Patents Represented by Law Firm Speckman & Pauley
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 5477734
    Abstract: A pyroelectric swirl indicator for measurement of swirl in flowing fluid comprising at least one pyroelectric substrate having at least one surface to which is applied a fluctuating heat input, the fluctuating heat input causing a fluctuating surface charge distribution in response to temperature fluctuations of the substrate. Spaced apart conductor elements for sensing the fluctuating surface charge on the surface of the substrate in the vicinity of the spaced apart conductor elements are provided, the differences in the charge fluctuations between the spaced apart conductor elements comprising an indication of swirl flow in the fluid, said spaced apart conductor elements disposed in a manner which enables measurement of orthogonal components of fluid flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Jay N. Zemel, Hsin-Yi Hsieh, Anita L. Spetz
  • Patent number: 5476375
    Abstract: A porous matrix, surface combustor-fluid heating apparatus in which combustion of a fuel/oxidant mixture is carried out in stages within a stationary porous bed disposed in a combustion chamber. A fuel-rich fuel/oxidant mixture is burned within a region of the stationary porous bed disposed near the inlet end of the combustion chamber, forming a primary combustion zone. A secondary oxidant is introduced into the stationary porous bed downstream of the primary combustion zone forming a secondary combustion zone. Finally, heat resulting from the combustion is removed by fluid flowing through heat exchanger tubes embedded within the stationary porous bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Institute of Gas Technology
    Inventors: Mark J. Khinkis, Hamid A. Abbasi, Thomas D. Briselden
  • Patent number: 5476826
    Abstract: A catalyst material of carbon black powder having nitrogen affixed to its surface and process for its production by contacting carbon black powder particles with a plasma or low energy beam of nitrogen containing ions affixing the nitrogen ions to the surface of the particles in a concentration of about 0.1 to about 10 percent, based upon the total number of surface atoms. The catalysts are particularly suited for use in phosphoric acid fuel cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventors: Anton C. Greenwald, Vinod Jalan, deceased
  • Patent number: 5473881
    Abstract: A fixed geometry combustor for a gas turbine comprising at least one combustion chamber, a dilution chamber disposed downstream of said combustion chamber and in communication with said combustion chamber, at least one primary inspirator for introducing a fuel/air mixture into said combustion chamber in communication with said combustion chamber, and means for introducing dilution air into the dilution chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Boris M. Kramnik, Walter Kunc
  • Patent number: D364998
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Wolfgang Held
  • 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