Patents Examined by Krisanne M. Thornton
  • Patent number: 5342587
    Abstract: A detergent dispenser that is utilized with solid cast detergent. A single valve is utilized to initiate a flow of a ready to use detergent solution that may be drawn off in container. The valve commences a flow of water that is split in a T-shaped fitting. An appropriate portion is routed to spray on the solid cast detergent and to dissolve the detergent into a concentrated solution. The concentrated solution flows into a conduit where it is mixed with the second portion of the water, diluting the solution to an appropriate concentration for use. A restricter located in the T-shaped fitting acts to split the flow of water appropriately to ensure that the discharge solution is in a ready to use concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: Sunburst Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Laughlin, William H. Scepanski, Kenneth P. Gruber
  • Patent number: 5342579
    Abstract: A sterilant mixture comprising 14 to 25 mole percent ethylene oxide and 75 to 86 mole percent 1,1,2,2,2-pentafluoroethane, and a sterilization method using same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1994
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Conviser, Claude C Woltz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5340549
    Abstract: In its simplest sense, the present invention provides a method for improving the contacting of plural, distinct phases in a vertically disposed vessel containing distinct fluid phases by injecting a stream of dispersed distinct phases together into the phases contained in the vessel at a sufficient velocity to force the fluid in the vessel to circulate downwardly through a central region in the vessel and upwardly in the annular region surrounding the central region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Exxon Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Milind B. Ajinkya, Robert M. Koros, Barry L. Tarmy
  • Patent number: 5340741
    Abstract: A sterility testing device includes a container made up of upper and lower plastic parts between which is welded a hydrophilic microporous membrane filter. The device also includes a removable plastic lid with vent holes. The lid is adapted to be secured to the container in two different positions such that, during in-situ incubation of a culture medium after the filtration of the sample and rinsing, the lid is deformed to allow a passageway for excess pressurized air to be removed from the interior of the container while at the same time preventing ambient air from entering the container. The device thus operates with a single membrane filter and is more economical to manufacture than prior art devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Millipore Corporation
    Inventor: Jean Lemonnier
  • Patent number: 5340538
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for dispensing a sterilizing gas. In the method, a liquid mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide is provided. A cylinder is partially filled with the liquid mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide. The head space of the cylinder is then pressurized with an inert gas at a pressure substantially higher than the vapor pressure of the liquid mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide. The liquid gas mixture is then dispensed from the cylinder under conditions whereby the head space pressure is maintained greater than the vapor pressure of the liquid mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Liquid Carbonic Corporation
    Inventors: Todd A. Zaicow, Scott A. Farber, Daniel F. Bartel
  • Patent number: 5338666
    Abstract: A method for receiving, distributing and storing a sample into numerous aliquots of small volume without air entrapment and with retention of aliquots when the device is manipulated and for the treatment of any or all of the aliquots with the same or different reagents and/or other chemical additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: James F. Monthony, Dwight Livingston, Jayakumar Reuben, Robert C. Tite
  • Patent number: 5335059
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for lens measurement that provide for a small error of measurement where a light source used for measurement emits a beam of light at a wavelength different from an operating wavelength of a lens to be measured. The spherical aberration of the lens being measured, which occurs at the nonoperating wavelength, is identified and measured. An auxiliary lens is then placed in the path of the light source emitting the beam of light with the nonoperating wavelength to suppress the spherical aberration. This method allows for performance measurements of the lens to be obtained at the nonoperating wavelength without the adverse effects of the spherical aberration which occurred at the nonoperating wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koichi Maruyuma, Syun'itirou Wakamiya, Makoto Iwaki
  • Patent number: 5332551
    Abstract: An apparatus (200) for treating a microporous structure (239) with atomic oxygen. The apparatus (200) includes a main gas chamber (202) for flowing gas in an axial direction and a source (218, 220) of gas, containing atomic oxygen, connected for introducing the gas into the main gas chamber (202). The apparatus (200) employs at least one side arm (228) extending from the main atomic oxygen-containing chamber (202). The side arm (228) has characteristic relaxation times such that a uniform atomic oxygen dose rate is delivered to a specimen (239) positioned transversely in the side arm (228) spaced from the main gas chamber (202).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Steven L. Koontz
  • Patent number: 5330728
    Abstract: A catalytic converter for use in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine having a catalyst coated substrate with an inlet face oriented at an angle less than ninety degrees to the flow of exhaust gas entering the converter and fluid flow channels extending through the substrate from the inlet face to an outlet face and oriented at an angle less than ninety degrees to the inlet face. The mounting configuration within the canister allows for an increase in the frontal or inlet area without a corresponding increase in the converter cross section while the angled flow channels minimize the effect of the angled mounting of the substrate relative to the exhaust flow on the backpressure imposed on the exhaust system by the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Michael R. Foster
  • Patent number: 5330899
    Abstract: A sterile inoculation assembly includes an inoculation device (20), a storage container (84) and a handling tool (60). The inoculation device (20) includes an elongated body (22) having an inoculation end (26) and an opposed gripping end (24). The container (84) is formed with at least one cavity (86) with an opening (88) thereto. The cavity (86) is dimensioned to receive the inoculation device (20) in an orientation which permits the gripping end (24) to be grasped through the opening (88). A sheet-like cover (98) is positioned across the opening (88) to seal it and to retain the inoculation device (20) in the cavity (86). The cover (98) is capable of being punctured for grasping of the gripping end (24) and removal of the inoculation device (20) by a handling tool (60). This handling tool (60) telescopically engages the gripping end (24) for releasible securement thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: Bio-Plas, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald H. DeVaughn
  • Patent number: 5329350
    Abstract: An optical system for the attenuation of laser light for measurement purposes which includes four logical subassemblies including a first attenuator subassembly for the attenuation of high power laser light, a second attenuator subassembly for lower power attenuation of the laser light, a third lens subassembly for collecting beam size data simultaneously at multiple locations in space, and a fourth logical subassembly including a beam measuring assembly for recording the beam size data received from the lens subassembly for analysis of the beam characteristics. The first attenuator subassembly is provided with a pair of reflecting, opposed facing, fixed wedges. The reflecting wedges are selectively tilted to eliminate interference effects between their inward facing reflecting surfaces. The second attenuator subassembly further includes a pair of opposed facing and movable wedges arranged in series with a fixed filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: Photon, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Wright, John M. Fleischer
  • Patent number: 5328667
    Abstract: A special sealing arrangement provides a chamber between hot metallic internals attached to cold wall pressure vessel shells to preserve the integrity of the lining and to minimize thermal stresses imposed on the shell and the internals. The sealing element of this invention is a mesh blanket composite having opposite ends secured by different brackets to the internal structure and the cold wall pressure vessel shell. The membrane composite allows gases to escape from a heat transfer chamber between the internal structure and the pressure vessel shell while blocking the passage of catalyst into the chamber. This catalyst seal device is particularly useful in FCC units where fine catalyst particles can migrate into expansion chambers provided between an internal cone and the regenerator shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Daniel R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5326538
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a closed sterilization system including an infeed device for receiving the toxic product, first preparing means for rendering the toxic or infectious product suitable for sterilization, sterilization means for sterilizing the product, combustion means for incinerating the sterilized product, and conveying means for conveying the sterilized product from the sterilizing means into the combustion means. The system further includes a first isolating means positioned between the first preparing means and the inlet of the sterilizing means for isolating the product in the sterilizing means from the product in the first preparing means. Second isolation means are also positioned between the outlet of the sterilizing means and the conveying means for isolating the sterilized product from the product in sterilizing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Serawaste Systems Corporation
    Inventor: David R. Walker
  • Patent number: 5324484
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking unit is disclosed which provides for separation and quenching of a catalytic cracking effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Engineering Corp.
    Inventors: Robert J. Gartside, Richard C. Norton
  • Patent number: 5322671
    Abstract: A catalyst vessel including an inlet at an upstream end, a plurality of catalytic chambers located downstream of the conduit, wherein at least two chambers are connected by a plate having one or more orifices therein to permit gas flow through from the first chamber to the second chamber, and wherein at least one surface in the chamber is adapted for deposition of a metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhodium, and rhenium, and an outlet at its downstream end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Blue Planet Technologies Co., L.P.
    Inventors: Eugene Shustorovich, Richard Montano, Veniamin Kalner, Aleksandr Bragin, Nikolai Moiseev, Konstantin Solntsev, Yuri Buslayev
  • Patent number: 5319965
    Abstract: A self-contained multiple channel pressure recorder comprises a single, compact, portable housing containing two quartz pressure transducers and electrical circuits for sensing two pressures communicated into the housing to the pressure transducers, for sensing ambient temperature, and for converting the sensed pressures into electrical signals representing absolute pressure magnitudes compensated both for temperature and calibration effects. The resulting data can be locally displayed through a display mounted on the housing, or the data can be remotely transmitted through an electrical coupling mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Halliburton Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Lynch, Roger M. Lewis, Jonathan A. Whitten
  • Patent number: 5318909
    Abstract: A device for determining the aerobic biodegradability in a composting installation of at least one product includes at least two reactors, a temperature device for maintaining the reactors at a temperature above the ambient temperature, a device for passing gas which contains oxygen through the reactors, a device for separately collecting outflowing gas from each of the reactors, a measuring/calculating device for determining the amount of CO.sub.2 in the outflowing gas of each reactor and a calculating device for determining the aerobic biodegradability of the at least one product based on the measured/calculated amount of CO.sub.2 in the outflowing gas of each reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: Organic Waste Systems, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Luc A. De Baere
  • Patent number: 5316735
    Abstract: In a vertical cylindrical casing (1) of the apparatus along the axis thereof a gas-supplying pipe (8) is disposed, the end face (11) of which is disposed above a gas-distributing grating (3) at the level of the height of a fluidized bed formed thereon and in which a tube (12) is arranged with a swirler (13) inserted thereinto, said tube forming an annular gap (14) with the pipe (8). On the gas-supplying pipe (8) and on the gas-distributing grating (3) truncated cones (15, 16) are arranged coaxially, the upper end face (17) of the external cone (16) being disposed below the end face (11) of the gas-supplying pipe (8). In the upper part of the casing (1) in front of the inlet to an axial gas-discharging pipe (7) a baffle cone (19) is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Inventors: Oleg R. Ivanov, Mikhail I. Snegirev, Makhail K. Chistyakov, Vladimir M. Razhev, Vladimir I. Budantsev, Jury I. Kipriyanov, Viktor A. Zaitsev, deceased, by Galina M. Zaitseva, administrator, by Natalya V. Zaitseva, administrator
  • Patent number: 5314855
    Abstract: The present invention relates to non-resinous adsorbents and methods of manufacturing them. These agents have been found to neutralize or remove inhibitory and antimicrobial substances found in test samples and culture media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Akzo N.V.
    Inventors: Thurman C. Thorpe, John F. Weaver
  • Patent number: 5312596
    Abstract: In order not to have to rinse, during breaks in production, oscillating mixheads such as are used for the manufacture of free-flowing, plastic-forming reaction mixtures, an exchangeable insert part held in position by means of a clip and preferably consisting of plastic material is provided in the mixhead. The insert has a mixing chamber and an outlet channel. This insert part can be disposable or reusable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Hennecke GmbH
    Inventors: Ferdinand Proksa, Hans-Michael Sulzbach, Ferdinand Althausen