Patents Examined by K. B. Rinehart
  • Patent number: 6712012
    Abstract: A control system for an incineration plant, comprising an incineration furnace with a combustion path along which the material to be burned is transported, air supply means, a steam generator, and control means with a steam controller and an oxygen controller which, depending on respectively the generated amount of steam and the oxygen in the furnace, generate control signals for adjusting the size and/or speed of a stream of material in the furnace and/or adjusting the air supplied. The control signals control the generated amount of steam to a first adjusting value and via air supplied the amount of oxygen to a second adjusting value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventor: Lambertus Bernardus Maria van Kessel
  • Patent number: 6705242
    Abstract: A method and apparatus to hermetically seal openings in an explosion suppression chamber. The present invention utilizes an air lock device to ensure that, in the event toxins are released from the primary explosion chamber opening closing means, the toxins are properly handled and are not inadvertently released into the atmosphere. The preferred embodiment of the present invention uses negative pressure to vacuum the entrained air within the airlock cavity subsequent to an explosion. An alternate embodiment of the present invention uses positive pressure within the air lock cavity to force air through integral filter membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: CH2M Hill Constructors, Inc.
    Inventor: John Donovan
  • Patent number: 6698365
    Abstract: Material to be treated such as garbage is charged into a first rotary kiln 14 to be mainly dehydrated and charged into a second rotary kiln 18 to be carbonized. The first rotary kiln 14 has a first nozzle pipe 11 therein for spouting a first high temperature gas and the second rotary kiln 18 has a second nozzle pipe 15 for spouting a second high temperature gas, mainly high temperature superheated steam with a temperature higher than a temperature of the first high temperature gas. The carbonized material is discharged outside after a temperature thereof is lowered to prevent spontaneous combustion in an atmosphere. Thereby, it is able to provide an apparatus for thermal treatment using superheated steam which can be built relatively small and by which treatment time can be shortened, and further, the final carbonized material can be used as charcoal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: S.T.M. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Katsumi Shibata
  • Patent number: 6694900
    Abstract: The methods and systems of the present invention reduce NOx emissions in combustion systems, e.g., power plants, boilers, furnaces, incinerators, engines, and any combinations thereof. The inventive process decreases NOx emissions from stationary combustion sources and provides improved utilization of low-grade biomass and other waste fuels without slagging and fouling problems. The invention reduces NOx emissions while utilizing gasified fuels, including biomass and low-grade waste fuels, by gasifying solid fuels and injecting produced gas into a reburning zone of, for example, a boiler at relatively low temperatures and in relatively small amounts. By feeding the gas directly into a reburning zone, the need for gas cleaning is eliminated or substantially reduced as tars are burned in the flame and alkali species may be present at much lower levels than is the case with direct combustion applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vitali Lissianski, George Rizeq, Vladimir Zamansky
  • Patent number: 6694899
    Abstract: A method for minimizing corrosion and the build-up of deposits on surfaces of a flue-gas system exposed to moist substances and elevated temperatures, and particularly those surfaces which are used to convey other additives to the system and the surfaces of gas/gas heaters which receive the output from scrubbers, which method involves adding to the system, particularly in those conduits and at the surfaces of the gas/gas heater, generally inert bulking agents such as perlite and vermiculite in expanded form, such agents, apparently by acting under the operating conditions to which they are subjected to retain substantial quantities of water without becoming dissolved, accomplishing the desired results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2004
    Assignee: Apollo Technologies International Corp.
    Inventors: Ira Kukin, William Carmen Pepe
  • Patent number: 6691628
    Abstract: In the manufacture of cement clinker from cement raw meal, sulfide-containing raw materials or raw materials with a high TOC (total organic carbon) level can be used for cement manufacture, which are uncontrollably incompletely burned in the upper cyclone of a heat exchange line, thus leading to high emissions of CO, VOC (volatile organic carbon), and S2− in the waste gas. To reduce or completely eliminate such elevated emissions, an oxidation zone is provided in an waste gas duct downstream of the heat exchange line in the gas flow path, having an afterburner, the waste gas being caused positively to pass through open flames of the afterburner to assure the economical oxidation of the waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2004
    Assignee: KHD Humboldt Wedag AG
    Inventors: Hans-Wilhelm Meyer, Michael Siegert
  • Patent number: 6684526
    Abstract: An improved process for removing trace solvent from a material comprises rewetting the product with water during the drying process. Finished products such as suramin are produced efficiently to a high quality on a factory scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Pfizer Science and Technology Ireland, Limited
    Inventor: William Tully
  • Patent number: 6675493
    Abstract: A holder for drying plastic bags including a base with series of interconnected sockets; and dowels, each dowel having a smooth and rounded end, to accommodate a bag and an opposite end being inserted into the sockets of the base. A bag is placed upside-down over the dowels to dry. The dowels may be positioned in different sockets to accommodate different size bags. Alternatively, the end of the dowel being placed in the base may be hollow thereby accommodating a spring placed between the sockets of the base and the dowels so that the dowels may be easily adjusted. The bag holder may optionally provide a horizontal attachment to permit simultaneous drying of a plastic bag and a dish towel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Inventor: Rosemary Martin
  • Patent number: 6675727
    Abstract: A method for feeding solids (8) into a reaction space (2), which solids are prevented from leaving in the form of a solid substance. The method includes feeding solids such that the pressure (F1) they exert on the walls of the reaction space (2) or the walls of the feed duct (9) leading to the reaction space is constant, while the reaction space is being supplied with a substance (6) which reacts with the solids and results in the conversion of the solids into non-solid reaction products. The counter-pressure (F) exerted by the walls of the reaction space or the walls of the feed duct leading to the reaction space then decreases and solids are impelled into the reaction space at the same rate as they are consumed during the reaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Pyrox Oy
    Inventor: Ilkka Haavisto
  • Patent number: 6671977
    Abstract: A lint collector and safety system for the clothes dryer. The lint collector removes lint. The safety system determines whether the flow of exhaust air is above a pre-set level, and causes an interruption of electrical power to the clothes dryer if there is not. The invention provides for more efficient drying of clothes and reduces risk of fires. The system may also include an interruption of electrical power for other malfunctions of clothes dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Boemar Inc.
    Inventor: Bart Donald Beaumont
  • Patent number: 6672227
    Abstract: The arrangement is for cleaning and controlling airflow and where appropriate pushing away melt in an air channel of recovery boilers within the paper and pulp industry. By inclining the regulating device 10 at an angle to the horizontal plane and at the same time making the piston of the regulating device run in contact with the side and upper walls 24a, 24b and, respectively, 22 of the air channel, optimum airflow control and a more compact installation can be achieved. The airflow can be adjusted more rapidly with a small regulating movement at the same time as very good penetration of the air into the furnace 4 is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventor: Lennart Nordenberg
  • Patent number: 6666154
    Abstract: Methods and systems for treating organic waste, which include determining the ignition threshold temperature for the organic waste and at least one mineral by-product, selecting a ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s) based on the determined ignition threshold temperature, combining the mineral by-product(s) with the organic waste, so as to arrive at a mixture having the selected ratio of organic waste:mineral by-product(s); and drying the mixture of organic waste and mineral by-product(s) to produce organic waste solids. The treatment methods of the present invention are methods of stabilizing the treated organic waste so as to control the tendency of the organic waste to ignite. Also provided are organic waste solids formed by the methods of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2003
    Assignee: N-Viro International Corporation
    Inventors: Terry J. Logan, Ervin L. Faulmann
  • Patent number: 6662735
    Abstract: A reactor for gasifying and/or melting feed materials, the reactor including a charging section with a feed opening, through which the feed materials are charged to the reactor from above and a pyrolysis section which has an expanded cross section and is located below the charging section so that a discharge cone of the feed material can form. Gas supply devices, open into the pyrolysis section substantially at a level of the expanded cross section and through which hot gases can be fed to the discharge cone. A melting and superheating section is located below the pyrolysis section and has a narrowing cross section. Upper injection devices are arranged so that an energy-rich medium is supplyable to the melting and superheating section immediately below a level of the narrowing section. A reduction section is located below the melting and superheating section. The reduction section has gas exhaust devices through which excess gases are exhausted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinen- und Stahlbau GmbH
    Inventors: Eckhardt Tischer, Frank Wuchert
  • Patent number: 6662464
    Abstract: A device (10) for removing lint from a dryer lint screen (14). Device (10) preferably includes a trash container (13) and a trash container lid (12), the latter of which forms a slot (26) for receiving the dryer lint screen (14). Attached to the underside of lid (12) adjacent slot (26) are bristles (40). Lint is removed from the lint screen (14) by inserting it into slot (26) and then withdrawing it. Bristles (40) contact the lint and strip it off of screen (14) as the screen is withdrawn from the slot (26). The lint can then fall into trash container (13) for subsequent disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel Mark Treu
  • Patent number: 6658760
    Abstract: A flexible container in the form of a bag is described for use in a non-immersion dry cleaning process. Bag walls that are appropriately stiff and slick are preferred (preferred Kawabata Evaluation System stiffness and surface friction values are given), as are bag designs that are inherently three-dimensional and self-supporting. A preferred embodiment is a tetrahedral bag having a slick polymeric coating on the interior surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Randolph S. Kohlman, Allan W. Smith, Thomas E. Godfrey, Charles E. Willbanks, Allen M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6659026
    Abstract: A control system for providing improved control over the combustion process of a multiple-intertube pulverized-coal burner that commonly forms a portion of a roof-fired boiler. The system utilizes actual mass fuel flow measurements to calculate corrected, optimal secondary and interjectory air demands. The corrected secondary and interjectory air demands are used by a proportional and integral control loop to regulate the respective supply of secondary and interjectory air to the combustion process of each in-service burner. The control system allows for optimal combustion of the fuel and a reduction in NOx emmissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: AEP EmTech LLC
    Inventors: Willis M. Hendricks, John J. Letcavits
  • Patent number: 6659025
    Abstract: The present invention is a rubber tire recycling process that does not require the inefficient procedure of cutting and shredding the rubber tires. The entire rubber tire enters the recycling process without ever being cut thereby maintains the integrity of the steel wires within the steel belted rubber tires. The present invention allows virtually every component of the rubber tire to be recycled and results in high quality recycled end products that include, among others, full strands of steel wires and high grade rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Inventor: Zhian Yu
  • Patent number: 6655304
    Abstract: An improved mass fuel combustion system can be designed in a variety of embodiments and alternatives, including designs which include independent gas feeds, independent gas pulsing, independently controllable vibration systems and an overall control system which can coordinate a host of parameters for optimal combustion. One design includes overlapping grate elements (50) through which combustion gas is introduced and may include apertures to introduce a pulsed mix gas as well as a separate temperature control gas. Efficient poppet designs (44) can be used to provide an economical and efficient combustion system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Barlow Projects, Inc.
    Inventor: James L. Barlow
  • Patent number: 6655303
    Abstract: A furnace consists of at least one wall-mounted burner tilted downward for feeding air-fuel mixture and of a prism-shaped ash hopper. Slopes of the walls of lower combustion chamber region define the slotted mouth of ash hopper. The bottom airflow device is located below the ash hopper mouth the wall opposite to the airflow nozzle of the bottom airflow device has a concave form. In accordance with said invention the bottom airflow device spans along the entire width of the ash hopper mouth. The concave wall in its upper region meets the ash hopper mouth and an imaginary plane being a continuation of said concave wall crosses the opposite slopes of the wall of ash hopper in its middle region. The axis of bottom airflow nozzle passes along the lower region of said concave wall and is directed to form a 0-to-45 degree angle between said axis and lower region of said concave wall. The concave wall may be tilted relative to horizon at the angle of 20-45 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2003
    Assignee: Polytechenergo
    Inventors: Felix Zalmanovich Finker, Igor Borisovich Kubyshkin, Yuriy Pavlovich Bakhtinov
  • Patent number: 6651358
    Abstract: Heat transfer fluid mixtures and methods of making and using same are presented. The inventive heat transfer fluid mixtures consist essentially of at least one light gas, such as hydrogen, and at least one heavy fluid, such as helium wherein the mixture will not be capable of mixing with air in any proportions to produce a self-sustaining flammable or combustible mixture, or wherein a concentration of hydrogen is sufficient to reduce cost of the mixture to an amount substantially less than cost of pure helium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.
    Inventor: Frederick W. Giacobbe