Patents Assigned to Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
  • Publication number: 20170049126
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming frozen ice cream pellets includes supplying an ice cream premix into a loading vessel; loading a loading cylinder with the ice cream premix from the loading vessel, the loading cylinder being connected to the loading vessel; applying a machine-controllable force to expel the ice cream premix from the loading cylinder as ice cream premix pellets; and exposing the ice cream premix pellets to a cryogenic fluid, thereby at least partially freezing the ice cream premix pellets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2016
    Publication date: February 23, 2017
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: David C. BRAITHWAITE
  • Patent number: 9521854
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of forming frozen ice cream pellets includes supplying an ice cream premix into a loading vessel; loading a loading cylinder with the ice cream premix from the loading vessel, the loading cylinder being connected to the loading vessel; applying a machine-controllable force to expel the ice cream premix from the loading cylinder as ice cream premix pellets; and exposing the ice cream premix pellets to a cryogenic fluid, thereby at least partially freezing the ice cream premix pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: David C. Braithwaite
  • Patent number: 9273239
    Abstract: A method of proportionally mixing two fluids is provided. The method includes introducing a first fluid stream, introducing a second fluid stream, wherein the flow rate of the second stream is modulated by a valve, thereby producing a modulated stream, combining the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream, thereby forming a compounded fluid stream, introducing said compounded fluid stream into a fluid containment region, wherein a vapor fraction and a liquid fraction are formed, determining the composition of the vapor fraction, comparing the composition of the vapor fraction with a predetermined composition to determine a composition error, and modulating the valve to reduce the composition error to a predetermined error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. Braithwaite, Scott Terdic
  • Patent number: 9267187
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Patent number: 9151532
    Abstract: A material to be frozen is fed to an immersion bath having a recirculating flow of liquid nitrogen thereinside and at least partially frozen material is withdrawn from the bath downstream of where it is fed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. Braithwaite, Chris Redlarczyk
  • Patent number: 9034407
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and systems that distribute an additive in solid carbon dioxide in an interior of food processing equipment. The additive may be injected into a flow of liquid carbon dioxide upstream of an expander at or adjacent to the interior. Injection of the additive into the interior may be alternated with directing a flow of expanded carbon dioxide into the interior. In some embodiments, the freezing point of the additive with or without a diluent composition and/or additive(s) is lower than a temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, Inc., Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. Braithwaite, Meenakshi Sundaram, Vasuhi Rasanayagam
  • Patent number: 8974845
    Abstract: An improved process for peeling hard boiled eggs includes contacting the cooked egg with a cold inert gas before peeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, Inc., Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. Braithwaite, Vasuhi Jian Rasanayagam, Timothy Lawrence Murray
  • Publication number: 20150060722
    Abstract: A method of proportionally mixing two fluids is provided. The method includes introducing a first fluid stream, introducing a second fluid stream, wherein the flow rate of the second stream is modulated by a valve, thereby producing a modulated stream, combining the first fluid stream and the second fluid stream, thereby forming a compounded fluid stream, introducing said compounded fluid stream into a fluid containment region, wherein a vapor fraction and a liquid fraction are formed, determining the composition of the vapor fraction, comparing the composition of the vapor fraction with a predetermined composition to determine a composition error, and modulating the valve to reduce the composition error to a predetermined error.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2013
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. BRAITHWAITE, Scott Terdic
  • Patent number: 8967450
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a welding zone for welding together pipe sections. The temperature is controlled by a flow of inert gas through the pipes. The inert gas flow is cooled and acts as a heat sink to remove heat from the weld zone thereby controlling the weld zone temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Tharron Scott Laymon
  • Patent number: 8932385
    Abstract: The disclosure provides a method and apparatus for inerting the surface of a metal charge in an induction furnace. The process generally involves use of a porous plug positioned near the surface of the metal charge. Argon (or other blanket gases) is flushed through the porous plug to back fill the volume of the induction furnace above the metal charge with an inert gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. La Sorda
  • Patent number: 8894894
    Abstract: Systems and methods compress, freeze and store forms at sufficiently low temperatures. A system provides a storage tank of liquefied gas, a gas-liquid separation tank, and a compression chamber. The compression chamber provides compression plates chilled by flow of liquefied gas through conduits traversing an interior volume of the plates. The method comprises recirculating liquefied gas to improve cooling efficiency while lowering operation costs. The system and method further provide for integrated measurement and control of the flow of liquefied gas through the primary components of the system. In one embodiment, the forms are rubber cylinders utilized in the production of torsion axles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: David C. Braithwaite
  • Patent number: 8844315
    Abstract: A cryogenic freezer includes a plurality of conveyor rail supports that rest upon side walls of a lower housing of the freezer. The conveyor rail supports include upper and lower bars that support upper and lower conveyor support rails extending perpendicular to the bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: Stephen Bilger, David C. Braithwaite
  • Publication number: 20140131422
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a welding zone for welding together pipe sections. The temperature is controlled by a flow of inert gas through the pipes. The inert gas flow is cooled and acts as a heat sink to remove heat from the weld zone thereby controlling the weld zone temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2014
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Tharron Scott LAYMON
  • Patent number: 8708547
    Abstract: A present invention provides for a system (100) for injecting cooling fluid into a concrete mixing container (502), the system (100) comprising a support structure (116) having a leg assembly with two or more supporting legs (201) and a cross member beam (200) supported between said two or more legs (201), the two or more legs (201) and the cross member beam (200) being positioned with respect to one another in such a manner as to define a passageway (210) of sufficient height (H) and width (W) between the two or more legs (201) and beneath the cross member beam (200) to allow passage of a concrete mixer truck (504) through the passageway (210) and a lance device (190) positioned on the cross member beam (200) of the support structure (116), the lance device (190) comprising an articulated arm that includes a rigid lance (102) which allows for the flow of a cooling fluid there through; and a means for acting on the articulated arm to cause pivotal movement of the articulated arm in a non-linear motion thereby
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Stephen Bilger
  • Patent number: 8691308
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and systems that distribute an additive in solid carbon dioxide in an interior of food processing equipment. The additive may be injected into a flow of liquid carbon dioxide upstream of an expander at or adjacent to the interior. Injection of the additive into the interior may be alternated with directing a flow of expanded carbon dioxide into the interior. In some embodiments, the freezing point of the additive with or without a diluent composition and/or additive(s) is lower than a temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, Inc., Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventors: David C. Braithwaite, Meenakshi Sundaram, Vasuhi Rasanayagam
  • Publication number: 20140090859
    Abstract: A biomass fire inside an installation is suppressed with dripping liquid nitrogen from over the biomass and injecting gaseous nitrogen underneath the biomass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: AIR LIQUIDE INDUSTRIAL U.S. LP
    Inventors: Richard A. SAUER, Richard R. MASI, Adam KEELING
  • Publication number: 20140059879
    Abstract: This work is in simplifying the freezing and heating process required for a typical lyophilization process. From a liquid nitrogen supply tank called LIN tank, calculated quantity of vaporized nitrogen is transported the use point where a heater that uses heating media heats up nitrogen to a desired temperature and pass into the annular space of the steel plate where lyophilized solvent such as water of solvent is deposited on the outer surface of the plate. The heated nitrogen temperature will dictate the rate at which the solvent or water will be thawed. This unique process offer simplicity, safety and ease operation allowing the user to avoid heating oil as heating media, a common practice in the industry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Sudhir R. BRAHMBHATT
  • Patent number: 8662374
    Abstract: This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a welding zone for welding together pipe sections. The temperature is controlled by a flow of inert gas through the pipes. The inert gas flow is cooled and acts as a heat sink to remove heat from the weld zone thereby controlling the weld zone temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Scott Laymon
  • Publication number: 20140047953
    Abstract: Systems and corresponding methods are described herein that provide an effective inert blanket over a metal surface (hot solid (charge) metal or molten metal) in a container such as an induction furnace. The system includes a container of metal and a system configured to delivery biphasic inert cryogen toward the metal. The delivery system may include a lance disposed at the top of the container. The lance has a hood that directs both a flow of liquid cryogen and a flow of vaporous gas toward the metal surface. The liquid cryogen contacts the metal surface, generating a volume of expanding gas over the metal surface. The vaporous cryogen creates a reinforcing vapor that slows the expansion rate of the expanding gas, localizing the expanding gas over the metal surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: Terence D. LA SORDA
  • Publication number: 20140000296
    Abstract: An upwardly helical flow path of mechanically refrigerated air inside a spiral freezer may be used to chill or freeze products.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Air Liquide Industrial U.S. LP
    Inventor: David C. Braithwaite