Patents Represented by Attorney Larry R. Cassett
  • Patent number: 5470925
    Abstract: An ethylene stream which contains ethane as an impurity or a propylene stream which contains propane as an impurity is contacted with a polymerization catalyst thereby producing a polymer product containing unreacted ethylene or propylene and the corresponding alkane. A gas mixture containing ethylene or propylene and the corresponding alkane is separated from the polymer product and subjected to adsorption at a temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in a bed of adsorbent which selectively adsorbs alkenes, thereby adsorbing substantially all of the propylene or ethylene from the gas mixture. The ethylene or propylene is desorbed from the adsorbent and recycled to the polymerization zone. The process is operated on a low per pass conversion with recycle of unreacted monomer. In the system of the invention the adsorption unit may be upstream or downstream of the polymerization reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Ramachandran, Loc H. Dao
  • Patent number: 5470379
    Abstract: Air is separated in a vessel housing gas separation membranes. A flow control valve controls the passage of air to an inlet header of the vessel. The setting of the valve is adjusted in accordance with the level of oxygen impurity in product nitrogen leaving the vessel for an outlet header. A second flow control valve is provided and is of a kind whereby product nitrogen is able to be delivered at a constant flow rate over a range of different pressures upstream thereof. Accordingly, the apparatus is able to deliver nitrogen at a desired purity and flow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Michael E. Garrett
  • Patent number: 5470830
    Abstract: This invention pertains to polypeptides having gastrointestinal motor inhibitory activity represented by the formula: ##STR1## including optically active isomeric forms and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof wherein A is the L-stereoisomer of a lipophilic aliphatic or alicyclic amino acid; B is selected from the group consisting of L and D aromatic, heteroaromatic, lipophilic aliphatic, and alicyclic amino acids; D is the L-stereoisomer of a lipophilic aliphatic or alicyclic amino acid; E is the L-stereoisomer of an aromatic, aliphatic, or alicyclic amino acid; F is the L-stereoisomer of an aromatic or heteroaromatic amino acid; G is glycine or D-alanine; H is L-glutamic acid or L-glutamine; I is L-glutamine, L-glutamic acid, or L-alanine; J is a direct bond between I and group --NH-- or is selected from the group consisting of Z, Z-Leu, Z-Leu-Gln, Z-Leu-Gln-Glu (SEQ ID NO:2), Z-Leu-Gln-Glu-Lys (SEQ ID NO:3), Zleu-Gln-Glu-Lys-Glu (SEQ ID NO:4), Z-Leu-Gln-Glu-Lys-Glu-Arg (SEQ ID NO:5),
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Ohmeda Pharmaceutical Products Division Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Macielag, Ramalinga Dharanipragada, Mary S. Marvin
  • Patent number: 5470862
    Abstract: This invention pertains to novel substituted pyrazolyl compounds useful as intravenous anesthetics represented by the Formula: ##STR1## including geometric and optically active isomeric forms, and the pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof, wherein:one of Y and Z is nitrogen, and the other is CH;R.sub.1 is hydrogen or lower-alkyl;R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, --CHO, lower-alkylcarbonyl, lower-alkoxy carbonyl, lower-alkylaminocarbonyl, lower-alkyl, lower-alkenyl, lower-alkoxy-lower-alkenyl, lower-alkylcarbonyloxymethyl, substituted and unsubstituted heterocyclic rings, and substituted or unsubstituted aryl groups, wherein the symbol * represents a carbon atom which may be asymmetric and at least one of R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 is other than hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Ohmeda Pharmaceutical Products Division Inc.
    Inventors: Bor-Sheng Lin, Joseph W. Scheblein, Jerome R. Bagley
  • Patent number: 5468560
    Abstract: The surface characteristics of an article or substrate produced from a polymeric material, particularly a thermoplastic material, are modified by exposure of the surface to a low temperature plasma gas composition, wherein the gas composition consists essentially of N.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2. After exposure, the modified surface has improved adhesive strength to another similarly treated surface using an adhesive composition and improved receptivity for paint and other coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary C. McPherson, Maria A. Hozbor
  • Patent number: 5468458
    Abstract: A part of the hydrogen sulphide content of a feed gas stream comprising hydrogen sulphide is burned by a burner that fires into a furnace. The combustion is supported by a stream of oxygen or oxygen-enriched air. Resulting sulphur dioxide reacts with residual hydrogen sulphide in the furnace to form sulphur vapor. Sulphur is condensed out of the resulting gas mixture in a sulphur condenser. At least part of the sulphur-free gas mixture flows through a reactor in which its sulphur dioxide content is reduced to hydrogen sulphide. Water vapor is removed from the resulting gas stream in a water condenser. At least part of the gas stream now essentially free of water vapor is recycled to the furnace. A purge stream is taken either from immediately downstream of the sulphur condenser or from intermediate the water condenser and the furnace, or from the furnace and, if desired, subjected to further treatment to remove sulphur-containing gases therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: Richard W. Watson
  • Patent number: 5468459
    Abstract: A per-fluorocarbon containing gas is treated by contacting per-fluorocarbon contained within the gas with calcium hydride at a temperature in a range of between about 450 and 900.degree. C. The calcium hydride can be contained in a bed mixed with silicon or calcium oxide and such bed can be used in conjunction with a downstream bed of calcium oxide to remove any hydrogen fluoride produced. Also, an upstream bed of calcium fluoride can be used to treat acid gases in case of semiconductor processing applications of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Satish S. Tamhankar, Ramakrishnan Ramachandran
  • Patent number: 5466837
    Abstract: An ethylene stream which contains ethane as an impurity or a propylene stream which contains propane as an impurity is subjected to adsorption at a temperature of 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. in a bed of adsorbent which selectively adsorbs ethylene or propylene, thereby adsorbing substantially all of the ethylene or propylene. The purified ethylene or propylene stream is then subjected to partial oxidation in the presence of oxygen and, optionally ammonia to produce various partial oxidation products. The process is operated on a low per pass conversion with recycle of unreacted ethylene or propylene. In the system of the invention the adsorption unit may be upstream or downstream of the partial oxidation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Ramachandran, Loc H. Dao
  • Patent number: 5465582
    Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing a cryogenic liquid includes means for focusing a beam of energy, eg. laser energy from a source onto the liquid cryogen as it passes through an outlet from a cryogenic liquid container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventors: Anthony P. S. Bliss, Jacek T. Gabzdyl
  • Patent number: 5464518
    Abstract: A rotating cylindrical sputtering target surface as part of a magnetron has cylindrical shields adjacent each end of the target that are shaped at their respective inner edges to maximize etching and to prevent condensation and subsequent arcing that undesirably occurs when certain materials, particularly dielectrics, are being sputtered. If two or more rotating targets are employed in a single magnetron system, each is similarly shielded. In an alternative form, the target is provided with a single cylindrical shield that is cut away for a significant portion of the distance around the cylinder to provide an opening through which a sputtering region of the target is accessible, while maintaining shielding of the target end regions. This alternative single shield is similarly shaped at portions of its inner edges adjacent to the opening to maximize etching and to prevent undesired condensation and subsequent arcing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter A. Sieck, John R. Porter
  • Patent number: 5464467
    Abstract: Type X zeolites whose charge-compensating cations are composed of 95 to 50% lithium ions, 4 to 50% of one or more of aluminum, cerium, lanthanum and mixed lanthanides and 0 to 15% of other ions. The zeolites preferentially adsorb nitrogen from gas mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank R. Fitch, Martin Bulow, Adeola F. Ojo
  • Patent number: 5461872
    Abstract: An air separation method and apparatus in which air is separated by a low temperature rectification process having cooling and rectification stages for cooling air to a temperature suitable for its rectification and for distilling or fractionating the air into fractions enriched in components of the air, respectively. A process stream flowing between the cooling and distillation stages is either partially warmed or cooled and is then expanded in a turboexpander to produce a refrigerant stream. The refrigeration is recovered within the cooling stage and after the refrigerant stream has fully warmed, the refrigerant stream is drawn at subatmospheric pressure by a blower or the like and is then discharged at or above atmospheric pressure. The drawing of the air at subatmospheric pressure increases the turboexpander pressure ratio to in turn increase the amount of refrigeration that is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Mostello
  • Patent number: 5463137
    Abstract: A propylene stream which contains propane as an impurity is contacted with carbon monoxide and hydrogen in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst thereby producing a product stream containing butyraldehyde and/or n-butyl alcohol, unreacted propylene and propane. A gas mixture containing propylene and propane is separated from the product stream and subjected to adsorption at a temperature of 0.degree. to 250.degree. C. in a bed of adsorbent which selectively adsorbs propylene, thereby adsorbing substantially all of the propylene from the gas mixture. The propylene is desorbed from the adsorbent and recycled to the reaction zone. The process is operated on a low per pass conversion with recycle of unreacted propylene. In the system of the invention the propylene adsorption unit may be upstream or downstream of the hydroformylation reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramakrishnan Ramachandran, Loc H. Dao
  • Patent number: 5462111
    Abstract: A cooling apparatus comprises a cooling chamber (2), means (4) for introducing liquefied gas or its cold vapor thereinto, an exhaust passage (16) having flow inducing means associated therewith and a heat transfer means (46) associated with said exhaust passage (16) in which the heat transfer means operates to transfer heat from a heat source to the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 31, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventor: David G. Wardle
  • Patent number: 5460696
    Abstract: An oxygen delignification method and apparatus in which a charge of heated wood pulp is reacted with oxygen in the presence of a charge of caustic soda in a plurality of reaction stages located between mixing stages in which caustic is mixed with the wood pulp. The use of the plurality of mixing stages reduces peak pH exposure of the wood pulp that would otherwise occur if the charges of caustic and wood pulp were mixed all at once. Moreover, the caustic mixed in such manner replenishes neutralized caustic and ensures that the average pH level is increased above that in conventional oxygen delignification. The increase in average pH level favors an increase in the delignification. Filtrate from a washing stage is introduced into the mixing stages to prevent wood pulp degradation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark J. Kirschner, Rustam H. Sethna
  • Patent number: 5456594
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for burning a fuel in the presence of an oxidant in which intermixing fuel jets are formed from fuel and oxidant flowing in a mixing layer. The fuel and the oxidant are combusted to produce a projected flame. Intermixture of the fuel and the oxidant jets occurs within a turbulent flow regime where the fuel and the oxidant are in close contact with one another within eddies. The fuel and the oxidant are intermixed in average stoichiometric proportions and the mass flow rates of the fuel or the oxidant or both are intermittent and have a regular pulsation. This regular pulsation has a sufficiently high frequency that the eddies contain the fuel and the oxidant in fuel-rich and fuel-lean ratios in an essentially even distribution through the projected flame. As a result a plurality of fuel-rich and fuel-lean regions are created throughout the projected flame and thermal NO.sub.x and carbon monoxide emissions are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Loo T. Yap
  • Patent number: 5456084
    Abstract: A cryogenic heat exchange system and freer dryer incorporating the same. The cryogenic heat exchange system has a heat exchanger provided with at least one pass for receiving a cryogenic heat exchange fluid. A reversing circuit is provided to reverse the flow direction of the cryogenic heat transfer fluid in the at least one pass to help prevent asymmetric ice buildup on the heat exchanger. Additionally, a portion of the spent cryogenic heat transfer fluid after having passed through the at least one pass is recirculated. During the recirculation, the spent cryogenic heat transfer fluid is mixed with incoming cryogen to produce the cryogenic heat transfer fluid. Such cryogenic heat transfer fluid after creation is then introduced into the flow reversing circuit and the one or more passes of the heat exchanger. A remaining portion of the cryogenic heat transfer fluid is vented. The recirculation raises the temperature of the heat transfer in the heat exchanger to also promote uniform ice buildup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ron C. Lee
  • Patent number: 5456083
    Abstract: An air separation apparatus and method in which a high pressure gaseous product is produced as a liquid, pumped to a delivery pressure and then vaporized prior to its discharge as product. In order to accomplish the requisite vaporization, a subsidiary stream of incoming air is compressed by a booster compressor and then passed into indirect heat exchange with the pumped liquid in a falling film evaporator. The falling film evaporator maintains an essentially constant temperature difference between the air and falling film, formed of the pumped liquid. As a result, a very small temperature differences can be maintained as compared with the conventional use of a thermosyphon reboiler. As a result, less booster compression is required for the subsidiary air stream over a prior art plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Hogg, Mark Leskowicz
  • Patent number: 5454712
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air-oxy-fuel method and apparatus in which fuel is burned in first and second stages of combustion having a fuel-rich and fuel-lean stoichiometry, respectively, to reduce NO.sub.x, emissions. The fuel is burned in the first stage of combustion in oxygen. The combustion of the fuel is completed in the second stage of combustion in the presence of air. Mixing of fuel and oxygen is effected by forming fuel and oxygen jets in close proximity to one another. Air is then swirled around the fuel and oxygen jets at a swirl ratio of no less than about 0.6 so that combustion products of the fast stage of combustion recirculate to obtain stable combustion of a very fuel-rich flame which is characterized by increased flame luminosity. The use of air allows for a lesser degree of swirling than had a single oxidant been used in both the fast and second stages of combustion because a greater mass of air is supplied than oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Loo T. Yap
  • Patent number: 5454227
    Abstract: An air separation method and apparatus in which a compressed and purified air stream is divided into first and second subsidiary streams. The air of the first subsidiary stream is rectified within an air separation unit comprising higher and lower pressure columns. A liquid oxygen product is pumped from the lower pressure column to a desired above-atmospheric delivery pressure. At the same time, the second subsidiary stream is expanded to substantially the delivery pressure by an expansion machine and the two streams are then counter-currently added to a mixing column to vaporize the liquid stream and thereby produce a product stream at the delivery pressure. One or more liquid refrigerant streams are removed from the mixing column and added to the lower pressure column to refrigerate the process. The addition of a liquid increases the liquid to vapor ratio within the lower pressure column to in turn increase production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Straub, Neil Nogg