Patents Examined by Virginia Monoharan
  • Patent number: 8206557
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a housing that has at least an inlet and an outlet. The housing is configured to receive a volume of fluid via the inlet. The volume of fluid is in a substantially liquid state and at least a portion of the volume of fluid includes a dissolved impurity. The apparatus also includes a heat-transfer element coupled to an interior volume of the housing. The heat-transfer element includes a surface, at least a portion of which is disposed at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane. The volume of fluid includes a surface parallel to the horizontal plane. The apparatus further includes a compression component configured to compress at least a portion of fluid boiled from the volume of fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Hydrologic Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis P. Burke, Kenneth J. Horne, David B. Taylor, Stephen R. Topaz
  • Patent number: 5211817
    Abstract: A product stream containing, inter alia, HCl, HF and fluorocarbons which form close boiling point azeotropes with HF is subjected to distillation using sidestream rectification in order to effect energy efficient separation of selected fluorocarbon/HF azeotropes from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Adams, Andrew M. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5074967
    Abstract: A process for the recovery of methoxyisopropylamine from the reaction of methoxyisopropanol and ammonia under amination conditions. Water is produced as a byproduct and in the distillation separation an azeotrope is formed which includes about 14% water and 86% methoxyisopropylamine. The improvement for enhancing separation of the azeotrope includes initially distilling the mixture of methoxyisopropylamine, methoxyisopropanol and water under sufficient elevated pressure wherein an azeotrope of water and methoxyisopropylamine overhead and an essentially water free bottoms of methoxyisopropylamine and methoxyisopropanol are formed. The overhead from this initial distillation column is charged to a second distillation column operated at reduced pressure wherein an organic free bottoms containing primarily water is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1991
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert L. Fowlkes
  • Patent number: 5071667
    Abstract: Open-top cup-shaped containers which contain supplies of perishable foodstuffs are transported seriatim past a station where they receive jets of preserving gas which expels air from the unfilled portions of containers, and the containers are then sealed by application of metallic or plastic foils which are bonded or otherwise sealingly secured to washer-like rims surrounding the open tops of the containers. The foils can be partially applied ahead of the gas introducing station and are thereupon finally sealed in at least one second step, particularly in a chamber wherein the containers advance stepwise downstream of the gas introducing station and wherein the temperature and/or pressure is maintained at a preselected value to promote expulsion of air from the containers prior to the final sealing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1991
    Assignee: Lieder Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Helmut Grune, Manfred Nordmeyer, Hans Faltum