Patents Examined by Christopher B. Kilner
  • Scroll compressor and air conditioner using the same
    Patent number: 5345785
    Abstract: A horizontal-installation-type scroll compressor requiring small installation space adopts a technique which can reduce the amount of refrigerating machine oil circulating through the refrigeration cycle. By using this scroll compressor, an air conditioner is provided whose unit body has a reduced depth and which has satisfactory ventilation efficiency and cyclic efficiency.The scroll compressor includes a closed container which is separated into a section lodging an electric motor and a compression mechanism and a section where a discharge pipe is provided. Refrigerating machine oil is stored in the section including the discharge pipe in order to ensure the requisite amount of refrigerating machine oil. An oil separation mechanism is provided in the passage of the refrigerant gas so that refrigerant gas containing little amount of refrigerating machine oil may be sent out from the discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Sekigami, Kenichi Oshima, Masahiro Takebayashi
  • Spiral freezer
    Patent number: 5343714
    Abstract: A spiral type freezer constructed and operated to introduce refrigerated atmosphere into the bottom of the insulated chamber and circulate the atmosphere in a circulation flow from the bottom of the chamber to an exit on top of the chamber, the refrigerated atmosphere producing a thermal gradient from the bottom to the top of the chamber so that the freezer is operated non-isothermally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward F. Kiczek, David J. Klee, Kevin S. McAfee, Roger A. Howells
  • Ice rink making equipment and process for resurfacing ice
    Patent number: 5331826
    Abstract: An ice forming apparatus to form an ice surface in an ice rink, comprising a water supply conduit located adjacent to the ice rink and connected to a supply of water. A plurality of sprinkler conduits are connected to the water supply conduit. Attached to each sprinkler conduit is a single sprinkler head. Between each sprinkler head and the water supply conduit is a valve operably attached to the sprinkler conduit. One or more valves may be opened so that water sprinkles onto the rink to form a smooth layer of ice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Icecycle Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick J. Stockhaus, Jeffrey D. McCallum
  • Process and apparatus for the production of gaseous oxygen under pressure
    Patent number: 5329776
    Abstract: In this process for the production of gaseous oxygen under pressure by air distillation in a double column, pumping liquid oxygen withdrawn at the bottom of the low pressure column, and vaporization of compressed liquid oxygen by heat exchange with air at high pressure, all the air to be distilled is compressed at the high air pressure, followed by expanding, at the pressure of the mean pressure column, the excess fraction of this air in a turbine which is decelerated by means of an air booster, and at least one liquid product is withdrawn from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1994
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Maurice Grenier
  • Integrated environmental control system for a helicopter
    Patent number: 5327744
    Abstract: A compact, lightweight integrated environmental control (IEC) system for a helicopter incorporates in operative combination an environmental control system (ECS) and a nuclear/biological/chemical life support system (NBC LSS). The IEC system includes a refrigerant subsystem, a regenerative heat exchange apparatus, a decontamination subsystem, and an airflow distribution network, and is operative to provide super-cooled, super-dry, decontaminated airflow, in seriatim, directly to left and right mission equipment package bays and the cockpit for cooling of avionics/electronic modules and crew comfort. The IEC system is further operative to directly provide cooled, super-dry, decontaminated airflow for cooling of avionics/electronic modules of the mid mission equipment package bay and for over pressurizing the left and right mission equipment package bays to preclude contaminant infiltration thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1992
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Frawley, Thomas Perrotta, Richard S. Barnard
  • Natural gas liquefaction pretreatment process
    Patent number: 5325673
    Abstract: A method for pretreating a natural gas stream using a single scrub column to remove freezable C.sub.5+ components and provide an LNG product which can be conveniently handled and shipped is disclosed. The method comprises feeding a natural gas stream to a feed point on a scrub column operated substantially as an absorption column wherein the heavy components are absorbed from the feed gas using a liquid reflux essentially free of such C.sub.5+ components. The feed can be vapor introduced at a low point on the column, or can be optionally split, cooled and/or expanded and introduced at one or more feed points on the column. The reflux stream can be overhead vapor condensate having a temperature of about - 40.degree. C., or methane-rich LNG or a combination of LNG and vapor condensate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: The M. W. Kellogg Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Durr, WIlliam C. Petterson
  • Filtered environmental control system
    Patent number: 5323624
    Abstract: An air conditioning system (10), being powered by a supply of compressed air, includes an air cycle machine (12) and incorporates a pair of regenerable bed filters (44,46). In operation, the filters are alternately cycled in and out of service with one of the filters receiving pressurized air for filtration from the air cycle machine compressor (30), while a backflow of purge air is passed through the other filter to remove accumulated contaminants from the bed thereof, thereby regenerating the filter. The purge air comprises conditioned air from the air cycle machine turbine (32). The contaminant laden purge air discharging from the filter being cleansed, is passed to a subatmospheric pressure region (77) in the ram air duct (20) upstream of the air cycle machine fan (28) and downstream of the heat exchangers (22, 24) for venting therefrom to the atmosphere via the fan (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 28, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Gregory K. Schwalm
  • Cryogenic cooling apparatus
    Patent number: 5317878
    Abstract: The invention provides a controlled connection, or heat switch, between a source of cryogenic cooling and an item which is to be cooled, using control valve means which is not itself subjected to the cryogenic temperatures involved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: British Technology Group Ltd.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Bradshaw, Anna H. Orlowska
  • Flexible thermal connection system between a cryogenic refrigerator and an mri superconducting magnet
    Patent number: 5317879
    Abstract: A flexible heat transfer assembly between a cryogenic refrigerator cold head sleeve and magnetic resonance imager thermal shields includes a plurality of rope-lay stranded copper ropes, each containing a large number of section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 7, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Charles Goldberg, Steven D. Schnurer, John Scaturro, Jr., Kemakolam M. Obasih, Clifford J. Ginfrida, Jr.
  • Cryogenic air separation process and apparatus
    Patent number: 5311744
    Abstract: A cryogenic air separation process and method in which air is cooled and after compression and purification then rectified in a rectification column to produce an oxygen rich liquid. An argon-oxygen stream containing liquid lean in nitrogen is separated to form oxygen and argon streams. Argon vapor is condensed to supply reflux to the argon column. An oxygen rich liquid stream is expanded to a pressure at which the oxygen rich liquid is at or below the condensation temperature of the argon vapor and is then vaporized against condensing the argon vapor. The vaporized oxygen rich liquid is then introduced into a nitrogen stripper column and nitrogen is stripped therefrom by a stripper gas to produce the argon-oxygen liquid which is introduced into the argon column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul A. Sweeney, Ramachandran Krishnamurthy
  • Transfer line for cryogenic fluid
    Patent number: 5307639
    Abstract: Transfer line for cryogenic fluid comprising a transfer conduit (1) for cryogenic fluid and a conduit (3) for cooling fluid surrounded by a metallic shield (4) coupled thermally to the cooling conduit (3). The metal shield (4) is a thin strip wound in unsecured manner about the conduits (1, 3) and locally connected to the cooling conduit (3) by resilient clips (5) or by a layer (6) of connecting material. The metallic strip has a thickness no greater than 0.1 mm and can be of aluminum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 3, 1994
    Assignee: L'Air Liquid Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Jean-Claude Boissin
  • Cryopump method and apparatus
    Patent number: 5305612
    Abstract: Cryopump apparatus and method for controlling the operating temperature of a cryoarray in a cryopump. The cryopump has means for thermally isolating one of more of the cryoarrays from the refrigeration source. The means for thermally isolating is a thermal switch formed from at least first and second switch elements made of materials having dissimilar coefficients of thermal expansion. The thermal switch is also used in isolating one of the pump's cryoarrays during a partial regeneration process. The thermal switch of the preferred embodiment may also be used to prevent one of the pump's cryoarrays from falling below a predetermined operating temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 26, 1994
    Assignee: Ebara Technologies Incorporated
    Inventors: Graham J. Higham, Craig Perkins
  • Superconducting magnetic energy storage device
    Patent number: 5301507
    Abstract: This invention relates to a cryogenless superconducting magnet system of the type that is attached to a utility grid at end-user site and is used to store electrical energy until such time that an electrical disruption occurs in the grid. Structures of this type, generally, allow the stored electrical energy to be released in such a manner that the disruption in the utility grid is negated before it reaches critical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Evangelos T. Laskaris, Ahmed K. Kalafala
  • Cooling apparatus
    Patent number: 5299425
    Abstract: In a cooling apparatus for cooling an object by means of expanding a pressurized gas which is precooled below its inversion temperature, the pressurized, precooled gas is passed through a depressurization outlet and thereby expanded in a manner such that a gas jet exits from the depressurization outlet and is directed towards a surface of the object to be cooled. This surface has a central impingement area which is impinged upon by the gas jet and which is surrounded by a plurality of spiral-shaped outwardly extending ribs. The heat transfer is thereby improved. The gas, which is in the saturated condition, forms a vortex and, as a result, droplets are separated from the gas. This enables utilizing the heat of vaporization of such droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Bodenseewerk Geratetechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Hingst
  • Invertible cooler
    Patent number: 5295365
    Abstract: A container intended to act as a cooler for items such as beverage cans or bottles has an insulated body with watertight closures at each end each capable of acting either as a base of the cooler or a lid. Fastenings to secure the closures, and supports for the cooler are also provided; their functions may be integrated. The supports may be carrying handles, or stands forming a support on which the cooler may be inverted. The ability to invert the cooler enables the functions of adding ice and adding or removing articles to be cooled to be conveniently separated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Inventor: Thomas A. Redford
  • Method for lubricating compression type refrigerating system
    Patent number: 5295357
    Abstract: A method of lubricating a compression type refrigerating system comprising a compressor, a condensor, an expansion valve or a capillary tube and an evaporator, involves the use of lubricants having a kinematic viscosity of 5 to 500 cSt at 40.degree. C. and an interfacial tension of 8 dyne/cm or above in combination with a mixed refrigerant comprising 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane and 1,1-dichloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane or chlorodifluoromethane as an essential component in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Idemitsu Kosan Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Kaneko
  • Defrosting tool for cryostat cold head interface
    Patent number: 5291740
    Abstract: Defrosting tool for maintaining the temporarily exposed cold head interface of a cryostat in frost-free condition. A plurality of electrically heated heat exchange surfaces of the tool simultaneously contacts a like plurality of cold head interface surfaces to vaporize frost formed on the latter. The tool further provides a passage for venting the vaporized frost to the surrounding environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventor: Steven D. Schnurer
  • Inter-column heat integration for multi-column distillation system
    Patent number: 5289688
    Abstract: This invention relates to an improvement in a process for the separation of a multi-component stream by distillation. A multi-component feed is introduced to a multicolumn distillation system comprising a main column and a side column wherein at least a light component A is separated from a heavier component C in the main column, the lighter component A being removed as an overhead fraction and the heavier component C being removed as a bottoms fraction. The improvement for enhanced recovery of a component in the side column comprises withdrawing a liquid fraction from the main column at a point intermediate the overhead and bottoms and introducing that liquid fraction to an upper portion of the side column. Lighter components are withdrawn from the side column and returned to an optimal location in the distillation system, typically the main column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Rakesh Agrawal
  • Modular nested vapor compression heat pump for automotive applications
    Patent number: 5289698
    Abstract: A heat pump for a vehicle includes a compressor helically wound with two pairs of concentric tubes forming the condenser and evaporator. One of the tubes of each pair is in fluid communication with glycol solution used as a heat transfer medium, and the other communicates the refrigerant. The first pair of concentric tubes operates as the condenser and produces condensed refrigerant to an expansion device. The evaporator comprises the second pair of concentric tubes and receives the expanded refrigerant for evaporating same. The glycol solution is communicated to air coupled heat exchangers to heat or cool the passenger compartment, depending on the vehicle mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Srinivas Garimella
  • Packed column distillation system
    Patent number: 5282365
    Abstract: An improved packed column distillation system, which may be particularly advantageous for use with cryogenic distillation such as the cryogenic distillation of air, wherein external heat is provided at the column wall, especially at a stripping section of the column, to vaporize liquid formed on the inner surface of the column wall resulting in improved separation efficiency with lower packed bed height.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Victor, Dante P. Bonaquist, Robert A. Beddome