Patents Assigned to GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
  • Patent number: 5076923
    Abstract: An apparatus for separating fluid mixtures by membrane elements, which are spaced and arranged into a membrane element stack via a supporting frame that comprises outer and inner rings, whereby the membrane elements have a boring for draining a permeating substance. The boring has an inlet port for introducing the mixture into the apparatus and an outer port for the retained substance as well as the permeating substance. In mixture compartments, formed by the membrane elements between said inner and outer rings, the mixture to be separated flows past areas of the membrane elements, having a constant effectiveness, whereby the flow cross-sections of the mixture compartments vary from the introduction port to the exit port of the membrane stack. All inner and outer rings of the membrane element stack have identical dimensions, and the differing cross-sections in the mixture compartments are adjustable at least by varying the width of the membrane elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Hilgendorff, Gerhard Kahn
  • Patent number: 5043027
    Abstract: A method of reestablishing the deformability or malleability of embrittled amorphous alloys such as Fe.sub.40 Ni.sub.40 P.sub.20 or Fe.sub.20 Ni.sub.40 B.sub.20 or Cu.sub.64 Ti.sub.36. An alloy is first subjected to a first temperature for a specific first time interval. Subsequently, the alloy is subjected in a sudden manner to a second temperature for a specific second time interval. The effecting of change of the temperature of the alloy from the first temperature to the second temperature occurs at a rate of 100.degree. K./min. The first temperature is greater than the second temperature with the first temperature being in a temperature range between an embrittlement temperature and a crystallization temperature of the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1991
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Gerling, Frank-Peter Schimansky
  • Patent number: 5007944
    Abstract: A method for producing an improved membrane for separating gases in mixtures including forming an integral, asymmetric polyether imide membrane, treating the membrane with at least one organic fluid which is a solvent or swelling agent for polyether imide, and removing the organic fluid from the membrane by evaporation to obtain a tubular, flat or hollow fiber membrane exhibiting significantly higher selectivity than an untreated membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Ingo Pinnau, Jan Wind
  • Patent number: 4995977
    Abstract: An apparatus for filtering and separating flow medium by reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration. A plurality of essentially sheet-like filter elements are disposed next to, and spaced from, one another so a to form flow chambers for the flow medium. Filtrate that is produced is withdrawn at the end face of at least one hole formed in a filter element and disposed at essentially right angles to the planar surface thereof. A plurality of sheet-like, self-supporting filter element carriers that are successively arranged have disposed essentially laminarly thereon the filter elements, with the filter element carriers being spaced from one another at such a distance that there is formed between each two facing filter elements one of the flow chambers. Disposed in each flow chamber, between two facing filter elements, is a disk that imparts turbulence to flow medium in the flow chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1991
    Assignee: GKSS- Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Hilgendorff, Gerhard Kahn, Jurgen Kaschemekat
  • Patent number: 4994094
    Abstract: A method of removing organic compounds from an air/permanent gas mixture. This mixture, as untreated medium, is conveyed to a first gas separation membrane and is divided into a filtrate gas stream that is concentrated with organic compounds and a retained gas stream that is depleted of organic compounds. The concentrated filtrate is conveyed to a recovery device for the recovery of organic compounds therefrom. The pressure of the air/permanent gas mixture is raised prior to entry thereof into the first gas separation membrane. The pressure of the concentrated filtrate is reduced after exit thereof from the first gas separation membrane. The depleted gas stream is discharged into the atmosphere, and the gas stream that exits the recovery device is returned to the air/permanent gas mixture at some point subsequent to the pressure increase thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Behling, Karl Hattenbach, Klaus Ohlrogge, Klaus-Victor Peinemann, Jan Wind
  • Patent number: 4943161
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the detection of hydrocarbons dissolved in bodies of water and for the determination of their concentration in the water wherein a water sample is introduced into a sealed system in which the hydrocarbons are driven out of solution into a gas phase by heating the sample or exposing it to low pressure, or both, a laser beam of a wavelength or a frequency which provides for at least partial overlapping with the absorption lines of the hydrocarbons is directed through the gaseous phase, a correction laser beam of a wavelength such that it is not subjected to absorption by hydrocarbons is also directed through the gaseous phase to determine the influence of gases other than hydrocarbons and the amount of hydrocarbons in the water iscalculated from the amount of light energy absorbed in the gas phase by any hydrocarbons therein and a correction as determined by the correction laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 24, 1990
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Walfried Michaelis, Claus Weitkamp
  • Patent number: 4933085
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integral asymmetrical membrane for the separation of liquid or gaseous mixtures. A membrane-forming agent in the form of a polyetherimide is mixed with a solvent that is miscible with water. The resulting mixture is introduced into or accommodated in a geometrical form. The form is then brought into contact with a precipitating agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 12, 1990
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Klemens Kneifel, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Rudolf Waldemann
  • Patent number: 4909983
    Abstract: A method of producing intermetallic phases from powdery ductile components that are mixed in a predetermined mixture ratio and are subsequently precompacted by cold pressing. Subsequently, the precompacted components are pressed, via compaction, to such an extent that the degree of deformation is greater than 80%; thereafter, the thus-produced material is thermally treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 20, 1990
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Dahms
  • Patent number: 4848935
    Abstract: An adapter element that allows machine elements to be accommodated in a centered manner with zero play, with these machine elements having different thermal expansions over broad temperature ranges. The adapter element has a sleeve-like portion that has tongue-like regions defined therefrom. Flattened or planar regions are provided on the inner and/or outer surface of the sleeve-like portion, with these planar regions at least partially overlapping the tongue-like regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Seibig, Alfred Reymann, Helmut Dittmer
  • Patent number: 4847882
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for the non-destructive measurement of metal traces in the surface of material samples in which the surface is irradiated with X-ray radiation and a detector, fastened above the material sample, spectrometrically examines the fluorescent radiation emanating from the material sample. Metal impurities are detected in the surface of, for example, silicon wafers down to about 10.sup.11 atoms/cm.sup.2, on-line, with the wafers being free from contamination by the measuring process. It is possible to sweep the entire surface area of wafers having a diameter up to about 150 mm at the locations fixed by the respective standards. The X-ray radiation directed onto the surface of the material sample by means of an adjustable X-ray source, the divergence of the exciting X-ray radiation being limited by two aperture members, the aperture members being disposed in a quartz body serving as an optical bench.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Knoth, Harald Schneider, Heinrich Schwenke
  • Patent number: 4818452
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integral asymmetrical membrane for the separation of liquid or gaseous mixtures. A membrane-forming agent in the form of a polyetherimide is mixed with a solvent that is miscible with water. The resulting mixture is introduced into or accommodated in a geometrical form. The form is then brought into contact with a precipitating agent and is post-treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Klemens Kneifel, Klaus-Viktor Peinemann, Rudolf Waldemann
  • Patent number: 4695380
    Abstract: A fluid treating apparatus has a plurality of chambers arranged in a stack along the apparatus axis; inlet and outlet ports in end plates as well as a central channel for introducing fluid into and removing fluid from the apparatus; and a plurality of fluid-impervious diaphragms situated in a spaced relationship in the chambers in an orientation generally perpendicular to the axis. The fluid is guided along the diaphragms generally radially inwardly. The apparatus further has a plurality of support frames arranged in a stack along the axis. Each support frame includes an inner ring spacedly surrounded by an outer ring. The radially inner face of the outer ring and the radially outer face of the inner ring of each support frame together define radially outer and radially inner boundaries, respectively, of the chambers. The radially outer faces of the outer rings together form an outer wall face of the apparatus, and the radially inner faces of the inner rings surround the central channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Walter Hilgendorff, Gerhard Kahn, Jurgen Kaschemekat
  • Patent number: 4689148
    Abstract: An apparatus for desalination and purification of water by reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration. Such apparatus require seals at the individual modular elements between the untreated water passages and the permeate-withdrawal passages. These seals comprise two sealing rings which are essentially U-shaped, are of similar but inverted shape, and are made of synthetic material having a limited flexibility. Pairs of the sealing rings sealingly abut one another in the central plane of the modular guide plate via respective ones of their arms which extend essentially radially. The second, outward disposed arms sealingly contact an adjacent diaphragm. Disposed on the outer surface of the portion which connects the arms are channels for the withdrawal of the permeate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Timm, Soren Fries, Axel Wenzlaff
  • Patent number: 4642300
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for avoiding or reducing the interactions and their consequences from contact of hot liquid metals with concrete. At least for the region of the concrete structure near the surfaces which may come into contact with the hot liquid metal, there is employed a concrete containing aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide, zirconium oxide, or a mixture thereof, in a proportion of 70% by weight to 96.5% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1987
    Assignee: GKSS Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Georg Schultheiss, Charles von Minden, Hans W. Fritzke
  • Patent number: 4556488
    Abstract: For filtering and separating liquid and gaseous media, particularly for water desalinization by reverse osmosis, modules filled with membrane cushions are employed that are open at two opposite sides and are inundated within an outer housing by an entering medium. The medium which enters into the interior of the membrane cushion is led away by means of aligned cushion holes and a conduit located in these holes. According to the invention, it is proposed that where there is a tandem series of several membrane cushion modules in a common housing, the stacked modules not be connected securely to one another and that a turbulence producing gap between them be permitted so that undesirable operational behavior does not occur in the form of pressure waves, pressure surges and blockage action with changes in the rate of flow and particularly upon starting the system for the first time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1985
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Timm, Heinz Griesbach
  • Patent number: 4545317
    Abstract: A device for treating the surfaces of structures and ships, even under water, with a spray medium which cleans, preserves, or coats, and is sprayed onto the surface which is to be treated by way of a pressurized gas flow via an at least partially flexible conduit which leads to the work location and is provided with an outlet nozzle. The outlet nozzle, which is constructed as a Laval nozzle, is provided with a funnel-shaped nozzle adapter which has a longitudinally extending, parabolic inner chamber. A controllable shunt, capable of bypassing the spray medium source may be provided for the pressurized gas between the pressurized gas source and the line leading to the outlet nozzle so that the device can be used under water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignees: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH, H. Lorenz GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Richter, Hans Kellershofen
  • Patent number: 4539649
    Abstract: Method for determining the average density or volume percentage of at least one coarse grained component of a multicomponent mixture by gamma transmission analysis, including the steps of irradiating the mixture with gamma radiation from at least one source, detecting the transmitted radiation by means of at least one detector, and evaluating the relation between the transmitted and detected radiation to determine the average density or volume percentage by using a transmission equation applicable to homogeneous mixtures, the evaluation including transforming the values resulting from solving such equation, or a selected term of such equation, with the aid of a correction function which is derived by comparison of corresponding values in the transmission equation applicable to the homogeneous mixtures and in a further transmission equation which is dependent on the particle sizes of the coarse grained component in order to provide a corrected determination relative to that component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Walfried Michaelis, Hans-Ulrich Fanger, Hans L. The
  • Patent number: 4510932
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for supplying divers with artificial respiratory gas mixtures with a counterlung, which can be fixed to a diver, which is hung on gimbals, which is adjusted independently of the particular floating position of the diver and which collects his exhaled gas. For the construction of a completely closed respiratory gas circuit system, it is constructed as a single-chamber container with a bottom opening and which uses the ambient water as the sealing fluid. The container is provided with a gas outlet connection arranged above the liquid level in the inner area of the container, which can be closed by means of a shutoff device controlled by the rising liquid level and which is connected by means of a waste gas hose line with the surface of the water or the inner area of a diving chamber or bell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum-Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Luther, Peter Loebel, Gerhard Risse, Volker Leiser
  • Patent number: 4303493
    Abstract: A sealing frame for alternately arranged anion and cation exchanger membranes of a membrane stack for electrodialysis. The frame edges surround a chamber provided with a net-like spacer placed or inserted therein, and have oppositely located continuous supply and connection bores passing therethrough for the solution to be treated and for the solution enriched with or depleted of separated dissolved electrolyte or electrically non-charged dissolved materials. These bores alternately communicate by means of supply or discharge troughs or channels with the interior of the chamber. The supply and discharge troughs or channels diverge to such an extent in a direction toward the chamber interior that the flow media are distributed in essence over the complete width of the flow path between the cooperating supply and discharge troughs or channels. Furthermore, the net-like spacers extend as far as into the diverging regions of the supply and discharge troughs or channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1980
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1981
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Klemens Kneifel, Walther Hilgendorff, Uwe Martens