Patents Examined by Douglas J. Theisen
  • Patent number: 7122074
    Abstract: Bubbles generated in molding glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) parts using a mold are removed with a device having a body plate with plural perforated gas vent holes and debubbling pipes. The pipes have a cavity and debubbling holes communicating with the cavity. The holes are on the side of the debubbling pipes. The debubbling pipes extend so the cavity communicates with the vent holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: Ki-Chul Kim
  • Patent number: 7112276
    Abstract: A medium having a support structure configured for circulation of a fluid therein, such as a replaceable filter cartridge, including a sanitizing agent which contains one or more reactants that are chemically configured for delivering chlorine dioxide or other sanitizing agents in a controlled dose to sanitize, deodorize, and disinfect upon being wetted by the fluid and positioned in the medium support structure to be exposed to the fluid circulating therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Thomas D. Holler
  • Patent number: 7105044
    Abstract: A fluid tank fluid is provided which includes a bubble removing device provided therein to remove bubbles from the fluid. The bubble removing device includes a cyclone chamber for generating a swirling current in the fluid flowing therethrough to separate bubbles from the fluid. At least one outflow port is provided through which the fluid from which the bubbles have been separated flows from the cyclone chamber. And an exhaust port is provided through which the bubbles separated from the fluid are driven from the cyclone chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Komatsu Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Konishi, Shotaro Ishii, Kouji Chikaishi, Noboru Kanayama, Tatsuro Nohara
  • Patent number: 7090716
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward a method for reducing pattern distortions in imprinting layers by reducing gas pockets present in a layer of viscous liquid deposited on a substrate. To that end, the method includes varying a transport of the gases disposed proximate to the viscous liquid. Specifically, the atmosphere proximate to the substrate wherein a pattern is to be recorded is saturated with gases that are either highly soluble, highly diffusive, or both with respect to the viscous liquid being deposited. Additionally, or in lieu of saturating the atmosphere, the pressure of the atmosphere may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignees: Molecular Imprints, Inc., Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Ian M. McMackin, Nicholas A. Stacey, Daniel A. Babbs, Duane J. Voth, Michael P. C. Watts, Van N. Truskett, Frank Y. Xu, Ronald D. Voisin, Pankaj B. Lad
  • Patent number: 7087103
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the number and/or size of gas bubbles in a material are disclosed. The disclosed methods involve subjecting materials to pressure for a period of time. The methods have been found to be useful in the preparation of dental composites and dental structures prepared from those composites. Materials produced using the disclosed methods can have enhanced structural and/or aesthetic features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Bisco, Inc.
    Inventors: Byoung I. Suh, Steven J. Duray
  • Patent number: 7077965
    Abstract: There is described a fluid treatment system comprising an array of independent fluid treatment reactors. The reactors are arranged in a manner whereby a flow of fluid may be passed through the array in a substantially helical direction. The fluid treatment system is capable of treating large volumes of fluid (e.g., water) while requiring a relatively small foot print. In essence, the present fluid treatment system concentrates a relatively large number of radiation sources in a relatively small amount of space resulting in the ability to treat large volumes of fluid (e.g., water).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Trojan Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Williamson, Douglas Penhale, Scott Roger
  • Patent number: 7074259
    Abstract: In a process for thermally degassing the water in a steam system, in particular a heat recovery steam generator, which steam system preferably includes at least one steam drum, at least one economizer connected upstream of it, and at least one evaporator, economic, efficient and structurally simple degassing is achieved by virtue of the fact that water is sucked out of at least one water volume, this water is mixed with steam from a steam volume, and the two-phase mixture that is formed flows out into the water volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 7056371
    Abstract: A liquid cleaning device comprises a vessel (1), a bottom plate (3), a heating device and a tubular riser (12) arranged in the vessel for heated liquid ascending through the riser, the heated liquid from the upper, open end of the riser running back through force of gravity down and outside of the riser to be reheated and ascend agains through the riser, and so on. The vessel—61) is cylindrical and substantially its entire base (17) can be heated by means of the heating device (171). A plurality of discs (51–54) of equal size are arranged in the upper part of the vessel (1), said discs having a central aperture (510) for the riser (12) and a plurality of small holes (511) distributed uniformly across the entire surface of the discs and provided with drip edges (5110). A distributor (14) is arranged at the upper, open end of the riser (12) to distribute the hot liquid coming out of the ruser uniformly over the uppermost disc (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: HVR Water Purification AB
    Inventors: Lars Mossberg, Aapo Saask
  • Patent number: 7041154
    Abstract: A fuel system for an energy conversion device includes a deoxygenator system. A signal generator system includes a multiple of transducers located adjacent a fuel channel. The transducers are arranged to generate acoustic flow chaotization and cavitation-induced phase separation which destroys oxygen depleted boundary layers and significantly improving flow mixing, intensifying oxygen supply to the surface of an oxygen-removing membrane of the deoxygenator system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander Staroselsky, Igor I. Fedichenia, Foster Philip Lamm
  • Patent number: 7033420
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for thermally degassing a condensate or feedwater by heating the condensate or feedwater in a feedwater vessel/degassing means, to which preheated condensate is fed and from which feedwater for heating surfaces heated in a heat recovery steam generator is removed. Structurally simple degassing, advantageous in thermal terms, is achieved by virtue of the fact that the condensate is preheated in a first condensate preheater, and that a partial stream of the preheated condensate, which is preheated further in a second condensate preheater, is used to heat the condensate or feedwater in the feedwater vessel/degassing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Erhard Liebig
  • Patent number: 7018532
    Abstract: Contaminated water is chemically treated and aerated while being gravity fed through a trough. A series of slats are positioned in the trough to interrupt the flow and induce mixing and aeration. An array of aeration edges is removably installed over the slats. A holder for containing chemical treatment matter therein is positioned adjacent each slat. The aeration edges consist of upper and lower plates stacked one on top of the other. Each plate is provided with horizontal fingers extending in a direction downstream relative to the flow direction of the treated water. Each finger terminates in a baffle, which baffle is positioned substantially perpendicular to its finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Inventor: Michael J. Kaufman
  • Patent number: 7014758
    Abstract: A water treatment device capable of filtering out iron and manganese in raw water by oxidizing them and making them insoluble in water includes a raw water supply tube (4), one or more jet nozzles (5), each being at one end portion thereof in communication with the raw water supply tube (4) and having at the other end thereof a raw water jetting outlet for blowing out the raw water in a jet stream, one or more air introducing tubes (6) provided in correspondence to the jet nozzle or jet nozzles (5), each being at one end portion thereof opened to the atmosphere and being at the other end portion thereof opened to the inside of a corresponding one of the jet nozzles (5) upstream of the raw water jetting outlet and a filter container (3) containing a filter layer (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2006
    Inventor: Tadayoshi Nagaoka
  • Patent number: 6997972
    Abstract: A gas liquid separator comprising at least two containers, a first container for separating gas from a gas liquid mixture and a second container for receiving gas reduced or gas free liquid. The first container has an outlet port to the second container below the level of the gas for the gas reduced or gas free liquid and a separate outlet port for the separated gas. The second container has a height taller than the height of the first container to enable it to hold enough volume of the gas reduced or gas free liquid that can exert pressure on the liquid inside the first container so that the separated gas is forced to escape from the gas outlet port of the first container while allowing the gas reduced or gas free liquid to exit at a separate outlet port of the second container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: Skydon Corp.
    Inventor: Anthony Tseng
  • Patent number: 6981997
    Abstract: Liquid such as water is deaerated by dissolving stripping gas such as carbon dioxide into the water while maintaining pressure, reducing the pressure, and then feeding the liquid into a vessel wherein a gas space is maintained over said water, wherein the pressure of said gas space is less than the pressure upstream, and separately withdrawing degassed liquid and evolved gas from said vessel at rates which maintain the pressure of said gas space below the pressure upstream of said means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Robert Williams, Marcilio Paiva Prado, Luis Claudio Dias Nogueira
  • Patent number: 6977038
    Abstract: A standard 20 ft or 40 ft sea-freight shipping container is configured as a septic tank, or as an aerobic trickle filter station. The shipping-container is lined with a watertight shell or liner. The liner may be a prefabricated separate structure inserted into the container, and supported from the container walls. Or, the liner may be actually constructed inside the container, again taking mechanical support from the container walls. The openable doors at the end of the standard container are retained, a wall being added to the shipping-container a foot or two inside the doors to form the tank, leaving a utility room for pipework, valves, pumps, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Inventor: E. Craig Jowett
  • Patent number: 6969419
    Abstract: A method for removing bubbles adhering to the interior wall of a fluid-filled chamber through which a fluid flows, and a related method and apparatus for removing bubbles from a chamber having medical sensory equipment such as a blood gas and chemistry analyzer. The method includes drawing a quantity of gas into the chamber to empty the chamber of fluid, maintaining the chamber in an empty state for a predetermined period of time, and then refilling the chamber with fluid at a rate low enough to remove remaining bubbles and to prevent the formation and trapping of new bubbles within the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Segars California Partners LP
    Inventor: James H. Macemon
  • Patent number: 6962618
    Abstract: Device and process for the removal of air from flotation foam formed during the flotation of a paper-fiber-containing suspension. The device includes a driven rotor that includes a shaft and at least one rotor blade positioned on the shaft, and a non-rotating wall arranged to surround the rotor in a region of the rotor blade by a non-rotating wall. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Voith Paper Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Gaus, Harald Hess, Herbert Britz
  • Patent number: 6955706
    Abstract: A system for producing and maintaining high purity degassed layup water for use in a power plant system during a layup period is disclosed. The liquid degassing system includes a degassing assembly for removing a predetermined amount of the undesired gases under vacuum pressure from the layup solution such that the amount of desired gases within the layup solution remains at or below standard values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Dominion Engineering INC
    Inventors: Robert D Varrin, Jr., Sotaro Kaneda
  • Patent number: 6949132
    Abstract: An elongated flow-through vacuum degassing apparatus includes an elongated gas and liquid impermeable outer tube and one or more gas-permeable, liquid-impermeable elongated inner tubes extending coaxially within the outer tube. The degassing apparatus further includes a vacuum source adaptor extending from a side wall of the outer tube and co-extensively with a vacuum source coupling aperture in the outer tube so as to create a sealed axial vacuum chamber between the outer tube and the inner tubes. The apparatus also includes inlet and outlet connection structures operably coupled to respective portions of the outer tube and the inner tubes to further enable a sealed engagement between the outer tube and the inner tubes, and to provide for connection devices for operably coupling the degassing apparatus of the present invention to respective components in a chromatographic system. The degassing apparatus is sufficiently flexible so as to be readily manipulatable into desired configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Systel, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Thielen, Yuri Gerner, Carl W. Sims
  • Patent number: 6942720
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for treating a fluid having at least one treating zone, with a fluid inlet and separation device in it for introducing a separated mixture of liquid and gas into the treating zone. The fluid inlet device has a series of coaxially disposed circumferential vanes, in which each circumferential vane curvedly extends between an intercepting part having a substantially axially directed leading edge and a deflecting part having a substantially radially outwardly extending trailing edge, and wherein the central axis of the inlet device extends parallel or coaxial with an upwardly extending axis of the treating zone. The invention further relates to a fluid inlet device, to a use of the fluid inlet device, and to a method for treating a fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Graham Arthur Davies, Johannes Lambertus Nooijen