Patents Examined by Denise L. Esquivel
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Patent number: 6606801Abstract: A system and process for drying a shoe, for example a leather shoe comprising a fan operable to produce an air flow, a heating element and at least one duct having at least one outlet, which is adapted to direct a portion of the air flow into a shoe. Additionally, the shoe drying system provides a drying effectiveness of at least 70 g/hr within the first hour of drying.Type: GrantFiled: June 26, 2001Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Janine Morgens Strang, Ilya Yurievich Ilyin, Viatcheslav Vladimirovitch Karamychev, Valeriy Valentinovich Pavlov, Michael Peter Siklosi
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Patent number: 6606881Abstract: A filter system for an absorption chiller includes a replaceable filter element, a plateable member, and a sacrificial member. The filter receives a weak solution from the chiller's evaporator, receives a stronger solution from the chiller's absorber, and discharges a mixture of the solutions to the chiller's generator. Conveying the weak solution to the filter system avoids creating an accumulation of lithium bromide in the evaporator and helps dissolve or flush inhibitors from the filter element on a continuous basis. Combining the weak and stronger solutions in the filter system attempts to confine a corrosion or copper oxide plating process to an area of the chiller that can be readily serviced. The plateable member and the sacrificial member provide replaceable or consumable members used in the corrosion or plating process.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: August 19, 2003Assignee: American Standard International Inc.Inventor: Dennis L. Justin
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Patent number: 6604366Abstract: A cryogenic cooling system (12) for cooling electromagnetic energy detectors (50). The cooling system (12) includes a first mechanism (18) that accommodates cryogen fluid in one or more spaces (58, 60). A second mechanism (16, 42) freezes the cryogen fluid in the one or more spaces (58, 60) adjacent to the electromagnetic energy detectors (50). In a specific embodiment, the electromagnetic energy detectors (50) comprise an infrared focal plane array (50). The second mechanism (16, 42) includes a heat exchanger (16) that is mounted separately from the first mechanism (18). The one or more spaces (58, 60) are fitted with three-dimensional cooling interface surfaces (62, 64). The three-dimensional cooling surfaces (62, 64) are implemented via a thermally conductive matrix (62, 64). The thermally conductive matrix (62, 64) is a copper metal matrix or carbon/graphite matrix, and the solid cryogen reservoir (18) is a beryllium reservoir (18).Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventor: Kent P Pflibsen
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Patent number: 6604573Abstract: A tube is provided with elastically deformable tube deforming sections (tube curved sections), and a fin is provided with the quality of spring so that the fin deforms in accordance to changes of dimension between the tubes. Accordingly, it is possible to weaken (absorb) stress by the tube deforming sections (tube curved sections), and to prevent the fin from separating from the tube even when the tube deforming section (tube curved section) deforms.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2000Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Denso CorporationInventors: Shingo Morishima, Tadayoshi Terao, Toshihiro Mafune
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Patent number: 6604999Abstract: A gaming machine 10 has a display 14 and a game controller arranged to control images displayed on the display 14. The game controller is arranged to play a game 16 wherein at least one random event is caused to be displayed on the display 14 and, if a predefined winning event occurs, the machine 10 awards a prize. A matrix of symbol positions is displayed on the display 14 and at least one payline is associated with the matrix. The payline is comprised of an equal number of symbol positions as there are columns in the matrix but passes through fewer than all of the columns.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2001Date of Patent: August 12, 2003Assignee: Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd.Inventor: Mark Ainsworth
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Patent number: 6601407Abstract: A method for cryogenic air separation wherein at least a portion of the feed air to the cryogenic air separation plant is partially condensed and the resulting two-phase feed air stream is turboexpanded to produce refrigeration and a resulting two-phase feed air stream, which has a liquid portion less than that of the input two-phase feed air stream to the turboexpander, prior to being passed into the cryogenic air separation plant.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: August 5, 2003Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Sabri Deniz, Gregory William Henzler, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
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Patent number: 6598423Abstract: A liquefaction system includes a source tank containing a supply of liquid nitrogen with a head space there above filled with nitrogen vapor. A pump transfers the liquid nitrogen to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger also receives natural gas that has been processed in a purifier. The natural gas is liquefied by free cold from the liquid nitrogen so that liquid natural gas (LNG) is produced. The LNG travels to an LNG destination tank for storage and/or transport. The liquid nitrogen is vaporized in the heat exchanger. The resulting nitrogen gas is directed to a process system that may include, for example, cylinders for welding or other applications. Between liquefaction cycles, the purifier is regenerated by a vacuum and nitrogen vapor from the head space of the source tank. Steel shot is mixed with absorbent in the purifier so that the absorbent is cooled for increased performance.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 29, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Claus Emmer, Thomas K. Drube
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Patent number: 6595007Abstract: A Stirling refrigerating machine, comprising a regenerator provided in a flow path for a working medium reciprocating between an expansion space and a compression space formed in a cylinder, wherein a flow strengthener making uniform the flow of the working medium passing through the regenerator is provided on one or both of the expansion and compression space sides of the regenerator, whereby, because the nonuniformity of the flow of the working medium passing through the regenerator is improved, a regenerated heat exchanging efficiency can be increased, and thus the performance of the refrigerating machine can be increased.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2002Date of Patent: July 22, 2003Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Shinsuke Amano
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Patent number: 6591618Abstract: A method for providing refrigeration to a refrigeration load which enables the use of environmentally friendly refrigerants with lower power consumption than with conventional refrigerants wherein the low side pressure of the circuit exceeds the critical pressure of the refrigerant fluid and the refrigerant fluid is compressed to a higher supercritical pressure prior to expansion.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.Inventors: Henry Edward Howard, Arun Acharya, Bayram Arman, James Bragdon Wulf
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Patent number: 6591631Abstract: A refrigeration unit for performing a refrigerating cycle by circulating R32 as a refrigerant through a refrigerant circuit composed of a compressor (23), a condenser (22), expansion means (26), and an evaporator (2). An amount of R32 for filling the refrigerant circuit is set to be in a range of 120 g to 450 g per kW of refrigerating capacity, or an amount of R32 for filling the refrigerant circuit is set to be in a range of 400 g to 750 g per liter of unobstructed capacity of the condenser (22). By using R32 as a refrigerant that is small in Global Warming Potential (GWP), an energy-saving refrigeration against global warming with high coefficient of performance (COP) is obtained.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Daiken Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Shigeharu Taira
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Patent number: 6591630Abstract: A sorption cooling device adapted to cool a gas or liquid flowing through a conduit. The cooling device has a high cooling density and a user can independently control the cooling rate. The cooling device can be incorporated in a number of apparatus and in one embodiment is incorporated in a personnel cooling apparatus, such as a closed-loop breathing apparatus or a body cooler.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Nanopore, Inc.Inventors: Douglas M. Smith, Kevin H. Roderick, Ezra L. Merrill, Charles J. Call
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Patent number: 6588223Abstract: An optimized CO2 air-conditioning system for a vehicle has individual components designed and/or matched to one another in such a way that if the high pressures in the high-pressure section deviate by up to ±30% from the optimum high pressures, the associated optimum performance figures are reduced by no more than 20%. The individual components include a controllable compressor, a gas cooler, an internal heat exchanger, an evaporator and an accumulator. As a result, a fixed throttle expansion member can be used between the high-pressure and low-pressure sections of the system.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Bernd Dienhart, Hans-Joachim Krauss, Hagen Mittelstrass, Karl-Heinz Staffa, Christoph Walter, Jürgen Fischer, Michael Katzenberger, Karl Lochmahr
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Patent number: 6588122Abstract: A method and apparatus for the treatment of surfaces of substrates of organic or inorganic materials, reactive fragments such as radicals or ions are produced by ultraviolet radiation from at least one ultraviolet radiator disposed at a given distance. The apparatus has a gas-filled, elongated discharge chamber whose walls are formed by a dielectric, and the ultraviolet radiator is provided on the side facing away from the discharge chamber with at least one electrode. During irradiation, a translational and/or rotatory relative movement is performed between the substrate and the ultraviolet radiator at a comparatively slight distance between radiator and substrate surface, in order to achieve, in a simple manner, an intense and uniform illumination of the surface being irradiated. The treatment is directed especially to silicon substrates or glass substrates.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight GmbHInventors: Angelika Roth-Fölsch, Erich Arnold
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Patent number: 6584789Abstract: A vehicular cooling system and a related method are disclosed as including a heat-source heat radiator 11 for cyclically supplying coolant water to a heat source 1 for cooling the same, and a moistening-water-condenser heat radiator 19 for cyclically supplying coolant water to and cooling a moistening-water recapturing condenser 5 which condenses and recaptures water from exhaust gases of the fuel cell 1 for moistening the same.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2002Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.Inventor: Takayuki Ishikawa
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Patent number: 6584782Abstract: In the method for producing a particulate material (58) from an at least partially liquid material (35) containing a solvent and/or dispersant, this material (35) is atomized in a process chamber (21) into droplets which are frozen to particles (131) by contact with a freezing fluid. The particles (131) are then dried by freeze-drying in the or in another process chamber (22) having a filter (18) at the top. For the freeze-drying, cooled process gas is passed upward from below through the process chamber (22) and through the filter (18) in such a way that at least a substantial part of the particles (131) rest against the filter (18) at least for a substantial part of the freeze-drying taking place in the process chamber (22). This makes it possible to dry a batch of particles (131) in a short time.Type: GrantFiled: August 8, 2002Date of Patent: July 1, 2003Assignee: Glatt GmbHInventors: Hans Leuenberger, Armin Karl Theodor Prasch, Bernhard Luy
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Patent number: 6581390Abstract: A cryogenic fluid delivery system includes an insulated storage tank containing a supply of cryogenic liquid, a pump, a heat exchanger and a gas and liquid mixer. The pump includes a pumping cylinder within which a sliding pumping piston is positioned. The pump also includes an actuating cylinder within which a sliding actuating piston is positioned. The pumping and actuating pistons are joined by a connecting rod. A portion of the cryogenic liquid pumped from the storage tank by the pumping piston and cylinder is vaporized in the heat exchanger and introduced into the actuating cylinder on alternating sides of the actuating piston to power the pump. The vaporized cryogen is also used to heat the pumped cryogenic liquid in the mixer. The conditioned cryogenic liquid is then dispensed from the mixer via a dispensing line.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Chart Inc.Inventors: Claus Emmer, Thomas K. Drube, Jesse Gamble
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Patent number: 6581404Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a refrigerant in which an odorant is added, the odorant being compatible with refrigerants and refrigerating device oils, and having no reactivity with refrigerating device oils and materials forming refrigerating circuits, and to provide a refrigerating device in which the refrigerant is circulated in the refrigerating circuit. A refrigerant whose main component is a hydrocarbon having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or a flammable hydrocarbon fluoride obtained when one or more hydrogen atoms of the hydrocarbon is substituted by fluorine atoms, the refrigerant containing a tetrahydrothiophene as an odorant, and a refrigerating device in which the refrigerant is circulated are provided.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Takeo Komatsubara, Yasuki Takahashi, Takayuki Saitou, Miyuki Kawamura
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Patent number: 6581389Abstract: A refrigerator. The refrigerator may include a cabinet and a refrigeration deck slidably positioned within the cabinet. The refrigeration deck may include a Stirling cooler unit.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 2001Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: The Coca-Cola CompanyInventor: Arthur G. Rudick
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Patent number: 6581395Abstract: An automated cold storage apparatus, and related method thereof, provides a sample process management system that is a revolutionary approach to the storage and retrieval regarding critical samples. The system—a significant technological breakthrough in laboratory automation—is the first ultra low temperature robotic system capable of being validated. Samples in containers are stored and retrieved robotically through an airlock climate-control chamber that is automatically dehumidified by a dry gas purge, such as a carbon dioxide or nitrogen purge or the like. This purge rapidly reduces ambient humidity to a desirable relative humidity (RH), e.g., less than about 15% RH, virtually eliminating the accumulation of frost. Microplates are systematically identified using barcode technology, for example. Once through the climate-controlled chamber, the containers (i.e., samples) are robotically transferred to the rotary mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: University of Virginia Patent FoundationInventors: Robin A. Felder, B. Sean Graves, James P. Gunderson
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Patent number: 6581397Abstract: A refrigerating device has a refrigerant circuit having a compressor (1), an indoor heat exchanger (3), a main motor operated valve (EV1), and an indoor heat exchanger (5) connected in a loop, and uses, as a working medium, an R32 refrigerant or a mixed refrigerant containing R32 at at least 70 wt %. A supercooling heat exchanger (11) is disposed between the indoor heat exchanger (3) and the main motor operated valve (EV1), and the liquid side of the refrigerant circuit are connected to the gas side by by-pass pipes (33, 34) through the supercooling heat exchanger (11). A supercooling motor operated valve (EV2) is disposed at the by-pass pipe (33) upstream of the supercooling heat exchanger (11).Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: June 24, 2003Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Shigeharu Taira, Junichirou Tanaka, Koji Shibaike