Patents Represented by Law Firm Speckman, Pauley & Fejer
  • Direct heated adsorbent bed heat pump
    Patent number: 5505059
    Abstract: A heat driven solid adsorbent bed heat pump system and method of operating same in which the refrigerant is used both to heat and cool the beds and to heat or cool the space to be conditioned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: David M. Sanborn
  • Manually operated device with a tip for material processing
    Patent number: 5505571
    Abstract: A manually operated device including a tool holder used as a handgrip and a tool with a material-processing tip. The tool has a shaft having an elbow with respect to the tool holder and being rotatably positioned in the tool holder. The material-processing tip is positioned on a first axis of the shaft, and a second axis of the shaft is rotatably maintained in the handgrip, so that a working pressure exerted on the handgrip is applied offset by a distance between the two axes. Material processing, for example deburring or countersinking, is possible without having to regrip the handgrip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Werner Jakob
  • Process for purification of non-aqueous viscous organic compounds
    Patent number: 5505855
    Abstract: A process for purification of a substantially non-aqueous, viscous, contaminated organic liquid, in particular tri-ethylene glycol, comprising heating the contaminated organic liquid to a temperature in the range of about 70.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. and passing the contaminated organic liquid through a reverse osmosis membrane at a pressure in the range of about 400 psig to 650 psig. As a result of passing through the reverse osmosis membrane, a purified organic liquid is formed on one side of the membrane and a retentate with contaminants removed from the contaminated organic liquid is formed on the other side of the reverse osmosis membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Christian U. Haussmann
  • Separator plate for a fuel cell
    Patent number: 5503945
    Abstract: A separator plate for a fuel cell comprising an anode current collector, a cathode current collector and a main plate, the main plate disposed between the anode current collector and the cathode current collector. The anode current collector forms a flattened peripheral wet seal structure and manifold wet seal structure on the anode side of the separator plate and the cathode current collector forms a flattened peripheral wet seal structure and manifold wet seal structure on the cathode side of the separator plate. In this manner, the number of components required to manufacture and assemble a fuel cell stack is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Randy J. Petri, John Meek, Robert P. Bachta, Leonard G. Marianowski
  • Determination of permeability of porous media and thickness of layered porous media
    Patent number: 5503001
    Abstract: Process and apparatus for determination of permeability of porous media and thickness of layered porous media by measurement at finite frequency of streaming potential and electro-osmotic induced voltage due to applied finite frequency pressure oscillations and alternating current, respectively. The distance between application and measurement of the alternating signals at a finite frequency is small compared to the wave length. A plurality of spaced measurement electrodes provides measurement of the penetration depth of applied pressure oscillations for determination of thickness of porous layers and to largely remove the effect due to mudcake on a borehole in streaming potential measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Po-zen Wong
  • Central sealing pin cap
    Patent number: 5501377
    Abstract: A rotatable central sealing pin cap having a stationary part and a detachable pouring screw cap, each with engagable threads, an axial stop and a twist stop. A plurality of pre-assembly positions or intermediate positions can be defined. A twist stop is provided that limits rotational motion of the detachable pouring screw cap with respect to the stationary part beyond the completely open and the completely closed positions. At the same time, the detachable pouring screw cap is sealed to the stationary part to prevent an undesired backflow into the threaded region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Assignee: Createchnic AG
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Adapter for use with clamping devices on multi-hole-machine-tool workpiece tables
    Patent number: 5501437
    Abstract: An adapter for use with clamping devices for clamping workpieces on perforated screen plates of machine tools. The adapter has a plurality of building block-like elements. One such element, a base plate, has at least two bores for fastening the base plate to the perforated screen plate. A T-groove in the base plate receives a transverse sliding element. A T-groove in the transverse sliding element receives a base of a longitudinal sliding element. A building block element rests on the base plate. A securing mechanism secures the building block-like elements with respect to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1996
    Inventor: Heinz Kisslig
  • Two-phase anaerobic digestion of carbonaceous organic materials
    Patent number: 5500123
    Abstract: A process for improved methane production by two-phase anaerobic digestion of organic carbonaceous material in which organic carbonaceous material is fermented under anaerobic conditions in an acid phase digester, forming a liquid/solids effluent, the liquid/solids effluent is fermented under anaerobic conditions in a methane phase digester, product gas comprising methane is withdrawn from the methane phase digester, and oxygen is introduced into the methane phase digester. In a preferred embodiment, the methane phase liquid effluent is passed through a CO.sub.2 stripper resulting in stripping of CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 S from the methane phase liquid effluent. The resulting stripper liquid effluent comprising dissolved oxygen is then recycled back to the methane phase digester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventor: Vipul J. Srivastava
  • Oxy-gas fired forehearth burner system
    Patent number: 5500030
    Abstract: An oxy-fuel burner for a forehearth system comprising an oxygen conduit and a fuel conduit disposed concentrically within the oxygen conduit, forming an annulus between the fuel conduit and the oxygen conduit. The fuel firing end of the fuel conduit is recessed within the oxygen conduit at a distance from the oxygen firing end of the oxygen conduit. The ratio of the inside diameter of the oxygen firing end of the oxygen conduit to the inside diameter of the fuel firing end of the fuel conduit is in the range of about 2:1 to 8:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 19, 1996
    Assignee: Combustion Tec, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Lee Broadway
  • Plastic closure with security element
    Patent number: 5497906
    Abstract: A one-piece plastic closure for fastening on a container having a lower part with a top surface which forms a pouring opening, and a cap pivotably connected to the lower part by a hinge shaft. A security element is connected to the closure such that, during initial opening of the closure, the security element is transformed from a secured state to a visually recognizable state of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Createchnic AG
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Plastic snap hinge
    Patent number: 5494185
    Abstract: A plastic closure having a lower part attachable to a container, and a cap which is connected with the lower part by a main film hinge. A spring element engages the lower part and the cap, and also bridges an axis of rotation of the main film hinge and thus generates a snap effect. The main film hinge extends continuously through an area in which the main film hinge is bridged by the spring element. In a closed state of the plastic closure, each spring element is hidden completely within the closed closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Createchnic AG
    Inventor: Werner F. Dubach
  • Coffee maker with a metering device
    Patent number: 5492054
    Abstract: A coffee maker which operates with at least one metering device having an adjustable wall, which varies the metering volume of the metering chamber. The metered powdered beverage is emptied through a movable flap and falls through a pouring funnel into an extraction chamber of an extraction cup. During the brewing process, a displaceable extraction piston is located in the brewing chamber. The movable wall and the movable extraction piston are actuated via a single operating element which acts on a transmission means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Prodiana AG
    Inventor: Gerard Schneeberger
  • Forward injection oxy-fuel burner
    Patent number: 5490775
    Abstract: A burner for combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture mountable on a burner block having a hot face, a cold face opposite the hot face and forming a communication having a circular cross-section between the hot face and the cold face, comprising an oxidant conduit and a fuel conduit disposed concentrically within the oxidant conduit and forming an annulus between the fuel conduit and the oxidant conduit. One end of the fuel conduit extends into the burner block communication and is disposed at a distance from the burner block hot face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Combustion Tec, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Lee Broadway
  • Turbocharger-based bleed-air driven fuel gas booster system and method
    Patent number: 5488823
    Abstract: A method and system for increasing the pressure of gaseous fuel delivered to a fuel system of a gas turbine engine. A portion of pressurized gas or compressed air is discharged from a high-pressure section of the gas turbine engine and is communicated to a plurality of radial inflow turbines or axial flow turbines. Energy is transferred from each turbine to a plurality of compressors driven by the turbines. Gaseous fuel is supplied to an inlet of one of the compressors. The compressed gaseous fuel is then cooled downstream of the compressors. The aftercooled and compressed gaseous fuel is delivered to the fuel system of the gas turbine engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Henry B. Faulkner, James B. Kesseli, Michael C. Swarden, Willem Jansen
  • Metering valve
    Patent number: 5488969
    Abstract: A method and a metering valve for metering a fluid by incrementally adjusting a position of a flow control element that directly varies a flow area of a flow port opening in a valve housing. The flow control element is adjustably mounted with respect to the valve housing. The metering valve maintains an approximately constant percentage variation of a mass flow rate of a fluid with respect to the current total flow rate flowing through the flow port opening, for each incremental adjustment of the flow control element position, throughout the metering range of the metering valve yielding an exponentially varying mass flow rate as a result of linearly varying the flow control element position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Steven R. King, James J. Cole, Kennon H. Guglielmo, John P. Latusek
  • Apparatus and method for mounting and operating multile turbochargers in parallel
    Patent number: 5488827
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for establishing parallel flow to and from a plurality of turbochargers operating in parallel. The turbochargers are mounted on a manifold that has a high pressure chamber and a low pressure chamber. A plurality of turbines are mounted to the manifold so that each turbine inlet is in communication with the high pressure chamber and each turbine outlet is in communication with the low pressure chamber. Each turbine inlet is sized, shaped and positioned to accommodate a designed proportional mass flow rate to each corresponding turbine. A programmed logic controller and suitable control valve can be used to bypass a portion of the engine exhaust gas from the high pressure chamber directly to the low pressure chamber. The amount of bypassed engine exhaust gas can be controlled to vary the power output of turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Melvin J. Helmich, Richard C. Peoples, Vaughn A. Squires
  • Restorable breakaway post
    Patent number: 5484217
    Abstract: A restorable breakaway post having a base post and a breakaway post which are connected with a breakable splice plate. The position of the base post is fixed with respect to ground or another suitable structure. A flexible member has opposing ends secured with respect to the base post and the breakaway post. Upon an impact force applied to the breakaway post, the splice plate shears and thus allows the breakaway post to move away from the base post. Under such impact force, the flexible member retains the breakaway post in a relatively close position to the base post. The broken splice plate can be easily replaced to restore the breakaway post to its initial condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Decks, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank E. Carroll, George W. Frejd
  • Turbine wheel
    Patent number: D368480
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Salaiyur N. Thirumalaisamy, Henry B. Faulkner
  • Flatware
    Patent number: D368832
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Inventor: Wolfgang Held
  • Refrigerator enclosure
    Patent number: D368916
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Rittal-Werk Rudolf Loh GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Adam Pawlowski, Jurgen Bernhardt, Heinrich Styppa, Norbert Muller