Patents Represented by Attorney Edmund W. Bopp
  • Patent number: 4329142
    Abstract: In the manufacture of clay or refractory ware containing oxidizable material, stacks of the ware are passed through a tunnel kiln and a flow of air passed over the stacks. Fuel burners are operated to provide the necessary stages for firing the ware. These stages include an oxidation stage in which residual oxidizable material is oxidized. Gas containing more oxygen than air (i.e. commercially pure oxygen or oxygen-enriched air) is introduced into the region of the kiln where the oxidation takes place. The oxygen-rich gas is caused to penetrate at least one stack for the time being in the oxidation region so as to increase the concentration of oxygen throughout the individual items of ware within said stack. It is thus possible to oxidize all the residual oxidizable material. At least 50% of such oxidation is typically confined to a temperature range of 100.degree. C. The heat thereby released assists in the firing of the ware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1980
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1982
    Assignee: BOC Limited
    Inventor: Anthony O. Dyer
  • Patent number: 4256721
    Abstract: In a process for thermally cracking waste sulphuric acid, a combustible material is mixed with such acid and the mixture is supplied to a burner to which a flow of atomizing air is also supplied. A flow of secondary air which is enriched to about 23-40% by volume of oxygen is injected into a flame generated by burning said waste sulphuric acid-combustible material mixture to thereby thermally crack such acid while reducing the production of by-product sulphur trioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1981
    Assignee: BOC Limited
    Inventors: Philip G. Blakey, Richard W. Watson
  • Patent number: 4253453
    Abstract: A selector valve for providing a choice of one of two vaporizers for use in administering an anesthetic to a patient is disclosed in connection with a manifold for receiving the vaporizers.The selector valve has three positions, wherein the user can utilize one of two vaporizers or place the valve in an off position when neither vaporizer is in the circuit providing a flow of gas to the patient.One of the features comprises a positive position means where the selector valve cannot inadvertently be placed in any position intermediate any two of the three positions so that only one of the three defined positions may be selected. Also, in the off position, leakage is prevented into the gas stream to the patient of anesthetic vapors from either of the vaporizers mounted to the manifold by closing both the inlet to and the outlet from both such vaporizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1981
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne W. Hay
  • Patent number: 4242536
    Abstract: A multifilamentary superconductor having a large number of NbTi filaments in an aluminum alloy matrix which is stabilized by a high-purity aluminum sheath is disclosed, together with the method of its manufacture. An Al alloy billet having a number of NbTi rods disposed therein is extruded. A superpure Al sheath is added; this product is then enclosed in copper and wiredrawn after which the copper is etched off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Morris S. Young
  • Patent number: 4238673
    Abstract: An improved circular scan line tracing device for use in connection with flame or plasma cutting machines, as well as other machine tools, is disclosed which features provision for adjustment of the lead of the tracing device while the machine is operating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Lawrence M. Layden
  • Patent number: 4237700
    Abstract: The refrigeration available in a liquefied gas is utilized to refrigerate a fluid having a boiling point above the boiling point of the liquefied gas which is sprayed into an endless conduit such that the liquefied gas is vaporized. The resulting thermal currents and momentum of the spray are effective to provide the motive power for circulating the gas throughout the conduit and into indirect heat exchange with the fluid to be refrigerated. The temperature of heat exchange means in the vicinity of the location at which the fluid is introduced into such indirect heat exchange may be regulated by controlling the magnitude of the gas flow throughout the conduit to thereby avoid freezing of components of such fluid. The use of shaft power (such as a fan or blower) for circulating the gas flow throughout the conduit is avoided and the utilization of refrigeration available in the liquefied gas is improved accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Rothchild
  • Patent number: 4236868
    Abstract: A radial inflow turbine is disclosed utilizing a star wheel type of blade and wherein the inlet nozzles are located along the sides or lateral of the blade tips rather than located radially beyond the blade tips. The side approach enables the turbine to include an annular chamber outside of the moving blades and where small particles are centrifuged during operation and collected. The incoming hot gases, that propel the blades, pass through approximately a 90.degree. turn and continue radially inwardly. The large particles hit the turbine blades and are projected outwardly into the annular chamber for collection and subsequent removal while the smaller particles may be centrifuged in the stream of gas and immediately thrown outwardly. The turbine is capable of removing particles to as small as 2-3 microns (.mu.m).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Hans D. Linhardt
  • Patent number: 4235858
    Abstract: In a process for producing nitric acid, a mixture of oxygen, nitrogen, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, and dinitrogen tetroxide is introduced into an absorption column into which cold oxygen (below 0.degree. C.) is introduced. H.sub.2 O is introduced into the upper reaches of the column and reacts with the nitrogen dioxide and dinitrogen tetroxide to form nitric acid. The low oxygen temperature helps to shift the equilibrium between nitric oxide and oxygen to dinitrogen tetroxide and in favor of reacting the latter with water to form nitric acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1980
    Assignee: BOC Limited
    Inventors: Philip G. Blakey, Bryan K. Smith, Richard W. Watson
  • Patent number: 4230732
    Abstract: Dressed poultry without giblets in the breast cavity are chilled in an ice water bath or the like to 32.degree.-35.degree. F. The giblets are frozen and are then inserted into the carcass thereby providing refrigeration and enabling shelf life of the carcass to be maintained for up to 30 days or greater without the use of water ice or dry ice in packing cartons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: William L. Paradise, Jr., Mark L. Byars
  • Patent number: 4226605
    Abstract: A liquid-vapor converter of a compact skid-mounted design is provided that efficiently converts a cryogenic liquid into a vapor, and which includes, in the same skid mounting, all necessary components necessary to receive the liquid and to provide therefrom a high pressure source of gas, particularly for use in recovery of product from oil wells. The design includes an internal combustion engine as a motive force to drive the main pump for pressurizing the vapor for its intended use. A heat exchanger receives the liquid and circulates the same through tubing, where the liquid is vaporized in the heat exchanger by ambient air being passed across the tubing to warm the liquid, thus effecting such vaporization. The heat exchanger utilizes heat from the engine exhaust to preheat the incoming ambient air prior to its passing in heat transfer relationship across the tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank Van Don
  • Patent number: 4224735
    Abstract: A method of making A-15 type intermetallic superconductors is disclosed which features elimination of numerous annealing steps. Nb or V filaments are embedded in Cu matrices; annular layers of Sn or Ga, respectively, separated from each other by Cu layers, provide the other component of the intermetallic superconductors Nb.sub.3 Sn and V.sub.3 Ga.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris S. Young, William G. Marancik
  • Patent number: 4223450
    Abstract: A chamber is isolated from ambient atmosphere by supplying a flow of inert gas to the entrance and/or exit of the chamber such as an oven for curing solvent borne resin coatings on a material passed therethrough. The inert gas is supplied at a substantially constant mass flow rate through an orifice which may be adjusted in opening or direction so as to enable the momentum of discharged inert gas to be controlled. A flow of gas is exhausted exteriorly of but in the vicinity of the chamber exit or entrance and the oxygen content of such flow is sensed. The sensed oxygen value is compared with a predetermined value and the difference is utilized to adjust the orifice to either increase or decrease the momentum of inert gas discharged therefrom. In this manner atmospheric oxygen is precluded from entering the chamber while only the amount (flow) of inert gas necessary to block such oxygen is utilized thereby minimizing the loss of inert gas from the chamber to ambient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald D. Rothchild
  • Patent number: 4214155
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for detecting the position of the pointer of a gauge. The system includes a stationary light source which is positioned adjacent the pointer. A lens receives the light from the light source and redirects the light in at least one elongated light beam directed toward the pointer. In the preferred embodiment, the light source is located along the pointer's axis of rotation and the lens bends the light rays 90.degree. to form at least one arcuate light beam. A plurality of elongated light beams can be used and variations of different shapes of light beams can readily be used by so designing the lens means. A light sensitive detector is positionable in the gauge itself and is movable along a guided path on the opposite side of the pointer than is the light source. The guided path generally follows the particular shape of light beams that is directed toward the needle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: George D. Jones
  • Patent number: 4208224
    Abstract: In a process for carburizing ferrous parts, nitrogen gas is supplied to the vestibule of an integral quench furnace while a gaseous carbon source is supplied without a carrier gas to the furnace hot zone. H.sub.2 O is introduced into the hot zone at the rate of 0.1-15 ml/min such that upon vaporization thereof a furnace hot zone atmosphere is formed which includes up to about 40% nitrogen, at least 14% CO and 40% H.sub.2. Subsequent to carburizing, parts may be annealed or bright hardened in the same furnace by increasing the H.sub.2 O flow rate to the hot zone to establish an atmosphere comprised of at least 60% H.sub.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Carol A. Girrell
  • Patent number: 4208149
    Abstract: A urethane adhesive is used on the threads of a preassembled graphite furnace electrode nipple to maintain the nipple in its exact pre-set position during shipment and assembly on the furnace. The urethane adhesive does not prevent intentional disassembly should that be necessary before or after the electrode is put in service on a furnace and because it totally volatilizes in service it does not interfere with the thermal expansion relief provided by the clearances intentionally designed into the nipple threads and the mating threads of the electrode socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald K. Bowman
  • Patent number: 4205119
    Abstract: A multifilamentary stabilized superconductor of the A-15 type is disclosed wherein the A-15 compound is formed on rods of niobium or vanadium by diffusion of tin or gallium, respectively, from a copper alloy matrix and wherein stabilization is provided by an external layer of copper. The stabilizing copper is protected from tin or gallium diffusion by a number of spirally wrapped layers of tantalum separated from one another by copper layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Morris S. Young, David C. Larbalestier
  • Patent number: 4201737
    Abstract: Improved nebulizing apparatus is disclosed for generating a heated liquid-dispensed-in-gas mist for administration to a patient undergoing aerosol therapy. The apparatus includes a novel fastening means for attaching a heater unit to the underside of a reservoir containing the liquid. The heater unit is easily attached and detached and yet enables good heat conductivity for heating the liquid within the interior of the reservoir. The bottom of the reservoir itself includes a concave heat conducting surface which, in operation, is in direct contact with the surface of the heater unit. The fastening means includes at least two draw clips which extend upwardly from the heater unit and which engage the reservoir to effect the desired fastening. By an adjustment of the draw clips with respect to the heater unit, the heat conducting surface of the reservoir can be forced out of its concavity to a flat, planar shape in good surface contact with the heater to enhance heat conductivity to liquid within the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Douglas D. Carden
  • Patent number: 4198266
    Abstract: In a process for delignifying wood pulp with oxygen, a pulp slurry and oxygen are introduced into an elongated reactor having a plurality of gravitational fall zones at which oxygen is dissolved in the liquid phase of the slurry. The length of the reactor is sufficient to provide the residence time required for delignification reactions. Alkali is added in controlled quantities along the reactor length in response to sensed slurry pH to maintain a predetermined slurry pH throughout the reactor. The oxygen treated slurry discharged from the reactor is separated into pulp and hot recycle liquor, the latter being utilized to effect thermal, chemical and water economies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: April 15, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley S. Kirk, Mark J. Kirschner
  • Patent number: 4195098
    Abstract: Bacon slabs are prepared for slicing by removing slabs from a smokehouse at a temperature of approximately 120.degree. F. and cooling the same in two stages with an intervening equalization stage. In the first cooling stage, bacon slabs are reduced to an average temperature of between 45.degree.-50.degree. F. in less than approximately 30 minutes and subsequently held under a substantially constant temperature of approximately 40.degree.-45.degree. F. for a period of about 25-30 minutes to substantially equalize the temperature throughout the slabs. Subsequently, the slabs are further cooled to an average temperature of approximately 22.degree.-26.degree. F. in a period of up to approximately 30 minutes before being molded for slicing at a temperature in the range of about 24.degree.-28.degree. F.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventor: Carl W. Otto
  • Patent number: 4194727
    Abstract: Shape cutting apparatus includes a transverse beam rigidly mounted on a pair of spaced carriages which are provided with wheels for translation along a pair of parallel, longitudinal rails. A tracer and holder assembly therefor are mounted for translation along the transverse beam. Each carriage is provided with a servomotor, which motors are connected electrically in parallel across a source of potential such as the output of a servoamplifier. Upon energization of the motors, the beam is driven along the rails at speeds up to 120 i.p.m. and greater while the tracer cornering capability is equivalent to the capability previously only attainable at lower speeds, e.g. 50-60 i.p.m. Thus, higher cutting speeds are obtained without degradation of cutting accuracy and without resort to expensive structural stiffening, additional electronic control circuitry, or precision rack and pinion carriage drive mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: Airco, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence M. Layden, James R. Thomson