Patents Represented by Attorney Coleman R. Reap
  • Patent number: 6720352
    Abstract: Chemical compositions having superior nematicidal properties are formulated. The compositions contain one or more selected aldehydes as the major component and one or more aliphatic or cyclic isothiocyanates as a minor component. Preferred mixtures contain furfural and one or both of methyl isothiocyanate and allyl isothiocyanate. Plant-parasitic nematodes are controlled by contacting the nematodes with the nematicidal compositions, by, for example, applying the compositions to soil or other plant growth media containing the nematodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Inventor: Rodrigo Rodriguez-Kabana
  • Patent number: 6002019
    Abstract: Petrochemicals are produced by the vapor phase reaction of a hydrocarbon with air in the presence of a suitable catalyst. The petrochemical product is removed from the product gas stream, and part or all of the remaining gas stream is passed through a bed of hydrophobic adsorbent, which adsorbs mainly the unreacted hydrocarbon from the gas stream without adsorbing water vapor. The adsorbed hydrocarbon is purged from the bed with air, and the air-hydrocarbon mixture is recycled to the partial oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1999
    Assignee: The Boc Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish S. Tamhankar, Divyanshu R. Acharya, Sidney Simon Stern
  • Patent number: 5960634
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of storing and transporting acetylene in which acetylene is introduced under pressure into liquid nitrogen to produce a liquid solid mixture. The feeding of the acetylene can be done by spraying the acetylene over the liquid nitrogen or sparging the acetylene into a pool of liquid nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: The Boc Group PLC
    Inventors: David P. Hook, Stephen W. Barton, Duncan Yates, Silvia B. Dougill, Shuen-Cheng Hwang
  • Patent number: 5932509
    Abstract: Zeolites in particulate form that are uniformly exchanged with both lithium ions and trivalent cations are produced by first partially ion-exchanging the zeolite in powdered form with one or more selected trivalent ions, then agglomerating and calcining the partially trivalent cation-exchanged zeolite, then ion-exchanging the calcined agglomerate with lithium ions, and finally activating the trivalent cation- and lithium ion-exchanged zeolite.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijay Ramanand Balse, Martin Bulow, Philip Connolly, Frank Fitch, Adeola Florence Ojo
  • Patent number: 5931022
    Abstract: An activated alumina adsorbent used in a PSA air prepurification process for removal of carbon dioxide from the air is thermally regenerated when the carbon dioxide content remaining in the adsorbent following an adsorbent regeneration step of the PSA process reaches a certain level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuguang Deng, Ravi Kumar, Ravi Jain
  • Patent number: 5925326
    Abstract: Food grade carbon dioxide is produced from oxyfuel fired glassmaking furnace waste gas by a series of steps including quenching the waste gas with aqueous quench liquid, dry-filtering sulfur salt from the gas, scrubbing the filtered gas with aqueous carbonate to convert the remaining sulfur dioxide to an aqueous sulfite suspension and using the suspension as part or all of the above-mentioned aqueous quench liquid, contacting the sulfur dioxide-free waste gas with ammonia in the presence of a catalyst that selectively converts nitrogen oxides to nitrogen, thereby removing substantially all nitrogen oxides from the waste gas, and distilling the resulting waste gas stream thereby producing high purity liquid carbon dioxide and producing an off-gas, which is recycled to the furnace as fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: The Boc Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Akhilesh Kapoor, Carl Schatz
  • Patent number: 5916836
    Abstract: Zeolites exchanged with lithium ions and, optionally, with polyvalent cations are prepared by ion-exchanging a sodium-containing zeolite, a potassium-containing zeolite or a sodium- and potassium-containing zeolite with ammonium ions, thereby replacing the sodium and/or potassium ions with ammonium ions, and then reacting the ammonium ion-exchanged zeolite with a water-soluble lithium compound under conditions which result in the removal of ammonia from the reaction zone. Polyvalent ions, which may be present in the zeolite undergoing ion-exchange, will not be substantially replaced by the ammonium or lithium ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignees: Tricat Management GmbH, The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Helge Toufar, Simone Toufar, Philip Kenerick Maher, Adeola Florence Ojo, Frank R. Fitch, Martin Bulow
  • Patent number: 5914455
    Abstract: An air prepurification process which includes, as a first step, a pressure swing adsorption process in which the air is passed through a bed of adsorbent which contains activated alumina, thereby effecting removal of substantially all moisture and most carbon dioxide from the feed air and as a second step, a temperature swing adsorption process in which the dried feed air is passed through a bed of carbon dioxide-selective adsorbent, thereby removing substantially all of the carbon dioxide remaining in the feed air. The feed air may be passed through beds of hydrogen oxidation and carbon monoxide oxidation catalysts between the first and second steps to convert any hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the feed air to water vapor and carbon dioxide, respectively, these components being removed from the feed air during the second step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Jain, James K. Tseng
  • Patent number: 5908804
    Abstract: Coke is burned in the regenerator vessel of an FCC complex with a combustion medium consisting of a diluent gas, such as air, enriched with oxygen, The regenerator is operated in partial combustion mode and excess oxygen is introduced into the combustion zone of the regenerator. Emission of nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Raghu K. Menon, Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 5906674
    Abstract: A process for separating oxygen and nitrogen using an adsorption system comprising at least one main adsorption vessel containing an adsorbent selective for one component and at least one auxiliary adsorption vessel containing an adsorbent selective for the same component, the auxiliary vessel(s) being operated under conditions which result in the production of a product gas of lower purity than the product gas from the main adsorption vessel(s). The lower purity product gas from the auxiliary vessel is used to purge or pressurize the main adsorption vessel(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ziming Tan, Karl O. Toppel
  • Patent number: 5906675
    Abstract: An air prepurification process carried out in a battery of three adsorption vessels arranged in parallel. The process includes three steps: a first step in which non-steady state PSA is carried out in the first and second vessels operated in alternating adsorption and bed regeneration mode while the adsorbent in the third vessel undergoes thermal regeneration; a second step in which non-steady state PSA is carried out in the second and third vessels operated in alternating adsorption and bed regeneration modes while the adsorbent in the first vessel undergoes thermal regeneration; and a third step in which non-steady state PSA is carried out in the first and third vessels operated in alternating adsorption and bed regeneration modes while the adsorbent in the second vessel undergoes thermal regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravi Jain, James K. Tseng
  • Patent number: 5901758
    Abstract: Filling a gas vessel by initially flowing gas into the vessel at a rate low enough to avoid sudden heating of the gas, then increasing the fill rate until the maximum fill rate is attained, then reducing the flow rate as the vessel approaches the filled condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Shuen-Cheng Hwang, Andre Micke, Ramachandran Krishnamurthy
  • Patent number: 5891217
    Abstract: A rotary valve system which includes of a pair of valve assemblies each of which has valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one valve part of each assembly. The first valve part of each assembly contains a circular array of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part of each assembly contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve apertures located in the second valve part of each assembly. The second valve part of each assembly also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one or the other array of openings. The valve system can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Norberto O. Lemcoff, Mario A. Fronzoni, Michael E. Garrett, Brian C. Green, Timothy D. Atkinson, Alberto I. La Cava
  • Patent number: 5846294
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for separating the components of a gas mixture in a pair of adsorption vessels using a single gas compressor/pump to move gas into and out of the adsorption vessels. The cycle is such that the gas compressor/pump is in continuous operation. The adsorption cycle is non-symmetrical in that the series of steps carried out in one of the adsorbers is not the same as the series of steps carried out in the other adsorber. The apparatus includes an intermediate gas storage container which is used to temporarily store gas removed from the nonadsorbed gas outlet end of the adsorption vessels so that it can be used to partially pressurize the adsorption vessels upon completion of the adsorbent regeneration step of the adsorption cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Shain-Jer Doong
  • Patent number: 5826632
    Abstract: A system for filling gas cylinders with a gas mixture having a desired gas composition which includes (a) a gas conduit whose inlet end is connected to two or more gas component supply lines, each provided with a flow adjustment device, and whose outlet end is connected to a gas cylinder filling system, and which is equipped with a gas analyzer, a cumulative gas flow measuring device and, upstream of the gas analyzer, a gas mixing device; and (b) a controller which has provision for receiving signals from the flow measuring device and the gas analyzer and for sending signals to each flow adjustment device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Micke, Lesli B. Cosey
  • Patent number: 5820656
    Abstract: A rotary valve system which includes of a pair of valve assemblies each of which has valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one valve part of each assembly. The first valve part of each assembly contains a circular array of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part of each assembly contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve apertures located in the second valve part of each assembly. The second valve part of one assembly also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one or the other array of openings. The valve system can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Norberto O. Lemcoff, Mario A. Fronzoni, Michael E. Garrett, Brian C. Green, Timothy D. Atkinson, Alberto I. La Cava
  • Patent number: 5814130
    Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes of a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between two openings of one array of openings and one opening of the other array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Norberto O. Lemcoff, Mario A. Fronzoni, Michael E. Garrett, Brian C. Green, Tim Atkinson, Alberto I. La Cava
  • Patent number: 5814131
    Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one array of openings and between members of the other array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Norberto O. Lemcoff, Mario A. Fronzoni, Michael E. Garrett, Brian C. Green, Tim Atkinson, Alberto I. La Cava
  • Patent number: 5807423
    Abstract: A rotary valve assembly which includes of a pair of valve parts with flat faces which, when pressed together and rotated, provide valving action between various ports incorporated in one of the valve parts. The first valve part contains two circular arrays of through openings, each of which is connected to a conduit. The second valve part contains several passages which provide communication between various openings of the first valve part and valve ports located in the second valve part. The second valve part also contains one or more passages which provide communication between members of one array of openings. The valve assembly can be effectively used to automate operation of a gas or liquid adsorption system comprising two or more adsorption vessels, the number of vessels being equivalent to the total number of openings in either array. Use of the valve assembly in an adsorption system eliminates the need for many of the valves required in conventional multivessel adsorption systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Norberto O. Lemcoff, Mario A. Fronzoni, Michael E. Garrett, Brian C. Green, Tim Atkinson, Alberto I. La Cava
  • Patent number: 5795370
    Abstract: A system for controlling the atmosphere within a container, including a plurality of adsorption beds for the selective removal on a cyclical basis and in a predetermined order of at least part of any water vapour, ethylene, carbon dioxide and oxygen components present in the atmosphere in an adsorption phase of the cycle mechanism for controlling the flow of atmosphere within the system and mechanism for desorbing the adsorption beds in accordance with a desorption phase of the cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventors: Michael E. Garrett, Norberto Lemcoff