Patents Represented by Attorney Edward J. Cabic
  • Patent number: 6811726
    Abstract: This application describes ceramic oxide superconductors, their precursors and methods of preparation. The superconductors contain no copper, but comprise the transition metals Nickel or Cobalt (MT) together with bulky cations of Groups 2 and 1 of the Periodic Table (M2+ and M1+) such as Ba2+ and K1+. Their hexagonal crystal structure comprises parallel chains of highly covalent, octahedrally coordinated oxygen around the transition metal, which exhibits its highest valence +4. The octahedra are facet-linked forming polyacid chains or macroanions that run the full length of crystallites or single crystals along the c axis. The chains are separated by distances that prevent covalency or orbital overlap among them. They are held together by coulombic forces from the cations located between them that also run parallel to the c axis. Electrical current, carried by holes, can only flow within the chains.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Inventor: Moises G. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 5589012
    Abstract: Bearings are made having at least one surface made of an amorphous alloy having a coefficient of friction of less than 0.5 and having a tensile strength of 1.0 GPa or greater. In the case of a bearing shaft, the shaft can be smaller than a comparable steel shaft. Articles can be fabricated by heating the amorphous metal to a temperature above its plastic flow temperature and below its crystallization temperature so that it is flowable. The heated material is molded or formed into a desired shape and then the molded article is cooled to its metastable, amorphous state. A preferred configuration for the bearing shaft is in a parabola of revolution form so it acts as a thrust bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Systems Integration and Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Gray D. Hobby, Bernard A. Riggs
  • Patent number: 5346389
    Abstract: This invention includes a multiple-stage combustion apparatus which can be used in a high-temperature environment, such as with a gas turbine. In particular, the invention includes a novel structure for the first stage of such apparatus, and a method of making that first stage. The first stage, which is an ignition stage, is a reactor formed of a metal strip which is coated with a catalyst on only one side. The strip is also corrugated with a herringbone pattern. The strip is then folded back and forth upon itself to form a reactor of a desired cross-section. The reactor has rows of channels that are formed between the layers of the metal. The single coated side of the metal defines the walls of the channels in every other row. The fuel-air mixture that flows through the coated channels is combusted. The fuel-air mixture that flows through the uncoated channels is not combusted, and cools the catalyzed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William B. Retallick, William R. Alcorn
  • Patent number: 5330736
    Abstract: Zeolite L is made from an aqueous precursor mixture that contains from 0.1 to about 10% by weight of an amorphous aluminosilicate seeding gel which does not contain zeolite L. Using this mixture zeolite L can be made in a much shorter time than with a synthesis mixture without the seeding gel, and with substantially no zeolite T impurity. When made at temperatures below about 120.degree. C the zeolite. L has a disk-shaped morphology which is substantially free of zeolite T (offretite type).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Jianxin Wu, David M. Chapman, Robert R. Gatte
  • Patent number: 5328359
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor serves as the ignition stage for a multi-stage combustor. In one embodiment, the catalytic reactor includes a stack of corrugated metal strips, each strip having a catalyst coating on exactly one side, wherein a coated side of one strip faces an uncoated side of the adjacent strip. Thus, the reactor defines channels each having two walls, exactly one of which bears a catalyst coating. Another embodiment takes the form of a spiral formed by winding two strips, each strip having a catalyst coating on one side. The coated side of one strip faces the uncoated side of the other. Thus, the spiral includes channels having a catalyst coating on only one wall. In still another embodiment, a single strip has bands of coated and uncoated regions on both sides. At any given point on the strip, one side of the strip has a catalyst coating and the other side has no coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: William B. Retallick
  • Patent number: 5319929
    Abstract: An exhaust system for an internal combustion engine adapted to correct the problem of pollution occurring at start-up and during at least initial engine running, and characterized by an electrically heatable catalytic converter and, desirably, a separate unheated conventional catalytic converter in tandem relation. The system also provides means for providing electrical power greater than 500 watts for 2 seconds or more whereby the temperature of the catalyst is raised and maintained at least 650 F. An advantage of preferred embodiments is that there is provided a substantially improved means for augmenting conventional catalytic converter exhaust systems for modern requirements by inserting in the exhaust system an electrically heatable catalytic converter for conversion of pollutant material operative prior to, during and after start-up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Richard C. Cornelison, William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5318756
    Abstract: There is provided a terminal especially adapted for use with an electrically heatable catalytic converter having a stud, a portion of said stud being coated with a thin layer of refractory metal oxide, and a sleeve having an interference fit with said coated portion of said stud, said stud adapted to be welded at its proximal end to one side of a resistance circuit. There is also provided an electrically heatable catalytic converter including such terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: David T. Sheller, Gordon W. Brunson
  • Patent number: 5308591
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an improved catalytic converter core which is characterized by a plurality of spaced rigid centrally located pins about which are wrapped a plurality of corrugated thin metal strips. The configuration of the resulting core is determined by the number of centrally located pins, for example, with two pins the configuration is oval. Electric power may be selectively applied to effect heating of the core. Catalyst may be applied to the surface or surfaces of the corrugated thin metal strips to aid in converting undesirable materials in a gas stream to more acceptable materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5302567
    Abstract: When a zeolite additive composition of a medium-pore zeolite with a Constraint Index from about 1 to about 12 and a silica to alumina mole ratio greater than about 12 is added to a conventional cracking catalyst dispersed in an inorganic matrix, the octane will be improved, but there will be a yield loss in the amount of gasoline produced. An improvement in that catalyst system is obtained by partially exchanging the medium-pore zeolite additive with cations from one or more elements of Group IA, Group IIA or Group IIIA of the Periodic Table. The octane number of the gasoline-range product of an FCC process is still improved while the amount of the gasoline yield loss typically observed for such octane-enhancing additives is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: James G. Miller, Robert R. Gatte
  • Patent number: 5288470
    Abstract: A metal substrate contains a barrier which functions as an electrical insulator. One can thus use the substrate to make an electrically heated catalytic converter, in which one must electrically isolate a catalyst-bearing strip from adjacent strips. One forms the substrate by first coating the substrate with a thin first layer of alumina washcoat and heating the substrate to a temperature of about 800.degree. to 1000.degree. C. This heating step produces the barrier, which may constitute a spinel. One can then apply a catalyst to the substrate, either by applying one or more secondary layer(s) of washcoat, having greater thickness than the first layer, and impregnating the second layer with the catalyst, or by coating the substrate with a washcoat which already contains the catalyst. Alternatively, one can omit the step of applying the catalyst, and can use the strips to form a heater for a stream of gas. One can use the heater in conjunction with a main catalytic heater, or as a stand-alone heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Richard C. Cornelison, William B. Retallick, Raymond J. Gorte
  • Patent number: 5281426
    Abstract: An automatic heating apparatus for uniformly cooking foods which rapidly cools the cooked foods to reduce spoilage. Food packages are placed on trays and the trays are inserted in a transportable rack. The rack is loaded into a cooking tank. A pump continuously circulates hot water through a conduit from a heat exchanger to the tank to cook the food and returns the water back to the heat exchanger. A control mechanism determines and controls the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the food to control the length of time the heated water is applied. After the food has been properly cooked and pasteurized, cold water is rapidly supplied to the tank to quickly cool the cooked products. The continuous circulation of water during the heating mode provides uniform cooking with precise temperature control and the circulation during the cooling mode provides for rapid cooling so as to reduce spoilage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Richard J. Pardo
  • Patent number: 5280748
    Abstract: An apparatus for uniformly cooking foods which rapidly cools the cooked foods to reduce spoilage. Food packages are placed on trays and the trays are inserted in a transportable rack. The rack is loaded into a cooking tank. A pump continuously circulates hot water through a conduit from a heat exchanger to the tank to cook the food and returns the water back to the heat exchanger. A control mechanism determines and controls the temperature of the water and monitors the temperature of the food to control the length of time the heated water is applied. After the food has been properly cooked and pasteurized, cold water is rapidly supplied to the tank to quickly cool the cooked products. The continuous circulation of water during the heating mode provides uniform cooking with precise temperature control and the circulation during the cooling mode provides for rapid cooling so as to reduce spoilage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 25, 1994
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Richard J. Pardo
  • Patent number: 5272876
    Abstract: There is provided a novel and improved core element for a catalytic converter characterized in that the core element has a corrugated thin metal strip with bent tab members at each end, such tab members being in two portions. These two portion sandwich the ends of the corrugated thin metal strip therebetween and provide a convenient means for welding the ends of the corrugated thin metal strip to the tab members. A plurality of such corrugated strips with the tab members attached are tightly spirally wound about a central post or pin and the tab members are dimensioned to overlap and ultimately define a shell segment. The shell segments define a core which is encased in a suitable housing to form a catalytic converter which may be electrically heatable. An electrically heatable catalytic converter is especially useful to remove pollutants from internal combustion engine exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: David T. Sheller
  • Patent number: 5249696
    Abstract: A drum lid for a ventable drum has a depression formed in the surface of the lid. A vent valve is placed in the depression and extends through the lid. The valve has a valve outlet which opens into the reservoir in the lid. During venting the reservoir is filled with water and the valve stem is slowly opened. The gas escapes into the water in the reservoir in the form of bubbles. When the bubbles stop the tank is vented and the lid can be removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Billy W. Bryant, Robert E. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 5240682
    Abstract: There is provided an improved reinforced corrugated thin stainless steel strip in which either or both of the longitudinal edges are overfolded to increase the thickness and stiffness of the foil to better resist the tendency to failure in a severe hot-shake screening test. There is also provided a core and an electrically heatable catalytic converter containing the core for use in the exhaust line of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn
    Inventors: Richard C. Cornelison, William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5238650
    Abstract: There is provided a terminal especially adapted for use with an electrically heatable catalytic converter having a stud, a portion of said stud being coated with a thin layer of a ceramic, and a sleeve having an interference fit with said coated portion, said stud adapted to be welded at its inner end to one side of a resistance circuit. There is also provided an electrically heatable catalytic converter including such a terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: David T. Sheller, Gordon W. Brunson
  • Patent number: 5236880
    Abstract: A zeolite catalyst with improved hydrocarbon conversion comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate having a SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio greater than 5 and preferably a MFI or MEL zeolite. The zeolite contains a Group VIIIA metal, preferably nickel, and it has been subjected to severe thermal or hydrothermal treatments under controlled conditions of temperature, time or steam partial pressure so as to effect an increase in the relative surface concentrations of Group VIIIA metal and aluminum. The catalyst can be used in a process for the conversion of paraffinic feedstocks to improve paraffin cracking activity, to increase the aromatic fraction in the C5 to C12 gasoline range products, to improve the calculated octane numbers of the C5 to C12 gasoline range product, and/or to improve the yield of the C5 to C12 gasoline range products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: David M. Chapman
  • Patent number: 5236877
    Abstract: Hydrocarbon conversion catalyst compositions which are highly selective for producing gasoline-range olefins, aromatics and, hence, a high octane gasoline, by making a combination catalyst of two different zeolites. The combination of a stabilized zeolite Omega component and a zeolite Y component produces a catalyst which is highly selective for the production of gasoline-range olefins and aromatics. The two components can be added separately to an FCC process or they can be matrixed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Robert R. Gatte
  • Patent number: 5232671
    Abstract: There is provided an improved electrically conductive metal honeycomb body having a plurality of corrugated thin metal strips, which may be heater strips, extending in electrical parallel between otherwise electrically isolated connector plates. The corrugated thin metal strips each have a flat central section. A first group of strips is gathered at their flat middle portions and bent around one of a pair of rigid central posts, and a second group of strips is gathered and bent in the opposite direction about the other of posts. Insulation in the form of a flexible woven ceramic fiber strip isolate the first and second groups from each other and from the central posts. The connector plates define a segmented retainer shell about the body. A battery is connected to the connector plates whereby current flows from one connector plate through corrugated thin metal strips to the other connector plate and back to the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gordon W. Brunson, Richard C. Cornelison
  • Patent number: 5202303
    Abstract: This invention includes a multiple-stage combustion apparatus which can be used in a high-temperature environment, such as with a gas turbine. In particular, the invention includes a novel structure for the first stage of such apparatus, and a method of making that first stage. The first stage, which is an ignition stage, is a reactor formed of a metal strip which is coated with a catalyst on only one side. The strip is also corrugated with a herringbone pattern. The strip is then folded back and forth upon itself to form a reactor of a desired cross-section. The reactor has rows of channels that are formed between the layers of the metal. The single coated side of the metal defines the walls of the channels in every other row. The fuel-air mixture that flows through the coated channels is combusted. The fuel-air mixture that flows through the uncoated channels is not combusted, and cools the catalyzed surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: William B. Retallick, William R. Alcorn