Chemically Inert Or Reactive Atmosphere Patents (Class 425/815)
  • Patent number: 8915728
    Abstract: An example multi-dimensional component building system includes a first chamber having at least one base, a second chamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the first chamber through a first door, and a third chamber adjacent to and in fluid communication with the second chamber through a second door. The second chamber is fluidly sealed from the first chamber if the first door is in a closed position. The second chamber includes a directed heat source, a build-up material and is configured to receive the at least one base if the fluid parameters of the first chamber and second chamber are approximately equal. The third chamber is fluidly sealed from the second chamber if the first door is in a closed position. The third chamber is configured to receive the at least one base, having a formed component disposed thereon, if the second door is in an open position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Sergey Mironets, Agnes Klucha, Wendell V. Twelves, Jr., Benjamin T. Fisk
  • Patent number: 8764432
    Abstract: A high-pressure press is disclosed which includes a high-pressure vessel enclosing a high-pressure chamber and a high-pressure medium; a housing, separating a volume from the high-pressure press chamber, arranged for holding a fluid; a fan arranged in the high-pressure press chamber outside the housing for circulating the high pressure medium in the high-pressure press chamber; a motor, arranged in the housing and operatively connected to the fan for driving the fan; a cooling device for cooling a portion of the housing wall; and a pumping device arranged for circulating the fluid, the fluid providing a transfer of cold from the portion of the housing wall to the motor, the cooled circulation of the fluid being separated from the high-pressure press chamber by the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Avure Technologies AB
    Inventor: Roger Thunholm
  • Patent number: 8647092
    Abstract: A hot isotropic pressure device including: a casing disposed inside a high-pressure container; a heating unit provided inside the casing and forms a hot zone around the treatment material, in which an isotropic pressure treatment is performed on the treatment material using a pressure medium gas. A cooling unit is provided to cool the hot zone by guiding the pressure medium gas, cooled while guided from the upper side toward the lower side at the outside of the casing, into the hot zone. The cooling unit includes a gas introducing unit which guides the pressure medium gas cooled at the outside of the casing from the lower portion of the high-pressure container to the upper portion of the hot zone without any intersection with the pressure medium gas inside the hot zone and introduces the pressure medium gas into the hot zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Itaru Masuoka, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8573962
    Abstract: The objective is to provide a high-pressure treatment apparatus with which the pressure or temperature in a treatment chamber can be efficiently adjusted in a short period of time without an overall significant increase in the size or complication of the apparatus. The high-pressure treatment apparatus has a pressure-resistant container having pressure-resistant walls surrounding a treatment chamber, a lid member that closes an open end of the pressure-resistant container, a supply means that supplies a process fluid into the treatment chamber, a partition wall that is thinner than the pressure-resistant wall and is provided along the inside surface of said pressure-resistant container to form a partitioned chamber with said inside surface, and a heat transfer control means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Yamagata, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8506284
    Abstract: A method of cooling a load provided in a load compartment in a furnace chamber of a furnace of a hot isostatic pressing device includes releasing hot pressure medium from the load compartment. Cool pressure medium is provided for enabling it to fall through the released hot pressure medium outside the load compartment. The thus obtained mixed pressure medium is led into the load compartment. A hot isostatic pressing device includes a load compartment having an aperture near an upper portion thereof configured to vent warm pressure medium into a region surrounding the compartment and a conduit configured to introduce cool pressure medium into the region surrounding the compartment for mixing with the warm medium. The compartment also includes an aperture near a lower portion thereof configured to receive a mix of warm and cool pressure medium from the region surrounding the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL) Limited Liability Company
    Inventor: Carl Bergman
  • Patent number: 8449279
    Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing device according to the present invention includes an inner casing, an outer casing, and a heating means which are provided inside a high-pressure container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Shigeo Kofune, Katsumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7090716
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for reducing pattern distortions in imprinting layers by reducing gas pockets present in a layer of viscous liquid deposited on a substrate. To that end, the method includes varying a transport of the gases disposed proximate to the viscous liquid. Specifically, the atmosphere proximate to the substrate wherein a pattern is to be recorded is saturated with gases that are either highly soluble, highly diffusive, or both with respect to the viscous liquid being deposited. Additionally, or in lieu of saturating the atmosphere, the pressure of the atmosphere may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignees: Molecular Imprints, Inc., Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Ian M. McMackin, Nicholas A. Stacey, Daniel A. Babbs, Duane J. Voth, Michael P. C. Watts, Van N. Truskett, Frank Y. Xu, Ronald D. Voisin, Pankaj B. Lad
  • Patent number: 7011510
    Abstract: A hot isostatic pressing apparatus (HIP apparatus) comprises a vertically cylindrical high-pressure vessel comprising a high-pressure cylinder 1 and upper and lower lids 2 and 3; a bottomed cylindrical casing 6 capable of housing workpieces 9 and a resistance-wire heater 11, a heat insulating structure 16 equipped with a gas flow regulating valve 15 and formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape on the outside of the casing 6 so as to cover the casing 6, and a heat sink 17 having a water cooling mechanism provided in the space defined by the heat insulating structure 16 and the inner surface of the high-pressure cylinder 1, which are provided within the high-pressure vessel; and a pressure medium gas stirring fan 12 for promoting the temperature uniformity of the space of the treatment chamber 7 for housing the workpieces 9, the stirring fan being arranged on the lower lid 3 side within the casing 6, whereby the cooling to a temperature range of 100° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Tomomitsu Nakai, Makoto Yoneda, Shigeo Kofune, Takao Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 7008210
    Abstract: A treatment chamber for heating and pressing workpieces and a heat insulating structure which covers the treatment chamber sideways and from above are provided within a high-pressure vessel. Below the treatment chamber are disposed a base heater for heating a pressure medium gas and a fan for supplying the pressure medium gas in a heated state into the treatment chamber and stirring the heated gas. The workpieces can be held on the heat insulating structure side, and the heat insulating structure and the workpieces can be taken out from the interior of the high-pressure vessel and can be conveyed together separately from a lower lid of the high-pressure vessel. A hot isostatic pressing apparatus is provided less expensively which can heat and press workpieces at a relatively low temperature of not higher than 600° C. Besides, it is possible to shorten the cycle time in HIP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Yasuo Manabe, Shigeo Kofune, Makoto Yoneda, Takao Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 6969244
    Abstract: The present invention aims to prevent heating and ignition of a material powder of a rare-earth alloy while reducing the oxygen content thereof so as to improve the magnetic properties of the rare-earth magnet. A rare-earth alloy powder is compacted by using a powder compacting apparatus including: an airtight container capable of storing a rare-earth alloy powder therein; an airtight feeder box moved between a powder-filling position and a retracted position; and an airtight powder supply device capable of supplying the rare-earth alloy powder from the container into the feeder box without exposing the rare-earth alloy powder to the atmospheric air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Neomax Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Futoshi Kuniyoshi, Koki Tokuhara, Kunitoshi Kanno, Hitoshi Morimoto, Tomoiku Ohtani, Ryoji Ono
  • Patent number: 6250907
    Abstract: A method of treating parts (34) in a treatment chamber (33) by hot-isostatic pressing with an inert gas as pressure medium and in the presence of a purifying agent (25a) for the inert gas comprises the steps of reducing the pressure in the treatment chamber (33), increasing the pressure again by introducing the inert gas, increasing the temperature in the treatment chamber (33) by activating heating elements (9a), and, after a certain holding time, reducing the pressure and the temperature again. Especially if the purifying agent (25a) is of the same material as the parts (34) being treated, the purifying effect of the purifying agent becomes insufficient. The effect of the purifying agent (25a) is improved according to the invention by bringing the inert gas, at least when being introduced, to circulate such that it is heated, passes through the purifying agent and is thereafter cooled before contacting the parts. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Flow Holdings GmbH (SAGL), LLC
    Inventor: Carl Bergman
  • Patent number: 5948447
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for product recovery of polyolefins, particularly high molecular weight amorphous poly alphaolefins, wherein the use of water during the method is significantly decreased and wherein the intermediate stage of storing and drying the chunk form of the polyolefin is eliminated. Polyolefins produced in a reactor are heated and mixed by sigma blades in a kneader-extruder to remove any unreacted monomer(s). The polyolefin material in a liquid form is then transferred directly to an extruder to further remove any unreacted monomer(s) and catalyst(s). The invention further includes a method of measuring the inventory in a vessel using a gas of known quantity and known thermodynamic properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: Huntsman Polymers Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen C. McHaney, Steven L. Oetting, Karl L. Herzog
  • Patent number: 5843231
    Abstract: A bubble stripping and coating apparatus for stripping entrained gas from the surface of a fiber, then coating the fiber with a coating material having a bubble stripping and coater body and a die assembly. The bubble stripping and coater body has a bubble stripping gas entrance for providing a bubble stripping argon gas to a bubble stripping gas chamber for stripping entrained gas from the fiber and having a die assembly bore. The die assembly is arranged in the die assembly bore, and has a guide die having a lower guide die opening with a diameter of less than 0.016 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Telecommunications Cable
    Inventors: Robert A. Spencer, David C. Lam, Duane A. Felton
  • Patent number: 5687542
    Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for manufacturing articles, such as syringe barrels, substantially free from contaminants. The apparatus is an enclosure defining at least a class 100 and MCB-3 environment, and includes a molding isolation module and a packaging isolation module. Any contaminants that may exist within the enclosure are removed by the use of horizontal and vertical laminar airflows directed into air filter units. Further, the molding temperature may be selected such that it renders the fabricated articles substantially free from contaminants. The molding isolation module and packaging isolation module keep the fabricated articles substantially free from contaminants from the time the articles are molded to the time the articles are placed in sealed containers for shipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: Medrad, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Lawecki, Eugene A. Gelblum, Michelle Robinson, Ralph E. Wolstenholme, Eugene B. Wolstenholme
  • Patent number: 5651999
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for testing the integrity of tubing formed by extruding material through an extrusion die. The apparatus includes a source of helium gas which is fluidly connected to the extrusion die so that helium gas is continuously introduced into the interior of the tube as it is formed during the extruding process. The extruded tubing is passed through an elongated inspection housing open at each end. The inspection housing has a cross-sectional inside shape greater than the cross-sectional shape of the tubing thus forming an annular chamber between the tubing and the interior of the inspection housing. A helium detector constantly monitors the atmosphere within the annular chamber and, whenever helium is detected, indicative that the tubing has a leak or the fault, activates an alarm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Pilot Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles J. Armentrout
  • Patent number: 5560708
    Abstract: The invention includes a shielding portion having a vent hole for discharging a gas composition G generated from a molten resin R to a barrel cylinder and having a shielding steam holding chamber C formed in connection with the barrel cylinder, the shielding steam holding chamber communicating with the vent hole. A steam supplying portion is provided for supplying a steam S to the shielding holding steam chamber C, and a discharging port portion is provided for discharging the steam S and the gas composition G from the inside of the shielding steam holding chamber C. Thereby, oxidization or carbonization of the molten resin can be prevented. In addition, adverse influence to the natural system can be removed and a decrease in the cost of the apparatus can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1996
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoto Takizawa, Kazuo Anzai
  • Patent number: 5443377
    Abstract: An increased efficiency method and apparatus for lining a section of pipe with a cement mortar. After a wet cement mortar has been applied to a cleaned interior surface of a pipe, carbon dioxide is introduced into the freshly lined section of the pipe in such quantity that a crust of calcium carbonate will be formed on the interior surface of the wet cement mortar lining as the carbon dioxide reacts with calcium compounds of the wet cement mortar in a relatively short period of time. This crust is provided to protect the underlying mortar from scouring, while tolerating a low-velocity flow of water, until the normal hardening of the underlying mortar through hydration can take place so as to substantially reduce the out-of-service time of the section of pipe which is being lined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Mainlining Service, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred G. Perkins, Craig R. Perkins
  • Patent number: 5385462
    Abstract: A vent hole 3 for exhausting a gas component generated from a melted resin is provided at a heating cylinder. A gas staying chamber is formed at the interior by covering the upper portion of the vent hole, and there are provided a vent hole cover having a gas exhaust port at its upper portion and an inert gas supply unit for supplying an inert gas to the inside of the vent hole cover. Thereby the inert gas stays in the gas staying chamber, and a gas shielding layer for shielding the vent hole from the atmospheric air is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1995
    Assignee: Nissei Plastic Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Kodama, Kiyoto Takizawa
  • Patent number: 4988277
    Abstract: The invention pertains to apparatus for casting polymeric gels from volatile mixtures of monomers in open molds. The principle of the invention resides in the fact that the same concentrations of volatile components present in the polymerization mixture are also present in the gaseous state within a protective gas maintained above the free surface of the polymerization mixture, the gaseous volatile components being in the equilibrium state with those in the polymerization mixture at polymerization temperature. The apparatus includes a main pipe branch which introduces a pure protective gas into a polymerization apparatus and at least one auxiliary pipe branch for saturating the protective gas with a volatile component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1991
    Assignee: Ceskoslovenska akademie ved
    Inventors: Otto Wichterle, Ivan Wichterle
  • Patent number: 4927487
    Abstract: Apparatus and a process for bonding a core member to a housing member, particularly, in instances in which the members do not mate in a contiguous fashion. The invention includes some manual and some semi-automatic functions, but is largely automated and computer controlled. A conveyor carries an assembly of an initially joined but unbonded core member and housing member along a series of discrete stations. After some preparatory steps in the process, an initial continuous bead of sealant is first applied on one side of the assembly to close off the space between the members and thereby form a cavity between them. The bead is cured, then the assembly is inverted and the cavity is filled with an anaerobic bonding material. A second continuous bead of sealant is then applied on the other side of the assembly to close off the remaining space between the members as well to isolate the bonding material within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: Loctite Corporation
    Inventors: William A. Gelinas, Edwin R. Holtz, Dennis J. Argazzi, Robert L. Smigel, Dan W. Wiley
  • Patent number: 4880581
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for aseptic, particle-free production of articles. A shroud is placed around at least a portion of the device which produces the articles to substantially isolate that portion from the external environment. The device for producing the articles and the shroud are sterilized and the air inside the shroud is filtered and sterilized. A laminar or other type of flow of filtered, sterilized air is imparted through the shroud over the articles being produced. A secondary shroud encloses the corridor or work area adjacent the shroud and device which produces the articles. The corridor and secondary shroud are sterilized, and sterilized and filtered air is continually introduced therein. The articles therefore are particle-free and sterilized for further use. The apparatus and method can be used for any component production process employing high temperatures and/or pressures, including, but not limited to, blow molding, injection molding, and production of semiconductor electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Alcon Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Dastoli, Bernard Z. Senkowski, Dieter W. Wagener, George H. Bogdanffy, Gaurang R. Vin
  • Patent number: 4629407
    Abstract: Apparatus for the manufacture of metal powder by atomization with noble gas or nitrogen, having an atomization tower, a gas recycling system, and a gas cleaning system is disclosed. The gas cleaning system is connected parallel to the atomization tower in order to shorten the start-up time without increasing the cost and complexity of the gas cleaning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 16, 1986
    Assignee: Leybold-Heraeus GmbH
    Inventor: Heinrich Amlinger
  • Patent number: 4299610
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for manufacturing a crystalline blast furnace slag, which comprises: endlessly connecting at prescribed intervals a plurality of rectangular metal cooling bodies each with a hollow for cooling water, to form a plurality of cooling grooves with a width at the top end thereof of from 40 to 80 mm corresponding to said prescribed intervals and a depth of from 100 to 300 mm and becoming narrower toward the depth thereof, each between two adjacent ones of said cooling bodies; continuously pouring a molten blast furnace slag sequentially into said plurality of cooling grooves in an atmosphere of an inert gas and/or a reducing gas, while moving said plurality of cooling bodies endlessly connected in circulation in the connecting direction thereof; and, circulating a cooling water through said hollows for cooling water of said plurality of cooling bodies during the pouring of said molten blast furnace slag into said plurality of cooling grooves, to cool said plurality of cooling bodies, there
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1980
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1981
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Ando, Shigeru Araki, Hideaki Hoshi, Kazuyoshi Sato
  • Patent number: 4266921
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for the manufacture of products of concrete or like construction, in which a mixture of calcareous cementitious binder substance, such as cement, an aggregate, a vinyl acetate-dibutyl maleate copolymer, and an amount of water sufficient to make a relatively dry mix is compressed into the desired configuration in a mold, and with the mixture being exposed to carbon dioxide gas in the mold, prior to the compression taking place, such that the carbon dioxide gas reacts with the ingredients to provide a hardened product in an accelerated state of cure having excellent physical properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: U.S. Terrazzo Panels, Inc.
    Inventor: John A. Murray