Patents Assigned to Bend Research Inc.
  • Organic and inorganic vapor permeation by countercurrent condensable sweep
    Patent number: 5611842
    Abstract: A process for the removal of at least one non-water vapor component of a vaporous mixture, the basic process comprising directing a vaporous mixture against the feed side of a membrane, directing a condensable vapor sweep stream past the permeate side of the membrane in a manner such that the flow of the condensable vapor sweep is substantially countercurrent to the flow of the vaporous mixture, thereby transporting at least a portion of at least one non-water vapor component of the vaporous mixture from the feed side to the permeate side of the membrane to form a combined permeate side mixture of condensable vapor and at least one non-water vapor transported component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1997
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne T. Friesen, David D. Newbold, Scott B. McCray, Roderick J. Ray
  • Chlorine-resistant composite membranes with high organic rejection
    Patent number: 5582725
    Abstract: A method for making a chlorine-resistant composite polyamide membrane having high organic rejection, the essential step of which comprises treating a conventional composite membrane with an acyl halide. The novel membrane is especially suitable for the treatment of water containing chlorine or lower molecular weight organic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott B. McCray, Dwayne T. Friesen, Robert P. Barss, Leslie D. Nelson
  • Nitrogen sorption
    Patent number: 5516745
    Abstract: Nitrogen-sorbing and -desorbing compositions and methods of using the same are disclosed, which are useful for the selective separation of nitrogen from other gases, especially natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne T. Friesen, Walter C. Babcock, David J. Edlund, Warren K. Miller
  • Permselective hollow fiber fluid separation membranes having plasma-polymerized lumen-side coatings
    Patent number: 5514276
    Abstract: Hollow fiber fluid separation membranes having a first lumen-side permselective coating and a second lumen-side plasma-polymerized coating are disclosed, as well as methods of making the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter C. Babcock, Geoffrey D. Hyde, Bruce M. Johnson, George W. Rayfeld
  • Composite hydrogen separation element and module
    Patent number: 5498278
    Abstract: There are disclosed improvements in multicomponent composite metal membranes useful for the separation of hydrogen, the improvements comprising the provision of a flexible porous intermediate layer between a support layer and a nonporous hydrogen-permeable coating metal layer, and the provision of a textured coating metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Edlund
  • Acetylenic copolymers and membranes thereof
    Patent number: 5494989
    Abstract: Acetylenic copolymers especially suitable for fabrication of gas and vapor separation membranes are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren K. Miller, Dwayne T. Friesen
  • Pervaporation by countercurrent condensable sweep
    Patent number: 5464540
    Abstract: There is described a process for the removal of at least one component of a liquid mixture, the basic process comprising directing a liquid mixture against the feed side of a membrane, directing a condensable vapor sweep stream past the permeate side of the membrane in a manner such that the flow of the condensable vapor sweep is substantially countercurrent to the flow of the liquid mixture, thereby transporting at least a portion of at least one component of the liquid mixture from the feed side to the permeate side of the membrane to form a combined permeate side mixture of condensable vapor and at least one transported component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1995
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne T. Friesen, David D. Newbold, Scott B. McCray, Roderick J. Ray
  • Composite hydrogen separation metal membrane
    Patent number: 5393325
    Abstract: Composite hydrogen separation metal membranes are disclosed that contain an intermediate layer separating a base metal and a coating metal, wherein the intermediate layer is not a pure metal or metal alloy and is thermodynamically stable at operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Edlund
  • Surfaces coated with fluorocarbon resins upon which insects cannot climb or alight and methods and means for their establishment
    Patent number: 5392559
    Abstract: A dispersion of a polytetrafluoroethylene resin having a particle size between about 0.05 and 0.5 microns, a suspending agent and a viscosity less than 15 centipoise. The dispersion has long shelf life, a reduced tendency to fibrillate and is comparatively stable when acted upon by shear forces and elevated temperatures. The dispersion is well adapted to be sprayed onto surfaces to form a dried film upon which insects can not climb, alight or affix nests or webs. The dispersion can be sprayed without fibrillation dispersion and the dried coatings are adherent, may be washed and remain effective over long periods of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1995
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger H. Long
  • Layered plasma polymer composite membranes
    Patent number: 5354469
    Abstract: Layered plasma polymer composite fluid separation membranes are disclosed, which comprise alternating selective and permeable layers for a total of at least 2n layers, where n is .gtoreq.2 and is the number of selective layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter C. Babcock
  • Enantiomeric resolution of 4-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenone
    Patent number: 5288916
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method of separating enantiomers of 4-(3',4'-dichlorophenyl)-3,4-dihydro-1(2H)-naphthalenone comprising contacting the same with a homogeneous or nonhomogeneous liquid mixture of solvent and water, the mixture containing substantially pure and unsupported gamma-cyclodextrin or its derivatives. Also disclosed are methods of further enantiomerically enriching solid mixtures obtained from the enantiomer separation method and further extracting one enantiomer by solvent extraction of the solid mixtures obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 22, 1994
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas A. Lorenz, Daniel J. Brose
  • Sterically hindered, regenerable Schiff base complexes, solutions thereof and process using the same
    Patent number: 5266283
    Abstract: There are disclosed saltmen-type metallo Schiff base complexes and oxygen-sorbing and -desorbing solutions of the same, pressure- and temperature-swing oxygen separation processes using the complexes and solutions, and methods of regenerating such complexes and solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne T. Friesen, Warren K. Miller, Bruce M. Johnson, David J. Edlund
  • Membrane extraction of citrus bittering agents
    Patent number: 5263409
    Abstract: There are disclosed two types of apparatus using membrane extractions of citrus juice bittering agents, both using extraction fluids. In one type, a membrane contactor facilitates contact between bittering agents present in a citrus juice feed and a hydrophobic bittering agents extraction fluid; a second membrane contactor may be used to extract bittering agents from the hydrophobic extraction fluid by use of a basic stripping fluid on the permeate side. In a second type, an immobilized liquid membrane containing hydrophobic extraction fluid supported within the pores of a microporous hydrophobic polymeric membrane is used to facilitate transport of bittering agents across the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul van Eikeren, Daniel J. Brose
  • Hydrogen-permeable composite metal membrane
    Patent number: 5259870
    Abstract: Novel composite metal membranes are disclosed that contain an intermetallic diffusion barrier separating a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: David J. Edlund
  • Enantiomeric enrichment of cyanohydrins
    Patent number: 5241087
    Abstract: A method of enantiomerically enriching chiral cyanohydrins is disclosed that involves selective cleavage of the unwanted enantiomer into its cleavage products HCN and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone by use of an enantioselective dehydrocyanation catalyst, coupled with simultaneous removal of at least one of the dehydrocyanation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul van Eikeren
  • Membrane-based removal of condensable vapors
    Patent number: 5236474
    Abstract: A process for removing and recovering a condensable vapor from a gas stream by a membrane contactor is disclosed wherein a gas stream containing a condensable vapor is circulated on one side of hollow fiber membranes while cool extraction fluid is circulated on the other side under a total pressure differential, thereby condensing the condensable vapor in the gas stream, the condensed vapor permeating the membrane and becoming entrained in the cool extraction fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Schofield, David D. Newbold, Scott B. McCray, Dwayne T. Friesen, Roderick J. Ray
  • Nitrogen sorption
    Patent number: 5225174
    Abstract: Nitrogen-sorbing and -desorbing compositions and methods of using the same are disclosed, which are useful for the selective separation of nitrogen from other gases, especially natural gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Dwayne T. Friesen, Walter C. Babcock, David J. Edlund, Warren K. Miller
  • Temperature and humidity control in a closed chamber
    Patent number: 5218833
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for maintaining the temperature and humidity of a closed chamber within preferred ranges when contributions in water vapor and energy additions to the chamber from plants and humans vary over time. Enough water is evaporated into the air of the chamber such that when added to the water vapor added by transpiration a constant maximum rate of water vapor addition is maintained, thereby increasing air humidity and decreasing air temperature. A portion of warm moist air from the chamber is circulated to a water recovery heat exchanger module to remove additional sensible heat and to recover the amount of water evaporated in the chamber; cool dry air is returned to the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: David D. Newbold
  • Hydrogen-permeable composite metal membrane and uses thereof
    Patent number: 5217506
    Abstract: Various hydrogen production and hydrogen sulfide decomposition processes are disclosed that utilize composite metal membranes that contain an intermetallic diffusion barrier separating a hydrogen-permeable base metal and a hydrogen-permeable coating metal. The barrier is a thermally stable inorganic proton conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1993
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, Dwayne T. Friesen
  • Enantiomeric enrichment of cyanohydrins
    Patent number: RE35230
    Abstract: A method of enantiomerically enriching chiral cyanohydrins is disclosed that involves selective cleavage of the unwanted enantiomer into its cleavage products HCN and the corresponding aldehyde or ketone by use of an enantioselective dehydrocyanation catalyst, coupled with simultaneous removal of at least one of the dehydrocyanation products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul van Eikeren