Patents Represented by Attorney Andrew Alexander
  • Patent number: 5685897
    Abstract: A sensible and latent heat exchange or adsorbent media formed from an improved desiccant or adsorbent paper having higher strength and thinner gauge to provide increased area of media, the media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow. The improved desiccant or adsorbent paper is comprised of fibrillated and non-fibrillated organic fibers formed to provide an improved support material having improved levels of strength and higher levels of desiccant or adsorbent material contained in the improved fibrous support material to provide the improved paper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: LaRoche Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Belding, Marc P. F. Delmas, William D. Holeman, David A. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5683663
    Abstract: A method of treating sodium cyanide in spent carbonaceous and/or refractory material, i.e., spent potlining, from an electrolytic cell for producing aluminum from alumina dissolved in a sodium-containing electrolyte, wherein sodium cyanide forms in the carbonaceous material during operation of the cell. The method comprises grinding the spent carbonaceous and/or refractory material containing sodium cyanide to provide particles of spent carbonaceous material and adding a reactive material capable of reacting with the sodium cyanide to provide a mixture of reactive material and spent potlining material. Thereafter, the mixture is heated to a temperature effective in reacting the reactive material with the sodium cyanide to destroy the sodium cyanide in the spent potlining.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Inventors: Rudolph Keller, C. Norman Cochran, David B. Stofesky
  • Patent number: 5670053
    Abstract: A process for purifying water including removing cations, anions and carbon dioxide and/or ammonia from water feed stream to produce high purity water having a resistivity of greater than 1 megohm-era comprising the steps of providing a water feed stream to be purified, the stream containing cations, anions and carbon dioxide and/or ammonia; introducing the water feed stream to a high pressure side of a first reverse osmosis membrane module; passing water through the first reverse osmosis membrane to provide a first retentate having cations and anions concentrated therein and a first permeate depleted in cations and anions and containing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia; adding the first permeate to a high pressure side, of a gas permeable hydrophobic membrane module; passing carbon dioxide and/or ammonia through the gas-permeable membrane from the first permeate in the high pressure side of the gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane to provide a carbon dioxide and/or ammonia permeate on a low pressure side of the h
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Zenon Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: William V. Collentro, Andrew W. Collentro
  • Patent number: 5660048
    Abstract: A method of conditioning a process stream of air in an air conditioning system wherein a process stream of air is dehumidified and cooled to provide a conditioned stream of air for introducing to a conditioned space, the method comprises the steps of providing an enthalpy wheel comprised of an adsorbent contained in a paper web, the enthalpy wheel having a multiplicity of passages through which the process air can flow, the enthalpy wheel capable of regeneration by passing an air stream therethrough having a temperature and humidity lower than the process air. In the method, process air is passed through the enthalpy wheel to remove heat and moisture therefrom, and the enthalpy wheel is regenerated by passing air therethrough to remove heat and moisture therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1997
    Assignees: LaRoche Industries, Inc., ACMA Limited
    Inventors: William A. Belding, Chiang Lam, William D. Holeman, Scott L. Janke
  • Patent number: 5650221
    Abstract: A sensible and latent heat exchange or adsorbent media formed from an improved desiccant or adsorbent paper having higher strength and thinner gauge to provide increased area of media, the media having a multiplicity of passageways therethrough through which an air stream can flow. The improved desiccant or adsorbent paper is comprised of fibrillated organic fibers formed to provide an improved support material having improved levels of strength and higher levels of desiccant or adsorbent material contained in the improved fibrous support material to provide the improved paper. The improved desiccant paper is capable of adsorbing or transferring sensible heat from a warm air stream and releasing or transferring the absorbed sensible heat into a cool air stream as the air stream flows though the sensible and latent heat exchange media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: LaRoche Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Belding, Marc P. F. Delmas, William D. Holeman, David A. McDonald
  • Patent number: 5642549
    Abstract: A weldless grating comprising: (a) a plurality of longitudinally extending primary load bearing members having an upper portion, a lower portion and a web located between said upper portion and said lower portion, the primary load bearing member having a plurality of spaced-apart openings in said web, the openings in each of said primary load bearing members being aligned with the openings in adjacent primary load bearing members; (b) a plurality of secondary load bearing members having an upper edge and a lower edge, the secondary load bearing members provided with first slots extending downwardly through the upper edge to provide top slots and with upwardly extending slots through the lower edge to provide bottom slots located substantially opposite said top slots, the secondary load bearing members positioned in the aligned openings in said web of the primary load bearing members, said top and bottom slots in said secondary load bearing member forming a locking engagement with said web surrounding said ope
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 1, 1997
    Assignee: Mangone Enterprises
    Inventor: Ronald W. Mangone
  • Patent number: 5635071
    Abstract: Provided is a method of removing carboxylic acids from effluent streams comprising the steps of pretreatment which may include chemical conditioning, clarification and filtering the effluent stream to remove suspended solid particles to provide a filtered stream. The filtered stream is subjected to membrane filtration to remove organic compounds having a molecular weight of greater than 150 while simultaneously permitting permeation of the membrane by the carboxylic acids to provide a membrane filtered stream. A reverse osmosis membrane is provided having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and the membrane filtered stream is introduced to the high pressure side of the reverse osmosis membrane. The carboxylic acids are concentrated in the high pressure side of the reverse osmosis membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 3, 1997
    Assignee: Zenon Airport Enviromental, Inc.
    Inventor: Riad A. Al-Samadi
  • Patent number: 5630863
    Abstract: An improved method for dispersing high levels of fluxing gas in a body of molten aluminum using an impeller or disperser to disperse the fluxing gas in the body of molten aluminum, the method producing increased shear forces in the body of molten aluminum and reducing vortex formation. The method comprises the steps of providing a body of molten aluminum and a disperser in the body. A fluxing gas is added to the body at the rate of 1 to greater than 200 SCF/hour and dispersed by rotating the disperser in one direction and thereafter reversing the direction of rotation to a counter direction. The direction of rotation is reversed periodically to substantially reduce formation of a vortex and to provide increased shear forces in the body for purposes of improving dispersion of the fluxing gas in the molten aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5630286
    Abstract: A vehicular apparatus adapted for removing fluids including snow and/or ice and de-icing liquids from a surface as the apparatus traverses the surface. The apparatus comprises: a first container for receiving a first portion of the fluids removed from a zone of the surface; apparatus for collecting and transferring the first portion of the fluids from the zone to the first container; a second container for collecting residual fluids remaining on the zone of the surface after the first portion is removed; apparatus for impinging water at high pressure on the zone of the surface to loosen the residual fluids or make them airborne; and an air sweep connected in fluid communication with the second container for drawing or sweeping the loosened residual fluids and water into the second container concurrently with impinging high pressure water on the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: Zenon Airport Environmental, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn M. Vanderlinden
  • Patent number: 5616167
    Abstract: An improved method for treating a body of molten aluminum using an impeller suitable for dispersing fluxing gas or solid particles in the body of molten aluminum. The method produces increased shear forces in the body of molten aluminum and reduces vortex formation. The method comprises providing a body of molten aluminum and projecting an impeller on a shaft into the body, the impeller comprising a rectangular-shaped body having a first rectangular-shaped face and a second rectangular-shaped face disposed substantially opposite the first face, the faces substantially parallel to the shaft and defined by a length L and a height H wherein the length L is greater than the height H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1997
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5611931
    Abstract: A high temperature ceramic membrane device for separation of fluids at high temperature, the device comprises: (a) a housing having: (i) an entrance for introducing fluids to the housing to be separated, (ii) an exit for removing fluids after being subjected to separation; (b) a plate mounted in one end of the housing, the plate having openings therein; (c) ceramic membrane comprised of porous ceramic tubes having a closed end and an open end, the tubes permeable by a fraction of the fluid to be removed from the fluid as filtrate and impermeable to a second fraction, the open end designed to remove the filtrate from the tube, the tubes mounted in the openings in the plate so that the closed end is projected into the housing and the open end is extended outside the housing for removing the filtrate; (d) a seal for sealing the plate in the housing; (e) insulation provided in the housing, the insulation means located adjacent the plate and surrounding the tubes projecting therethrough, the insulation adapted to
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Media and Process Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Paul K. T. Liu, Hillary K. Sabol, Gerald W. Smith, Richard J. Ciora, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5604949
    Abstract: A weldless grating comprising: (a) a plurality of longitudinally extending primary load-bearing members having an upper portion, a lower portion and a web located between the upper portion and the lower portion, the primary load-bearing member having a plurality of spaced-apart openings in the web, the openings in each of the primary load-bearing members being aligned with the openings in adjacent primary load-bearing members; (b) a plurality of secondary load-bearing members having an upper edge and a lower edge, the secondary load-bearing members provided with first slots extending downwardly through the upper edge to provide top slots and with upwardly extending slots through the lower edge to provide bottom slots located substantially opposite the top slots, the secondary load-bearing members positioned in the aligned openings in the web of the primary load-bearing members, the top and bottom slots in the secondary load-bearing member forming a locking engagement with the web surrounding the openings in t
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Mangone Enterprises
    Inventor: Ronald W. Mangone
  • Patent number: 5603571
    Abstract: An improved thermocouple assembly suitable for measuring the temperature of molten metal, the thermocouple assembly having a sleeve comprised of a closed end suitable for immersing in the molten metal. The sleeve is fabricated from a composite material comprised of titanium alloy and having an outside surface to be exposed to the molten metal coated with a refractory resistant to attack by the molten metal; and a thermocouple located in the sleeve in heat transfer relationship therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1997
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5590703
    Abstract: A method for removing a surface layer from a solidified body of metal at an elevated temperature to remove surface defects therefrom. The method comprises providing a solidified body having a surface wherein the body can have a temperature greater than 200.degree. F. and below the solidus temperature of the metal. The metal surface is contacted with an abrasive material having a particle size in the range of 6 to 300 grit (U.S. Sieve Series). The abrasive material is applied at a flux sufficient to remove a surface layer from the body, the layer having a thickness in the range of 10 to 300 .mu.m to provide a surface substantially free of said surface defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5582723
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cartridge for use in a chromatography system wherein fluid is introduced to and removed from the cartridge through a fluid connecting tube. The cartridge is comprised of a hollow tubular member suitable for containing sorbent material, the tubular member having at least a first hollow end portion. A plug member is provided inside the first hollow end portion suitable for containing the adsorbent material. The plug member has means for sealing the fluid tube in the cartridge and passing fluid to and from the sorbent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Keystone Scientific, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest L. Boone, Richard A. Henry
  • Patent number: 5580369
    Abstract: An improved adsorbent composition for a natural gas-fired, adsorption cooling system that readily adsorbs moisture from ambient air, while being readily regenerated at high temperatures up to 200.degree.-300.degree. C. in order to provide an enhanced coefficient of performance to the system. Such an adsorbent composition may comprise an A-type zeolite, an X-type zeolite or a chemically modified Y-type zeolite either alone, in conjunction with each other or in conjunction with alumina and/or silica gel. A rotating adsorbent wheel may be fashioned from corrugated paper comprising the adsorbent composition and a slurry of synthetic, organic fibers which are preferably polyaramid fibers. The strength of the wheel may be enhanced by surface treating it with sols or salt solutions of alumina or silica, and a highly temperature-stable epoxy or phenolic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: LaRoche Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Belding, William D. Holeman, Zalman Lavan, Roger L. Jones
  • Patent number: 5571440
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved casting tip for a nozzle of a continuous caster, the tip designed for transferring molten metal from a molten metal reservoir to a continuously advancing mold as formed, for example, by twin belts, rolls or block casters for casting molten metal into solid form. The casting tip is comprised of a top wall, a bottom wall oppositely disposed from top wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall oppositely disposed from the first side wall, the first and second side walls joined to the top and bottom walls to form a passage therebetween having an entrance and an exit. The passage has a top wall inside surface having a first portion that first converges towards the bottom wall starting at the entrance and has a second portion that diverges from the bottom wall to the exit, the top wall first portion having a length less than the top wall second portion length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Inventor: C. Edward Eckert
  • Patent number: 5571347
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved aluminum base alloy comprising an improved aluminum base alloy comprising 0.2 to 2 wt. % Si, 0.3 to 1.7 wt. % Mg, 0 to 1.2 wt. % Cu, 0 to 1.1 wt. % Mn, 0.01 to 0.4 wt. % Cr, and at least one of the elements selected from the group consisting of 0.01 to 0.3 wt. % V, 0.001 to 0.1 wt. % Be and 0.01 to 0.1 wt. % Sr, the remainder comprising aluminum, incidental elements and impurities. Also disclosed are methods of casting and thermomechanical processing of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5571346
    Abstract: A process for casting, thermally transforming and semi-solid forming an aluminum base alloy into an article, the process comprising the steps of: casting a molten body of aluminum base alloy to provide a solidified body, the molten aluminum base alloy being solidified at a rate between liquidus and solidus temperatures of the aluminum base alloy in a range of 5.degree. to 100.degree. C./sec. to provide an entire solidified body having a denditic microstructure. Thereafter, heat is applied to the solidified body to bring the body to a superheated temperature of 3.degree. to 50.degree. C. above the solidus temperature of the aluminum base alloy while maintaining a body in a solid shape and effecting thermal transformation of the body having the dendritic structure when the entire body is uniformly heated to the superheated temperature. The body having a non-dendritic structure is formed in a semi-solid condition into the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Northwest Aluminum Company
    Inventor: S. Craig Bergsma
  • Patent number: 5569798
    Abstract: A method of chlorinating vinylidene chloride contained in a solution 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane to provide a chlorinated compound having a boiling point different from the 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane to permit separation therefrom, the method comprising providing a solution containing 1,1-dichloro-1-fluoroethane and vinylidene chloride; and contacting said solution with chlorine and an alumina catalyst to effect chlorination of said vinylidene chloride to produce a chlorinated compound having a boiling point different than said 1,1 dichloro-1-fluoroethane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: LaRoche Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Jackson