With Means For Filtering Patents (Class 494/36)
  • Patent number: 6210311
    Abstract: A centrifugal filter assembly for filtering particulates from a fluid includes a rotating filter disposed within a housing and rotatable relative to the housing about an axis of rotation. A turbine is attached to the filter and includes a plurality of turbine blades extending generally radially relative to the axis of rotation. A nozzle having an outlet is aligned relative to the turbine, whereby a pressurized fluid which is jetted from the nozzle impinges upon the turbine and causes the filter to rotate about the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Analytical Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: David F. May
  • Patent number: 6193076
    Abstract: This disclosure sets forth a method and apparatus for operation of a centrifuge. It is constructed with a fluid inlet at one end delivering a liquid flow into a feed pipe and then into a rotating bowl. The bowl has an outer wall which is cylindrical and which is formed of adjacent individual pieces defining gaps between pieces. In one embodiment, 960 pieces define 960 parallel slots. The slots are quite narrow, having a width of 80 microns to thereby exclude particles larger than that. The mud flow is introduced into the bowl region, and a flited conveyor is operated to scroll the particles along the bowl towards the opposite end, a tapered beach cone, and that terminates at a set of discharge openings. Dry powder too large to pass through the slots is discharged from there. While the slots discharge the mud, particles are removed by this approach.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Hutchison-Hayes International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary L. Hensley
  • Patent number: 6177021
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for clearing product, e.g., sugar, from the inside of a centrifuge basket of a discontinues centrifuge. A scraper blade, which is attached to a clearing rod, is pivoted toward the spun-off layer of product. The scraper blade scrapes off the product with a cutting edge, which is directed in a direction that is opposite to the direction of rotation of the basket. To optimize the product removal, it is preferable if the scraper blade, after it has been pivoted inward, contacts the product over virtually the entire height of the basket and at the same time scrapes off the product from the layer of product which is rotating at the clearing rotational speed in layers over the entire height of the basket. Once the product has been substantially completely removed from the basket, the scraper blade is pivoted back away from the basket wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt AG
    Inventors: Siegfried Matusch, Mario Winnemuth
  • Patent number: 6145669
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a conveyor for moving cake along a cake flow path towards a cake discharge opening and further includes a baffle mounted to the conveyor and disposed along the cake flow path. The baffle is provided on an upstream side, facing substantially away from the discharge opening, with a concave profile or surface. This concave profile or surface serves to direct a portion of the cake, which is headed downstream along the cake flow path, into a recirculation or churning path directed partly back towards a pool. The recirculation or churning of the particulate material facilitates an enhanced washing thereof and improves the removal of valuable solutes or undesirable impurities from the cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Woon-Fong Leung
  • Patent number: 6129851
    Abstract: The invention relates generally to a method of separating swarf lubricant from swarf solids. A centrifuge parts separator utilizes a screen which preferably comprises a cylindrical shaped member formed in one or more component parts with a plurality of spaced fluid passage openings therein with the ratio of the distance between the center lines of adjacent openings (x) and the median width of the openings (y) being x/y of at least 18/1. The swarf is centrifuged in the separator during the course of which operation, substantially all the swarf fluid passes through the screen openings whereas substantially all the swarf solid passes over the screen, the separated swarf fluids and solids each being directed to a collection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2000
    Assignee: Inter-Source Recovery Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Nemedi, Robert J. Nemedi
  • Patent number: 6073778
    Abstract: A wringer bowl assembly is fabricated from a base plate, a top plate, and at least one side face extending therebetween. The side face includes an output hole which is where a fluid mixture is separated into its fluid and solid components. Screen units extend across the output holes to prevent the solid component of the fluid mixture from passing therethrough. Each of the screen units extends through a curved path over a portion of the circumference of the wringer bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Inventor: Robert H. Dudley
  • Patent number: 6071422
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. A saturated fluidized bed of first particles forms within the fluid chamber and obstructs flow of second particles through the chamber. Additive substances alter sedimentation velocity of the first particles to modify the filtration characteristics of the saturated fluidized bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Hlavinka, Frank Corbin
  • Patent number: 6063297
    Abstract: An inexpensive device with a disposable cartridge for preparing tissue sealant is disclosed. The device is particularly applicable to stat preparation of autologous tissue sealant. A method of sealing tissue in which the tissue sealant is applied immediately after mixing platelet-rich plasma concentrate (from the device) with a solution of calcium and thrombin is also disclosed. Preparation in the operating room of 5 cc sealant from 50 cc patient blood requires less than 15 minutes and only one simple operator step. There is no risk of tracking error because processing can be done in the operating room. Chemicals added may be limited to anticoagulant (e.g., citrate) and calcium chloride. The disposable cartridge may fit in the palm of the hand and is hermetically sealed to eliminate possible exposure to patient blood and ensure sterility. Adhesive and tensile strengths are comparable or superior to pooled blood fibrin sealants made with precipitation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: PlasmaSeal LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Antanavich, Randel Dorian
  • Patent number: 6059971
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and a process for thickening and conveying waste water sludges, especially with a centrifuge. Here, the centrifuge has at least one lysis device for the breaking down of cells of organisms contained in the waste water sludges. The lysis device of the device of the invention may take the form, for example, of a friction grinder (100; 200) with grinding discs (161, 162) or a milling cone, a shaped rasp, a roller crusher, a passing drum, a cutting unit with rows of rotary cutters or a pin grinder with rows of rotating pins. The device of the invention is capable of the lysis of cells, especially those of bacteria and protozoons so that their cell content discharges into the surrounding medium which then acts as a simulation reagent for the bacteria still present in the sludge, so that on the one hand the total quantity of sludge can be greatly reduced and on the other the bio-gas yield is considerably increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventors: Robert Vit, Michal Dohanyos, Jana Zabranska, Josef Kutil
  • Patent number: 6053856
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for separating components of a fluid or particles. A separation vessel having a barrier dam is provided to initially separate an intermediate density components of a fluid, and a fluid chamber is provided to further separate these the intermediate density component by forming an elutriative field or saturated fluidized particle bed. The separation vessel is placed in a retainer on a centrifuge rotor and ridges in the retainer form various dams in the separation vessel. Also discloses are tubing sets and various separation vessels for use with the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories
    Inventor: Dennis Hlavinka
  • Patent number: 6051147
    Abstract: Blood processing systems and methods establish on line communication between a container and a source of blood containing leukocytes and platelets, such as a human donor. The systems and methods create a centrifugal field between the source of blood and the container that separates from the blood an unfinished suspension of platelets having a first physiologic characteristic different than the desired physiologic characteristic. The systems and methods pump the unfinished platelet suspension outside the centrifugal field through a finishing device. The finishing device changes the first physiologic characteristic to the desired physiological characteristic, thereby creating the finished platelet suspension. The systems and methods convey the finished platelet suspension from the finishing device directly into the container. The systems and methods function without interrupting the on line communication between the container and the source of blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel F. Bischof
  • Patent number: 6039869
    Abstract: A centrifugal chip separator includes a base having a raised platform and a centrifuge device with a centrifuge support plate located below the raised platform. A mount supports the centrifuge support plate on the base for multi-axial movement. A plurality of adjustable biasing devices is extended between the centrifuge support plate and the raised platform for adjustably biasing the centrifuge support plate against the mount. The biasing devices are easily and readily accessible outside of the chip separator, so that they can be adjusted to an optimal pressure for counteracting non-axial forces and vibrations generated, even while the centrifuge device is running. Also, the area under the centrifuge support plate and around the mount is characteristically open and unobstructed, such that inspection, repair, and maintenance is greatly facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2000
    Inventor: Russell D. Dudley
  • Patent number: 6029569
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for the removal of solid contaminants which utilizes at least one rotating mesh screen container designed to pass the food therethrough while trapping the solid contaminant. The rotation of the cylindrically-shaped mesh screen causes the food to pass through because of the centrifugal force. The addition of a second mesh or membrane-like placed around the first screen but rotated in the opposite direction is also utilized to trap solid contaminants which are large enough to be trapped by the mesh screen when it is not oriented so as to pass through the screens along its length. Different spacings in mesh and different rotation velocities are utilized to change contaminant screen characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Inventor: Scott Packer
  • Patent number: 5976388
    Abstract: An improved autologous blood salvage system is provided in which blood is removed from a patient and may be processed in a manner wherein an anticoagulant solution is for cycled for reuse. Further, the system may be employed for contemporaneous blood filtering and red blood separation. In one embodiment, anticoagulated blood is contemporaneously filtered and defoamed within a rotating processing bowl, while red blood cells are separated, washed and collected within the bowl and an anticoagulant solution is cycled from the bowl for re-use. During a red blood cell removal mode, the flow of anticoagulated blood into the bowl may be suspended/terminated and the bowl pressurized to remove the red blood cells. The improved system provides for the recovery of a high quality red blood cell product, with reduced processing time requirements/user training, and reduced disposable componentry and related costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Cobe Cardiovascular Operating Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Allen Carson
  • Patent number: 5958235
    Abstract: In a continuous-feed filtering- or screening-type centrifuge, first dewatering a particulate material, then reslurrying the particulate material, and subsequently again dewatering the particulate material in a sequence along a cake flow path extending through the continuous-feed filtering- or screening-type centrifuge. The first dewatering, the reslurrying and the subsequent dewatering are performed in respective compartments disposed along the cake flow path. The compartments are defined in part by a plurality of gates, baffles, or weirs extending outwardly from a hub of the centrifuge. Outer ends of the gates are spaced from a bowl wall to define respective cake flow gaps which limit the thickness of a cake layer moving along the cake flow path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Wallace Woon-Fong Leung
  • Patent number: 5948256
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes a conveyor for moving cake along a cake flow path towards a cake discharge opening and further includes a baffle mounted to the conveyor and disposed along the cake flow path. The baffle is provided on an upstream side, facing substantially away from the discharge opening, with a concave profile or surface. This concave profile or surface serves to direct a portion of the cake, which is headed downstream along the cake flow path, into a recirculation or churning path directed partly back towards a pool. The recirculation or churning of the particulate material facilitates an enhanced washing thereof and improves the removal of valuable solutes or undesirable impurities from the cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Woon-Fong Leung
  • Patent number: 5942130
    Abstract: Liquid is drained from the cake in the beach section of a centrifuge bowl by providing a dedicated flow path or a series of flow paths from the beach section. The flow path or paths are designed to drain away expressed liquid while maintaining substantially the flow of cake up the beach to the cake discharge opening(s) irrespective of solid throughput. The expressed liquid is guided from the beach section back to the slurry pool in the cylindrical section of the centrifuge bowl. More specifically, one or more liquid guide channels may be provided in the beach area under the surface supporting the cake flow towards the cake discharge end of the centrifuge. The liquid guide channels may be established by providing a porous liner along the beach section of the centrifuge bowl. Preferably, the liner extends down the beach at least to the level of the pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Woon-Fong Leung
  • Patent number: 5914145
    Abstract: A method for the removal of solid contaminants which utilizes two rotating mesh screen containers designed to pass the food therethrough while trapping the solid contaminant. The rotation of the first cylindrically-shaped mesh screen causes the food to pass through because of the centrifugal force leaving behind a portion of the solid contaminants. The second mesh or membrane-like placed around the first screen but rotated in the opposite direction is also utilized to trap solid contaminants which are large enough to be trapped by the mesh screen when it is not oriented so as to pass through the screens along its length. Different spacings in mesh and different rotation velocities are utilized to change contaminant screen characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Inventor: Scott Packer
  • Patent number: 5906570
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for filtering or separating particles. The apparatus has a motor coupled to a centrifuge rotor rotatable about an axis of rotation. A fluid chamber rotates with the rotor. A substance is supplied to the inlet of the chamber. At least one of the motor and the substance supply are controlled to maintain a saturated fluidized bed of first particles within the fluid chamber while causing second particles to be retained in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Cobe Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Langley, Dennis Hlavinka, Linda A. Taylor, John C. Walker
  • Patent number: 5897774
    Abstract: In a centrifugal apparatus for separating wetting material carried on particulate matter or chips, such apparatus includes a truncated conical shaped bowl into which the particulate matter or chips are deposited for centrifugal separation. A number of equidistantly spaced and radially aligned vanes are secured to the inner surface of the bowl adjacent the truncated end to collect incoming particulate matter or chips, and to establish a buffer layer, reducing the abrasion on the bowl caused by the insertion of further particulate matter or chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Elgin National Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dewey M. Cope
  • 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: 5858236
    Abstract: A wringer bowl assembly is fabricated from a base plate, a top plate, and a plurality of side faces extending therebetween. The side faces extend through a single plane eliminating all need to work the side faces to create a bowl. Each of the side faces includes a an output hole which is where a fluid mixture is separated into its fluid and solid components. Screens extend across the output holes to prevent the solid component of the fluid mixture from passing therethrough. Face plates cover the side faces protecting the side faces from wear due to the movement of the solid component along the sides of the wringer bowl assembly. Each of the face plates includes at least one blade which aids the movement of the fluid mixture from the base plate to the output holes to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Inventor: Robert H. Dudley
  • Patent number: 5824230
    Abstract: A method and a device for separating a component, such as fibrin monomer from blood, by centrifugation, involve feeding of blood admixed an anticoagulant to a first annular chamber in a device, where the annular chamber is defined by a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, both walls extending coaxially about a common axis, as well as by a top wall and a bottom wall. The top wall or the bottom wall is formed by a piston body displaceable within the first chamber. This method involves furthermore a centrifugation of the device about the said common axis to substantially separate blood into a cell fraction and a plasma fraction followed by the resulting plasma fraction being transferred while influenced by the piston body to a second chamber defined by an outer cylindrical wall. The outer cylindrical wall extends coaxially with the said common axis, whereby a fraction with fibrin I is caused to be separated in the second chamber while a suitable enzyme is being added.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.
    Inventors: Niels Erik Holm, Peter A. D. Edwardson
  • Patent number: 5804079
    Abstract: Systems and methods separate whole blood containing leukocytes in a first separation chamber into a first layer comprising red blood cells, a second layer comprising a suspension of platelets, and an interface between the first and second layers. The systems and methods convey the suspension of platelets into a second separation chamber while simultaneously filtering the suspension of platelets to reduce the number of leukocytes. The systems and methods separate the filtered suspension of platelets in the second separation chamber into a platelet-rich concentrate and platelet-poor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventor: Richard I. Brown
  • Patent number: 5792351
    Abstract: Oil spill polluted water is conducted under pressure in sequence through arator devices to collect and burn a polluted water mixture having its oil concentration increased by extraction of water therefrom during axial flow through the separator devices. Such water extraction is effected by sequential radial outflow through oil flow blocking filter walls of the separator devices in response to rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: John Wehrle, Eugene C. Fischer, William P. Kenney, Joseph F. Korczynski, Thomas D. Gracik, Barbara F. Howell, William Klemens
  • Patent number: 5788861
    Abstract: A centrifugal separator includes a chip bowl for receiving a fluid-particulate mix and delivering the mix onto the screening surface of a cylindrical separator screen disposed around the bowl. A canopy portion of the bowl overlaps the separator screen and is axially positionable therealong such that a variable length of the separator screen may extend beyond the forward edge of the bowl. A separator drive shaft has an axial bore for housing a bowl drive column and an adjusting rod. The bowl drive column is mounted to the separator drive shaft and adjusting rod such that axial movement of the adjusting rod causes axial movement of the bowl drive column but not the separator drive shaft and rotation of the separator drive shaft causes rotation of the bowl drive column but not the adjustment rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: National Conveyors Company
    Inventor: Arnold B. Serenkin
  • Patent number: 5788662
    Abstract: An inexpensive device with a disposable cartridge for preparing tissue sealant is disclosed. The device is particularly applicable to stat preparation of autologous tissue sealant. A method of sealing tissue in which the tissue sealant is applied immediately after mixing platelet-rich plasma concentrate (from the device) with a solution of calcium and thrombin is also disclosed. Preparation in the operating room of 5 cc sealant from 50 cc patient blood requires less than 15 minutes and only one simple operator step. There is no risk of tracking error because processing can be done in the operating room. Chemicals added may be limited to anticoagulant (e.g., citrate) and calcium chloride. The disposable cartridge may fit in the palm of the hand and is hermetically sealed to eliminate possible exposure to patient blood and ensure sterility. Adhesive and tensile strengths are comparable or superior to pooled blood fibrin sealants made with precipitation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1998
    Assignee: Plasmaseal LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Antanavich, Randel Dorian
  • Patent number: 5785849
    Abstract: A centrifugal oil filter in which a cylindrical housing 42 is rotatable by the reaction force from oil jets 56 leaving via nozzles 44, is increased by the provision of ribs 54 on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical housing 28. This enables the cylindrical vessel 42 to be provided with an internal coarse oil filter while allowing an increase in acceleration and rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Robert S. Mules
  • Patent number: 5783087
    Abstract: A system and method for isolating and purifying complexes of biologically active compounds. The inventive system and method utilize a centrifugal filtration device employing a membrane having ligands that preferentially bind a biologically active compound. An advantage of the invention is that purifications of, e.g., immune complexes, which heretofore took up to five days to carry out, may now be done in as little as two hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Millipore Investment Holdings Limited
    Inventors: Daniel R. Vlock, Artin Malakian, Ingeborg Cann
  • Patent number: 5770058
    Abstract: A centrifugal soil separator for a dishwasher having a rotating centrifuge connected for rotation with a centrifugal impeller, the centrifugal impeller providing a majority of recirculating wash water for the dishwasher while the centrifuge accepts a second portion of flow and spins that portion of flow for soil separation and to achieve a pumping action to move that quantity of water to the wash water delivery system with the quantity of water moved by the centrifugal impeller. By a coordinated stopping, reversing and starting action of the centrifuge, soil collected therein can be disposed to a soil sizing and drain apparatus for flushing and draining the centrifuge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Todd M. Jozwiak
  • Patent number: 5746979
    Abstract: A method of separating fluid into two or more separable fractions. One container section (2) and the adjacent portion of the other container section are made of solid material, and the two container sections are screwed together. The container sections (1 and 2) have their respective chambers (29 and 30) for receiving their respective fluid ingredients, and these chambers are interconnected through a connecting channel (31) through the abutting portions, at which the container sections (1 and 2) are screwed together. A valve seat (21, 27) is shaped at each end of the connecting channel (31) for each valve member (22, 16) for a sealing closing of the chambers (29, 30) in the separated state of the container sections (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: F. R, Squibb & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Erik Holm
  • Patent number: 5746915
    Abstract: A centrifuge includes an elastically supported centrifuge basket, a drive unit, and an endless drive arrangement, such as a drive belt arranged on a drive pulley of the drive unit and a driven pulley of the centrifuge basket support unit, for driving the centrifuge basket. A tension relieving device is provided for relieving or counteracting the tension forces of the endless drive arrangement. Thus the elastic supporting members of the centrifuge basket support unit are not stressed by the tension forces of the endless drive arrangement, and the tension relieving device can be pre-stressed so that the basket is in a neutral position during operation. For pre-stressing the tension relieving device, it includes an elastic thrust element, such as a compression spring packet, in addition to a length adjustable strut. To avoid tilting moments, the tension relieving device is arranged in a plane of the endless drive arrangement between the two pulleys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1998
    Assignee: Braunschweigische Maschinenbauanstalt AG
    Inventor: Ralf-Martin Ebeling
  • Patent number: 5738796
    Abstract: The present invention provides for processing a biological fluid such as blood, to separate at least one component from the biological fluid, and to remove leukocytes from the separated component while returning the component depleted biological fluid to the source of the fluid. Illustratively, blood is obtained from a source such as a donor, and platelets are separated from the bold. Gas is separated from the flow path of the separated platelets, which are depleted of leukocytes, while platelet depleted blood is returned to the donor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: PALL Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Bormann, Frank R. Pascale, Thomas C. Gsell
  • Patent number: 5733446
    Abstract: A method and a device for separating a component, such as fibrin I from blood, by centrifugation. The method involves feeding of blood admixed an anticlotter to a first annular chamber in a device, where the annular chamber is defined by a cylindrical outer wall and a cylindrical inner wall, both walls extending coaxially about a common axis, as well as by a top wall and a bottom wall, where the top wall or the bottom wall is formed by a piston body displaceable within the first chamber. The method involves furthermore a centrifugation of the device about the said common axis followed by a resulting liquid fraction being transferred while influenced by the piston body to a second chamber defined by an outer cylindrical wall, which extends coaxially with said common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: Bristol-Myers Squibb Company
    Inventor: Niels Erik Holm
  • Patent number: 5720877
    Abstract: A wringer bowl assembly is fabricated from a base plate, a top plate, and a plurality of side faces extending therebetween. The side faces extend through a single plane eliminating all need to work the side faces to create a bowl. Each of the side faces includes a an output hole which is where a fluid mixture is separated into its fluid and solid components. Screens extend across the output holes to prevent the solid component of the fluid mixture from passing therethrough. Face plates cover the side faces protecting the side faces from wear due to the movement of the solid component along the sides of the wringer bowl assembly. Each of the face plates includes at least one blade which aids the movement of the fluid mixture from the base plate to the output holes to be separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: Robert H. Dudley
  • Patent number: 5720880
    Abstract: In a continuous sugar centrifugal, an imperforate thin, open ended, truncated cone, of high strength corrosion-resistant material is placed on the working screen within the centrifugal basket. The cone extends part way up the working screen and protects the working screen from damage from high impact particles being released from an accelerator bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: California Pellet Mill Company
    Inventors: Ted D. Milner, Verne A. Hubalek
  • Patent number: 5720879
    Abstract: In a horizontal centrifugal apparatus for separating wetting material carried on chips, such apparatus includes a conically shaped bowl carrying vanes distributed about its inner face with the midpoint of the length of said vane lying on a radius from the horizontal axis of bowl rotation such that the vane leading ends and trailing ends are about fifteen degrees of the radius at the midpoint of such vanes to impose an impediment to the rate of erosion on the vanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Assignee: Elgin National Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Dewey M. Cope
  • Patent number: 5707519
    Abstract: A centrifugal oil filter includes a housing having a rotatable bowl disposed in a first fluid chamber and rotatably disposed about a shaft extending through the first fluid chamber. The rotatable bowl has a flow directing member connected generally at the bottom thereof to define a particle collection basin and the flow directing member extends upwardly to form a passageway adjacent the shaft so that the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl is directed to a pair of nozzles which act to rotate the rotatable bowl responsive to fluid flow therethrough. A particle retention insert is made of a cellular structure and disposed in the particle collection basin. The particle retention insert functions to receive foreign particles within the cellular structure and retain them therein by protecting the particles from the fluid flow within the rotatable bowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher O. Miller, J. W. Burrows
  • Patent number: 5676835
    Abstract: A horizontal screen separator of the present invention includes a base having a housing mounted thereon which contains an horizontal screen basket for receiving product to be dried. The basket is rotatably and vibrationally driven to dry the product. The separator includes two motors, one to impart rotational motion to the basket and the other to impart vibrational motion to the basket. The basket is rotatably fixed to a shaft driven by the rotating motor. The vibratory motor drives a shaft, operative contact with the rotating shaft, having an eccentric mounted thereon. The vibratory motor drives the vibratoy shaft to induce vibration in the basket. The basket also includes a lip or extension formed from screen as a right cylinder to increase the drying time of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventors: Harry E. Derton, Dewey M. Cope
  • Patent number: 5674392
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid treatment assembly comprising a filter (4) which itself comprises filtering elements (5) and a cleaning device (12) for periodically cleaning each filtering element including a conduit (17) for the evacuation of the cleaning fluid filled with impurities resulting from the cleaning, the treament assembly further comprising a centrifuging device which itself comprises a rotary enclosure (37) connected to a fluid admission conduit (28).According to the invention, the filtering elements (5) and the enclosure (37) are contained in a single casing (1A-1B), while the admission conduit (28) is directly connected (29-30) to the conduit (17) for evacuating the cleaning fluid.The invention finds an application in the construction of a compact and reliable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1997
    Assignee: Moatti Filtration S.A.
    Inventors: Theophile Christophe, Jean-Claude Moatti
  • Patent number: 5667681
    Abstract: A vertical or horizontal centrifugal separator comprises a drive mechanism including a drive shaft. A flight assembly is attached to the drive shaft and is rotatably driven by it as is a screen assembly which includes a rotor that also is attached to the drive mechanism. The flight assembly generally has a frusto-conical central body with a plurality of spaced apart individual blades or flights aligned longitudinally on the exterior of the central body. The rotor is driven at a separate speed that the flight assembly. A perforated screen assembly is carried by the rotor and is positioned outwardly of the flight assembly. An inlet assembly is positioned above these other elements where material to be separated is fed into the separator through the inlet assembly. An improvement comprises a novel tip formed on each of the individual flights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 16, 1997
    Assignee: Elgin National Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Magrecki, Jerry Dean Farmer
  • Patent number: 5658533
    Abstract: A container for receiving and separating blood plasma into its ingredients having two sealingly coupled sections (1 and 2). One container section (2) and the adjacent portion of the other container section are made of solid material, and the two container sections are screwed together. The container sections (1 and 2) have their respective chamber (29 and 30) for receiving their respective fluid ingredients, and these chambers are interconnected through a connecting channel (31) through the abutting portions, at which the container sections (1 and 2) are screwed together. A valve seat (21, 27) is shaped at each end of the connecting channel (31) for each valve member (22, 16) for a sealing closing of the chambers (29, 30) in the separated state of the container sections (1, 2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 19, 1997
    Assignee: E.R. Squibb & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Niels Erik Holm
  • Patent number: 5656164
    Abstract: A reduced size apparatus for centrifugal separation, has a housing, a motor coupled to the housing, and a cartridge in the housing. The cartridge is coupled with and rotated by the shaft of the motor. A feeding channel carries liquid into the cartridge. A second channel extends from the upper region in the cartridge through the rotary shaft to a third channel for ejecting the liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Inventors: Giovanni Antonio Vado, Domenico Manca
  • Patent number: 5635065
    Abstract: A centrifuge for separating liquids and solids from various materials, including a rotatably driven receiving drum with a raisable and lowerable lift bottom arranged in a liquid-tight basin, and raisable and lowerable material guide surfaces arranged to be raised or lowered independently of the lift bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Inventor: Thomas Spyra
  • Patent number: 5630938
    Abstract: An evertable drum centrifuge has a housing extending along an axis, a hollow filter drum rotatable in the housing about the axis and having a front end wall formed with a fill opening centered on the axis, and a nonrotatable fill tube extending along the axis and having a back end. A fill head complementarily engageable in the fill opening is fitted in a closed position in the fill opening and a suspension to be filtered is introduced through the fill tube and fill opening into the drum. A bearing rotatably supports the fill head on the fill-tube back end and a static seal is engaged between the fill head and the fill opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Krauss-Maffei AG
    Inventors: Johannes Feller, Gunnar Grim, Bruno Hegnauer
  • Patent number: 5626749
    Abstract: Method of treatment by centrifuging of a liquid packaged in flexible-walled bags connected to at least one filter. According to the method, the filter (2) is placed in the middle of the confinement space (5, 5a) such that the large faces of the filter (2) are parallel to the centrifuging axis (3), and bags (1) are placed on either side of said filter (2) so that they are in contact with the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Assignee: Jouan (societe anonyme)
    Inventors: Roland J. L. R. Lambert, Jean-Claude C. M. Letourneur
  • Patent number: 5616245
    Abstract: A separator includes a housing, a basket rotatably mounted in the housing and a movable weir member. The basket has an upstream end portion, a downstream end portion and an intermediate tubular portion that includes or forms a screen deck. The weir member is movable between a first position where a portion of the weir member extends radially inward relative to the inner surface of the downstream open end portion and a second position spaced from the first position. In this manner, the weir member forms a movable dam adjacent the downstream end portion of the basket. In operation, feed material is fed into the basket as the basket is rotated. The heavy fractions of the material pass transversely through the basket (i.e., the tubular portion that forms a screen deck) and report to a first outlet from which the heavy fractions are collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Assignee: HJS Clem AG
    Inventor: Michael C. Albrecht
  • Patent number: 5585007
    Abstract: An inexpensive device with a disposable cartridge for preparing tissue sealant is disclosed. The device is particularly applicable to star preparation of autologous tissue sealant. A method of sealing tissue in which the tissue sealant is applied immediately after mixing platelet-rich plasma concentrate (from the device) with a solution of calcium and thrombin is also disclosed. Preparation in the operating room of 5 cc sealant from 50 cc patient blood requires less than 15 minutes and only one simple operator step. There is no risk of tracking error because processing can be done in the operating room. Chemicals added may be limited to anticoagulant (e.g., citrate) and calcium chloride. The disposable cartridge may fit in the palm of the hand and is hermetically sealed to eliminate possible exposure to patient blood and ensure sterility. Adhesive and tensile strengths are comparable or superior to pooled blood fibrin sealants made with precipitation methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: PlasmaSeal Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Antanavich, Randel Dorian
  • Patent number: 5582726
    Abstract: A filter centrifuge has the drum, the drum shaft and its bearings mounted in a movable machine support, carriage or bearing member which rides on a rail of the base machine support or frame so that with a cover for an opening in the rear wall on which the filter housing is mounted, the assembly of drum, shaft and bearing can be withdrawn into the machine space. When the movable wall is in place, a clean room containing the filter housing and the processing chamber, is closed off from the machine space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Krauss Maffei Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Johann Feller, Bruno Hegnauer, Wolfgang Knobloch
  • Patent number: 5567321
    Abstract: The centrifugal filter comprises a rotatable travelling basket (5) disposed within a collector chamber (1). A machine body (2) which can be supported on a support (3) carries a bearing arrangement (8) for the hub (14) of the travelling basket (5). In the travelling basket (5) which partially comprises holes is present a filter element (20) in such a way that during the rotation of the travelling basket the liquid to be filtered can flow out through the filter element (20) and through these holes. For removing the filtrate, retained on the filter element and consisting of solid particles, a lifting device (22) is present which can be moved back and forth. The travelling basket (5) comprises a travelling basket neck (7) connected with the travelling basket hub (14), which neck is provided with passage openings which communicate at least partially with further passage openings disposed in the bottom portion of the machine body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Ferrum AG
    Inventors: Eduard Weber, Rene Rohr, Jurg Suter