Patents Examined by Amalia L. Santiago
  • Patent number: 5443802
    Abstract: The present invention relates to in-place sterilization of a fermentation vessel assembly and media. Media can be contained in reagent bottles placed on the fermentation vessel assembly or can be contained in a fermentation vessel which is part of the fermentation vessel assembly. A removable shroud covers the fermentation vessel assembly and media during sterilization. Steam is applied inside the shroud for raising the temperature within the shroud to a sterilization temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: New Brunswick Scientific Co., Inc.
    Inventors: David Freedman, Yinliang Chen, Zhenbin Zheng
  • Patent number: 5437851
    Abstract: A method for injecting an aqueous ammonia into a flue gas for reducing NO.sub.x in the flue gas comprises providing at least one tube pass in a path of the flue gas. As the vaporized aqueous ammonia and air mixture passes through the tube, it is injected into the flue gas. The flue gas raises the temperature of the remaining vaporized aqueous ammonia mixture for later use in vaporization of the aqueous ammonia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1995
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventor: James M. MacInnis
  • Patent number: 5435973
    Abstract: A fluidized catalyst contacting apparatus improves the recovery of entrained hydrocarbon gases by providing a de-gassing zone upstream of a conventional stripping zone. The de-gassing zone has a downwardly increasing catalyst density gradient that reduces the void volume of the fluidized catalyst thereby de-gassing hydrocarbon vapors from the catalyst prior to entering a stripping zone. The de-gassing zone is particularly useful in a vented riser arrangement for an FCC reactor where catalyst concentrates along the wall of the reactor vessel as it flows downwardly into the stripping zone. By providing a de-gassing zone to collect the downwardly descending catalyst and remove hydrocarbon vapors, efficiency of a sub-adjacent stripping zone is significantly improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Randy J. Zinke
  • Patent number: 5433928
    Abstract: In the absorption of acetylene from a crude gas mixture containing mostly C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, a substantially acetylene-free liquid C.sub.2 stream is introduced into a mixing chamber located in the column between the feed points for the crude gas mixture and the absorption agent. The C.sub.2 stream is distributed into fine droplets as it enters into accumulated absorption agent in the mixing chamber, so that foam is not formed in the absorption column. The mixing chamber can be formed of a mixing tank integrated with a plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Linde Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Peter-Clemens Haehn
  • Patent number: 5433923
    Abstract: A room humidifier and air purifier withdraws air from ambient room atmosphere into a region having a living plant with its roots in a growing media of highly adsorbent activated carbon and zeolite; passing air preferably downward through such media and back into the air over hot light bulbs which destroy undesirable airborne mold spores. The light bulbs are also used to supply sufficient light for plant growth and aesthetics through indirect lighting on the plant leaves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventors: Billy C. Wolverton, John D. Wolverton
  • Patent number: 5433762
    Abstract: A filtered air moving device including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path therebetween; a blower disposed in the housing and arranged to move air in the flow path from the inlet to the outlet; a multiple speed electrical motor rotatably coupled to the blower; and an air filter disposed within the housing in the air flow path. Also included is a control circuit for connecting the motor to a voltage source and including an electrical switch operable between a first condition providing rotation of the blower at a given speed and a second condition providing rotation of the blower at a predetermined speed greater than the given speed; a tubulation providing communication between a location in the air flow path downstream of the filter and a position remote therefrom; an indicator responsive to the rate of air flow through the tubulation, and a selector for varying the level of resistance to air flow provided by the tubulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard Chiu
  • Patent number: 5421844
    Abstract: A filtered air moving device including a housing defining an air inlet, an air outlet, and an air flow path therebetween; a blower disposed in the housing and arranged to move air in the flow path from the inlet to the outlet; a multiple speed electrical motor rotatably coupled to the blower; and an air filter disposed within the housing in the air flow path. Also included is a control circuit for connecting the motor to a voltage source and including an electrical switch operable between a first condition providing rotation of the blower at a given speed and a second condition providing rotation of the blower at a predetermined speed greater than the given speed; a tubulation providing communication between a location in the air flow path downstream of the filter and a position remote therefrom; an indicator responsive to the rate of air flow through the tubulation; and a selector for varying the level of resistance to air flow provided by the tubulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignee: Duracraft Corporation
    Inventor: Bernard Chiu
  • Patent number: 5422081
    Abstract: A double cylinder shaped multilayer structural member comprising ring shaped thin plate small diameter discs and large diameter discs respectively layered via spacers is disposed in the enclosure vessel of a trap device for a vapor phase reaction apparatus. Gas from the intake opening section of the enclosure vessel is introduced into the outer side space of the multilayer structural member of the enclosure vessel, passes through the spaces between the large diameter discs and also passes through the spaces between the small diameter discs, then exits via the inner side space of the multilayer structural member from the outlet opening section of enclosure vessel to the system exterior. As a result of this construction, in comparison to conventional devices, the collection efficiency of reactive components can be increased, the equipment life extended, and maintenance frequency reduced, thereby providing a trap device for a vapor phase reaction apparatus capable of improving productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1995
    Assignees: Tokyo Electron Kabushiki Kaisha, Tokyo Electron Tohoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Cuno K.K.
    Inventors: Katsushin Miyagi, Osamu Yokokawa, Yoshitaka Okada, Ichiro Nagasaki, Akira Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5419872
    Abstract: In a method to modify the chemistry of a portion of the surface of an article, the surface is placed adjacent an electrode in a plasma chamber, the distance to the wall of the chamber being at least five times the size of the electrode. A plasma of very high power density is generated in a discharge volume surrounding the electrode so that the surface area closest to the electrode receives a very intense plasma which diminishes with increasing distance from the discharge volume thus forming a chemical gradient on the article surface. The preferred article is a tube having one closed end, and the gradient may be formed from either the closed end or the open end. The gradient may be of decreasing glass-like character or decreasing plastic-like character.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1995
    Assignee: Becton Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: David B. Montgomery, Erwin A. Vogler
  • Patent number: 5417932
    Abstract: A wear resistant vent orifice is formed by a ring plate member, having erosion protective material at least on the inner annulus thereof, defining the vent orifice between the inner annulus of the ring plate and a tube member passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Leonce F. Castagnos, Jr., Gary E. Collier, Steven L. Keiner
  • Patent number: 5409675
    Abstract: An enhanced hydrocarbon pyrolysis reactor for the production of olefins. The reactor provides enhanced heat transfer, reduced pressure drop, and reduced energy requirements while increasing selectivity and olefin yield. The radiant section tubes of the reactor, according to the invention, are shaped to provide a continuously increasing volume per unit length from inlet to outlet of the reactor. This increase in volume may be achieved by either expanding the effective inside radius of the reactor tube and/or increasing the outside radius of the tube while increasing the inside effective radius. Alternatively, since embodiments of reactors according to the invention have internal fins, the fin size and shape may be modified to provide the required increasing volume per unit length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Inventor: Swami Narayanan
  • Patent number: 5409674
    Abstract: The reactor comprises a plurality of gas-permeable plates, which define reaction stages, which are connected by overflow lines. An annular duct for effecting a gas distribution is provided on at least one plate. The outer wall and the inner wall of the annular duct comprises numerous gas outlet openings. The annular duct is provided with at least one vertical gas-conduction pipe, which extends from the plate and is open at both ends. The top end of the gas-conduction pipe is surrounded by a bell-like cap, which is connected to the annular duct, so that a space through which gases can flow is left between the gas-conducting pipe and the cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Metwalli Ali, Gerhard Jedlicka
  • Patent number: 5409822
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor system utilizes a fluid phase, a retained fluidized primary particulate phase, and a migratory second particulate phase. The primary particulate phase is a particle such as a gel bead containing an immobilized biocatalyst. The secondary particulate phase, continuously introduced and removed in either cocurrent or countercurrent mode, acts in a secondary role such as a sorbent to continuously remove a product or by-product constituent from the fluid phase. Introduction and removal of the sorbent phase is accomplished through the use of feed screw mechanisms and multivane slurry valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Martin Marietta Energy Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Scott, Joseph A. Marasco
  • Patent number: 5409672
    Abstract: A tubular reactor uses a plurality of improved mixing devices to reduce the overall length of the tubular reactor while maintaining a low pressure drop operation. The mixing devices in the tubular reactor provide stages of mixing with increased severity. In a preferred form, the mixing device inwardly blends gas and liquid and outwardly discharges the blended gas and liquid in a manner that provides a high shear impact on the liquid and gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: UOP
    Inventor: Ismail B. Cetinkaya
  • Patent number: 5407830
    Abstract: A method and system for controlling an HF alkylation system comprising a reactor, a settler, an HF acid regenerator and a source of fresh HF acid wherein a stream of olefins and a stream of isobutanes are contacted in the reactor in the presence an HF acid catalyst. At least the reactor feed is sampled, and the sample is passed to an analyzer using an attenuated total reflectance cell. Signals are generated which are representative of infrared spectra of the samples in a range providing information on the amount of at least one of HF, water, ASO and sulfolane. These signals are simultaneously determined and generated because all absorb in the same spectral region. This aspect provides for viewing these distortions of the main HF absorption band to quantify these three components. The infrared spectra signals are compared with stored signals to generate control signals; and at least one of HF, water and sulfolane fed to the reactor feed is adjusted in response to the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence J. Altman, Rafi Jalkian
  • Patent number: 5407647
    Abstract: A gas-scrubber apparatus, including a chamber having an inlet means for receiving polluted gases to be scrubbed and having outlet means through which scrubbed gases are discharged, and heating elements for heating the chamber to maintain the polluted gases at predetermined temperature levels between the inlet means and the outlet means. The chamber includes a reaction zone for receiving a mixture of solid scrubbant materials for reacting with the polluted gases and a gas blower for directing the polluted gases to travel through the chamber to react with the scrubbant materials. At least one scrubber assembly is mounted in the reaction zone of the chamber having a baffle for collecting the polluted gases in the area adjacent the wall of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Florida Scientific Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Gregorio Tarancon
  • Patent number: 5405219
    Abstract: An article of manufacture comprising (i) a double cone having apexes at opposite ends, said double cone having independent gas inlet means at about the apex of the first cone and multiple independent gas outlet means in the second cone, and (ii) a hollow tube, open at both ends, inside the double cone running from one apex to the other apex having independent gas inlet means at the apex of the first cone and independent gas outlet means at the apex of the second cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Assignee: Union Carbide Chemicals & Plastics Technology Corporation
    Inventor: Duan-Fan Wang
  • Patent number: 5403563
    Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for collecting reaction product solids entrained in a gaseous outflow from a reaction situs, wherein the gaseous outflow includes a condensable vapor. A condensate is formed of the condensable vapor on static mixer surfaces within a static mixer heat exchanger. The entrained reaction product solids are captured in the condensate which can be collected for further processing, such as return to the reaction situs. In production of silicon imide, optionally integrated into a production process for making silicon nitride caramic, wherein reactant feed gas comprising silicon halide and substantially inert carrier gas is reacted with liquid ammonia in a reaction vessel, silicon imide reaction product solids entrained in a gaseous outflow comprising residual carrier gas and vaporized ammonia can be captured by forming a condensate of the ammonia vapor on static mixer surfaces of a static mixer heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Gary M. Crosbie, Ronald L. Predmesky, John M. Nicholson
  • Patent number: 5401476
    Abstract: To continuously produce and separate high purity p-xylene from a C.sub.8 aromatic hydrocarbon charge, successive use is made in combination of (1) a stage of separating low-purity p-xylene (75 to 98%) by simulated moving bed adsorption chromatography, with a ratio of the solvent to charge flow rates of 1.2 to 2.5; (2) a stage of purifying and washing the low-purity p-xylene by recrystallization (-25 to +10.degree. C.); (3) a stage of catalytic isomerization of the charge which has been p-xylene-depleted by the separating stage (1); and recovering an isomerate which is then recycled to the charge. The solvent for desorption in stage (1) and washing in stage (2) is advantageously toluene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Gerard Hotier, Claude Roux Guerraz, Than Nguyen Thanh
  • Patent number: 5401471
    Abstract: A fluidized bed reactor comprising a housing, and a nozzle grate disposed in the lower portion of the housing and serving to introduce a fluidizing fluid into the reactor. The nozzle grate consists of a plurality of approximately horizontally extending tubes and nozzles provided on such tubes. The tubes are detachably connected to the housing of the reactor and the housing of the reactor has at least one support for each tube, which support supports the tube as it is rotated about its longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Wolfgang Scheler, Jurgen Emmel, Wladyslaw Lewandowski