Patents Assigned to L'Exploitation Des
  • Installation for the distribution and storage of cylinders of gas
    Patent number: 6782988
    Abstract: The installation comprises at least one pair of adjacent spaces, one (1) for full cylinders, and the other (2) for empty cylinders, each accessible through a door that is openable by presentation of a reader for admission to the space after validating by reading a first identification at a common identification station provided with a printer. Each space (1; 2) comprises racks (6) of opposite seats, observed by facing cameras (10, 10′) permitting carrying out a continuous surveillance of available stocks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Consell de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Serban Cantacuzene, Dominique Jouvaud
  • Air separation method and plant
    Patent number: 6776005
    Abstract: The pressurized waste nitrogen (11) from a column of an air separation unit (10) is sent, optionally after being compressed, to a combustion chamber (15) where it is heated, to a turbine (17) in which it is expanded and again to the combustion chamber (15) where it is mixed with the flue gases in order to give up waste heat thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: François Fuentes, Richard Dubettier
  • Detector agent for halogen compounds and method for detecting halogen compounds
    Patent number: 6773925
    Abstract: There are provided a detector agent which is effectively discolored at a lower concentration for various halogen compounds and a method for detecting halogen compounds by use of said detector agent. A detector agent for halogen compounds, which contains curcumin or Bromocresol Green as a discoloring component, and said discoloring component is preferably supported on granular activated alumina.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance Pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide Electronics Systems
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Ibaraki, Hideji Kawanaka, Hidekazu Ina, Shinichi Ando
  • Use of helium/nitrogen gas mixtures in up to 8kW laser welding
    Patent number: 6770841
    Abstract: Binary gas mixture for welding using a laser beam of up to 8 kW, consisting of 60% to 80% nitrogen by volume, the remainder (up to 100%) being helium. Application of this gas mixture to the welding of steel, stainless steel or titanium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme {overscore (a)} Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Francis Briand, Karim Chouf, Philippe Lefebvre, Eric Verna
  • Production method using permeation of at least two gaseous fluxes from a gaseous mixture, and a production installation for implementing this method
    Patent number: 6767385
    Abstract: This method permits the production of at least two gaseous fluxes enriched in a permeable component from a gaseous mixture wherein the fluxes are considerably different, compared to the gaseous mixture. A first permeation unit (20) is supplied by the gaseous mixture feed. A second permeation unit (22) is supplied by the non-permeate produced by the first unit (20). The permeate produced by the second unit (22) which forms a first enriched flux is then sent to the third permeation unit (24) to form a second enriched flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Arnaud Brazier
  • Reboiler/condenser heat exchanger of the bath type
    Patent number: 6761213
    Abstract: A reboiler/condenser bath heat exchanger for heat exchange between a first fluid to be vaporized and a second fluid to be condensed includes a number of passages for heat exchange between the two fluids in order to make the second fluid flow, which fluid has a temperature of T2-2 at the outlet of the passages; a vessel containing the passages for making the first fluid flow between the passages by thermosiphon effect from the bottom upwards over a height h, the first fluid having an entry temperature T1-1 where T1-1<T2-2 and an exit pressure P1-2; elements for giving the entry pressure P1-1 of the first fluid a value such that the pressure P1-2 is greater than a minimum pressure Pm,ex and elements for ensuring that at least one of the following two conditions is fulfilled: the height h of the passages is at least equal to 2.5 m; and the temperature T2-2 of the second fluid is less than T1-1+1.2° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Benoît Davidian
  • Spinnerette assembly for forming multicomponent hollow fibers
    Patent number: 6746226
    Abstract: The invention provides a spinnerette assembly for forming multicomponenthollow fibers of the sheath/core type. The spinnerette assembly contains an extrusion orifice and a core forming material passage in communication with the extrusion orifice. A hollow needle extends through the extrusion orifice in a concentric manner to define an annular passage surrounding the needle. The core forming material passage includes a core forming material inlet port extending from a surface of the spinnerette assembly to an interior of the assembly and a transverse passage extending from the core forming material port to the annular passage surrounding the needle. A bore forming fluid passage communicates with the interior of the needle. The spinnerette assembly contains at least one sheath forming material passage also in communication with the extrusion orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Samuel Earl Moore
  • Brazed-plate heat exchanger and air distillation device fitted with said exchanger
    Patent number: 6745828
    Abstract: The heat exchanger can be used for the vaporization of a pressurized liquid and comprises at least one passage way (P) for a liquid extending in a first direction, being provided with exchange waves that are substantially parallel to the first direction and comprising at least one redistribution area associated with at least one lateral collector in an intermediate area of the length thereof, in addition to being provided with deviation waves extending in at least one second direction forming an angle with the first direction, whereby the redistribution area takes up the entire width of the passage way, in a crosswise position with respect to the first direction, whereby the deviation waves communicate with the exchange waves. The deviation waves are essentially as rigid as the exchange waves. The invention can be used with exchangers in pumped air-distillation devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Integrated membrane filter
    Patent number: 6746513
    Abstract: A gas separation module includes an adsorbent filter medium inside the case that holds the active gas separation membrane. The adsorbent filter is positioned upstream of the membrane and is operative to extract from the feed gas contaminants which adversely affect membrane separation performance and which if not removed, would cause the membrane separation performance to deteriorate. The adsorbent filter fits within vacant space in conventionally-sized hollow fiber membrane modules and thus can obviate the need to install an external adsorbent filter upstream of the module and/or to enlarge the space occupied by the module to accommodate addition of the internal adsorbent medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitations des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Charles L. Anderson
  • Process and installation for fighting a fire in an aircraft compartment and aircraft equipped with such an installation
    Patent number: 6739400
    Abstract: This process comprises a phase for detecting (26) the presence of the fire, as well as a phase for extinguishing this fire, comprising a phase of projecting (by 24), into the compartment (16), an extinguishing fluid, in particular water, as well as a phase of generating (by 2) air enriched in inert gas, from a source (5) of compressed air internal to the airplane, and a phase of admitting (by 10 and 12) at least a portion of this enriched air into the compartment (16).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide-Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Stéphane Lessi, Olivier Vandroux
  • Method of controlling a plant for processing a gas by adsorption and corresponding processing plant
    Patent number: 6733568
    Abstract: A method of controlling a plant for processing a gas by adsorption, with N adsorbers R1 to R0 and variable N phase times. The method utilizes a mobile parameter for identifying the operating state of N adsorber which is in each successive phase time of the cycle. For a given phase time, a parameterized sequence (S, S′) of control steps for the plant are defined. A control sequencer of the plant is generated by matching an adsorber (R1 to R0) with each mobile parameter of the parameterized sequence during each phase time of the cycle, causing the succession of phase times of the cycle to be followed at all the adsorbers in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme á Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Guillaume De-Souza, Pierre-Olivier Dolle, Yves Engler
  • Installation and method of venting the waste gases of air distillation or liquefaction units
    Patent number: 6733003
    Abstract: To reduce the level of oxygen concentration in the waste gases emitted by the stack of such installations, according to the invention, connecting means (15) connect the respective internal spaces of a chamber (13), for discharging an inert gas miscible with oxygen and of lower density than air, such as nitrogen, and of the stat (2); thus, this inert gas is mixed with at least the oxygen flowing through the stack and the mixture obtained is discharged with a velocity at least equal to approximately 7 m/s at the exit of the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: l'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Daniel Gourdain, Jean-Marc Peyron
  • Device for closing and connecting to external conduits a reservoir of cryogenic fluid, and reservoir provided with such a device
    Patent number: 6732535
    Abstract: The device comprises a monobloc subassembly (1) of cast stainless steel comprising a principal portion in the form of a disc (4) mounted on a collar (2) of the reservoir (3) and defining at least two channels (8, 9) for the passage of fluid, typically for filling, communication with the atmosphere, and withdrawal of liquid and gaseous phases reheated by atmospheric reheaters (23; 30) for the supply (31) of a controlled gaseous flow. Application particularly to cryogenic reservoirs for medical oxygen for oxygen therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Guillaume Boucher
  • Combined installation for the treatment of steel work gases
    Patent number: 6726875
    Abstract: Steel work gases (blast-furnace gases, coke-oven gases, converter gases, etc.) are burnt with an exhaust gas from a gas turbine, optionally with a supply of natural gas and of air, in a combustion section between the outlet of the gas turbine and the inlet of a recovery boiler, the steam from which is utilized especially for producing electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Avart, Jérôme Girard, Geneviéve Mure, Emmanuel Pousset
  • Method for improving conditions in closed circuit fish farming
    Patent number: 6722314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for improving conditions in closed circuit seafood and fish farming, comprising the following steps: a) at least part of the water from at least one of the rearing ponds (1) is recycled, whereby said water is treated one or more times and purified (3, 4, 5) before it is re-injected into said pond; b) the water recycled during the recycling path indicated in step a) is mixed with a new supply of water (10); c) all or part of the recycled water (21, 22) undergoes ozonization and, wherever applicable, the new supply of water (20) also undergoes ozonization either partially or in full before it is mixed with the re-circulated water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Pascal Crisinel, Lucie Prost, Lionel Bon
  • Method and apparatus for generating energy
    Patent number: 6718794
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for generating energy, which consists in conveying to an air separation apparatus (5) air from a compressor (1) coupled to an expansion machine (3). A nitrogen-enriched gaseous flow (11) containing between 3 and 18% of oxygen is conveyed to a combustion chamber (19) with a combustible flow (17) and the combustion gases (33) are expanded in the expansion machine. Optionally air from an auxiliary compressor (21) can be conveyed to the combustion chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Renaud Brugerolle, Francois Fuentes
  • Method of producing a package of internal and external structures and of items of equipment, and method of on-site construction using such a package
    Patent number: 6711868
    Abstract: This method relates to the production of a package (33) by assembling a fluid-confining internal structure (1), an external structure (2) surrounding the internal structure, and at least one functional item of equipment (12, 15) on at least the internal structure. The internal structure (1) is pre-equipped before it is introduced into the external structure (2) by being pulled in along a longitudinal axis of the package. The method is applicable to the construction of packages of air-distillation columns surrounded by their support framework.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Marcel Faure, Jean-Claude Le Carpentier
  • Valve assembly with or without integrated reducer for pressurized gas container
    Patent number: 6705362
    Abstract: The invention concerns a valve assembly or an on-off pressure reducer device for a pressurised gas container designed to co-operate with a conditioning connection for filling said container. The valve assembly or on-off pressure reducer comprises a filler connection (14) with a longitudinal axis, a guide end (18), and a thread (22) axially offset relative to said end. The end (18) has a periphery (20) provided with at least an impression (40) protruding outside the periphery, projecting in a plane orthogonal to said longitudinal axis, the impression (40) of said connection end being secant to a circle centred on said axis and whereof the diameter is equal to the smaller of the internal and external diameters of said thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventor: Philippe Pisot
  • Method and system for solving a problem arising during a welding operation or the like
    Patent number: 6707003
    Abstract: A method and a system for diagnosing and/or solving, 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: December 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Philippe Rouault
  • Process and installation for the distribution of air enriched in oxygen to passengers of an aircraft
    Patent number: 6701923
    Abstract: According to this process, there is supplied to the passengers a first fraction of air enriched in oxygen from independent supply elements, in particular high pressure cylinders (16), during a descent phase of the aircraft between a normal cruising altitude and an intermediate rerouting altitude. There is moreover compressed air taken from a source of compressed air belonging to the aircraft, to produce (in 2) a second fraction of the air enriched in oxygen which is delivered to the passengers, at least during a phase of stabilized flight of the aircraft, adjacent the re-routing altitude, greater than 5,500 meters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide - Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Michel Cazenave, Jean Dehayes, Olivier Vandroux, Richard Zapata