Patents Examined by Frank Lawrence, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8758465
    Abstract: A block-base bag is for vacuum cleaners. The bag includes, in the interior thereof, a diffuser made of strips of material and/or sheet materials with oblong-shaped flow openings. Such bags are distinguished by excellent dust storage capacity and extension of the useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Schultink, Ralf Sauer
  • Patent number: 8758493
    Abstract: A method and system for reducing an amount of ammonia in a flue gas stream. The system 100 includes: a wash vessel 180 for receiving an ammonia-containing flue gas stream 170, the wash vessel 180 including a first absorption stage 181a and a second absorption stage 181b, each of the first absorption stage 181a and the second absorption stage 181b having a mass transfer device 184; and a liquid 187 introduced to the wash vessel 180, the liquid 187 for absorbing ammonia from the ammonia-containing flue gas stream 170 thereby forming an ammonia-rich liquid 192 and a reduced ammonia containing flue gas stream 190 exiting the wash vessel 180.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Eli Gal, Indira Jayaweera
  • Patent number: 8758481
    Abstract: Dehumidifier for photovoltaic modules, of a series of photovoltaic concentration modules, formed by a common air inlet and outlet access that communicates all the modules, and which passes through a bed of moisture absorbing material, having an electrical self-adjusted resistance (15) installed therein. The circuit is completed with a solenoid valve (13), a flow switch (19), a non-return valve (12); a pressure switch (16) and a timer relay (20). The process is based on pressure differences existing within the photovoltaic modules throughout the day, and consists of two steps: drying air by passing through the bed of absorbent material before entering into the photovoltaic modules and the regeneration of the drying system, which can be automatically or manually by connecting a compressor or fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Abengoa Solar New Technologies, S.A.
    Inventors: Javier Roa Fresno, Alvaro Payan Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 8753435
    Abstract: A portable oxygen concentrator includes a pressure swing absorption system defined by a relatively rigid housing adapted to generate a flow of oxygen enriched gas and a battery adapted to provide power to the pressure swing absorption system. The oxygen concentrator has a total weight of less than about 10 lbs, has a maximum flow of 100% O2 equivalent gas of about 0.9 lpm, has a total volume less than about 800 in3, and gas a battery life of at least about 8 hours. The present invention also using a liquefaction or transfill system in combination with such an oxygen concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Ric Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Charles R. Atlas, Peter L. Bliss, Robert W. Murdoch, Scott C. Halperin
  • Patent number: 8753436
    Abstract: An external oil coalescing adapter fitted to a desiccant breather with an adapter housing with a coalescing chamber for receiving an air flow containing oil; oil coalescing media contained within the coalescing chamber for coalescing oil contained in the air flow; a first end cap for attaching to one end of the housing, the first end cap also attachable to a breather; and a second end cap for attaching to the opposite end of the housing from the first end cap, the second end cap attachable to a system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Des-Case Corporation
    Inventors: Cody Curtsinger, Houston Hatchett
  • Patent number: 8753428
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption system includes a pressure vessel, a nozzle plate coupled to the vessel and sealed with respect to the pressure vessel, a backing plate that supports the nozzle plate, and a manifold including a plenum cavity and coupled to the nozzle plate via a neck such that the plenum cavity is in fluid communication with an interior of the pressure vessel. The neck is sealed with respect to the nozzle plate via a movable sealing surface. A method is provided in which pressure from the plenum cavity assists in closing valve coupled to the manifold. A removable insert is provided to the manifold to provide a removable sealing surface against which the valve closes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Lummus Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr., Howard Abramowitz, Edward T. McCullough
  • Patent number: 8747522
    Abstract: In a method for adsorptively drying purified biogas and regenerating laden absorbents, foreign matter is not allowed to enter the purified biogas, the content of methane in the gas remains virtually unchanged and the effort involved in regenerating the laden adsorbent is reduced. Drying and regeneration are effected in a closed biogas cycle, wherein separate layers based on silica gel and molecular sieves are used as the adsorbent. The biogas to be dried first flows through the silica gel layer. The adsorbent is regenerated with exclusively heated, dried biomethane having a temperature of up to 150° C. which, after contact with adsorbent, is recirculated to the outflow of purified biogas. After regeneration, the bed is cooled by biomethane, which is subsequently recirculated to the outflow of purified biogas. Methane-containing water accumulating during drying and regeneration is recirculated to the biogas generation and/or purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: DGE Dr.-Ing. Guenther Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Lothar Guenther
  • Patent number: 8741030
    Abstract: This invention provides a metal complex having a gas adsorption capability, a gas storing capability, and a gas separation capability. The present invention attained the above object by a metal complex comprising: a dicarboxylic acid compound (I) represented by the following General Formula (I), wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined in the specification; at least one metal ion selected from ions of a metal belonging to Group 2 and Groups 7 to 12 of the periodic table; and an organic ligand capable of bidentate binding to the metal ion, the organic ligand belonging to the D?h point group, having a longitudinal length of not less than 8.0 ? and less than 16.0 ?, and having 2 to 7 heteroatoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasutaka Inubushi, Chikako Ikeda, Koichi Kanehira
  • Patent number: 8740316
    Abstract: For a motor vehicle, a compressed air preparation device includes a pressure line configured to conduct compressed air, a drying device disposed in the pressure line, a governor valve coupled to the drying device, and an electrically actuatable solenoid valve, the governor valve being (i) pilot controllable by the solenoid valve at a high pressure level to allow the compressed air to be fed through the pressure line when the solenoid valve is actuated and (ii) configured to control regeneration of the drying device in response to a low pressure level from the solenoid valve when an electrical supply to the solenoid valve fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: WABCO GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schäl
  • Patent number: 8734570
    Abstract: A pressure or vacuum swing adsorption process for separating water from solvent utilizing molecular sieves and regenerating the molecular sieve by passing non-condensable recycled gas along the molecular sieve, capturing the recycled gas and using the recycled gas again to repeat regeneration of the molecular sieve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventor: Paul M. Winter
  • Patent number: 8734571
    Abstract: Reduction of water, CO2 and N2O in an air stream comprising: passing said air stream at a feed temperature through a first adsorbent, whose Henry's Law selectivity for CO2/N2O is at least 12.5, and a second adsorbent, whose Henry's Law constant for CO2 is less than 1020 mmol/g/atom and whose Henry's Law selectivity for CO2/N2O is at most 5; and passing a heated regenerating gas at a temperature which is between 20° C. and 80° C. to at least the second adsorbent, and passing a second regenerating gas at a temperature less than the temperature of the heated regenerating gas to the first and second adsorbents in a direction opposite to the feed direction; the second adsorbent occupying from 25% to 40% of the total volume of the adsorbents, and the temperature of the heated regenerating gas being 10° C. to 60° C. higher than the feed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Timothy Golden, Mohammad Ali Kalbassi, Christopher James Raiswell, Christine Waweru, Michaela Pollock
  • Patent number: 8715395
    Abstract: Fluorinated metal-organic frameworks (“FMOFs”) are capable of adsorbing and desorbing hydrocarbons, namely, C6-C8 hydrocarbon oil components (n-hexane, cyclohexane, benzene and toluene). FMOFs can be arranged in a variety of configurations and have internal hollow channels and cavities. In FMOFs, hydrogen atoms have been substituted completely or partially with fluorine atoms or fluorinated groups in each linking organic ligand. These FMOFs can adsorb C6-C8 hydrocarbons, up to 500 kg/m3 as demonstrated for toluene, through a combination of superhydrophobicity and capillary action. No water adsorption was detectable even under extreme conditions including moist air near 100% relative humidity and immersion in water for multiple weeks, demonstrating far superior water resistance to BPL carbon and zeolites. These materials are stable and can be readily recycled by simple desorption many times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: University of North Texas
    Inventors: Mohammad A. Omary, Chi Yang
  • Patent number: 8709134
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to porous frameworks for ethylene oxide separation and recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, BASF SE
    Inventors: Omar M. Yaghi, David Kyle Britt, Alexander U. Czaja
  • Patent number: 8709118
    Abstract: Disclosed are improved polymer materials. Also disclosed are fine fiber materials that can be made from the improved polymeric materials in the form of microfiber and nanofiber structures. The microfiber and nanofiber structures can be used in a variety of useful applications including the formation of filter materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoo Y. Chung, John R. B. Hall, Mark A. Gogins, Douglas G. Crofoot, Thomas M. Weik
  • Patent number: 8709136
    Abstract: A process for separating a first gas, for example CO2, from a feed gas mixture comprising the first gas and a second gas, for example H2, in five or more adsorption beds each containing an adsorbent selective for the first gas. The process comprises subjecting each of the adsorption beds to a repetitive cycle comprising, in sequence, (a) a feed step, (b) a rinse step, (c) a pressure decreasing equalization step, (d) a blowdown step, (e) an evacuation step, (f) a pressure increasing equalization step, and (g) a repressurization step. The feed gas mixture may be a reformate from a steam-hydrocarbon reforming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kuo-Kuang Hsu, Jonathan James Berg, Jianguo Xu, Edward Landis Weist, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8702840
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for managing an oxygen generating system configured for supplying a sustained flow of oxygen, which may include a control box. The control box may include an oil-less air compressor configured to pump the oxygen to an oxygen storage tank from at least two banks of at least one oxygen generator. The control box may include or be connected to a pressure sensor associated with the oxygen storage tank. The control box may further include one or more controller devices configured to control at least two circuits for providing power to the at least two banks of at least one oxygen generator. The one or more controller devices may be configured to switch on or off each bank of oxygen generators in response to particular threshold pressures associated with the storage tank. The one or more controller devices may also be configured to control the oil-less air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: HVLP02, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas D. Friedman, Eric Ellenwood, Marc Kornbluh
  • Patent number: 8702847
    Abstract: The present invention describes methods and systems for extracting, capturing, reducing, storing, sequestering, or disposing of carbon dioxide (CO2), particularly from the air. The CO2 extraction methods and systems involve the use of chemical processes. Methods are also described for extracting and/or capturing CO2 via exposing air containing carbon dioxide to a solution comprising a base—resulting in a basic solution which absorbs carbon dioxide and produces a carbonate solution. The solution is causticized and the temperature is increased to release carbon dioxide, followed by hydration of solid components to regenerate the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Inventors: Klaus S. Lackner, Frank S. Zeman
  • Patent number: 8702827
    Abstract: A flat bag for vacuum cleaners includes, in the interior thereof, at least two diffusers made of strips of material and/or sheet materials with oblong-shaped flow openings. Such flat bags are distinguished by excellent dust storage capacity and extension of the useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N.V.
    Inventors: Jan Schultink, Ralf Sauer
  • Patent number: 8702828
    Abstract: A flat bag is for vacuum cleaners. The bad includes, in the interior thereof, at least one diffuser which forms an intermediate plane and is made of strips of material and/or sheet materials with oblong-shaped flow openings. Such flat bags are distinguished by excellent dust storage capacity and extension of the useful life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Eurofilters Holding N. V.
    Inventors: Jan Schultink, Ralf Sauer
  • Patent number: 8696792
    Abstract: A fluidized reactor system for removing impurities from a gas and an associated process are provided. The system includes a fluidized absorber for contacting a feed gas with a sorbent stream to reduce the impurity content of the feed gas; a fluidized solids regenerator for contacting an impurity loaded sorbent stream with a regeneration gas to reduce the impurity content of the sorbent stream; a first non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive an impurity loaded sorbent stream from the absorber and transport the impurity loaded sorbent stream to the regenerator at a controllable flow rate in response to an aeration gas; and a second non-mechanical gas seal forming solids transfer device adapted to receive a sorbent stream of reduced impurity content from the regenerator and transfer the sorbent stream of reduced impurity content to the absorber without changing the flow rate of the sorbent stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Research Triangle Institute
    Inventors: Gunnar Henningsen, Teddy Merrill Knowlton, John George Findlay, Jerry Neal Schlather, Brian S. Turk