Patents Examined by Stephen Gravini
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Patent number: 7103991Abstract: A method of initiating a regeneration event of an air braking system of a vehicle includes the steps of calculating the forward air volume in successive time intervals, tallying the total forward air volume and initiating a regeneration event at a saturation threshold of the dessicant material which may be varied in real time. The method also comprises calculating a reverse air volume, and ceasing a regeneration event at a dryness threshold of the dessicant material.Type: GrantFiled: May 28, 2002Date of Patent: September 12, 2006Inventor: Daniel Moulding
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Patent number: 7100598Abstract: A steamer device and system for a residential oven is shown for creating steam for the purpose of baking having a steamer insert having a bottom surface for resting on a rack in the oven, the steamer insert having, in sequence, a first chamber, a dam device and a second chamber; and the dam device having a metering hole such that when water is added to the first of the two chambers it can only reach, and does reach, the second chamber through the metering hole. The first and second chambers are angled such that gravity assists in the feeding of water when added from the first chamber through the metering hole to the second chamber. The metering hole is between ? inch and 1/64 inch in diameter. Sloped side walls proximately located to the first and second chambers assist in the gravity feed.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 2003Date of Patent: September 5, 2006Inventor: Charles Van Over
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Patent number: 7066728Abstract: An improved process for burning solid fuel particles in a combustion chamber and creating a flue gas is disclosed. The method comprises creating a fuel gas stream by mixing the solid fuel particles with a conveying gas, transporting the fuel gas stream through a fuel duct terminating at the combustion chamber at a fuel exit plane and injecting an oxygen stream through an injection device into said fuel gas at an oxygen injection location selected to create a mixing zone to mix the oxygen stream and the fuel gas stream immediately prior to or coincident with combustion of the fuel. Operating parameters of the process can be varied to optimally reduce NOx emissions.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2004Date of Patent: June 27, 2006Assignee: American Air Liquide, Inc.Inventors: Fabienne Chatel-Pelage, Ovidiu Marin, Scott Macadam, Erwin Penfornis
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Patent number: 7007408Abstract: To remove and/or prevent contamination of a probe, at least a portion of the probe is positioned in a chamber having an inlet passage and an outlet passage, with a distal end of the probe extending through the outlet passage and terminating on a side thereof opposite the chamber. A gas is caused to flow through the inlet passage into the chamber and out the outlet passage, thereby modifying an environment surrounding the distal end of the probe. The gas may be heated prior to injection.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2004Date of Patent: March 7, 2006Assignee: Solid State Measurements, Inc.Inventors: William H. Howland, Jr., James E. Healy, Jr.
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Patent number: 7003896Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for drying materials. A hot surface in a strong electrostatic field is used to ionize a stream of heated gasses passing over the surface, which assists in directing the stream against the object to be dried, and ionizes the vapors and gasses emitted from surface of the material being dried, which assists in their separation and removal.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2003Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Inventor: Leonard Immanuel Tafel
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Patent number: 6996918Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating a hydrocarbonaceous waste material, in particular a rolling scale slurry and/or grinding slurry, the waste material being heated in a dryer, preferably moving, by the indirect supply of heat, and in the process hydrocarbons, if appropriate together with other volatile components, in particular H2O, being removed. In this process, in the dryer, at low temperature, the hydrocarbons are broken down in a specific way, the hydrocarbons being broken down by chemical and/or radiation means, which effect decomposition of the hydrocarbons of low volatility into highly volatile hydrocarbons, preferably decomposing high molecular weight hydrocarbons into lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, and the hydrocarbons, if appropriate together with the other volatile components in particular together with the H2O, are at least partially discharged, in particular by suction, from the vessel. The invention also relates to a apparatus for treating a hydrocarbonaceous waste material.Type: GrantFiled: May 21, 2001Date of Patent: February 14, 2006Assignee: Voest - Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbH & Co.Inventors: Werner Bsirske, Andreas Zobernig, Alexander Fleischanderl, Christof Lanzerstorfer
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Patent number: 6991452Abstract: An embodiment of an apparatus for holding a flame-yielding device and/or shielding one or more flame yielded thereby includes a sleeve-like body having at least one wall capable of surrounding the flame-yielding device. To hold the flame-yielding device, the at least one wall includes at least one engagement section that is removably slideable over and around the flame-yielding device to grip and hold the flame-yielding device. To shield the flame(s) of the flame-yielding device from extinguishment by air flow during normal operating conditions, the at least one wall includes multiple concave portions extending downwardly from the upper edge thereof.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Inventor: James Semaan
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Patent number: 6990973Abstract: A gas-fired burner for cooking range, which includes at least one burner, which is arranged below at least one grate on which a cooking vessel is to be arranged, the distance between the nozzles of the burner and the upper surface of the grate being directly proportional to the power of the burner and being inversely proportional to the difference between the temperature of the burner and the temperature of the vessel and to the heat conductivity of the vessel and/or food contained therein.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Assignee: Fulgor Elettrodomestici, S.p.A.Inventors: Orio Puricelli, David Ward
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Patent number: 6990748Abstract: A replaceable heat transfer module. The replaceable heat transfer module has an inlet floodbox with fluid distribution passageways, an outlet manifold with fluid collection passageways, and extending in a fluid tight relationship between the fluid distribution passageways and the fluid collection passageways, a thin, elongate evaporator envelope. The evaporator envelope has a lower flexible planar sheet and an upper flexible planar sheet, each having inner surfaces located in a back-to-back spaced apart relationship. The evaporator envelope has an upper end wherein the lower and upper flexible planar sheets are fluidly sealed to the inlet floodbox, and a lower end wherein the lower and upper planar sheets are fluidly sealed to said outlet manifold. Mylar brand polyester is used for construction of the evaporator envelope. A marginal area on each side extends lengthwise transversely beyond the inlet floodbox and the outlet manifold to provide sloping sidewalls for containment of a working product.Type: GrantFiled: September 13, 2004Date of Patent: January 31, 2006Inventors: Richard E. Magoon, Alan D. Whitefoot
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Patent number: 6988327Abstract: A system and method of moving a meniscus from a first surface to a second surface includes forming a meniscus between a head and a first surface. The meniscus can be moved from the first surface to an adjacent second surface, the adjacent second surface being parallel to the first surface. The system and method of moving the meniscus can also be used to move the meniscus along an edge of a substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2003Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: James P. Garcia, John M. de Larios, Michael Ravkin, Fred C. Redeker, Carl Woods
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Patent number: 6988326Abstract: In one of the many embodiments, a method for processing a substrate is provided which includes generating a first fluid meniscus and a second fluid meniscus on a surface of the substrate where the first fluid meniscus being substantially adjacent to the second fluid meniscus. The meniscus also includes substantially separating the first fluid meniscus and the second fluid meniscus with a barrier.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2004Date of Patent: January 24, 2006Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Robert J. O'Donnell, Thomas W. Anderson
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Patent number: 6983551Abstract: Interconnecting substrates used in the manufacturing of microelectronic devices and printed circuit assemblies, packaged microelectronic devices having interconnecting substrates, and methods of making and using such interconnecting substrates. In one aspect of the invention, an interconnecting substrate comprises a first external layer having a first external surface, a second external layer having a second external surface, and a conductive core between the first and second external layers. The conductive core can have at least a first conductive stratum between the first and second external layers, and a dielectric layer between the first conductive stratum and one of the first or second external layers. The conductive core can also include a second conductive stratum such that the first conductive stratum is on a first surface of the dielectric layer and the second conductive stratum is on a second surface of the dielectric layer.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 2002Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Syed Sajid Ahmad
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Patent number: 6981338Abstract: A device for enhancing removal of liquid from fabric, such as a vacuum head device for removing liquid from carpet, includes a first and second surface forming an extraction slot. The first surface may include a plurality of channels extending towards the extraction slot configured to direct the liquid toward the extraction slot. Alternatively, the first surface may have a smaller surface area and the second surface may be configured with a lower surface in order to penetrate the carpet and act as a squeegee. The cross-sections of the first and second surfaces are preferably circular. In another embodiment, the cross-sections of the first and second surfaces may comprise, but are not limited to, a semi-rectangular cross section, a V-shaped cross-section, or an elliptical cross-section.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Inventors: Dale S. Jensen, Edward E. Durrant
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Patent number: 6981337Abstract: There is provided a container for absorbing water vapour from ambient air, the container having an opening to permit water vapour to enter the container, a perforate shelf positioned above the base of the container and having a water-absorbing agent disposed thereon for absorbing water vapour, and an airway which allows air to flow into the region of the container beneath the shelf, wherein the container comprises an indicator for providing information on the operation of the container, the indicator operating when the liquid in the container has reached a predetermined level.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2003Date of Patent: January 3, 2006Assignee: Reckitt Benckiser (UK) LimitedInventors: Stuart Michael Ruan Jones, David Bedford
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Patent number: 6979191Abstract: A burner and combustion method for a radiant wall heating system wherein each burner fuel ejector is positioned such that at least a substantial portion of the burner combustion air is discharged from an area beyond the ejector located the greatest distance from the radiant wall.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2004Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Zeeco, Inc.Inventors: Darton Zink, Rex Isaacs, John McDonald, Tim Kirk, Cody Little
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Patent number: 6979192Abstract: Disclosed is a burner head capable of securing heat resistance and durability characteristics and improving the quality of machining at the same time, capable of easily and stably machining a material into a complicated shape. A second metal primary material of the iron family having high workability and first metal primary materials of the SUS family having high heat resistance are rolled out. Their side plate ends are butt-welded by laser to form a one-piece metal flat-plate material. A press molding machine is operated to press mold recessed portions of a pair of plate members simultaneously with cutting along a contour line. Then, folding is carried out, and they are closely joined together. A gas passage is formed by a recessed portion of the second metal primary material section. A burner port is formed by a recessed portion of the first metal primary material section.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: Noritz CorporationInventors: Minoru Ikuta, Kozo Uehara, Shunji Tanba, Akinobu Nakamura
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Patent number: 6976486Abstract: An apparatus for heating a liquid comprising a housing having an internal chamber and a rotor disposed in said chamber. A drive shaft rotatably supported in the housing and extending into said chamber for imparting mechanical energy to the rotor. The rotor being provided with a series of openings generally arranged to be parallel to the rotational axis of the drive shaft. The rotor in the form of a disc and the housing formed with radial surfaces on either side of said rotor disc. The rotor may comprise a single disc or alternatively, a series of dics in a liminated formation. A fluid intake passage in said housing preferably arranged adjacent the center of the disc and a fluid exit passage, generally arranged to be circumeferntially outwards of said disc.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2003Date of Patent: December 20, 2005Inventor: Christian Helmut Thoma
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Patent number: 6973927Abstract: A windscreen apparatus (10) for outdoor cooking grills wherein, the apparatus (10) includes a base member (20) that supports a cooking grill and a pair of side wall members (30) (30?) and a rear wall member (40) adapted to be pivoted into an upright position relative to the base member (20) wherein, at least the rear wall member (40) is hingedly connected (50?) to the base member (20) and wherein, all of the wall members (30) (30?) and (40) have a height greater than the top of the cooking grill.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 2004Date of Patent: December 13, 2005Inventor: Douglas B. Stewart
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Patent number: 6971871Abstract: A radiant heater including a burner having an inlet for receiving an air and gas mixture and an exhaust for emitting exhaust gases generated by combustion of the air and gas mixture within the burner, an elongated radiant heating tube having an inlet for receiving the exhaust gases emitted by the burner, a gas flow control assembly for controlling the flow of gas to the burner, and a blower for controlling the flow of air to the burner. The blower comprises a two-stage blower including a motor having a low winding corresponding to a low blower speed and a high winding corresponding to a high blower speed. The gas flow control assembly comprises a two-stage regulator or two-stage valve having a low setting for delivering a low gas flow to the burner and a high setting for delivering a high gas flow to the burner.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Assignee: Solaronics, Inc.Inventor: Farshid Ahmady
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Patent number: 6971189Abstract: The invention is a clothes dryer featuring an interior working volume that is adjustable to suit the size of the load and type of article(s) to be dried. Since the volume is adjusted to fit the load, only the necessary volume is heated. For large loads or bulky articles, the volume is set to full, while for small loads and small articles the volume may be decreased for faster drying and energy savings. The dryer working volume is adjusted by a simple manually operated linkage, or, in other embodiments, by motorized mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2004Date of Patent: December 6, 2005Inventor: Kevin J. Anibas