Patents Assigned to L'Exploitation Des
  • Method for surface treatment of polymeric substrates
    Patent number: 7147758
    Abstract: Methods for treating polymeric substrates by placing the substrate in a gaseous mixture and subjecting it to a dielectric barrier electrical discharge. The gaseous mixture, which has a pressure around atmospheric, contains a carrier gas, a reducing gas and an oxidizing gas. The amount of the oxidizing gas in the gas mixture is between about 50 ppm and about 2000 ppm by volume, while the amount of the reducing gas in the gas mixture is between about 50 ppm and 30000 ppm by volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A' Directolre et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude Et. l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, SOFTAL Electronic Erik Blumentfeld GmbH Co
    Inventors: Panayotis Cocolios, François Coeuret, Franck Forster, Jean-Louis Gelot, Bernd Martens, Eckhard Prinz, Géraldine Rames-Langlade, Alain Villermet
  • Strip for packing module, corresponding module and column
    Patent number: 7147215
    Abstract: A corrugated strip made of sheet material, which may be used in a packing module. The peaks and the troughs of the strip, when viewed in a side view, define lines which have a general sloping direction relative to the direction the fluid flow. Each strip includes a spanning zone and a transition zone. In the transition zone, each peak/trough line extends inside a specific area centered on a curve which extends tangentially from the peak/trough line of the spanning zone. The structured interface region between the spanning and transition zones helps to reduce head loss across the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Lehman, Etienne Werlen, Gilles Lebain
  • Process for reducing sludge derived from the treatment of wastewater by oxygenation and mechanical action
    Patent number: 7147780
    Abstract: A method for reducing the production of sludge derived from the treatment of wastewater. The sludge is subjected to a mechanical action in the presence of a gas containing oxygen. The mechanical action is performed in such a way as to destroy the cell walls of between 5% and 80% of the microorganisms present in the sludge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Philippe Campo, Jérôme Cluzeau
  • Device for shaping plastic objects under inert atmosphere
    Patent number: 7147460
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing plastic articles by forming them in an inert atmosphere, the device comprising a hopper, a feed screw and means for forming the polymer melt. The device for injecting inert gas comprises a gas feed pipe, a gas injection surface near the wall of the hopper and a homogenization chamber fitted between the wall of the hopper and the gas feed pipe. That end of the gas feed pipe which is directed towards the injection surface is closed and has at least one radial opening O allowing the gas to be ejected at right angles to its direction of flow in the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et, l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Olivier Negro, Sami Dick, Marc Leturmy, Stéphane Melen
  • Combined air separation natural gas liquefaction plant
    Patent number: 7143606
    Abstract: In an integrated process and apparatus for the separation of air by cryogenic distillation and liquefaction of natural gas in which at least part of the refrigeration required to liquefy the natural gas is derived from at least one cryogenic air distillation plant comprising a main heat exchanger (7) and distillation columns (15, 17), wherein the natural gas (25) liquefies by indirect heat exchange in a heat exchanger (7, 32, 34) with a cold fluid (21, 26), the cold fluid being sent to the heat exchanger at least partially in liquid form and undergoing at least a partial vaporisation in the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etide et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Tranier
  • Use of an adsorbent in solid foam form for the purification or separation of gases
    Patent number: 7144445
    Abstract: Process for purifying or separating a gas or gas mixture using a monolithic adsorbent for the separation or purification of gases or gas mixtures, having a cellular structure with open porosity in the form of a solid foam permeable to the gas molecules. The gas phase of the adsorbent possesses an essentially convex structure and the solid phase an essentially concave structure. The solid foam has a density of greater than or equal to 500 kg/m3 and an open porosity of between 20 and 60%. The gas is air or an H2/CO mixture. The process is of the VSA, PSA or TSA type. This process can be used in particular in OBOGS-type systems to supply passengers of the vehicle or a device participating in the traction of the vehicle and/or in its electrical supply, in particular a fuel cell. This process can also be used in medical oxygen concentrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Vincent Gueret, Serge Moreau
  • On-board adsorber and method for producing and delivering oxygen
    Patent number: 7144446
    Abstract: An on-board adsorber and method for delivering oxygen on an aircraft that has a squat and compact configuration with a mass of adsorbent with a height to diameter ratio ranging from 0.8 and 2, and the ratio of the cross-sectional area S of the mass of adsorbent to the cross-sectional area S of the central duct ranges from 80 to 110.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Socié´á´Anonyme à{grave over ( )}Directoire et Consell de Surveillance pour l'Étude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Stéphane Lessi
  • Gas supply device comprising a portable container and a recharging base
    Patent number: 7128101
    Abstract: Devices for filling portable gas containers and, more specifically, devices to facilitate usage of portable gas cylinders in accordance with the safety criteria for a wide range of gases and commercial applications. The present invention provides a gas supply device to fill a portable container with an electronic label attached. The gas supply device includes a read device, and a control unit. When the portable container is connected to the device and to a gas source, the read device reads the electronic label, thus allowing a control unit to then control the supply of gas to the portable container based on the information encoded by radio frequency induction in the electronic label.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Serban Cantacuzene
  • Method and device for inerting a vat for consumable liquid, in particular wine, and corresponding inerting gas
    Patent number: 7107896
    Abstract: A method of inerting a vat including an upper wall and containing a consumable liquid and an overhead gas, comprising the steps of injecting an inerting gas heavier than air at a velocity into the overhead gas above a free surface of the liquid and substantially below the upper wall of the vat and, during this injection, removing excess gas through a purge orifice of the vat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Guy Gaubert
  • Device for inerting a vat for consumable liquid, in particular wine
    Patent number: 7107897
    Abstract: A method and device for inerting a vat having an upper wall and containing a consumable liquid and an overhead gas, including the steps of: injecting an inerting gas heavier than air by way of a downward extending injection tube into the overhead gas above a free surface of the liquid and substantially below the upper wall of the vat and, during this injection, removing excess gas through the injection tube and a purge orifice of the vat. The injection tube may have a gas diffuser at its lower end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: L'air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Explotation des Procedes Gerges Claude
    Inventor: Guy Gaubert
  • Method and system for solving a problem arising during a welding operation or the like
    Patent number: 7102098
    Abstract: A method and system for diagnosing, solving, and/or controlling, in particular remotely, a given technical problem likely to arise before, during or after a heat treatment operation on metals, in particular in the welding or cutting field, and to provide the most suitable solution thereto, and to do so by minimizing the time needed to solve this problem and therefore by reducing the loss of productivity likely to occur because of this technical problem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Counseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitataion des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide America Corporation
    Inventors: Philippe Rouault, Fred Schweighardt
  • Arc welding set with power source and inverter
    Patent number: 7095634
    Abstract: A welding machine with a power source and an inverter. The inverter has at least one switching leg, made up of switches in series, and an output terminal. The power source has a circuit for controlling the switches by delivering an on-signal or and off-signal. The power source also has a transformer linked to a rectifier. The power source also has a circuit for detecting the voltage that the terminals of each switch of the inverter. A pilot circuit is also present for receiving control and voltage signals. The pilot circuit then sends a pilot circuit to each of the switches. The pilot signal corresponds to an on-command when the control signal corresponds to an on-signal and when the voltage between the power electrodes is very close to zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme á Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude, La Soudure Autogène Française
    Inventor: Peyofougou Coulibaly
  • Process and apparatus for the production of methanol
    Patent number: 7091251
    Abstract: In a process for the use of a hydrocarbon feedstock (10) by reacting the feedstock in a reactor (11) with oxygen (9) to form a synthesis gas containing at least carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen and subjecting the synthesis gas to a conversion process comprising an exothermic reaction to produce methanol as a final product in a converter (15), the converter operating at an operating pressure, the oxygen being provided to the reactor at an oxygen pressure, the synthesis gas is produced at a pressure such that it undergoes at most one compression step with a compression ratio ranging from 1 to 1.7 before entering the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Counseil de Survelliance pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Alain Guillard, Emmanuel Schmidt
  • Mixer device for divided solid waste
    Publication number: 20060176773
    Abstract: A mixer device for materials made up of various divided solid waste, in a vertical silo (1). The device includes the following: a central working area extending along the entire height of the silo (1); a peripheral zone; elements (6) which are distributed vertically at different successive levels (n1, n2, n3 . . . n21) of the working area, along the entire height of the silo (1) and which can lift materials from each of the levels of the working area and release the materials; elements (1a, 19) for bringing matter from the upper part of the peripheral area to the lower center part of the silo (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Publication date: August 10, 2006
    Applicant: Syndical Intercommunal Pour La Valorisation & L'Elimination Des Dechets Du Centr
    Inventor: Jean Ridelle-Berger
  • Method and installation for producing, in gaseous form and under high pressure, at least one fluid chosen from oxygen, argon and nitrogen by cryogenic distillation of air
    Patent number: 7076971
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for highly efficient production of industrial gases by the cryogenic distillation of air, wherein a feed stream of compressed air, is supercharged to high pressure, cooled, and mixed with various recycle streams of supercharged air, to regulate the expander turbine operating temperature. The need for pre-cooling equipment downstream of the supercharger, which is widely employed in industry to manage the temperature of the incoming compressed air stream, is eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Expolitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Lasad Jaouani, Bao Ha, Ovidiu Balog, Maurice Grenier, Xavier Pontone
  • Gas/liquid phase separator and the fuel cell-based power production unit equipped with one such separator
    Patent number: 7077885
    Abstract: A gas and liquid phase separator apparatus and an apparatus for energy production based on fuel cells within the phase separator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Conseil De Surveillance Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Pierre Charlat
  • Wire-guide/nozzle assembly for a robotic TIG welding torch
    Patent number: 7078646
    Abstract: A wire-guide/nozzle assembly for an electric arc welding torch, with at least one nozzle for delivering gas and at least one wire-guide system for guiding at least one consumable wire, distinguished in that the downstream end of the wire-guide system runs into the nozzle. The peripheral wall of the nozzle has at least one cut-out through which the wire-guide system passes. The wire-guide system is fastened to the nozzle. A TIG welding torch utilizing such a wire-guide/nozzle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude, La Soudure Autogène Française
    Inventors: André Borne, Jean-Marie Fortain
  • Method and installation for blowing out water in a fuel cell hydrogen circuit
    Patent number: 7074512
    Abstract: The installation comprises cells which are comprised each of two anode compartments (41 and 42), a connection between the outlet (91) of the first anode compartment and the inlet (82) of the second anode compartment, a connection between the outlet (92) of the second anode compartment and the inlet (81) of the first anode compartment, a circuit (10) for supplying hydrogen to the anode circuits of the cells by two branches in parallel (111 and 112) controlled by two opening-closing members (121 and 122), elements periodically control the reversal of the condition of the members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire Et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude Et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Pierre Charlat
  • Hexakis(monohydrocarbylamino)disilanes and method for the preparation thereof
    Patent number: 7064083
    Abstract: A composition and method of preparation, to provide silane compounds that are free of chlorine. The compounds are hexakis(monohydrocarbylamino)disilanes with general formula (I) ((R)HN)3—Si—Si—(NH(R))3??(I) wherein each R independently represents a C1 to C4 hydrocarbyl. These disilanes may be synthesized by reacting hexachlorodisilane in organic solvent with at least 6-fold moles of the monohydrocarbylamine RNH2 (wherein R is a C1 to C4 hydrocarbyl). Such compounds have excellent film-forming characteristics at low temperatures. These films, particularly in the case of silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride, also have excellent handling characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Dussarrat, Jean-Marc Girard
  • Integrated heat recovery systems and methods for increasing the efficiency of an oxygen-fired furnace
    Patent number: 7062912
    Abstract: An air separation unit separates air into an oxygen-rich and oxygen-deficient gas. Fuel gas and the oxygen-rich gas are preheated at heat exchangers through which hot flue gas flows. Combustion of the preheated fuel and oxygen-rich gases result in the hot flue gas. The hot flue gas is cooled at the heat exchangers and flows through a waste heat boiler. Water and/or steam flowing through the waste heat boiler absorbs energy from the cooled flue gas thereby producing heated steam. The heated steam flows through a turbine to produce power. The power is transferred to the air separation unit, thus reducing a power requirement of the air separation unit needed to separate the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignees: American Air Liquide, Inc., L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme A Directoire et Consell de Surveillance Pour l'etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Erwin Penfornis, Ovidiu Marin, Bertrand Leroux, Remi P. Tsiava