Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm James C. Simmons
  • Patent number: 5662266
    Abstract: Use of a shrouding gas to combine with and protect a turbulent gas jet issuing from an orifice enables control of a gas jet stream composition downstream from the orifice. The natural aspiration rate of the gas jet is used to determine the flowrate of shrouding gas which is introduced around the gas jet in a soft gas cushion which does not disrupt the flow pattern of the gas jet but instead is entrained into the jet stream to the exclusion of ambient gases in the atmosphere. Preferably shrouding gas is replaced at least at the rate at which it is entrained. Apparatus for this process uses a porous shroud, preferably of metal foam, through which shrouding gas flows evenly around the gas jet as it issues from a nozzle orifice. Provision for tangential entry of shrouding gas into a manifold which feeds the porous shroud prevents the shrouding gas from impinging upon the porous shroud and causing uneven flow around the gas jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Inventors: Zbigniew Zurecki, John Joseph Kaiser, John Lewis Green
  • Patent number: 5605049
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for controlling removal of gaseous cryogen from a continuous tunnel type freezer wherein the cryogen and product to be frozen travel in counterflow heat exchange relation to minimize ambient atmosphere moving into the tunnel and out of the exhaust system with the exhausted gaseous cryogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1997
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl W. Moore, David J. Klee
  • Patent number: 5589020
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for facilitating insulation of cryogenic devices such as piping, dewars, tanks, superconducting assemblies and the like. A sleeve having a generally circular cross-section and a diameter slightly larger than the cryogenic device is fabricated from a material preferably having low thermal emissivity and covered with the required thickness of insulation so that what the insulated sleeve with the device installed inside is placed into a housing or jacket the required heat leak from the device when in use is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander P. Varghese
  • Patent number: 5570723
    Abstract: An assembly and method for supporting a plurality of individually insulated pipes or conduits inside a vacuum jacket where the insulated pipes are positioned or fixed relative to one another and the inside surface of the vacuum jacket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang-Fu P. Hwang, Alexander P. Varghese, David D. Nguyen, Thomas Joseph
  • Patent number: 5547368
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for generating oxy-liquid fuel with lowered NO.sub.x products using low pressure oxygen to atomize liquid fuel and produce an oxy-liquid fuel flame and surrounding the oxy-liquid fuel flame by an oxidizer, confining the oxy-liquid fuel flame and oxidizer in a precombustor for a distance determined by the rate of flame propagation and the diameter of the pre-combustor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 20, 1996
    Assignees: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Combustion, Tec. Inc.
    Inventors: Aleksandar G. Slavejkov, Lee Broadway, Mahendra L. Joshi, James K. Nabors
  • Patent number: 5531372
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel, moisture-free atmosphere for brazing carbon steels that provides good braze flow and brazed joint quality with minimum or no formation of soot on brazed joints. According to the present invention, carbon steels are brazed in continuous furnaces using a moisture-free atmosphere containing a mixture of three gases including nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide. The key features of the invention involve (1) formation of moisture, which is needed to facilitate braze flow and to minimize formation of soot on brazed joints, in-situ in the heating zone of the furnace by the reaction between hydrogen and carbon dioxide and (2) reduction in the overall amount of a reducing gas required for brazing carbon steels by keeping moisture out of the cooling zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1996
    Assignee: Air Products And Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian B. Bonner, Diwakar Garg, Kerry R. Berger
  • Patent number: 5518221
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for blanketing the surface of material, e.g. molten metal contained in an open top vessel, e.g. induction furnace, by establishing a swirling flow of an inert gas having a density greater than air at the top of the vessel. Inert gas exits the swirl flow through an opening in a flow controlling apparatus having an exit opening with a diameter that is smaller than the base diameter of the swirl adjacent the open top vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Zbigniew Zurecki, John L. Green, Robert C. Best, David J. Lach
  • Patent number: 5458320
    Abstract: A tuyere for refining molten metals or melting metal scrap or oxides charged into a vessel. The tuyere comprises three concentric pipes of copper or stainless steel encased in refractory. An annular stream of natural gas surrounds an annular stream of oxygen which in turn surrounds a core stream of natural gas. All three streams are expanded as they flow through the tuyere and as a result an accretion forms at the tip of the tuyere. The accretion protects the tuyere and the gas streams are controlled so that the accretion is maintained at a desired size which neither blocks the tuyere, nor permits burnback of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: David C. Winchester, Larry K. Farmer, Michael D. Lanyi, Charles E. Baukal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5431709
    Abstract: A tuyere for refining molten metals or melting metal scrap or oxides charged into a vessel. The tuyere comprises three concentric pipes of copper or stainless steel encased in refractory. An annular stream of natural gas surrounds an annular stream of oxygen which in turn surrounds a core stream of natural gas. All three streams are expanded as they flow through the tuyere and as a result an accretion forms at the tip of the tuyere. The accretion protects the tuyere and the gas streams are controlled so that the accretion is maintained at a desired size which neither blocks the tuyere, nor permits burnback of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: David C. Winchester, Larry K. Farmer, Michael D. Lanyi, Charles E. Baukal, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5426679
    Abstract: A strainer device for filtering water to an emergency cooling system in a nuclear power plant containment area having a lower part which forms a pool in which the strainer device is mounted. The device includes a strainer housing with separate strainer walls between which a flexible strainer means operates. The unit is arranged to be kept in a first position when water is drawn through one of the strainer walls, in which position it interrupts the connection between the other strainer wall and a suction conduit. By inherent flexibility, a shield means is automatically switched over to a second position which opens the connection between the second strainer wall and the suction conduit, as soon as the first strainer wall is clogged by impurities to such an extent that a low-pressure arises in the space between the first strainer wall and the shield means unit, which low-pressure brings about the switching-over by its suction effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1995
    Assignee: Vattenfall Utveckling AB
    Inventor: Mats Henriksson
  • Patent number: 5420186
    Abstract: In an active hydrogen-containing B-side composition for reaction with a polyisocyanate-containing A-side composition to make a polyurethane or polyurethaneurea elastomer by reaction injection molding, the improvement which comprises a mold release composition consisting essentially of (1) a liquid quaternary ammonium salt and (2) a metal salt of a fatty acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Dewhurst
  • Patent number: 5417774
    Abstract: A process for producing low-cost atmospheres suitable for annealing, brazing, and sintering ferrous and non-ferrous metals and alloys, neutral hardening low, medium, and high carbon steels, sintering ceramic powders, and sealing glass to metal from non-cryogenically produced nitrogen containing up to 5% residual oxygen is disclosed. According to the process, suitable atmospheres are produced by 1) pre-heating the non-cryogenically produced nitrogen stream containing residual oxygen to a desired temperature, 2) mixing it with more than a stoichiometric amount a hydrocarbon gas, 3) passing it through a reactor packed with a platinum group of metal catalyst to reduce the residual oxygen to very low levels and convert it to a mixture of moisture and carbon dioxide, and 4) introducing the reactor effluent stream into the heating zone of a furnace and converting in-situ a portion of both moisture and carbon dioxide with a hydrocarbon gas to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Diwakar Garg, Brian B. Bonner, Donald P. Eichelberger, Kerry R. Berger
  • Patent number: 5409526
    Abstract: An apparatus for supplying high purity gas comprises a cylinder having a valve with two internal ports. One internal port is used to fill the cylinder while the other is fitted with a unit which removes particulates and impurities from the gas as it leaves the cylinder. The unit comprises an inlet, a first filter for removing coarse particulates, layers of adsorbent and absorbent for removing impurities, and a second filter for removing fine particulates. The purified gas leaves the cylinder via the valve and after passing through a regulator, a flow control device and various lengths of tubing passes through a conventional purifier immediately upstream of the point of use. The apparatus reduces the load on the purifier and hence decreases the frequency at which the purifier has to be recharged. Potentially the apparatus could obviate the need for the purifier altogether.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Dao-Hong Zheng, John Irven, Alan J. F. Paterson, Daniel C. Tregear
  • Patent number: 5392594
    Abstract: An oxygenated organic liquid product and a fuel gas are produced from a portion of synthesis gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and sulfur-containing compounds in a integrated feed treatment and catalytic reaction system. To prevent catalyst poisoning, the sulfur-containing compounds in the reactor feed are absorbed in a liquid comprising the reactor product, and the resulting sulfur-containing liquid is regenerated by stripping with untreated synthesis gas from the reactor. Stripping offgas is combined with the remaining synthesis gas to provide a fuel gas product. A portion of the regenerated liquid is used as makeup to the absorber and the remainder is withdrawn as a liquid product. The method is particularly useful for integration with a combined cycle coal gasification system utilizing a gas turbine for electric power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert B. Moore, William P. Hegarty, David W. Studer, Edward J. Tirados
  • Patent number: 5373974
    Abstract: A droplet dispenser for pasty material, for example a puree, comprises a reservoir having a multiplicity of dispenser tubes. A rotor having blades rotates in the pasty material which is kept at a constant level. The tips of the blades do not touch the inlets of the dispenser tubes but pass a certain distance therefrom which is typically from 20 to 30 times the maximum dimension of the particles in the pasty material. Typically, the rotor is rotated at from 20 to 50 rpm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter R. Wilyman
  • Patent number: 5372679
    Abstract: A reactor system is disclosed for the treatment of cellulosic pulp in which pulp is distributed upward through a vertical reactor using a unique conical distributor and is discharged using a unique dilution method to eliminate plugging. The system is particularly useful for delignifying virgin wood pulps or decolorizing pulps made from waste paper materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Danilo S. Costa, Pedro M. Pita, Vincent L. Magnotta
  • Patent number: 5367071
    Abstract: The invention is a process for preparing 1,4-diazoniabicycloalkanes of Formula I wherein the corresponding 1-hydro-4-aza-1-azoniabi-cycloalkane salt of the 1,4-diazabicycloalkane is fluorinated in the presence of an alkali metal salt under reaction conditions sufficient to form the desired 1,4-diazoniabicycloalkane. ##STR1## wherein n represents 0, 1 or 2;each R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3, R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently represents hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, aryl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl-substituted aryl or aryl-substituted C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; andeach X.sup.- represents a counterion or 2X.sup.- represents a single divalent counterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert G. Syvret
  • Patent number: 5364007
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of reflow soldering electronic components, preferably to printed circuit boards, in an inert atmosphere to reduce solder defects and the need for flux or cleaning wherein the inert atmosphere is provided from a source of inert gas through several distribution lines which parallel the conveyor belt of a reflow solder furnace and supply each end of porous sintered metal diffuser tubes situated above the conveyor belt, as well as gas knives situated in baffle compartments at the inlet and outlet of the reflow solder furnace to strip barrier layers of oxygen atmosphere from the electronic components and preclude ingress of oxygen atmosphere into the reflow solder furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen W. Jacobs, Gregory K. Arslanian, Bruce M. Adams, John C. Ivankovits, Donald J. Bowe
  • Patent number: 5361589
    Abstract: Ethylene-containing feed gas to a cryogenic ethylene recovery system is cooled and condensed, prior to fractionation, by an improved method which utilizes a combination of one or more partial condensers followed by one or more dephlegmators. The improved method simplifies heat exchange equipment and reduces capital cost, and is particularly suited for processing a pressurized precooled feed gas from ethane cracking which contains less than about 1 mole % of propane plus propylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee J. Howard, Howard C. Rowles
  • Patent number: 5362462
    Abstract: The present invention is an ammonia injection scheme for enhanced NO.sub.x reductions wherein the NO.sub.x containing gas to be treated is upstream of a cyclone separator. The enhanced NO.sub.x reductions is accomplished by injecting the ammonia through the inside wall of the cyclone inlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Hoanh N. Pham, Todd A. Shirley