Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Donald T. Black
  • Patent number: 6912869
    Abstract: A unit for cooling or heating objects on a helical belt includes between adjacent tiers of the belt a distributor having a plurality of slots through which air or other gaseous heat transfer medium can be impelled onto product passing on the belt below the slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Dee Lang
  • Patent number: 6910878
    Abstract: Process heaters operated with a burner that uses high-oxygen oxidant gas instead of air and that recirculates and entrains combustion gases, wherein oxidant gas is injected at an angle to the fuel nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Brian Leger
  • Patent number: 6803066
    Abstract: Food products are sanitized by spraying an aqueous sanitizing liquid comprising up to 15 ppm ozone onto all exterior surfaces of the product from a plurality of directions while moving the food product laterally with respect to the sprays, wherein the velocity of each spray is sufficient to wet microbes adhered to the surface of the food product, maintaining contact between the sanitizing liquid and the product for at least a time effective to maximize wetting of the surface of the food product by the sanitizing liquid, and then removing mechanically at least 75% of the liquid from the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Jay Traeder, Richard Minzenberger, Liangji Xu, Richard Gaber
  • Patent number: 6767530
    Abstract: A method for producing hydrogen in an energy efficient manner wherein steam and methane are reacted to produce synthesis gas from which hydrogen is recovered, and heat employed in the process is recovered using a defined regenerative bed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, Thomas Gilbert Halvorson
  • Patent number: 6708527
    Abstract: A glass feeder comprises an enclosed chamber through which molten glass can pass, and passing through each side wall into the chamber at least one burner comprising first and second burner head means for combusting oxidant and fuel within said chamber so as to generate flames which extend in axially opposite directions along each side wall, adjacent and parallel to the side walls and adjacent the surface of the molten glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2004
    Assignees: Praxair Technology, Inc., Saint-Gobain Vidros S.A., Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnologicas do Estado
    Inventors: Miguel Zorrozua Ibarlucea, Nelson Seiji Yokaichiya, Tulio Mendonca Sobrinho
  • Patent number: 6702569
    Abstract: NOx emissions from combustion are reduced, NOx reduction efficiency by SNCR is improved, and other efficiencies are realized, by injecting oxygen into a fuel-rich combustion zone under controlled conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, Kuang Tsai Wu, Lawrence E. Bool, III
  • Patent number: 6699029
    Abstract: A furnace that combusts fuel, such as coal, of a given minimum energy content to obtain a stated minimum amount of energy per unit of time is enabled to combust fuel having a lower energy content, while still obtaining at least the stated minimum energy generation rate, by replacing a small amount of the combustion air fed to the furnace by oxygen. The replacement of oxygen for combustion air also provides reduction in the generation of NOx.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, Lawrence E. Bool, III, Kuang Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 6699031
    Abstract: NOx formation in the combustion of solid hydrocarbonaceous fuel such as coal is reduced by obtaining, from the incoming feed stream of fuel solids and air, a stream having a ratio of fuel solids to air that is higher than that of the feed steam, and injecting the thus obtained stream and a small amount of oxygen to a burner where the fuel solids are combusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, Lawrence E. Bool, III, William J. Snyder
  • Patent number: 6699030
    Abstract: Improved operational characteristics such as improved fuel efficiency, reduction of NOx formation, reduction of the amount of unburned carbon in the ash, and lessened tendency to corrosion at the tube wall, in a multi-burner furnace are obtained by reducing the flow rate of combustion air to the burners and selectively individually feeding oxidant to only some of the burners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence E. Bool, III, Hisashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6669916
    Abstract: Disclosed are a carbon dioxide purification process and apparatus including (i) an adsorbing step for removing a predetermined amount of hydrocarbons from a carbon dioxide feed gas to reduce the caloric value of the feed stream, and (ii) a catalytic oxidation step located downstream of the adsorbing step for removing residual hydrocarbons from the feed gas by catalytic oxidation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl Joseph Heim, Amitabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 6667074
    Abstract: Silica-based refractories are impregnated with protective material that is more resistant towards attack by corrosive species. The protective material coats the surface of the refractory matrix and fills some of the cavity volume of its pores, crevices, surfaces imperfections and irregularities. The protective material is positioned by impregnating the refractory with a precursor which, under the input of energy, is converted into the corrosion resistant protective material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Thoru Kobayashi, Elson Longo Da Silva, Carlos Alberto Paskocimas
  • Patent number: 6652271
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a method for carrying out combustion in a furnace having porous walls with a large surface area in a combustion zone in which a low velocity oxidant stream is injected through at least one oxidant injection side of the porous walls into the combustion zone, a fuel stream through at least fuel injection side directed toward the oxidant injection side and mixing the low velocity oxidant and fuel stream to create a flame with reduced flame temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Hisashi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 6572676
    Abstract: A process for melting an aluminum charge into molten aluminum and simultaneously refining the molten aluminum to produce a refined molten aluminum having a low hydrogen content in a direct fired furnace (10) is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, Arthur Francis Wellington, Xueping Li, Jay Jonathan Feinstein
  • Patent number: 6557367
    Abstract: An impingement cooler or freezer includes at least one impingement section, having a plurality of channeling means defining apertures enabling cooling fluid impingement flow toward and onto objects on a conveyor and defining a channel through which the cooling fluid from the objects flows into a duct which carries the fluid to a unit that chills the fluid, and includes passage means which receives cooling fluid from said apertures and lets it enter the duct after having flowed toward and onto said objects, the fluid being impinged and recirculated by a fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Dee Lang, Yeu-Chuan Simon Ho, Theodore Hall Gasteyer, III
  • Patent number: 6543251
    Abstract: A device useful for delivering carbon dioxide snow comprises a supply conduit for providing a flow of pressurized carbon dioxide, a plurality of tubes disposed side by side, each tube having a constant cross-sectional configuration and area throughout its length, each tube having a first end the peripheral edges of which are sealed to the outside of the conduit wall and a second end which is open to the ambient atmosphere, and a plurality of apertures for carbon dioxide to flow through the conduit wall and expand to solids and vapor, there being at least one aperture communicating with the interior of each of said plurality of tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore Hall Gasteyer, III, Yeu-Chaun Simon Ho, Gary Dee Lang, Steven Michael McCarty
  • Patent number: 6532771
    Abstract: Glass is produced in a glassmelting furnace by combusting fuel and oxidant having an oxygen content greater than 80 vol. % oxygen in a melting zone to form molten glass, wherein the surface of the molten glass is exposed to the gaseous atmosphere in the melting zone and the water vapor content of the atmosphere at the surface of the molten glass is greater than 35 vol. %, and oxidant having an oxygen content greater than 80 vol. % is injected into the refining zone of the furnace under conditions to minimize mixing of said oxidant with gases above said oxidant and sweep water vapor at the surface of the molten glass into the melting zone to lower the water vapor content of the atmosphere at the surface of the molten glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Hisashi Kobayashi, William Joseph Snyder, Kuang Tsai Wu
  • Patent number: 6497852
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is recovered from a feed stream whose pressure is up to 30 psia by preferentially absorbing carbon dioxide from said feed stream into a liquid absorbent fluid, pressurizing and heating the resulting stream to a pressure sufficient to enable the stream to reach the top of the stripper at a pressure of 35 psia or greater, and stripping carbon dioxide from said stream in a stripper operating at a pressure of 35 psia or greater and recovering from said stripper a gaseous carbon dioxide product stream having a pressure of 35 psia or greater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Inventors: Shrikar Chakravarti, Amitabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 6497106
    Abstract: Disclosed are a method and apparatus for chilling food product, employing (A) cooling means comprising (1) a rotatable drum, (2) means in said drum for urging pieces through said drum, (3) cryogen dispensing means, and (4) means for rotating said drum; (B) feeding means which includes means for automatically sensing the mass flow rate at which said pieces are being fed into said inlet and for generating electrical signals corresponding to said rate; (C) electronic control means responsive to said signals and temperature inputs for preventing premature flow of cryogen and for automatically controlling the rate at which cryogen is fed so as to lower the temperature of said pieces to the desired exit temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary D. Lang, Robert J. Chamberlain
  • Patent number: 6477859
    Abstract: A system for producing carbon dioxide wherein carbon dioxide feed fluid is first processed in a cooling section of an integrated heat exchanger before purification in a column, and wherein column bottom fluid operates within one of an evaporating section and desuperheating section of the heat exchanger and refrigerant fluid operates within the other of the evaporating section and desuperheating section of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth Kai Wong, Dante Patrick Bonaquist, Henry Edward Howard
  • Patent number: 6473175
    Abstract: A method of analyzing a sample gas for the presence of at least one gas impurity by combining a stream of sample gas with a stream of carrier gas to provide a combined stream of gas, directing the combined stream of gas through a column which preferentially removes the sample gas from the combined stream to produce a retentate stream of gas, and analyzing the retentate stream of gas for the presence of the at least one gas impurity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Leonard Malczewski