Patents Examined by Charles G. Freay
  • Patent number: 6148599
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for gasifying high moisture content carbonaceous material by introducing a solid first carbonaceous material (1) into at least one pressurized drier vessel (2), the first carbonaceous material having a moisture content above about 30 wt % wet basis. The moisture content of the first carbonaceous material is reduced by passing a hot flue gas having a low oxygen content through the pressurized drier vessels. Then the dried first carbonaceous material is transferred from the drier vessels to a pressurized carbonizer vessel (10). The dried material is partially gasified in the carbonizer vessel to produce a high temperature fuel gas (18) and a solid residual material (16). The solid residual material is transferred to a pressurized combustion chamber (4) to produce the low oxygen content flue gas for the pressurized drier vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Generation Technology Research Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Malcolm J McIntosh, Sankar Bhattacharya
  • Patent number: 6148617
    Abstract: A fuel-air distribution manifold for a gas turbine engine having an annular combustor surrounds the shaft of the engine and comprises a gas distribution annulus surrounding an air distribution annulus having a plurality of fuel-air mixing channels radially aligned with nozzles on the gas annulus, respectively, and communicating with the engine combustor. A fuel duct conducts a gaseous fuel only to the gas distribution annulus and an air duct conducts air only to the air annulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Williams International, Co. L.L.C.
    Inventor: Samuel B. Williams
  • Patent number: 6145318
    Abstract: Compressor discharge air flows through a heat exchanger in heat exchange relation with cooling water and is supplied at reduced temperature in atomizing air and purge modes to combustors in a dual-fuel gas turbine. The heat exchanger has a pair of bypass passages in parallel with a temperature regulating valve controlling flow of water through the heat exchanger in response to the temperature of the compressor discharge air exiting the heat exchanger. Should the flow control valve close in response to low temperature of the compressor discharge air, in the air atomizing mode, the bypass passages with orifices therein provide a minimum protective flow of cooling water to the heat exchanger. In the purge mode where only half the air flow and heat rejection is required in the heat exchanger and the flow control valve closes, a bypass valve in one of the bypass passages closes to enable reduced flow of cooling water through the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Howard Jay Kaplan, Joel Thomas Stimpson
  • Patent number: 6146116
    Abstract: A pumping device includes a main body having a passage defined therein and communicated with an air source. A retainer is slidably received in the main body and includes a chamber communicated with the passage of the main body. A nozzle is received in the chamber of the retainer and includes a nozzle passage communicated with the chamber. A plastic nozzle head is securely mounted in the main body and includes a valve chamber defined therein and communicated with the nozzle passage. A lever is provided for switching the retainer between a first inoperative position and a second operative position in which when the retainer is switched to the second operative position, the retainer exerts an inward force upon an outer periphery of the plastic nozzle head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventors: Scott Wu, Louis Chuang
  • Patent number: 6145294
    Abstract: A purge system is disclosed for flushing liquid fuel and water from the combustion section of a gas turbine system as well as for providing continuous cooling of the nozzles. The gas turbine may operate on liquid fuel or gaseous fuel. When the turbine is switched to burn gaseous fuel, the liquid fuel remaining in the liquid fuel system is flushed by a liquid fuel purge system. Similarly, water in the water injection system is purged from nozzles in the combustion system by a water purge system. The purge system operates in conjunction with an air atomization system, but does not rely on an atomizing air compressor to boost the pressure of the purge air. Instead, the purge system utilizes pressurized air from the gas turbine compressor and directs the purge air to manifolds which distribute air to the atomizing air passages, liquid fuel nozzles, and water injection nozzles via purge valves and soft purge valves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Co.
    Inventors: Robert S. Traver, Robert J. Iasillo, Howard J. Kaplan, John E. Drazba
  • Patent number: 6145296
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine has a turbine mounted downstream of a compressor and a compressor turbine mounted downstream of the turbine for driving the compressor. The compressor turbine has a rotor disk that is mechanically coupled to the compressor and rotates in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the turbine rotor disk. A heat exchanger has a first circuit connected to the compressor turbine and a second circuit connected between the compressor and the turbine. An electric load for taking off a fraction of power produced by the compressor turbine includes an electric generator that is mechanically coupled to the compressor turbine. An electric load controller changes the fraction of power produced by the compressor turbine based on readings from the temperature sensor located in the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: ALM Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Anatoly Rakhmailov
  • Patent number: 6146112
    Abstract: An air compressor includes a piston slidably received in a housing. A tube and a pipe are extended from the housing for coupling to a pressure gage and a nozzle. A passage is formed between the housing and the tube. A check valve is received in the tube. A piston is slidably received in the housing. A base is secured to the housing for supporting a motor. A gear and a weight are rotatably secured to the base. The weight has an eccentric pin coupled to the piston. The motor is coupled to the gear for moving the piston up and down along the housing in a reciprocating action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Wen San Chou
  • Patent number: 6146106
    Abstract: A control valve used in a variable displacement compressor. The valve includes a valve chamber having a valve hole. A valve body is accommodated in the valve chamber for selectively closing and opening the valve hole. An opening spring urges the valve body in a direction opening the valve hole. An actuator generates force in a direction closing the valve hole. A solenoid rod transmits the force of the actuator to the valve body. A pressure sensing chamber is defined independently from the valve chamber to receive refrigerant from a suction passage. A pressure sensing member is located in the sensing chamber for sensing the pressure in the sensing chamber. A pressure sensing rod transmits the pressure sensed by the sensing member to the valve body. A compression spring, a cap and stoppers maintain proper alignment of the pressure sensing member. The valve body is moved based on the refrigerant pressure sensed by the sensing member, the force of the spring and on the force of the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Ken Suitou, Masahiro Kawaguchi, Atsuyuki Morishita, Takuya Okuno, Masakazu Murase, Norio Uemura, Kazuaki Nagayoshi, Ichiro Hirata, Kouji Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6146115
    Abstract: A piston pump which is intended particularly for use in a slip-controlled hydraulic vehicle brake system. To increase a pumping volume of the piston pump at low pumping pressure, the piston pump includes a body embodied preferably as an annular body which is attached axially displaceably to the piston. The body increases a cross- sectional area of the piston and is axially acted upon by a spring element. At low pressure, the piston pump pumps with the entire cross-sectional area of the piston and the body while conversely at a higher pumping pressure, the body is held back counter to the force of the spring element and does not move together with the piston so that then the piston pumps only with its own cross-sectional area. The piston pump of the invention has the advantage of improved pressure buildup dynamics when the pumping pressure at the onset of pumping is low.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Alaze
  • Patent number: 6146105
    Abstract: A venturi type pumping device including a body having a tubular through bore between a bore inlet end and a bore outlet end, a restriction in the bore acting to produce a reduction in pressure downstream from the restriction, a delivery device for the delivery from a delivery outlet of a pressurized stream of liquid substantially axially aligned with the bore and upstream from the bore inlet end, a bore extension member which terminates upstream from and encloses the delivery outlet, and a mounting device provided on the body for sealing engagement of the bore extension member to the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Inventor: Luke Williams
  • Patent number: 6146104
    Abstract: A well and method for using the well for removing lighter than water pollutants (e.g. hydrocarbons and other organics) from a water table. The well includes a pneumatic pump having an air exhaust port to which a vacuum hose is attached for applying a vacuum to the pump chamber to enable fluids to be drawn into the pump chamber without regard to the hydrostatic head and at a rate sufficient to provide a drawdown of the water table to enable capture of organic compounds present as a floating layer on the water table.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The IT Group, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Mastroianni, Darren M. DeFabo
  • Patent number: 6146100
    Abstract: In the inlet pipe (7) of the compressor element (1) is provided a pneumatically controlled throttle valve (9), whereas the motor (3) of the compressor element (1) has a pneumatically controlled speed regulator (6). This speed regulator (6) and the throttle valve (9) are both connected to the compressed air receiver (14) via a compressed air pipe (26) and a control device (18). This control device (18) contains an electropneumatic valve (19) in the compressed air pipe (26) which is coupled to an electronic control (20), whereas a pressure sensor (21) is connected to the compressed air receiver (14) and a pressure sensor (22) is erected in the compressed air pipe (26) between the valve (19) and the speed regulator (6) and the throttle valve (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Atlas Copco AirPower, naamloze vennootschap
    Inventor: Stijn Broucke
  • Patent number: 6146114
    Abstract: A fluid pump and expandable energy storage device includes a substantially igid circular band, a substantially rigid central hub, a membrane fixed to the band and to the hub, the membrane being enlargeable by a fluid introduced into the device, and a plurality of rods interconnecting the band and the hub. The enlargeable membrane is adjacent the rods, such that enlargement of the membrane causes movement of the hub and portions of the rods away from a plane of the band. The movement causes twisting and bending of the rods, biasing the rods to return to their original positions upon release of the fluid. Upon such release, the membrane and the rods immediately return to their non-enlarged states, forcing the fluid out of the device at a high velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Nicholas M. Nardacci, Jeffrey L. Cipolla
  • Patent number: 6141957
    Abstract: In a starter combustor of a pressurized fluidized bed combined cycle power system, disorder of a flame detecting device due to ash accumulation is prevented. A fuel nozzle (33) of the starter combustor is provided so as to be directed to an inner cylinder (32) and a pipe (38) of a fitting pipe (36), which is connected to the inner cylinder (32). A valve body (1), having a valve body passage (1a), is provided so as to be connected to one end of the fitting pipe (36) and a valve component (3). The valve component (3) has a recess portion 3a and is connected to a shaft (1a) . When the combustor is started, the shaft (2), which is engaged rotatably with shaft fitting portion (3a') of the valve component (3) and is in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of the valve body (1), is moved by handle (4) so that the valve component is moved and the passage (1a) is opened. While the combustor is stopped, the passage (1a) is closed by the valve component (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Tsukagoshi, Satoshi Tanimura, Katsuhiko Abe
  • Patent number: 6142744
    Abstract: A pumping system and method according to which a plurality of housings are connected together, with each having an inlet and an outlet for respectively receiving and discharging the liquid to be pumped. A single shaft is driven by a motor and extends though all of the housings, and a plurality of rotors are respectively disposed in the housings and are connected to the shaft for rotation therewith. When the shaft is rotated, the rotors pump liquid passing into their corresponding housings from its inlet, through the housing and out its outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Dresser Equipment Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Ken William Taylor
  • Patent number: 6142060
    Abstract: There is provided a high pressure fuel pump which includes a reliable fuel seal having a long durability and which can be produced at a relatively low cost. When a rotating shaft 4 is rotated to rotate a swash plate 7, such rotation is transmitted to a piston shoe guide plate 8 through a thrust ball bearing 9. Since the plate 8 is supported by a spherical portion 16 of a rod 14 mounted to a body 12, the plate 8 performs a precession to recurrently operate a plurality of fuel pumps 21 to 25 disposed around the rod 14. Each of the fuel pumps 21 to 25 includes a bellows provided between an outer end of the piston and the body 12, and the bellows completely seals a fuel leaked from a sliding clearance between the piston and the cylinder. Since the leaked fuel is introduced into a return passage 19 through a groove formed in an outer wall of the cylinder, a large internal pressure is not applied to the bellows and therefore, the bellows can be made of a low-priced material such as Teflon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Saito, Toshihiro Kameda, Satoshi Iitaka
  • Patent number: 6142746
    Abstract: A pump device is disclosed, comprising a supply tube 1, for a liquid with a relatively low head, an accumulator 3 connected to supply tube 1 via a one-way valve 2, an outlet tube 4 from the accumulator for liquid with a relatively high head, and an outlet valve, provided at the supply tube 1 after the accumulator, which outlet valve opens and shuts an outlet 5 at the supply tube 1. The pump device is primarily characterized in that the outlet valve comprises a damper 6 movable between a position, in which the opening 5 is left open, and a position, in which the opening 5 is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Inventor: Lars-Olof Lundgren
  • Patent number: 6142752
    Abstract: A centrifugal fluid pump assembly has a pump body and a controller. The pump body has a housing, a pump section having an impeller rotating inside the housing, an impeller rotational torque generating section having a motor for rotating the impeller and an impeller position control section. The impeller rotates without contacting the housing. The controller has an impeller-floating position control function for changing the floating position of the impeller inside the housing by using the impeller position control section, a function of measuring electric current for driving the motor and a fluid viscosity calculation function for calculating a viscosity of fluid by utilizing a variation amount of the motor-driving electric current obtained by changing the floating position of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Teruaki Akamatsu, Toshihiko Nojiri, Takayoshi Ozaki, Minoru Suzuki
  • Patent number: 6141956
    Abstract: In a combined power generation plant, an exhaust gas boiler (2) consists of a high-pressure reheat type steam system, in which fuel is supplied to this exhaust gas boiler 2, and the supplied fuel undergoes catalytic reaction in combustion catalysis sections (NOx removal sections) 18 and 19 to increase the temperature of exhaust gas, whereby the power generation efficiency is improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Masaki Iijima, Tetsuya Imai
  • Patent number: 6142748
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating entrained gases from a pumped fluid. A degas pipe having an increased inner dimension relative to surrounding process piping is provided to generate a stratified two-phase gas/liquid flow. A controlled release mechanism permits selective removal of gas from the degas pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2000
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Robert T. Harris, Brent A. Tennant, William M. Lambert