the specimens to be concentrated and of accelerating the rate of evaporation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1992
    Assignee: Jouan
    Inventors: Jean L. Guy, Michel Serveau
  • Patent number: 5041076
    Abstract: A multi-stage rotary inertial device and method in which rotary inertial thermodynamic impedance is used in the separation of materials according to their diferences in mass. Thus, an input flow composed of substances having two different masses is separated into two output flows having preferred concentrations, respectively, according to their different masses. Rotary inertial thermodynamic pumping is used for operation of intermediate separator stages. This can be controlled from outside the rotating device by selectively supplying heat to the rotating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1991
    Inventor: Frederick W. Kantor
  • Patent number: 4907893
    Abstract: What is provided is an apparatus designated as a thermo-roto mixer which would provide a blood specimen mixer portion, comprising a plurality of test tube cradles for housing the test tubes containing blood, so that in the closed position, the test tubes are housed within the cradles within the mixing portion at a desired temperature. The mixing portion is fastened to a shaft supporting the test tube holder assembly, the shafts maintaining the assembly in an overall main frame. The assembly is rotated by the use of a motor pulley assembly, to impart general rotation on the test tube holder assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 13, 1990
    Inventors: Graciela Niemeck, James Borgerson
  • Patent number: 4785637
    Abstract: A thermoelectric cooling design of the type having a nonconducting substrate mounting thermoelectric coolers is improved. Provisions for a flexible can and improved heat dissipation from the thermoelectric coolers are provided. For improved thermal response, the refrigerated vacuum can is provided with thin walls of high purity aluminum with the result that deformation of the wall surface, especially the bottom wall surface can occur both with respect to installation. A plurality of can heat sinks are placed on the walls of the can to form a unitary and locally rigid side wall to the can at the point of attachment. At least one thermoelectric cooler is communicated to the can heat sinks at a first side for receiving heat energy from the can. A second discharge heat sink is communicated to each thermoelectric cooler for dissipating heat energy from both the can and the thermoelectric cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Giebeler
  • Patent number: 4767395
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a device designed to remove and absorb grease from foods including a basket mounted in a chamber and designed to receive food products. The basket is rotatably mounted on the drive shaft of a motor for rotation at high enough speeds to cause grease to be removed from foods by centrifugal force. The basket is mounted in a chamber which may also have contained therein a heating device such as, for example, heat lamps. Furthermore, a disposable pad is removably mounted in the basket prior to insertion of the food products with the disposable pad being designed to absorb grease removed from the food by centrifugal force while preventing transfer of the grease to the basket walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Inventor: Richard G. Mellert
  • Patent number: 4648863
    Abstract: A process for the pure preparation of particles, biological cell systems, colloids and the like, in which liquid density gradients are produced in a rotating centrifuge container (1), and in which the particles and the like are introduced into the centrifuge container (1), individual bands being produced in such a manner that the bands containing the heavier particles are more remote from the axis of rotation than are the bands containing the lighter particles. The density gradients are constructed by the introduction of fractions of different density (a-f) via a cannula (18) which extends into the centrifuge container (1) to just before a tip (19) of the latter, the lightest fraction (a) being introduced first and the heaviest fraction (f) being introduced last.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1987
    Assignee: Edmund Buhler
    Inventor: Stephan Nees
  • Patent number: 4631048
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for pneumatically evacuating a vertical centrifuge (12), the drying gas moving as a secondary flow (54) being converted--prior to its combination with the mixture of product and gas conveyed through the discharge pipe--into a turbulent longitudinal flow essentially enclosing the discharge pipe as far as its downstream end, in order to prevent caking of the centrifuged material within the discharge pipe or in conveying lines (20) attached thereto and also to shorten the length of the drying pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Titus
  • Patent number: 4601696
    Abstract: There is described a centrifuge provided with a rotor identification system.The rotor identification system includes a rotor (4) having a pair of detectable elements (11, 12), e.g. magnets, spaced by an angular separation characteristic of the rotor (4), detector means (3), e.g. a Hall effect transducer, positioned so as to interact with the detectable elements (11, 12) to generate a signal which is a function of the angular separation and means responsive (20) to the signal to identify the rotor (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1986
    Assignee: Fisons plc
    Inventor: Kevin L. Kamm