Patents Examined by Alexis Wachtel
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Patent number: 6818188Abstract: An injection and solidification operation as well as a kneading and solidification operation can be performed by a single facility. A decreased amount of radioactive secondary waste is generated. A solidifying agent paste is prepared by kneading a solidifying agent and additive water. The solidifying agent paste is injected into a solidifying container. The radioactive waste is charged into the solidifying container and kneaded.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tooru Kawasaki, Atsushi Yukita, Masato Ohura, Yasuo Yatou
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Patent number: 6818189Abstract: A continuous flow chemical reaction apparatus comprises a tubular reactor having a length and having a first fluid reactant inlet at a first end and a product outlet at a second end, said tubular reactor having a central tube/interior conduit extending lengthwise within said tubular reaction zone, said conduit having at least one injector within the length of said conduit, said injector capable of introducing a controlled amount of a second fluid reactant into said tubular reactor.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2000Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Saudi Basic Industries CorporationInventors: Alaa Eldin Mostafa Adris, Friedrich Gutlhuber
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Patent number: 6808602Abstract: A coke drum bottom head removal system and method for deheading the bottom head cover of a coke drum comprises a carriage that is positionable beneath the bottom head cover, and a cart mounted to the carriage. Several clamps vertically mounted to the cart are positionable in a closed position, in which the clamps apply a compressive force that maintains substantially fluid tight engagement between the bottom head cover and bottom head flange, and an opened position, in which the clamps allow a limited spacing between the bottom head cover and the bottom head flange. A plurality of supports mounted to the cart support the bottom head cover once the fasteners coupling the bottom head cover to the bottom head flange are removed and the clamps are in the opened position. The system can be remotely operated to enhance operator safety when the bottom head cover is removed.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: ConocoPhillips CompanyInventors: Sergio Gustavo Schonfeld, Kenneth Allan Larson, Rodney Karl Hogan
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Patent number: 6808689Abstract: The temperature distribution of a heating medium in the reactor is allayed and the occurrence of hot spots is repressed. In a shell-and-tube type reactor provided with donut type and disc type baffle plates, reaction tubes are disposed even in the holes formed in the donut type baffle plates and an empty space devoid of a configuration of the reaction tubes is formed at the center of the shell. According to this invention, (meth)acrylic acid and/or (meth)acrolein can be produced at a low energy by catalytic gas phase oxidation of propylene- or isobutylene-containing gas.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2000Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., LTDInventors: Yukihiro Matsumoto, Masakatsu Mori, Masatsuga Kitaura, Osamu Dodo, Michio Tanimoto
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Patent number: 6806214Abstract: A composite textile fabric includes a composite layer of a hydrophobic material and a layer of a hydrophilic material knitted or otherwise formed together. The composite layer has an upper surface of small exposed areas of the hydrophilic material covering a total area about 25% of the overall area of the upper surface. The composite layer provides one way liquid transport for moisture, extending from the upper surface towards a lower surface of the composite layer.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2001Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversityInventors: Yi Li, Kwok Wing Yeung, Yi Lin Kwok, Weilin Xu
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Patent number: 6802081Abstract: The moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating intermediate material of the present invention is inserted between an outer material and a lining, both having a moisture-permeable/waterproof property, a windproof property and other desired properties, thereby constituting a heat-retaining article. It comprises a blend of a heat-retaining fiber including an air layer of not less than 50 ml per 1 gram and a moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating fiber. The moisture-absorbent/releasable heat-generating fiber generates heat by absorbing moisture in a vapor phase or in a liquid phase discharged from a human body and an immobile air layer formed by the heat-retaining fiber retains the heat.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 2000Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Mizuno CorporationInventors: Takeshi Ogino, Shigeru Aoyama
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Patent number: 6797122Abstract: A coke oven and a method of operating the same, capable not only of achieving a uniform combustion temperature heightwise within a combustion chamber when a rich gas or a lean gas is burnt, but also of reducing NOx content in the waste gas, while eliminating localized high-temperature combustion. The combustion chamber of the coke oven comprises a rich-gas port 2 located near an oven wall 6 bordering a carbonization chamber in the bottom 5 of combustion chamber, and the midpoint P3, connecting the center P2 of a lean-gas port 7 and the center P of an air port 3, is on the side opposite to the rich-gas port 2 relative to the center line CL of the combustion chamber. (See FIG.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: September 28, 2004Assignee: The Japan Iron and Steel FederationInventors: Shuhei Yoshida, Syoji Takase, Takafumi Saji, Makoto Uchida, Hiroyuki Koyama
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Patent number: 6793895Abstract: A method for producing a metallic honeycomb body, according to which at least partly structured metal sheet is coiled, laminated or looped to form a matrix. The matrix is oscillated by an external excitation and during or after the external excitation is introduced into a casing tube.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: EMITEC Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbHInventors: Ludwig Wieres, Hans-Peter Caspar, Christof Müller
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Patent number: 6793899Abstract: A plasmatron-catalyst system. The system generates hydrogen-rich gas and comprises a plasmatron and at least one catalyst for receiving an output from the plasmatron to produce hydrogen-rich gas. In a preferred embodiment, the plasmatron receives as an input air, fuel and water/steam for use in the reforming process. The system increases the hydrogen yield and decreases the amount of carbon monoxide.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2001Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Leslie Bromberg, Daniel R. Cohn, Alexander Rabinovich, Nikolai Alexeev
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Patent number: 6764660Abstract: A process and apparatus for contacting reactants with a particulate catalyst while indirectly heating the reactants with a heat exchange medium improves temperature control by using an intermediate heat exchange fluid and system to prevent overheating of reactants and maintain parallel heating characteristics through multiple reaction-heat exchange zones. The internal flow path minimizes the circulation of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid by incorporating interstage reheating of the reaction zone heat exchange fluid as it passes in series flow. A particularly useful application of the process and apparatus is in the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to produce styrene. The process and apparatus can also be used with simultaneous exchange of catalyst particles by an operation that restricts reactant flow while moving catalyst through reaction stacks in which the reactant flow has been restricted.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 20, 2004Assignee: UOP LLCInventors: William Wiede, Jr., Kevin J. Brandner, Bruce A. Briggs, Donald E. Felch, Constante P. Tagamolila
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Patent number: 6758945Abstract: A method and apparatus for quenching the coke drum vapor line from a coke drum to the main fractionator in a coker unit whereby the volume of quench liquid prevents the drum vapor line from plugging with carbon-based deposits. A differential pressure control technique is utilized to quench the drum vapors being delivered to the fractionator as opposed to a temperature, delta temperature, uninsulated vapor line, or fixed flow rate control as used in the prior art. Vapor line quench control by differential pressure prevents over-quenching of the vapor line during a coke drum switch, unit startup, or slowdown as well as under-quenching during drum warm-ups. It improves the fractionator recovery time from a drum switch and overall liquid product yield during the drum cycle which can be produced by over-quenching. It also prevents the vapor line from drying out at anytime, an under-quenched condition, as long as the quench oil quality and conditions do not vary significantly.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2000Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Shell Oil CompanyInventor: Stephen Michel Haik
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Patent number: 6756329Abstract: A synthetic fiber capable of absorbing and disabsorbing moisture comprising a component capable of absorbing and disabsorbing moisture and a fiber-forming polymer. The fiber of the present invention has a moisture absorption of 1.5% or more when it is allowed to reach a moisture equilibrium under the circumstance of 25° C.×60%RH and then is allowed to stand for 30 min. under the circumstance of 34° C.×90%RH, and has a moisture disabsorption of 2% or more when it is allowed to reach a moisture equilibrium under the circumstance of 34° C.×90%RH and then is allowed to stand for 30 min. under the circumstance of 25° C.×60%RH. The fiber also has a value of −1 to 5 in terms of b value in the CIE-LAB color system when it is allowed to stand for 30 days.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2000Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Unitika Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuhiro Umino, Kunio Akasaki, Yoshiaki Kurushima, Kazuyuki Ono, Hajime Yamaguchi, Shigemitsu Murase, Shiro Murakami, Kuzuaki Taruishi
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Patent number: 6749817Abstract: An arrangement for a fluid distributor-contactor-type reactor uses perforated plates to circulate two reactants in alternate channels defined by spaces between parallel stacked plates to perform controlled distribution and mixing simultaneously with optional indirect heat transfer. One reactant enters one set of channels that serve as reaction channels. A set of second channels interleaved with the reaction channels serve as distribution channels that also provide a heat exchange function. Finely dispersed openings in the perforated plates distribute the reactant at low concentration from the distribution channels into the reaction channels. Dispersal of the reactant through the perforations will enhance the turbulence that is primarily introduced by the corrugated plates to insure good mixing of the reactants in the reaction channels.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2000Date of Patent: June 15, 2004Assignee: UOP LLCInventor: Robert C. Mulvaney, III
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Patent number: 6733635Abstract: A coke oven buckstay moving device and method which can be used to quickly, reliably, and smoothly repair buckstays compared to conventional methods and devices. The coke oven buckstay moving means includes a main car, a subcar, a frame, and securing means. The main car is used when repairing pillered buckstays that support oven walls of the coke oven, and moves on a coke side platform or a machine side platform. The subcar is placed on the main car, and can freely move forward and backward in a direction of a lengthwise direction of the coke oven. The frame is provided in a standing manner on the subcar. The securing members are mounted to the frame and are used to grasp and secure the buckstays. According to the method, a damaged portion of the buckstay is secured to the subcar, cut, and then removed. Reversing the steps, a replacement buckstay is secured to the subcar, moved into position, and welded into place. The subcar is detached, and the oven repaired.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: May 11, 2004Assignee: JFE Steel CorporationInventors: Tatsuya Ozawa, Nozomu Tamura, Tetsuro Uchida, Nobuya Kamide
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Patent number: 6716775Abstract: Range-dyed fabrics that possess excellent hand characteristics and simultaneously exhibit substantially nondirectional appearances are provided. Such a combination permits the production and utilization of an extremely comfortable apparel fabric that can be attached to any other similar type of fabric to form a target apparel article without the time-consuming need to align such component fabrics to ensure an overall aesthetic appearance is met for the target apparel article. In general, such a fabric is produced through the initial immobilization of individual fibers within target fabrics and subsequent treatment through abrasion, sanding, or sueding of at least a portion of the target fabric. Such a procedure produces a fabric of short pile height and desirable hand. Upon range-dyeing the target fabric exhibits the extra benefit of nondirectional surface characteristics.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2000Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: Milliken & CompanyInventors: Louis Dischler, Wesley M. Drexler, Scott W. Efird, Dale Robert Williams
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Patent number: 6702992Abstract: A method for the modernization of a plant for urea production of the type comprising a reactor (2) for urea synthesis, a stripping unit (3) with carbon dioxide and at least one vertical condensation unit (4) of the film type, foresees the provision of means (36) for feeding a major portion of a flow comprising ammonia and carbon dioxide in vapor phase leaving the stripping unit (3) to the condensation unit (4) and the provision in said condensation unit (4) of means (37) for subjecting to substantially total condensation such major portion of the flow comprising ammonia and carbon dioxide in vapour phase, obtaining a flow comprising urea and carbamate in aqueous solution, then fed to the reactor (2) for urea synthesis. Thanks to the present method of modernisation, the efficiency of the condensation unit (4) is remarkably improved, thus permitting an increase of its capacity.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Urea Casale S.A.Inventors: Giorgio Pagani, Federico Zardi
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Patent number: 6692708Abstract: An apparatus for parallel processing of reaction mixtures, including a reactor block including reaction chambers for containing reaction mixtures under pressure, the reactor block further including a first sidewall, a second sidewall, and a first plurality of fluid flow paths providing fluid communication with the first sidewall and respective reaction chambers and the second sidewall and respective reaction chambers; a stirring system including a base plate defining a second plurality of flow paths, wherein respective flow paths of said second plurality of flow paths are in fluid communication with respective reaction chambers and respective fluid flow paths of said first plurality of flow paths, and the base plate also supports a plurality of stirring blade assemblies for mixing the reaction mixtures; interchangeable manifolds supported by the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the interchangeable manifolds defining a plurality of manifold inlet/outlet ports, wherein respective inlet/outlet ports of saType: GrantFiled: April 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 17, 2004Assignee: Symyx Technologies, Inc.Inventor: William H. Chandler, Jr.
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Patent number: 6677257Abstract: A composite fabric material for use in covering sports balls comprising two or more separate fabric materials affixed together to form a single material, the materials including at least an outer layer and a backing or support layer, is described.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2000Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignee: Milliken Industrials LimitedInventor: Alan John Brasier
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Patent number: 6677025Abstract: A mold releasable composite material for wet production of a polyurethane resin synthetic leather is disclosed, comprising of a polymer base and a composition layer laminated on at least one surface of the polymer base, the composition layer consisting of 50 to 95% by weight of a styrenic polymer having a syndiotactic structure and 5 to 50% by weight of a polyolefin, the mold releasable composite material having a peeling strength of 300 g/15 mm or more, preferably, the composition layer being subjected to embossing processing, and an anchor coating agent being used in laminating of the composition layer on the polymer base, which overcomes the defects involved in the conventional production process of a polyurethane resin synthetic leather in a wet process which has such an advantage that a synthetic leather having a good breathability and a soft feeling is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2001Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Assignees: Sanyo Kakoshi Kabushiki Kaisha, Hofa Trading CompanyInventor: Hideo Sasa
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Patent number: 6652714Abstract: A drill stem stabilizer used in a decoking apparatus that includes a drill stem and a drilling structure on which the drill stem is supported for vertical movement above and within a coke drum. The stabilizer includes a bearing and a support member. The bearing is adapted to guide the longitudinal movement of the drill stem. The support member extends laterally from the bearing and attaches to the drilling structure, and maintains the bearing in a position to guide the drill stem as it is moved into or out of the coke drum. In one embodiment, the drilling structure includes a pair of substantially vertical guide rails, and the support member attaches to the guide rails.Type: GrantFiled: December 3, 1999Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: Foster Wheeler CorporationInventor: Braddie D. Breaux