Patents Examined by Alexis Wachtel
  • Patent number: 7229547
    Abstract: A retort heating apparatus includes a perimeter wall bounding a central compartment. A partition wall is disposed within the central compartment so as to separate the central compartment into at least a heating chamber and a vapor chamber. The partition wall has a plurality of spaced apart apertures formed thereon so as to provide fluid communication between the heating chamber and the collection chamber. A plurality of spaced apart baffles are disposed within the heating chamber between the perimeter wall and the partition wall. A collection plate is disposed within the vapor chamber at a downward curved or sloped orientation. The collection plate has lower end disposed at or adjacent to the partition wall and an opposing upper end disposed at or toward the perimeter wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Oil-Tech, Inc.
    Inventors: Byron G. Merrell, Michael R. Keller, Roger K. Noble
  • Patent number: 7228066
    Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for brewing a brewing substance. The apparatus including a liquid conduit (18) for supplying a brewing liquid, a liquid permeable container (28) for retaining the brewing substance and allowing the brewed liquid to pass through, a spray member (20) for delivering the brewing liquid from the liquid conduit to a brewing substance and discharging the brewing liquid into the liquid permeable container, a liquid flow modifier (52) for varying the flow rate of liquid at the spray member, and a control member (44) operably connected to the liquid flow modifying member for causing the liquid flow modifying member to vary the liquid flow rate. The alteration of the discharge of the liquid from at least a first spray pattern to at least a second spray pattern facilitating mixing of the brewing liquid and brewing substance within the liquid permeable container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
    Inventor: Randy D. Pope
  • Patent number: 7189377
    Abstract: 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: BP Chemicals Limited
    Inventors: Simon Jobson, Derrick John Watson
  • Patent number: 7179433
    Abstract: An apparatus for continuously producing polybutylene terephthalate, which comprises a first reactor for reacting an aromatic dicarboxylic acid with a glycol, thereby producing an oligomer, a second reactor for polycondensating the oligomer, thereby preparing a low polymerization product, and a third reactor for further polycondensating the low polymerization product, thereby producing a high molecular weight polyester, where the second reactor is a vertical, cylindrical polymerization vessel having a plurality of concentrical partitioned reaction compartments therein, each of the reaction compartments being provided with stirring blades and a heater, and an outlet for volatile matters being provided at the upper part of the vessel. The second reactor contributes to efficient and continuous production of polybutylene terephthalate having a good quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Yamaguchi, Hidekazu Nakamoto, Susumu Harada, Norifumi Maeda
  • Patent number: 7172731
    Abstract: An apparatus for protecting a vacuum system of semiconductor equipment is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a process tool and a gas-exploding unit. The process tool includes a gas reaction chamber, and the process tool is connected with a first gas piping to exhaust a waste gas in the gas reaction chamber. The gas-exploding unit includes a gas-exploding chamber, a gas valve, a pressure sensor, and a gas-exploding device for sealing an opening in a wall of the gas-exploding chamber. The gas-exploding chamber is connected with the first gas piping to receive the waste gas. The waste gas in the gas-exploding chamber is transported to a local scrubber through a second gas piping, and then exhausted to a central scrubber. The pressure sensor is used to detect a pressure in the gas-exploding chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: United Microelectronics Corp.
    Inventors: Chen-Tai Peng, Leo Lin, Eric T. Chuang
  • Patent number: 7169266
    Abstract: A coke drum head is hinged to a coke drum body using a compound joint such as a trammel pivot, and the head is moved between open and closed positions using an actuator. In moving between open and closed positions, the head traces out a non-circular path which reduces the required headroom relative to a head using a standard pivot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Leslie P. Antalffy, Glenda T. Ruiz, legal representative, Gerald Bryant, Michael B. Knowles, David W. Malek, Samuel A. Martin, Robert Benoit, deceased
  • Patent number: 7166197
    Abstract: A coke-oven door has an annular periphery normally juxtaposed with an annular door frame. A seal assembly for the door has at least two flexible, relatively displaceable, metallic, and annular membranes each having an annular inner periphery and an annular outer periphery and a U-section channel fixed to the outer periphery of only one of the membranes, open toward the door, and having annular inner and outer edges. The other membrane bears on the one membrane and therethrough on the channel. A mount secures the inner peripheries of the membranes to the periphery of the door. A spring urges the edges of the channel with a spring force against the door frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Deutsche Montan Technologie GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Josef Giertz, Klaus Dieter Ruthemann, Jürgen George, Franz Liesewitz, Horst Schröder, Friedrich Wilhelm Cyris
  • Patent number: 7147827
    Abstract: A chemical control system for controlling the chemistry of a chemical solution having predetermined chemical constituents in a plating system, such as a NiFe plating system, employs a mix container for containing a plating solution and a hold container for containing a plating solution delivered from the mix container. A precision delivery arrangement delivers a precise predetermined quantum of a predetermined constituent of the plating solution to multiple mix containers and the hold containers. Transfer of plating solution between the mix and hold containers is effected by a transfer pump. Nitrogen gas that has been humidified with deionized water protects the plating solution from either acquiring water or becoming dehydrated, the humidified nitrogen gas being humidified to a predetermined relative humidity with respect to the temperature of the plating solution in the mix container. This is achieved by urging the nitrogen gas through a column that is at the same temperature as the plating solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Alan Balisky
  • Patent number: 7135155
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for a catalytic cavitation reactor comprising an inner pipe having a wall with plurality of spaced apart radially bored inner pipe holes located thereon. A second pipe having a wall with plurality of spaced apart radially bored second pipe holes is also provided. The inner pipe is located within and joined to the second pipe. Within the interior of the second and out pipes are lengths of static mixing baffles. An outer pipe is also provided. The second pipe is located within and joined to the outer pipe. Within the interior of the second and out pipes are lengths of static mixing baffles. A plurality of nozzles are provided wherein each of the inner pipe holes and second pipe holes receives one of the plurality of nozzles. Each of the plurality of nozzles has an inlet end, an outlet end and a constriction therebetween. A catalytically active zone is formed between the constriction and the outlet end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Hydrotech Solutions, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Palmer Long, Jr., Jim Gregath, David D. Leavitt, Thomas M. Leonard, William G. Lea
  • Patent number: 7132088
    Abstract: A granular moving-bed apparatus is introduced to have an inlet louvered wall, an outlet louvered wall opposing to the inlet louvered wall, a granular path formed in between, a plurality of serial roof-shaped flow-corrective elements located along the granular path, and a predetermined type of granular materials flowing inside the granular path. The inlet louvered wall and the outlet louvered wall are particularly constructed to form serial hopper-shaped structures that define the granular path. The roof-shaped flow-corrective element is systematically displaced with respect to the hopper-shaped structure by specific criteria so that problems of corrosions, plaques and stagnant zones formed to the louvered walls of the apparatus can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jiri Smid, Shu-San Hsiau, Jing-T. Kuo, Chuen-Shii Chou, Ching-Yu Peng, Hom-Ti Lee
  • Patent number: 7128881
    Abstract: Volatile organic compounds are removed from a liquid and destroyed using a device in which an air stripper having alternating phases of hydrophilic and hydrophobic packing materials promotes transition of the VOC from the liquid phase into the gas phase, and wherein the is oxidized VOC in the gas phase on a hydrophobic carbon nanostructure that further comprises a catalytically active metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Viktor I. Petrik
  • Patent number: 7128812
    Abstract: A foam level in a delayed coking drum is detected by utilizing the varying density of the boiling mass in the coke drum which has larger bubbles and is less dense at the top and smaller bubbles and a higher density at the bottom. A plurality of radiation detectors are disposed on the drum and calibrated such that zero radiation is equivalent to 100 percent level. The percentage reading for each detector is multiplied by the fraction of height each detector is in relation to the total height of all the detectors to give a product and the products summed to give a level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Inventor: Carl E. Cupit
  • Patent number: 7122099
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for evacuating hot raw gases which occur in the oven chambers of a coke oven battery during coking. The oven gases are lead from the oven chambers into a hot gas collector. The pressure in the oven chambers is controlled by shut-off and throttling devices which are arranged in the hot gas streams between the raw gas outlet of the oven chambers and the hot gas collector. The positions of the devices are controlled according to the pressure that is measured in the allocated oven chamber. The gas of the hot gas collector is supplied to a steam boiler firing or a fission reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Schumacher, Hermann Toll, Rainer Worberg
  • Patent number: 7108767
    Abstract: Useful byproducts are recovered through the pyrolytic processing of biomass material such as vegetation, paper, or worn tires. The process is conducted in a sealed enclosure under vacuum or other controlled atmosphere. The biomass material is ablated and burned by crunching between counter-rotating rollers whose inner walls have been exposed to a highly heated fluid. The biomass material is preheated by injecting into the feeding duct super-heated: dry steam. A condenser within the enclosure reduces resulting vapors into oils that can be drained from the enclosure pan. Solid combustion residue is abstracted from the enclosure by an Archimedes screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Inventor: Vincent H. Noto
  • Patent number: 7108768
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a movable lock ring and a lock arm that prevents inadvertent movement of the lock ring. Contemplated configurations are especially useful in delayed coking vessels to prevent opening of the vessel while the vessel is in operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Fluor Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: John W. Oder, Leslie P. Antalffy, Michael B. Knowles, Samuel A. Martin, George T. West
  • Patent number: 7101612
    Abstract: The present invention provides ion-sensitive, water-dispersible polymers. The present invention also provides a method of making ion-sensitive, water-dispersible polymers and their applicability as binder compositions. The present invention further provides fiber-containing fabrics and webs comprising ion-sensitive, water-dispersible binder compositions and their applicability in water-dispersible personal care products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick J. Lang, Yihua Chang, Franklin M. C. Chen, Paige A. Dellerman, Eric D. Johnson, Jeffrey D. Lindsay, Pavneet S. Mumick, William S. Pomplun, Ligia A. Rivera, Kim G. Schick, Walter T. Schultz, Varsha K. Shah, Dave A. Soerens, Kenneth Y. Wang, David M. Jackson, Douglas Bryan Cole, Barbra Elaine Copsey, Katherine Denise Stahl
  • Patent number: 7101463
    Abstract: A system and process for the recovery of oil from the pyrolysis of material containing hydrocarbons such as shredded vehicle tires. The system utilizes a pair of sequentially positioned packed towers to recover at least 95% of the oil contained in the pyrolysis gases. The first packed tower operates above the dew point of the water vapor in the pyrolysis gases to insure that no water is condensed and obtain a primary oil fraction having oil with a high flash point of about 60° C. or greater and a primary vapor fraction containing additional oils, fuel gases and water vapor. The primary vapor fraction is fed to the second packed tower which operates below the dew point of the water vapor to condense the water and oil having a low flash point of 34° C. or below, and provide a secondary vapor fraction containing valuable fuel gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Metso Minerals Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Weinecke, Robert J. Unterweger
  • Patent number: 7087140
    Abstract: A carbonizing waste processing apparatus is operable to rotate and heat a radiant tube for carbonizing waste therein so as to generate granular char and vapors from the waste, transfer waste into an upstream end of the tube, temporarily impede movement of the waste through the tube at upstream and downstream locations therein so as to ensure that residence time of the waste in the tube is sufficient at the upstream location to carry out evaporation of moisture from the waste and at the downstream location to elevate the temperature of any solids in the waste for completion of carbonization of the waste, discharge the granular char and vapors from the tube, and flow the generated and discharged vapors through a succession of finned heat exchanger tubes so as to condense and separate the vapors into oil, water and methanol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Inventor: Harry H. Menian
  • Patent number: 7081231
    Abstract: The present disclosure pertains to a system and method for treatment of oxygen rich exhaust and more specifically to a method and system that combines non-thermal plasma with a metal doped ?-alumina catalyst. Current catalyst systems for the treatment of oxygen rich exhaust are capable of achieving only approximately 7 to 12% NOx reduction as a passive system and only 25–40% reduction when a supplemental hydrocarbon reductant is injected into the exhaust stream. It has been found that treatment of an oxygen rich exhaust initially with a non-thermal plasma and followed by subsequent treatment with a metal doped ?-alumina prepared by the sol gel method is capable of increasing the NOx reduction to a level of approximately 90% in the absence of SO2 and 80% in the presence of 20 ppm of SO2. Especially useful metals have been found to be indium, gallium, and tin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2006
    Assignees: Caterpillar Inc., Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Christopher L. Aardahl, Mari Lou Balmer-Miller, Ashok Chanda, Craig F. Habeger, Kent A. Koshkarian, Paul W. Park
  • Patent number: 7077618
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for lilting and removing oven doors of a coking oven that is comprised of a door removing head (1), which can be coupled to vertically extending oven doors of a horizontal chamber coking oven, of a drive device (3) for effecting adjusting movements of the door removing head (1), and of a suction hood, which can be displaced along the horizontal chamber coking oven above the oven door. According to the invention, sealing elements (5) are connected to the door removing head (1) and, on both sides of an oven door (2) to be opened, can be displaced against front contact surfaces (6) of the horizontal chamber coking oven. Said sealing elements extend essentially over the entire height of the oven door (2) and into the suction area (4) of the suction hood, and they form a suction chamber (8) for door emissions when the oven door (2) is opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Uhde GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Knoch