Patents by Inventor Michael E. Minard

Michael E. Minard has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4015440
    Abstract: Apparatus for providing an expendable refrigerant which is emitted from a snow horn at a low velocity thereby enabling snow agglomeration at a close proximity to the horn exit and accurately delivering a charge of snow with minimum vapor loss. The desired snow is produced by introduction of the relatively warm liquid refrigerant into an insulated compartment and in heat exchange relation with a tube therein having a plurality of length/diameter ratios. The liquid refrigerant is effective to warm the tube walls and results in a slight cooling of such liquid which is then passed to a subcooler and returned to the tube inlet for expansion in several stages therein to form the snow. The product snow is emitted from this horn at a relatively low velocity and may be accurately directed into cavities of such products as eviscerated fowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1975
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1977
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor F. Pietrucha, Michael E. Minard, Gordon J. Ozmec
  • Patent number: 3932155
    Abstract: Methods for providing an expendable refrigerant which is emitted from a snow horn at a low velocity thereby enabling snow agglomeration at a close proximity to the horn exit and accurately delivering a charge of snow with minimum vapor loss. The desired snow is produced by introduction of the relatively warm liquid refrigerant into an insulated compartment and in heat exchange relation with a tube therein having a plurality of length/diameter ratios. The liquid refrigerant is effective to warm the tube walls and results in a slight cooling of such liquid which is then passed to a sub-cooler and returned to the tube inlet for expansion in several stages therein to form the snow. The product snow is emitted from this horn at a relatively low velocity and may be accurately directed into cavities of such products as eviscerated fowl.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1976
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor F. Pietrucha, Michael E. Minard, Gordon J. Ozmec