Patents Assigned to Board of Control for Michigan Technological University
-
Patent number: 6290066Abstract: A method for removing ammonia and ammonia compounds from fly ash and other combustion by-products is provided. The method may be performed with raw or processed fly ash, or it may be performed in conjunction with a wet beneficiation process. The method involves mixing the ammonia-contaminated fly ash with water and then filtering and/or drying the solution to remove the ammonia and water. The method produces fly ash having an ammonia content of less than about 60-80 ppm, which allows the fly ash to be utilized in a number of applications.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1999Date of Patent: September 18, 2001Assignee: Board of Control for Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Jiann-Yang Hwang
-
Patent number: 6068131Abstract: A froth flotation method is provided for removing carbon from fly ash which utilizes an environmental friendly conditioning agent. The conditioning agent preferably comprises a biodegradable oil which is added to a slurry containing raw fly ash and water. The conditioning agent renders the carbon in the fly ash hydrophobic such that upon aeration of the slurry, air bubbles attach to the carbon particles and carry them to the surface of the slurry in the form of a froth, such that the carbon may be removed.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1999Date of Patent: May 30, 2000Assignee: The Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Robert William Styron, Jiann-Yang Hwang
-
Patent number: 6043022Abstract: An apparatus and method for the generation and use of ferric ions produced by acidophilic, chemoautotrophic bacteria.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 1998Date of Patent: March 28, 2000Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Donald R. Lueking, Carl C. Nesbitt
-
Patent number: 6027551Abstract: Mercury emission from a flue gas such as that generated by a coal fired power plant is controlled by injecting into the flue gas unburned carbon purified from ash such as fly ash or wood ash. The unburned carbon adsorbs the mercury and is later removed from the flue gas by a particle separator. The unburned carbon collected from ash is significantly lower in cost compared to activated carbon presently used in such a process. The unburned carbon is concentrated in the sorbent by one or more separation processes used to remove non-carbon particles from the fly ash. These processes include gravity separation, electrostatic separation, froth flotation, magnetic separation and size classification. Mercury adsorption is further increased by oxidation of the carbon surface.Type: GrantFiled: October 7, 1998Date of Patent: February 22, 2000Assignee: Board of Control for Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Jiann-Yang Hwang, Zhenglong Li
-
Patent number: 5922928Abstract: An Agrobacterium-mediated transformation and regeneration method for plants including a transformation method to produce transgenic plants with an altered lignin composition.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 1996Date of Patent: July 13, 1999Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung Jui Tsai, Gopi K. Podila
-
Patent number: 5886243Abstract: The invention relates to genetically engineering the wood color of woody plants by incorporation of the lignin pathway gene O-methyltransferase into the genome of the plants.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 1999Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Vincent Lee C. Chiang, Chung Jui Tsai, Gopi K. Podila
-
Patent number: 5555457Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the pressure within the torque converter of an automatic transmission. The apparatus includes a sensor to sense the interior pressure of the torque converter and generate an electrical signal representative of that pressure. That signal is converted to microwave energy which is radiated into the interior of the torque converter housing from a microwave transmitter located within the torque converter. Receiving microwave antennae exposed to the housing interior receive the microwaves and transmit an electrical signal corresponding to the microwave energy to a remote readout external of the torque converter. The receiving antenna are preferably in the form of resonant slots in the torque converter housing and the slots have a length related to the wavelength of the generated microwaves.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1995Date of Patent: September 10, 1996Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Richard L. Campbell, Douglas B. Brumm, Carl L. Anderson, Glen L. Barna
-
Patent number: 5524836Abstract: A method for producing powder from polycrystalline inorganic material by contacting polycrystalline inorganic material with the vapor of one or more reduced alkali metals in an environment substantially free of oxygen for a period of time sufficient to cause disintegration of the polycrystalline inorganic material into powder. The polycrystalline inorganic material may consist of one or more oxides, sulfides, or silicates, or combinations thereof. The polycrystalline inorganic material may also comprise a rock or mineral, such as basalt or pyrite.Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 1993Date of Patent: June 11, 1996Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Surendra K. Kawatra, Timothy C. Eisele
-
Patent number: 5443773Abstract: A vacuum hot pressed alumina material having small, isometric grains; a uniform distribution thereof; relatively low, predominantly transgranular porosity; and a density approaching the theoretical density of pure alumina produced by vacuum hot pressing alumina powder which contains at least 98.0% alumina, is substantially free of any sintering aids or any other additives, and has a median particle size less than about 3 microns, in a vacuum hot press operated at a temperature of at least about 1350.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 28 MPa (3500 PSI) for a sintering period of at least 1.5 hours. The vacuum hot pressed alumina material also has compressive strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and wear resistance superior to that for most conventional sintered alumina materials.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 1994Date of Patent: August 22, 1995Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: James M. Staehler, William W. Predebon, Bruce J. Pletka
-
Patent number: 5396079Abstract: A fiber optic sensor for determining the presence and/or measuring the depth of a first substance capable of transmitting light. The fiber optic sensor includes a plurality of light receiving fibers, a plurality of light transmitting fibers surrounding the light receiving fibers and structure for refracting light from the light transmitting fibers at a predetermined angle for total internal reflection of the light from an interface of the first substance with a second substance.Type: GrantFiled: July 6, 1993Date of Patent: March 7, 1995Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Lawrence W. Evers, Kenneth J. Jackson
-
Patent number: 5374141Abstract: Mat forming apparatus comprising, in combination, a hollow material transporting member, drive structure for producing a pressure differential across spaced portions of the transporting member so that material is propelled from one of the spaced portions to the other within the hollow transporting member, material directing structure communicating with the drive structure for receiving material from the hollow transporting structure and, responsive to the drive structure, operative to direct the received material in a predetermined path, the hollow transporting member having a non-linear inner surface so that flow in the hollow transporting member is turbulent causing the material being transported therein to experience turbulent flow in being propelled from one of the spaced portions to the other, and structure associated with the material directing structure for receiving the material and confining the received material in a defined space.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 1993Date of Patent: December 20, 1994Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Bernard C.-H. Sun
-
Patent number: 5352643Abstract: A vacuum hot pressed alumina material having small, isometric grains; a uniform distribution thereof; relatively low, predominantly transgranular porosity; and a density approaching the theoretical density of pure alumina produced by vacuum hot pressing alumina powder which contains at least 98.0% alumina, is substantially free of any sintering aids or any other additives, and has a median particle size less than about 3 microns, in a vacuum hot press operated at a temperature of at least about 1350.degree. C. and a pressure of at least 28 MPa (3500 PSI) for a sintering period of at least 1.5 hours. The vacuum hot pressed alumina material also has compressive strength, flexural strength, impact strength, and wear resistance superior to that for most conventional sintered alumina materials.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 1992Date of Patent: October 4, 1994Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: James M. Staehler, William W. Predebon, Bruce J. Pletka
-
Patent number: 5335785Abstract: An apparatus for separating by froth flotation hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles contained in an aqueous slurry, the apparatus comprising a generally vertical tubular column having an upper froth zone, an upper separation zone, a lower separation zone, an air inlet zone, and an intermediate feed inlet zone; a feed inlet, air inlet, froth outlet and a tailings outlet; an upper baffle unit comprising a plurality of horizontally extending upper baffle plates, a vertical upper support member including an upper end portion, and first upper apparatus for removably mounting the upper baffle plates on the upper support member at predetermined vertically spaced positions; each of the upper baffle plates comprising a mounting aperture and a plurality of flow apertures; and a second upper apparatus for removably supporting the upper support member in the column with the upper baffle plates in the upper separation zone. The apparatus can include a lower baffle unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1993Date of Patent: August 9, 1994Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Surendra K. Kawatra, Timothy C. Eisele
-
Patent number: 5249688Abstract: The froth flotation apparatus includes a gas bubble-particle contact unit including a mixing structure for breaking a gas into fine bubbles,such as a packed tower packing or mechanical agitator, and a separate phase separation unit. A conditioned aqueous pulp containing a mixture of hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles and a substantially inert gas, such as air, are introduced into and combined in one end of the contact unit and subsequently flow concurrently through the mixing structure, such that the gas is broken into fine bubbles which intimately contact and become attached to the hydrophobic particles. The resulting gas bubble-particle mixture is introduced into the phase separation unit which is operated under substantially quiescent conditions. A concentrate fraction containing primarily hydrophobic particles and a tailing containing primarily hydrophilic particles are discharged from the upper and lower portions of the phase separation unit, respectively.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1991Date of Patent: October 5, 1993Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Jiann-Yang Hwang
-
Patent number: 5227047Abstract: A wet process for the beneficiation of a fly ash by-product has the following steps: a) forming a slurry mixture of a fly ash material and a liquid; b) gravitationally separating and collecting a first material fraction of the fly ash having a density less than the liquid by skimming off floating slurry material; c) separating a first magnetic fraction from the slurry by subjecting the slurry to a magnetic field of from about 300 gauss to about 10 kilogauss; d) separating the unburned carbon from the remaining slurry components by adding an effective amount of an oil having a carbon chain greater than octane, and a frothing agent whereby the oil coats the unburned carbon forming hydrophobic carbon materials and inducing air into the system for frothing the slurry mixture wherein the hydrophobic unburned carbon froths to the surface and is removed by skimming off the frothing layer; and e) collecting the remaining fraction of silicate spheres and silicates.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 1991Date of Patent: July 13, 1993Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Jiann-Yang Hwang
-
Patent number: 5182030Abstract: The present invention is a method of purifying fluid having organic material. The method comprises two operational steps. The first step includes passing the fluid through an adsorbent such that the organic material is substantially adsorbed by the adsorbent and the fluid is substantially purified. The second step includes destroying the adsorbed organic material on the adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent in a form substantially free of adsorbed organic material.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 1991Date of Patent: January 26, 1993Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: John C. Crittenden, Sawang Notthakun, David W. Hand, David L. Perram
-
Patent number: 5173551Abstract: A free-radical retrograde polymerization process for forming a polymer. An admixture of reactants including predetermined amounts of a monomer, a solvent, and a free-radical-initiator is reacted. A precipitation polymerization reaction occurs such that a polymer-rich phase is at a temperature generally above the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the admixture.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 1990Date of Patent: December 22, 1992Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Gerard T. Caneba
-
Patent number: 5168325Abstract: An apparatus and method for testing the glucose level in a blood sample is provided. The method includes the step of initially filtering a sample of blood to be tested. A beam of light is provided and split into a pair of beams by a beam splitter. The pair of beams travel along generally parallel paths. One path contains a cell of a known optical pathlength and additionally a compensator. The other path has a cell containing the filtered blood sample to be tested. The pair of beams are then recombined by a mirror and a fringe pattern is detected at a detector. From the fringe pattern, the refractive index of the blood sample can be calculated. The refractive index is easily converted to a specific glucose concentration. Alternatively, the original fringe pattern can be restored by changing the effect of the compensator. The refractive index can then be found from the required compensation.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 1990Date of Patent: December 1, 1992Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventor: Dale R. Yoder-Short
-
Patent number: 5142994Abstract: A method and apparatus for molding articles such as pallets from flake-like wood particles mixed with binder, the pallets housing a deck and integral molding legs. A loosly fitted mat of wood flakes is formed by depositing a first plurality of layers of wood flakes onto a supporting surface with a flake aligners provided for causing alignment of those flakes which will form legs of the pallet. A second plurality of layers are formed with a flake aligner provided for causing alignment of flakes which will form the legs of the pallet and in a direction transverse to the direction of alignment of the flakes of the first layers.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1991Date of Patent: September 1, 1992Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: L. Bogue Sandberg, Bruce A. Haataja, Douglas C. Jurmu, Robert D. Palardy, Frank H. Story, William A. Yates
-
Patent number: 5106202Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the temperature of a piston in an internal combustion engine. The apparatus includes a thermistor to sense the temperature of the piston and generate an electrical signal representative of that temperature, a transmission unit connected to the thermistor for receiving the electrical signal and for converting the signal to an infrared beam for transmission to a point remote from the piston, and a receiver to receive the beam and convert the beam to an electrical signal corresponding to the electrical signal generated by the thermistor. The first mentioned electrical signal is converted to a rectangular wave form prior to transmission of the infrared beam.Type: GrantFiled: December 18, 1990Date of Patent: April 21, 1992Assignee: Board of Control of Michigan Technological UniversityInventors: Carl L. Anderson, Glen L. Barna, Douglas B. Brumm