Patent Application
20090211963
The present invention relates to devices and methods for removing particles from a stream of fluid coming from commercial sinks or other fluid streams.
Commercial and household culinary activities often generate unwanted byproducts that may be discarded by simply washing them down a sink with a stream of water. Such byproducts often include liquids (e.g., oil or grease) and/or particulate matter, such as pieces of food, dirt or grit, bone chips, gelatin, fat, meat, coffee grounds, eggshells, and so on. The variety of such particles is virtually limitless. In many cases, the water and entrained particles pass freely through the sink and its associated plumbing to a sewer line, treatment facility, or pre-treatment storage tank. In some cases, however, the particles may accumulate in the sink's plumbing, leading to constriction or blockage. When excessive constriction or blocks develop, the plumbing must be cleared by locating and removing the accumulated particles (or object), sometimes at great cost. Repeated blockages can also be a nuisance and a detriment to productivity.
A number of attempts have been made to reduce the likelihood and/or frequency of plumbing constriction and blockages. For example, many household sinks use a garbage disposal to grind or macerate particles into smaller pieces that pass more freely through the plumbing. While disposals may be effective for relatively small volumes of particles, they can be expensive to purchase and operate, and are subject to mechanical failure and may become less effective over time. Thus, disposals often are not desired by commercial establishments.
Other devices for removing particles from fluid streams use gravity, buoyancy, filters, or screens to remove the particles. For example, the device illustrated in European Patent 0 529 464 B1 appears to disclose an under-sink separator tank having a settling chamber in which gravity and buoyancy separate heavier and lighter substances from the fluid, as well as vertical walls that skim the fluid and prevent removed materials from passing through the settling chamber. Other devices, such as the device sold commercially as the Model GDQ-B13 Strainer Drawer by the Drain-Net company of Branchburg, N.J., provide a simple screen located in a chamber below the sink. In this device, the water flows downward into the chamber and passes downward through the screen to remove particles from the water. The screen is mounted in a drawer-like frame that can be removed from the chamber to clean the screen when it becomes blocked. Still other devices, such as the PHIX™ cartridge system provided by Green Turtle (USA) of Charlotte, N.C. and Green Turtle Technologies of Mississauga ON provide a useful filtration device for conditioning sink water, but can become blocked if large objects or large volumes of smaller objects enter the system. In addition, if it is desired to disassemble the PHIX™ cartridge system without spillage, fluid must be siphoned out of the device through the inlet, which can be problematic if the inlet is clogged.
Despite the shortcomings of the prior art, the prior art systems may be quite useful under some circumstances, and their shortcomings may be inconsequential in particular applications. As such, the description of the foregoing prior art is not intended to limit the present invention to solving all of the problems identified in the prior art, and various features of the prior art may be incorporated into embodiments of the present invention. The present invention adds to the prior art by providing unique and novel features and systems to provide alternatives and useful and nonobvious modifications to the known particle removing apparatus.
In one exemplary aspect, an interceptor is provided. The interceptor includes a filter chamber, an inlet passage fluidly connected to the filter chamber at an inlet opening, and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the filter chamber at an outlet opening. The outlet opening is located above the inlet opening and has a minimum outlet flow elevation at which fluid can pass through the outlet passage. A filter is positioned in the filter chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening such that substantially all of the fluid passing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening must pass through the filter. A bypass passage fluidly connects the inlet passage to the outlet passage. The bypass passage has a minimum bypass flow elevation at which fluid can pass through the bypass passage. The minimum bypass flow elevation is higher than the minimum outlet flow elevation.
In another exemplary aspect, another interceptor is provided. The interceptor includes a filter chamber, an inlet passage fluidly connected to the filter chamber at an inlet opening, and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the filter chamber at an outlet opening. The outlet opening is located above the inlet opening. A filter is positioned in the filter chamber between the inlet opening and the outlet opening such that substantially all of the fluid passing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening must pass through the filter. A bypass passage fluidly connects to the inlet passage at a first point, and to the outlet passage at a second point. The bypass passage is adapted to allow flow therethrough only when a flow resistance between the first point and the filter exceeds a threshold value.
In another exemplary aspect, another interceptor is provided. The interceptor includes a treatment chamber comprising a lid and a container. The container has an open top adapted to removably connect to the bottom of the lid. The interceptor also has an inlet passage fluidly connected to the treatment chamber at an inlet opening, and an outlet passage extending through the lid and fluidly connected to the treatment chamber at an outlet opening. The outlet opening is located above the inlet opening and has a minimum outlet flow elevation at which fluid can pass through the outlet passage. A displacement member is associated with the lid, the displacement member extends into the container when the container is attached to the lid. The treatment chamber and the outlet passage define a first volume when the container is connected to the bottom of the lid. The first volume includes a first internal space within at least one of the treatment chamber and outlet passage located vertically between the minimum outlet flow elevation and a lowermost point of the open top of the container. The displacement member occupies a second volume within the container when the container is connected to the bottom of the lid. The second volume being equal to or greater than the first volume.
In another exemplary embodiment, another interceptor is provided. The interceptor may be adapted for treating a generally homogeneous mixture of fluid and particles, and may have a treatment chamber, an inlet passage that is fluidly connected to the treatment chamber at an inlet opening and adapted to receive a generally homogeneous mixture of fluid and particles, and an outlet passage fluidly connected to the treatment chamber at an outlet opening. The outlet opening is located above the inlet opening and has a minimum outlet flow elevation at which fluid can pass through the outlet passage. A bypass passage fluidly connects the inlet passage to the outlet passage. The bypass passage has a minimum bypass flow elevation at which fluid can pass through the bypass passage. The minimum bypass flow elevation is higher than the minimum outlet flow elevation. The treatment chamber has one or more vertical passages between the inlet opening and the outlet opening, which passages are sized, in relation to a maximum flow rate of the generally homogeneous mixture, to cause a majority of the particles to precipitate out of the fluid before the fluid reaches the outlet opening.
Illustrations of various exemplary embodiments are provided in the following drawings, in which like reference characters are used to indicate like elements.
The following description is intended to convey an understanding of the inventions disclosed herein by describing a number of exemplary embodiments of devices that are adapted to operate as interceptors or traps for removing solid or highly viscous materials (e.g., oil, grease, coffee grounds, fats, cleaning solvents, buoyant solids, etc.) from sink water or other fluid flows. It will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments, the figures, the summary of the invention, the abstract, or to any other specific disclosures herein. For example, embodiments of the invention may be used in settings other than the commercial sink environment described herein, may be sized or shaped to be used in any suitable manner, may be adapted to remove materials other those described herein, and so on. It is further understood that one possessing ordinary skill in the art will appreciate the use of the invention for purposes and benefits in any number of alternative embodiments, depending upon specific design needs and other considerations, and may adapt or use the embodiments to obtain benefits, or for purposes other than, those described herein.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. As used throughout this disclosure, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an inlet” includes a plurality of inlets, or other equivalents or variations thereof known to those skilled in the art. Furthermore, the description of some embodiments or features using permissive language (e.g., “may”) is not intended to suggest that embodiments or features described using other language (e.g., “is,” “are,” etc.) are required of all embodiments or otherwise are not optional. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.
A first exemplary embodiment of an interceptor 100 is shown partially cut away and exploded in
One or more fasteners may be provided between the lid 102, filter chamber wall 104 and filter chamber bottom 106 to hold them together during use. For example, toggle clamps (not shown) may be provided on the filter chamber wall 104 to selectively engage corresponding latches (not shown) on the lid 102, and the bottom of the filter chamber wall 104 may be adhesively bonded or otherwise permanently attached to the filter chamber bottom 106. In this arrangement, the filter chamber wall 104 and filter chamber bottom 106 may provide a removable container that can be detached from the lid 102 for emptying and maintenance. Of course, other suitable attachment arrangements may be used. For example, threaded fasteners may be provided to engage the lid 102 and filter chamber bottom 106 and compress the filter chamber wall 104 in place between them, or corresponding threads may be formed on the filter chamber wall 104 and lid 102 and/or filter chamber bottom 106 to allow the parts to be screwed together. Other attachments, such as friction fitment, bayonet fittings, welds, and so on, may be used instead.
As shown, the filter chamber 108 may comprise a vertically-oriented cylindrical chamber (i.e., a cylindrical chamber having its axis of symmetry oriented vertically), but this it not required. For example, the lid 102, filter chamber wall 104, and filter chamber bottom 106 may be shaped or configured to provide a cubical or rectilinear filter chamber or a filter chamber having any number of other shapes. In addition, while the lid 102, filter chamber wall 104, and filter chamber bottom 106 are shown as separate parts that can be assembled and disassembled for cleaning and maintenance, they may be permanently attached or formed integrally with one another.
The interceptor 100 includes an inlet 112 and an outlet 114, both of which form passages into the filter chamber 108. As shown, the inlet 112 and outlet 114 may comprise passages that are integrally formed with or attached to the lid 102. One advantage of providing the inlet 112 and outlet 114 as part of the lid 102 is that the inlet 112 and outlet 114 may be attached to a sink's drain pipe 404, 404′ (
In the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
In the exemplary embodiment of
The ribs 120 also may be shaped to hold or support the filter 110 at a predetermined location within the filter chamber 108. For example, the upper ends of the ribs 120 may terminate in a common plane to provide a base upon which the filter 110 rests. As shown in
Where the ribs 120 are provided as continuous wall-like structures, such as in the shown embodiment, they also may form flow guides that divide the filter chamber 108 into separate vertically-extending flow paths. Alternatively, the ribs 120 may have cutouts or holes to allow fluid to pass laterally around the circumference of the filter chamber 108.
While the ribs 120 described above may be used in some embodiments, they are not required in all embodiments. For example, any number of ribs 120 may be used, or the ribs 120 may be omitted and substituted with other mechanisms or structures to hold the second inlet passage 118 (if used) to the first inlet passage 116, or to hold the filter 110 in place. For example, the second inlet passage 118 may be omitted, formed integrally with the first inlet passage 116, or attached to the first inlet passage 116 by other mechanisms, such as threads or other removable or non-removable mechanisms or adhesives, and the filter 110 may be mounted to the lid 102 or filter chamber wall 104 or bottom 106. The ribs 120 also may be modified so that they abut the bottom wall 126 of the filter chamber or otherwise provide vertical and/or lateral support for the second inlet passage 118. Still further, the ribs 120 also may be replaced by rods or other structures that hold the second inlet passage 118 adjacent the first inlet passage 116. These and other variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein.
The filter 110 is provided in the filter chamber 108 and positioned, in a fluid sense, between the inlet 112 and the outlet 114. For example, in the exemplary embodiment of
As shown, the filter 110 may comprise an annular filter that encircles the inlet 112 and extends radially to the filter chamber wall 104. The filter 110 encircles the top of the second inlet passage 118, and captured between the ribs 120 and the annular ring 128 formed at the bottom of the lid 102. The filter 110 may be removed along with the filter chamber wall 104 and filter chamber bottom 106 for service, cleaning, or replacement.
It will be understood that other filter shapes and arrangements may be used in other embodiments. For example, the filter may take any suitable shape and have any suitable construction to impede the movement of particles from the bottom of the filter chamber 108 to the outlet 114. The filter 110 may be positioned within the confines of the filter chamber wall 104, as shown, or it may be installed within the confines of the lid 102 and above the filter chamber wall 104. The filter 110 also may be removable with the filter chamber wall 104 (if the wall is removable), or it may be held in place with the lid 102 when the filter chamber wall 104 is removed. The filter 110 also may be located in the outlet 114 or at other locations downstream of the filter chamber 108.
The filter 110 may comprise any kind of filter or screen that helps remove particles from fluid passing from the inlet opening 130 to the outlet opening 132. Examples of suitable filters include, but are not limited to, open celled foams, porous solids (such as sintered plastic filters, porous concrete, and the like), sponges, woven or nonwoven flat or pleated filters (such as wet-laid, spunbonded, or meltblown natural or synthetic materials), mesh screens, perforated plates, porous packs of pellets, sand, or other filtration materials, and so on. The filter medium also may comprise a sorbtive filter media, be adapted to modify the pH of the fluid, adsorb or absorb chemicals or elemental materials such as iron or phosphorous, modify the ionic properties of the fluid, or otherwise condition the fluid passing through the system. Such filter materials are well-known by persons of ordinary skill in the art, and the selection of a particular material will depend on the particular conditions of the application for which the device is used. For example, some suitable solid alkali non-resin pH conditioning materials are described in publications such as the PHIX™ Neutralization Systems Cartridge System Technical Manual dated 2005, available from Green Turtle (USA) of Charlotte, N.C. Where a pelletized, powdered or other loose filter medium is used, the medium may be captured between or within screens or fabric sheets to control the distribution of the medium, as known in the art.
The filter 110 also may comprise a stack or collection of multiple filter layers. For example, the filter 110 may have a first, relatively coarse, filter layer at its upstream end, and one or more progressively finer filters located downstream of the first layer. In such an embodiment, smaller particles may penetrate further into the filter 110, which may increase the filter's life span and/or efficiency. The filter 100 also may include different chemical treatment layers, such as layers intended to remove phosphorous, heavy metals, and other pollutants from the fluid passing through the interceptor 100.
As noted above, the filter 110 may be captured in place, as shown, or mounted in other ways in the filter chamber 108. The details of how the filter 110 is mounted may vary depending on the shape and size of the interceptor 100, the pollutants or particulate matter that the filter is intended to remove, the location of the filter 110 in the filter chamber 108, and so on. Such variations will be readily apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure and/or with practice of the invention.
A bypass 134 may be provided between the inlet 112 and the outlet 114. The bypass provides a second fluid communication passage from the inlet to the outlet, in addition to the filter chamber 108. During normal operation, little or no fluid passes through the bypass 134. When the flow resistance of the interceptor 100 exceeds a threshold value, however, flow will pass through the bypass 134. This point at which the flow resistance meets this threshold value can be measured in any number of ways. For example, the value may be measured as the flow resistance necessary to cause the fluid in the inlet to rise to certain level in the inlet 112, or the flow resistance necessary to generate a particular head pressure on the filter 110 or at the lowermost point of the inlet 112 flow path (e.g., at the inlet opening 130). The head pressure may be measured in absolute terms (e.g., in relation to atmospheric pressure), or in relative terms (e.g., the pressure differential across the filter 110).
The exemplary bypass 134 joins the inlet 112 upstream of the filter chamber 108, and may be oriented to connect to the inlet 112 at an oblique angle so that fluid falling down the inlet 112 generally does not tend to flow into the bypass 134. The bypass 134 joins the outlet 114 downstream of the filter chamber 108. The bypass 134 may be provided as part of the lid 102, as shown, but this is not required. In other embodiments, the bypass 134 may join the inlet 112 at any location between the sink and the filter chamber 108, and may join the outlet 114 at any location downstream of the filter chamber 108. For example, the bypass 134 may rejoin the outlet 114 by simply being directed to the same open or closed drain into which the outlet 114 flows.
As shown, all or part of the bypass 134 may be located above the outlet 114. More particularly, the minimum flow elevation 134′ in the bypass 134—that is, the minimum point 134′ over which fluid must pass to traverse the bypass 134—is higher than the minimum flow elevation 114′ in the outlet 114. The minimum bypass flow elevation 134′ also may be greater than the maximum point over which fluid may pass through the outlet 114. In this arrangement, fluid entering the interceptor 100 generally will pass through the filter chamber 108, rather than through the bypass 134, provided there is little or no flow restriction in the filter chamber 108 or inlet 112. Bypass will only occur when there is sufficient blockage in the interceptor 100 (either in the filter chamber 108, the inlet 112, or the portion of the outlet 114 between the filter chamber 108 and the bypass 134) to cause fluid to back up the inlet 112 to the minimum bypass flow elevation 134′. The bypass 134 may be constructed to regulate when bypass occurs. For example, the height of the bypass arch or the location at which the bypass 134 joins the inlet 112 may be raised to increase the amount of backpressure generated in the interceptor 100 before bypass. In other embodiments, the bypass 134 may comprise a pressure-sensitive valve that opens when a certain amount of pressure is sensed in the inlet 112, or when sufficient pressure differential exists between the inlet 112 and the outlet 114. Such valves are known in the art, and any suitable relief valve or pressure-operated valve may be used for this application. In such embodiments, it may not be necessary for any part of the bypass 134 to be located above the outlet 114.
A removable liner 136 may be provided inside the filter chamber 108. The liner 136 is provided to collect dirt, particles, and other materials that may accumulate in the filter chamber 108 over time. The liner 136 may comprise a flexible bag or rigid cup-like structure that fits within the filter chamber 108, and which may conform to the filter chamber's inner wall. The liner 136 may be porous or fluid-impervious. For example, in one embodiment, the liner 136 may comprise a disposable mesh bag that fits in the filter chamber 108, and is captured at its open upper end between the filter chamber wall 104 and the lid 102. In such an embodiment, the liner 136 may be used to collect and remove solids such as coffee grounds, food particles, and the like from the filter chamber 108.
A filter chamber drain 138 may be provided at or near the bottom of the filter chamber 108. The drain 138 may have a plug or valve (not shown) to seal the drain 138 during normal use (i.e., when fluid it flowing through the interceptor 100 from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114), but allow the filter chamber 108 to be drained when desired. Alternatively, the drain 138 may remain open during normal use to allow slow drainage into a drain. In such embodiments, fluid will empty out of the filter chamber 108 during periods of non-use, which may be helpful to allow particles to fall out of the filter. An example of such an arrangement is illustrated in
The operation of the exemplary embodiment of an interceptor 100 of
Referring to
The interceptor 100 and filter 110 may be dimensioned and selected such that the typical expected flow rate into the inlet 112 is relatively low compared to the flow resistance of the interceptor 100 and filter 110. Thus, the incoming fluid typically can pass through the filter chamber 108 and filter 110, and does not back up in the inlet 112.
It should be appreciated from the foregoing disclosure that the number of particles that precipitate out of the fluid before the fluid passes through the filter 110 may be enhanced by decreasing the velocity of the fluid. For a given flow rate, the fluid velocity can be reduced by increasing the horizontal cross sectional area of the filter chamber 108, and vice versa. Generally, lower velocities are expected to result in greater amounts of non-buoyant (e.g., heavier-than-water) particles being precipitated out of the fluid before striking the filter 110. Where the cross sectional area of the filter chamber 108 can not be increased (such as where there are space constraints), the filter chamber 108 can be elongated vertically to reduce the likelihood that non-buoyant particles will flow all the way up to the filter 110.
While the interceptor 100 may be designed to reduce or minimize the amount of particles that rise all the way to the filter 110, this is not required, and it is expected that some non-buoyant particles will strike and possibly be retained in the filter 110. In addition, buoyant particles are likely to rise to the filter 110 and may remain in contact with the filter 110 until the filter 110 is cleaned or the particles become saturated and sink to the bottom of the interceptor 100. Particles that strike and remain captured by the filter 110 may be removed and cleaned by removing the filter chamber wall 104 and/or filter chamber bottom 106, by backflushing the filter chamber 108, or by other mechanisms or means.
Referring now to
In order to prevent fluid from backing all the way up to the sink, the interceptor 100 may include a bypass 134, such as described previously herein, which allows backed-up fluid to pass directly from the inlet 112 to the outlet 114. As shown, the bypass 134 may comprise an arched passage, or it may have other shapes. A water sensor (not shown), such as those known in the art, may be installed in the bypass 134. The water sensor may comprise any electronic or mechanical signaling device, and it may be located anywhere in the bypass 134. For example, the water sensor may comprise an electric water sensor, located at the top of the arched bypass 134, that activates a light or buzzer to signal when water is passing though the bypass 134.
Referring now to
In the embodiment of
The interceptor 100 may be serviced by removing the container 408 from the bottom of the lid 102 and cleaning it out. A liner (not shown), such as described above, may be provided in the container 408 to further assist with cleaning the interceptor 100. In this embodiment, the fact that the water level remains at the level of the outlet 114 can present a situation that arises during servicing. In particular, at least a portion of the upper edge of the container 408 may be mounted below the level of the minimum outlet flow elevation 114′ by a distance “h,” as shown in
On way to reduce or eliminate spillage is to provide a filter chamber drain 138 that can be used to drain some or all of the fluid from the filter chamber 108 prior to removing the container 408. As noted above, such a drain 138 may be attached to the sink drain pipe 404′ by a hose 406, or it may empty into a removable bucket or other container. The drain 138 may be open at all times, or it may include a valve 410 to control when it is opened. Another way to reduce or eliminate spillage is to siphon fluid out of the system through the inlet 112 or outlet 114 (the outlet 114 may be accessible through an air vent). Such a siphon also may be installed through a dedicated opening, such as an opening located between the sink and the inlet 112. The siphon may be removable or permanently installed. These and other variations will be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosures herein.
Another way to reduce or eliminate spillage is to provide a displacement member that occupies a portion of the internal volume of the container 408 when it is mounted to the lid 102. For example, in the embodiment of
In order to prevent fluid from spilling out of the chamber 408 as it is being lowered, the lid 102 and chamber 408 may be constructed to remain in sealed or partially-sealed contact with one another as the container 408 is being removed. For example, in the shown embodiment, the displacement member comprises an annular ring 128 having an outer circumferential surface that remains in contact with the container 408, for a distance as the container 408 is being removed. This distance may be selected in conjunction with the volume of the displacement member to allow all of the fluid that might be located above the lowermost point of the chamber opening to descend into the container 408 before the seal is broken. Such sealing contact may be enhanced by providing one or more o-rings, lip seals, or gaskets at various heights around the outer circumferential surface. In other embodiments the sealing surfaces may be formed separately from the displacement member. For example, the displacement member may be formed as a projection from the first inlet passage 116, and a separate annular wall may be provided to seal the lid 102 to the container 408. This and other variations will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure.
The annular ring 128 that serves as the displacement member also may help hold the filter 110 in place within the filter chamber 108. In such an embodiment, the annular ring 128 may cover part of the filter 110, possibly inhibiting flow through the filter or preventing its full use. If so, the annular ring 128 may, if desired, be contoured otherwise modified to allow fluid to flow through a greater part of the filter 110. For example, the annular ring may be have scallops on its lower surface, radial notches, or other shapes to allow or encourage fluid to flow through more of the filter's volume.
Referring to
While the interceptor generally operates similarly to the previously-described embodiments, it may have several structural differences. For example, the inlet 512 may be located towards or at one side of the filter chamber 508, and the entire interceptor 500 may be removably mounted between couplings 518, 520. In this embodiment, the interceptor 500 may be removed in its entirety and tipped over to empty the filter chamber through the inlet 512. The bypass 534 may be constructed to provide a carrying handle for the interceptor 500. If additional cleaning is required, the filter 510 may be mounted on a removable drawer, or the interceptor 500 may include removable panels or a lid to access the filter chamber 508.
The filter chamber 508 may include a riser space 506 located horizontally adjacent or above the filter 510. The riser space 506 provides a space in which buoyant particles 510 can float without pressing against the filter surface. A vent (not shown) may be provided between the riser space 506 and the outlet 514 or the upper portion of the filter 510 to prevent air from being trapped in the riser space 506. A mesh or second filter may be located over the vent to particles from exiting the riser space therethrough. The filter chamber 508 also may include one or more vanes 522 to urge buoyant particles away from the filter 510. In addition, a screen 516 may be located below the filter 510 to help prevent it from becoming blocked by buoyant particles.
Another exemplary embodiment of an interceptor is illustrated in
In this embodiment, the inlet 612 enters the side of the filter chamber 608. A riser space 606 may be provided horizontally adjacent the filter 610, and a settling space 616 may be provided below the inlet 612 to allow denser particles to accumulate without blocking the inlet opening 630. Of course, such riser and settling spaces 606, 616 may be provided in any other embodiment of the invention, such as the embodiment of
In the embodiment of
The exemplary embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the claims may be practiced in any number of other ways, and, where suitable, in other contexts. For example, although embodiments disclosed herein have been described as under sink interceptors for food byproducts, the principles and structures herein are applicable to other settings. Modifications to the exemplary embodiments and other embodiments of the claimed invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the following appended claims. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed broadly to encompass the full breadth and spirit of the claimed inventions.
