Patents Assigned to AIR
  • Patent number: 6398853
    Abstract: A gas separation system for separating a feed gas mixture into a first gas component and a second gas component comprises a stator, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the stator. The stator includes a first stator valve face, a second stator valve surface, and a plurality of function compartments opening into the stator valve surfaces. The rotor includes a first rotor valve surface in communication with the first stator valve surface, and a second rotor valve surface in communication with the second stator valve surface. The rotor also includes a plurality of rotor flow paths for receiving gas adsorbent material therein for preferentially adsorbing the first gas component in response to increasing pressure in the rotor flow paths in comparison to the second gas component. Each rotor flow path includes a pair of opposite ends opening into the rotor valve faces for communication with the function compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Quest Air Gases Inc.
    Inventors: Bowie Gordon Keefer, Kevin Arnold Kaupert
  • Patent number: 6398547
    Abstract: An oxy-combustion firing configuration, process, and apparatus can reduce the consumption of oxygen and fuel in an oxy-fuel combustion processes. Processes in accordance with the present invention include operation of an automated logic control device which controls an oscillating valve and controller. The valve and controller are used to oscillate the fuel and/or oxygen supplied to individual burners in a furnace. The oscillating parameters, such as frequency, amplitude, duty cycle, and phase difference between individual burners and their stoichiometry ratio are set to initiate preferable oxy-combustion in that furnace. Selective burner placement in the furnace enables the formation of deflagration zones which can provide very intense heating and complete combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, American Air Liquide inc.
    Inventors: Mahendra L. Joshi, Harley Borders, Olivier Charon
  • Patent number: 6399830
    Abstract: This invention pertains to an improvement in a process for the formation of secondary or tertiary amines by the catalytic reductive amination of a nitrile with a primary amine. The catalyst employed in the improved reductive amination process is one that has been promoted with an acidic promoter preferably a solid phase acidic promoter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John Nelson Armor, Michael Edward Ford, William Eamon Carroll
  • Publication number: 20020063042
    Abstract: A roller bed that is inserted between idlers in a conveyor belt system. The roller bed includes a base plate that is oriented substantially parallel to said surface of said conveyor belt. A first side plate on a first side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a first side of conveyor belt and cause the first side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to a plane of the surface. Small diameter rollers, very closely spaced, are affixed to a surface of the first side plate to support the conveyor belt and reduce friction between the side plate and the conveyor belt. A second side plate on a second side of the base plate is oriented at an angle to the surface of the conveyor belt to support a second side of the conveyor belt and cause the second side of the conveyor belt to be angled upwards with respect to the plane of the surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2000
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Air Control Science, Inc.
    Inventors: John S. Fischer, Edgar Hugh Schwartz
  • Patent number: 6394120
    Abstract: The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual system pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. The inventor(s) of the present invention have discovered that it is more efficient to control the compressors upon sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid. Moreover, controlling the compressor system in response to sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid insures that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Scales Air Compressor
    Inventor: Ernest J. Wichert
  • Patent number: 6395064
    Abstract: Provided is a novel system for vaporizing and purifying a gas to produce ultrapure chemical gases employed at a semiconductor processing facility. The system includes a liquified gas source, a vaporization purification bed, and a buffer tank. The liquefied gas source is in communication with the vaporization purification bed to provide a liquefied gas to the bed with an ultra-pure chemical gas generated in the purification bed. The purified gas is subsequently routed to a buffer tank and to a point of use therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: American Air Liquide, INC
    Inventors: Mindi Xu, Richard Udischas, Carol Schnepper, Joseph Paganessi
  • Patent number: 6395188
    Abstract: A single step wet oxidation process for treating wastewaters containing organic species, with or without heteroatoms, and anions of strong acids, e.g. sulfate or phosphate ion, or cations of strong bases, e.g., sodium, potassium or calcium ions, and which may contain ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion in addition to added ammonium ion and/or nitrate ion was developed which on thermal treatment near the critical temperature of water removes substantially all the COD and nitrogen through conversion to water, carbon dioxide or carbonate species, nitrogen gas and small amounts of nitrous oxide. Key to the success of the process is the balancing of all reducing species with an equivalent amount of oxidizing species and the balancing of all strong acid anions with strong base cations and including at least 0.06 acetate ion for moles of nitrate in the wet oxidation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Juan Jesus Burdeniuc, John Edward Sawicki, Thomas Albert Johnson, Malee Leeaphon
  • Patent number: 6395820
    Abstract: A substantially solvent free, aqueous, pigmented, two component polyurethane-polyurea dispersion comprising: (a) an aqueous mixture of an acid-containing polymeric polyol and a polyol free of acid groups, wherein the mixture has an average hydroxyl functionality of at least 1.5 and an acid number between about 15 and 200; and an amine or a blend of amines having an average active hydrogen functionality of at least 1.5, the amine or blend of amines being present in a sufficient amount to substantially neutralize the acid-containing polymeric polyol; (b) one or more polyisocyanates; and (c) two or more different pigments; characterized by reducing or eliminating flooding of the pigments with (d) an aqueous polymer emulsion present in an amount sufficient to impart thixotropy to the mixture of (a) and (d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Denise Luise Lindenmuth, Charles Raymond Hegedus, Frank Ralph Pepe
  • Patent number: 6393865
    Abstract: A combined main air/O2 enriched product compressor for use with an air separation unit that produces O2 enriched product is provided that includes a prime mover that drives a bull gear. The bull gear drives at least two pinion gears, and the pinion gears drive several compression stages where at least one compression stage compresses feed air for the air separation unit and at least one compressor stage compresses O2 enriched product from the air separation unit. The combined main air/O2 enriched product compressor satisfies all air separation unit feed air requirements and at least some compression for the oxygen product from the air separation unit. A method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent Coakley, Joseph Gerard Wehrman, Bruce Kyle Dawson
  • Patent number: 6394559
    Abstract: A control apparatus is provided which is engageable with a hand brake assembly on a railway vehicle for operation of an application cylinder for applying the hand brake assembly. This apparatus includes a source of fluid pressure which is engageable with the railway vehicle. A pneumatic actuation valve which is connected to the source of fluid pressure for initiating communication of fluid pressure from the source of fluid pressure. A force regulating valve which is connected to the pneumatic actuation valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the actuation valve and a mechanically driven valve is connected to the force regulating valve for receiving the fluid pressure from the force regulating valve and for communicating the fluid pressure to the application cylinder to apply the hand brake assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, Ronald Henry, James E. Hart
  • Patent number: 6393837
    Abstract: A rotary air tool includes an axially moving automatic speed control valve which responds to changes in rotary speed by varying the amount of air fed to its air motor. When the speed tends to increase under light load, less air is fed to the air motor to maintain a generally constant rotary speed. A safety device is triggered when the speed exceeds a predetermined maximum due, for example, to a malfunction in the speed control valve. The safety device includes a weight which is radially movable at the predetermined maximum speed to release a latch. The latch permits resilient actuation of the speed control valve toward its closed position. In one embodiment, a second latch maintains the safety device in the actuated condition so that the air tool remains substantially shut off until the reason for the overspeed condition is investigated. In a further embodiment, the speed control valve is not fully closed by actuation of the safety device so that at least a small amount of air is admitted to the air motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Air Tools Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Isao Tomioka
  • Patent number: 6396056
    Abstract: Instrumentation to detect the presence of, or to measure the concentration of, a gas or pollutant in a gaseous environment. With the use of spectroscopic techniques and energy beams having suitable wavelengths, the presence and concentrations of these can be detected and measured, not only in flowing streams such as in process streams or exhaust stacks, but above a ground area, around its perimeter, or across the road. A calibration means including an internal audit cell and a retrodirective reflector is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Air Instruments and Measurements, Inc.
    Inventors: Harry C. Lord, Marc M. Baum
  • Patent number: 6395817
    Abstract: Aqueous based graft emulsion copolymers comprising a polymer having a plurality of hydroxyl groups, preferably a vinyl alcohol homo- or copolymer, grafted with a polyethylene. The graft emulsion copolymer can be prepared by polymerizing ethylene and, optionally another ethylenically unsaturated monomer, in an aqueous solution of a polymer having a plurality of pendent hydroxyl groups, especially poly(vinyl alcohol). The graft emulsion copolymer product can have a polyethylene content ranging from 50 to 95 wt %, hydroxyl-containing polymer ranging from 5 to 50 wt %, and up to 45 wt % of another polymerized ethylenically unsaturated monomer. Polymerization is carried out in an aqueous solution containing at least 5 wt %, preferably 10 wt %, of a hydroxyl-containing polymer having a degree of polymerization of 50 to 2200, preferably 100 to 500.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products Polymers, L.P.
    Inventors: John Joseph Rabasco, William Edward Lenney
  • Patent number: 6394233
    Abstract: An apparatus for operation a railway car vertical wheel hand brake. A hand brake wheel has a hub fixed on an operating shaft. The operating shaft is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The hand brake wheel further has a reaction member. A brake release mechanism is fixed on a brake release shaft that is rotatably mounted on the hand brake. The reaction member is engageable with the brake release mechanism when the hand brake wheel is rotated, whereby the position of the brake release mechanism will provide a visual indicator of the brake status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Wajih Kanjo, Michael E. Ring, Scott Natschke
  • Patent number: 6390415
    Abstract: This invention relates to a system for reducing tire wear of an airborne vehicle that requires a runway upon which to land. A stream of air is naturally directed against a mechanical housing affixed to the wheels of the airborne vehicle, the device comprising a number of radially spaced surfaces symmetrically positioned about the housing and bolted to the existing wheel assembly. When the landing gear is in the extended position, natural air flow across the radially spaced surfaces causes the wheel to rotate at the equivalent to the landing speed of the aircraft, eliminating excessive wear on the tire, reducing stress on the landing gear assembly and resulting in a more controlled landing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventor: Michael D. Almen
  • Patent number: 6392146
    Abstract: A housing including a base, a cover engagable to the base in a first position, a receptacle carried by the base for receiving and supporting the cover away from the base in a second position, and apparatus for engaging the cover to the base in the first position comprising at least one pin carried by the base and a keyway carried by the cover, the pin having a neck leading to an enlarged head and the keyway including an enlarged portion for receiving the enlarged head and a narrowed portion for accommodating only the neck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Air Cool Industrial Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Jen-Lung David Tai
  • Patent number: 6390305
    Abstract: High performance filters comprise a basestock impregnated with an aqueous based poly(vinyl alcohol) graft emulsion copolymer as binder. The aqueous based poly(vinyl alcohol) graft emulsion copolymer binder is prepared by graft polymerizing one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomer in an aqueous poly(vinyl alcohol) solution in which at least 30% of the total poly(vinyl alcohol) is 70 to 97 mol % hydrolyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Air Products Polymers, L.P.
    Inventors: John Joseph Rabasco, Ronald Bernal Jones, William Edward Lenney, George Davidowich
  • Patent number: 6390313
    Abstract: An improved ball and race connection assembly for use in connecting together adjacently disposed ends of railway vehicles is provided. This ball and race connection assembly is particularly useful as a connection member in slackless type drawbar assemblies. The improved ball and race connection assembly includes a race member which is formed from a polymeric and/or composite material, specifically a resin impregnated filament wound material which is wound on a polytetrafluoroethylene/polyester mesh sleeve and cured. The use of these materials enables the race member to have sufficient strength and to be self-lubricating, thus eliminating the costs of providing a lubricating material at the ball and race interface, as is necessary when using a metal race, as well as reducing the amount of friction at this interface resulting in lower L/V ratios.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Michael E. Ring, David W. Daugherty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6392009
    Abstract: Benzobisazole polymers having repeating units of the formula wherein Z is wherein X is —S—, —O— or —NH—.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
    Inventors: Fred E. Arnold, Thuy D. Dang, Narayanan Venkatasubramanian
  • Patent number: 6390779
    Abstract: Apparatus for and method of monitoring the condition of an air compressor. The apparatus includes a plurality of appropriately located sensors for sensing operating parameters of the air compressor and for outputting signals indicative of the condition of each of the operating parameters. An information processor is connected to receive the output signals from the sensors and to communicate output control signals in response thereto. The control signals contain information that allows appropriate control and maintenance of the air compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Brian L. Cunkelman