Film Patents (Class 122/39)
  • Patent number: 10451368
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for generating steam. The device (1) comprises a first plate (2) being inclined at a positive first angle (A0) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a first upper end (2a) and a first lower end (2b), a heating element (3) to heat the first plate (2) to a predetermined temperature being at least above water evaporation temperature, a water inlet arrangement (4) for dispensing water onto the first plate (2), a second plate (5) being inclined at a negative second angle (B0) compared to the horizontal direction (H) to define a second upper end (5a) and a second lower end (5b), the second upper end (5a) adjoining the first lower end (2b), and a container (6) extending at least below said first lower end (2b), said container (6) being arranged for collecting scale flakes falling from the first plate (2). This solution allows creating a larger volume for the collection of scale, thus increasing the operating life of the device (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Mohankumar Valiyambath Krishnan, Yen Leng Pang
  • Patent number: 9995479
    Abstract: A cavitation engine configured to produce superheat steam from injected liquid water. The cavitation engine includes a funnel shaped impact chamber having an impact surface having a temperature of at least 375 degrees Fahrenheit, a small diameter opening at a bottom of the impact chamber, and an expansion chamber below the small diameter opening. The engine includes a fluid injector having an outlet positioned adjacent a largest diameter of the impact chamber and located to inject hyperbaric liquid water onto the impact surface of the impact chamber at supersonic velocities such that cavitation bubbles are present in the injected water. The outlet of the fluid injector and the impact surface are located relative to one another such that the outlet is spaced a distance from the impact surface of between 0.150 and 0.450 inches and the injected water hits the impact surface at an angle of between 85 and 95 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Richard E. Aho
  • Patent number: 8691017
    Abstract: A heat equalizer includes a container structure having a heating block in which a working fluid is held for heating and vaporizing a material to be heated, a heater placed at the bottom of the container structure, and a material feed pipe allowing the outside and the inside of the container structure to communicate with each other. In the heating block, as a flow path in which the material to be heated flows, a main header pipe connected to the material feed pipe and extending in the horizontally, and a riser pipe branching from the main header pipe and extending vertically are formed. As a condensation path in which the working fluid is cooled and condensed, condensation holes formed respectively on the opposite sides of the riser pipe and extending horizontally, and a condensation pit formed under the riser pipe are formed. Between the condensation holes and the condensation pit, the main header pipe is placed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: National University Corporation Tohoku University, Toshiba Mitsubishi—Electric Industrial Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Masafumi Kitano, Hisaaki Yamakage, Yoshihito Yamada
  • Patent number: 8495973
    Abstract: This invention provides a thin film vaporizer. The vaporizer includes a primary body having an inlet, an outlet, and an internal surface therebetween. The inlet, outlet and internal surface defining a gas passage between the inlet and the outlet. A first liquid provider is disposed proximate to the inlet and structured and arranged to provide liquid flow upon at least a portion of the internal surface. A first vaporizing zone is provided downstream from the first liquid provider and structured and arranged to provide wetting of the provided liquid flow upon at least a portion of the internal surface. The first vaporizing zone is further structured and arranged with the gas passage to permit vaporizing of the liquid and mixing with a first gas received from the inlet about contemporaneously. A heat source is thermally coupled to the first vaporization so as to apply heat by conduction, convection, radiation and or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Protonex Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph C. Poshusta, Douwe Bruinsma
  • Patent number: 5870975
    Abstract: A steam generating device particularly suitable for a steam bath body treatment. The steam generating apparatus comprises a housing (1) with a spray nozzle (2) connected to a hot water supply via a pipe (3). The housing has a water outlet (4), an air inlet (5) and a steam outlet (6) and is provided with an inner wall (7) and a lip (8, 16) for generating steam when pressurized hot water is delivered to the nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventor: Jean-Paul Luc
  • Patent number: 5707415
    Abstract: A vaporizer (film evaporator) (13) for halide-free, silicon-containing liquid reactants used in producing preforms is provided. The vaporizer includes a plurality of packed-bed columns (22) surrounding a central tube (24). A mixture of liquid reactant, e.g., octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, and gas, e.g., oxygen, is sprayed onto the top surfaces (54) of the columns (22) by a set of spray nozzles (32). The liquid reactant and the gas flow downward together through the columns and are heated by hot oil (28) which flows around the columns' walls (50). The liquid reactant evaporates into the gas until the dew point temperature is reached, at which point all of the liquid reactant will have been converted into vapor. The vapor/gas mixture exits the bottom surfaces 56 of columns (22), where its direction of flow changes from downward to upward. This change in flow direction separates higher molecular weight species (46) from the vapor/gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael B. Cain
  • Patent number: 5392738
    Abstract: A steam generator for a steam bath for generating steam from hot water supplied thereto. The steam generator for a steam bath has a closed main part equipped with a hot-water supply port, an air inlet, a discharge port and a steam outlet. Hot water received from the hot-water supply port is distributed in the main part so as to contact with air coming through the air inlet, and the thus generated steam is discharged through the steam outlet. Warm water formed as a result of steam generation is discharged from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining Company, Limited
    Inventor: Hidemi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5333573
    Abstract: A steam generator for a steam bath for generating steam from hot water supplied thereto. The steam generator for a steam bath has a closed main part equipped with a hot-water supply port, an air inlet, a discharge port and a steam outlet. Hot water received from the hot-water supply port is distributed in the main part so as to contact with air coming through the air inlet, and the thus generated steam is discharged through the steam outlet. Warm water formed as a result of steam generation is discharged from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1994
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidemi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5215043
    Abstract: A steam generator for a steam bath for generating steam from hot water supplied thereto. The steam generator for a steam bath has a closed main part equipped with a hot-water supply port, an air inlet, a discharge port and a steam outlet. Hot water received from the hot-water supply port is distributed in the main part so as to contact with air coming through the air inlet,and the thus generated steam is discharged through the steam outlet. Warm water formed as a result of steam generation is discharged from the discharge port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: Mitsui Mining Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hidemi Tsutsumi
  • Patent number: 5195578
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat exchange between a fluid circulating in a tube of heat conductive material and a flow of liquid in a thin layer circulating by gravity in a channel of heat conductive material, in thermal contact with the tube and disposed in the manner of a helix around the tube. The invention has application to evaporation, desorption, condensation, and absorption in chemical and physico-chemical reactors, and especially in air conditioning and refrigeration systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1993
    Assignee: Pechiney Recherche
    Inventors: Pierre Le Goff, Bertrand Clauzade
  • Patent number: 5076350
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger designed as a heat tube in the form of a multi-layer expanded partly laminated body has an integrated, fluidically continuous large-surface channel structure. Formed in the vicinity of the outer edge is a condensate-collecting channel which is fluidically connected unobstructedly to the channel structure. A heating bar or a heating channel is arranged near the edge separately but connected heat-conductively. To prevent condensate from flowing off on one side within the condensate-collecting channel as a result of gravity and/or horizontal acceleration and thereby to ensure the best possible heating effect, the condensate-collecting channel is subdivided into condensate pockets by a plurality of flow obstacles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Mercedes-Benz AG
    Inventors: Helmut Grantz, Wolfgang Odebrecht
  • Patent number: 4733636
    Abstract: A vaporizer for vaporizing liquid fuels having improved heat transfer and controls for vaporization of liquid fuels in response to varying degrees of fuel vapor demand and temperature requirements having a heat exchanger formed from multiple chambers having opposing surfaces composed of inert material at least at said surfaces with small but effective passages formed therebetween and the opposing surfaces being in small but effective passage relationship for sufficient length for the surface tension between a liquid fuel and the opposing surfaces of said multiple chambers to spread the liquid fuel over the opposing surfaces of the multiple chambers for maintaining said liquid fuel in relatively constant and thin liquid relationship to the opposing surfaces of the multiple chambers of the heat exchanger until the liquid fuel is vaporized; a delivery system for delivering liquid fuel to the heat exchanger; a heat delivery system for delivering heat and a heat exchanger for vaporizing the liquid fuel therein and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1988
    Inventors: William B. Harris, Richard R. Davison
  • Patent number: 4724824
    Abstract: An instantaneous steam generator is disclosed which has a plurality of heated channels having open tops. Each channel has a base having a steam generation surface with substantially parallel, sharp transverse ridges. The steam generation surface is heated to a temperature substantially above that at which an insulating vapor barrier forms between the surface and a water layer thereabove. The water flow is directed transversely over the ridges so that the vapor layer is separated from the water layer above and so that the water is instantaneously converted into steam rather than riding on an insulating layer of water vapor. The channels can be enclosed in a box having openings. The box is pressurized by a blower drawing relatively cool, ambient air so that relatively wet steam is distributed throughout the entire interior volume of a large oven. Control apparatus for heating the channels and controlling the water flow thereto are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: The Lucks Company
    Inventors: James M. McCoy, Michael G. Gonhue
  • Patent number: 4704993
    Abstract: A power plant includes a source of water, a heat exchanger having an evaporator side maintained below atmospheric pressure for converting the water to steam, and a turbine responsive to said steam for producing work and heat depleted steam. The heat exchanger also has a condenser side for receiving and condensing the heat depleted steam. The evaporator side of the heat exchanger is separated by a barrier from the condenser side. Concentrated brine from a source thereof is caused to fall in a film on the condenser side of the barrier, and water from the water source is caused to fall in a film on the evaporator side of the barrier. The heat of dilution of the film of concentrated brine, as it is directly contacted by the heat depleted steam in the condenser side of the heat exchanger, is transferred through the barrier from the condenser side to the evaporator side raising the temperature of the film of water on the evaporator side which evaporates in the reduced pressure in the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Geophysical Engineering Company
    Inventor: Gad Assaf
  • Patent number: 4676200
    Abstract: A method for the consumption dependent complete vaporization of liquid nitrogen oxide is shown where the liquid nitrogen oxide under pressure is passed through a buffer tank and is charged into a falling film evaporator. The unevaporated residual amount of nitrogen oxide is then subjected to heat in an after evaporator in order to completely vaporize the nitrogen oxide. The combined streams are then led out of the falling film evaporator and after evaporator through at least one safety trap to the ultimate take-off points. This results in the charge of the liquid material to the falling film evaporator being controlled through the pressure in the conduit system between the falling film evaporator and the points of utilization and permits a constant, previously determined pressure to be maintained in the system independently of the amount of material withdrawn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1987
    Assignee: Degussa Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Richard Engel, Manfred Voll
  • Patent number: 4462342
    Abstract: A variable stage direct fired boiler having at least three output-pressure sensitive combustion stages. A separate pressure switch controls each stage such that none, one or more stages may be engaged in combustion depending upon the desired output pressure and the actual output pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1982
    Date of Patent: July 31, 1984
    Inventor: David P. Welden
  • Patent number: 4352252
    Abstract: The invention relates to a steam generator with direct evaporation comprising a first plate provided with an inlet channel for a pressurized fluid to be evaporated, a second plate independent of the first plate and superposed thereon, a steam recovery cavity in communication with a peripheral part of the first and second plates, and an electric heating resistor located at least approximately in a plane parallel to said first and second plates. The pressurized fluid inlet channel opens out freely from the first plate perpendicularly thereto and to the second plate, in a central part of the generator, and has an outlet diameter greater than about 2.5 mm, and the face of the second plate located opposite the first plate is maintained applied against the corresponding face of the first plate by elastic return means.The invention finds an application in hand-operated ironing presses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1982
    Inventor: Claude G. Brenot
  • Patent number: 4307572
    Abstract: An externally cooled, absorption engine apparatus and method, the apparatus including a closed cycle system having a first fluid and a second fluid, the first fluid constituting a working fluid and having a relatively lower boiling point while the second fluid constitutes a solvent for the first fluid and has a relatively higher boiling point and a relatively high degree of absorptivity for the first fluid. The apparatus further includes a distillation column, a superheater, a mechanical expansion engine, an externally cooled absorption column, and heat exchange apparatus. The distillation column separates the first fluid or working fluid from the solvent with heat energy supplied by an external combustion source and the superheater increases the thermal energy thereof prior to passing the working fluid through the mechanical expansion engine. The mechanical expansion engine converts thermal engine in the working fluid vapor to mechanical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1981
    Assignee: New Energy Dimension Corporation
    Inventor: VerDon C. Brinkerhoff
  • Patent number: 4278050
    Abstract: Steam is generated by moving liquid into contact with a (pre-heated) heat retaining substance, typically metal. The heat retaining subtance is maintained at essentially a predetermined temperature by a heat responsive switch that electrically commences and terminates the combustion of fuel for heating the heat retaining substance. Fluid is moved into contact with the heat retaining substance in response to pressure changes in the apparatus so that the pressure within the apparatus is maintained at essentially a predetermined pressure. Superheated gas (steam) may or may not be formed in the process. An expanded surface area for heating the heat retaining substance is provided; an expanded surface area for heating fluid by the heat retaining substance is provided; and an expanded surface area for heating liquid by superheated gas, if present, is provided for generation of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1981
    Inventor: Wellesley R. Kime
  • Patent number: 4271791
    Abstract: A rapid response steam generator wherein steam pressure is generated by moving fluid in contact with preheated metal in a heat exchanger having vertical grooves surrounding a downwardly expanding central passage, the passage having an obturator urged upwardly for directing the fluid being heated into the vertical grooves. The obturator is movable downwardly for releasing excess pressure into the central passage. Liquid is stored in a cylindrical housing below said heat exchanger. Steam is discharged through upwardly directed discharge means in the cylindrical housing positioned below said heat exchanger. Liquid is stored in said cylindrical housing and is pumped to the said heat exchanger for steam generation. Superheated steam, if formed in said heat exchanger, passes through fiberous or particulate matter saturated with liquid in the cylindrical housing for generating additional steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1981
    Inventor: Wellesley R. Kime
  • Patent number: 4252087
    Abstract: Provided is a steam generating system effective to rapidly and momentarily respond to a drop in steam pressure when utilized in connection with a steam-operated device. Super-heated steam is passed from a heating unit to a vaporization chamber in which a liquid-saturated cartridge is positioned and through which super-heated steam is passed. In addition, a heat storage and liquid supply means are provided above the cartridge whereby, upon a drop in pressure in the generating system, steam is rapidly raised to a desired, predetermined pressure. Steam in the system is recycled through a superheating chamber and is conveyed back into the vaporization chamber, this for a duration in which the steam pressure is below the set predetermined level. Control means are provided to regulate ratio of fuel, typically powdered fuel, and air, typically oxygen or oxygen-rich air. Also controlled is the rate of vaporization and the recirculation of steam in the heating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1981
    Inventor: Wellesley R. Kime
  • Patent number: 3990432
    Abstract: Disclosed is a compact heat exchanger particularly useful in a vaporizer application, such as a liquefied petroleum gas fuel system. The working fluid side of the exchanger includes a vapor film area of restricted cross section, which may be located at the upstream end, downstream end, or in a mid-region of the exchanger. The vapor film area effectively dams or blocks passage of liquid droplets and thereby aids in the vaporization process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1974
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1976
    Inventors: Beauford D. Haynes, Billie Joe Housewright, James S. Jones