Patents Examined by Frank Lawrence
  • Patent number: 8308831
    Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides a filter cleaning mechanism comprising: a filter material (37) for filtering out dust and dirt particles from air passing therethrough; a frame (32, 34, 35, 38, 39) for supporting said filter material (37); devices (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for mechanically agitating said filter material to dislodge dust and dirt particles therefrom; wherein the devices for mechanically agitating said filter material comprises elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for deforming said frame within its elastic limit and elements (31, 296; 25a, 25b, 25c, 25d) for rapidly releasing said frame from said deformation to cause said frame to relax to an undeformed state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Black & Decker Inc.
    Inventor: Eric Coburn
  • Patent number: 8303683
    Abstract: Guard layers are employed in the adsorbent beds of rapid cycle pressure swing adsorption (RCPSA) devices to protect the adsorbent therein from certain contaminants (e.g. water vapour). Conventional PSA devices typically pack the guard layer with as much guard material as is practical. In RCPSA devices however, the performance of the guard layer can be improved by using a reduced amount of guard material and increasing access to it. Such embodiments are characterized by guard layers with a channel fraction of greater than 50%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Andre Jason Boulet, Amy Chiu, Brian G. Sellars, Andrea C. Gibbs
  • Patent number: 8298319
    Abstract: Disclosed are a pressure swing adsorption apparatus for hydrogen purification and a hydrogen purification method using the same. The pressure swing adsorption apparatus for hydrogen purification includes a plurality of adsorption columns connected with a feed supply pipe, a hydrogen storage tank for collecting purified hydrogen from the adsorption columns, and valves for opening or closing a plurality of pipes connected to the respective adsorption columns, and the adsorption columns are packed with adsorbent beds of active alumina or silica gel, activated carbon, zeolite 13X, zeolite 5A, and a carbon monoxide-selective adsorbent other than the zeolite 5A, in order to remove carbon dioxide, methane, and carbon monoxide from a hydrogen-containing gas mixture supplied through the feed supply pipe, and the content of carbon monoxide in the discharged hydrogen is minimized through sequential adsorption on the adsorbents in the adsorption columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Korean Institute of Energy Research
    Inventors: Soon Haeng Cho, Sodankoor Garadi Thirumaleshwara Bhat, Sang Sup Han, Jong Ho Park, Jong Nam Kim, Heon Jung
  • Patent number: 8298320
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments of the invention relate to systems for removing dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or related compounds, or odors associated with same. The systems include adsorbents, odor adsorbing fabrics, masks, clean air members and clean air supply assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Abela Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
    Inventor: Colette Cozean
  • Patent number: 8287628
    Abstract: An absorption fluid reservoir having a fluid inlet for receiving gases during a charging event and a gas analysis unit for detecting unwanted impurities in the gases prior to being received in the reservoir and a control unit for eliminating the gases having the impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Gruenwald, Thorsten Allgeier, Kai Oertel, Ian Faye, Stephan Leuthner, Jan-Michael Graehn
  • Patent number: 8287629
    Abstract: An MH tank module 2 has a hollow outer shell portion 12 formed of metal. The outer shell portion 12 has a plurality of MH powder retaining chambers 22 defined by a plurality of fins 20. A plurality of MH tank modules 2 are bound together by a first tank holder 10 and a second tank holder 11. The tank holders 10, 11 are each configured by fastening and fixing first, second, third, and fourth holder components 28-31, which are separate from one another. The first to fourth holder components 28-31 each have a heat medium passage 28f-31f. The first to fourth holder components 28-31 each have recessed portions 33 each corresponding to the shape of a side portion of each MH tank module 2. The MH tank modules 2 are held individually by the corresponding recessed portions 33.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Fujita, Hidehito Kubo, Daigoro Mori, Katsuhiko Hirose, Norihiko Haraikawa
  • Patent number: 8282709
    Abstract: ETS-10 type materials preferentially adsorb ethane and, if present, C3+ paraffins from mixtures comprising methane, ethane and optionally C3+ paraffins at pressures above 200 psia. A process in which ETS-10 type materials are used to separate ethane and C3+ paraffins from natural gas streams at over 200 psia is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: The Governors of the University of Alberta
    Inventors: Steven Mitchell Kuznicki, Adolfo Maria Avila, Meng Shi, Vernon Lindsay Strom, Patricio S. Herrera
  • Patent number: 8282023
    Abstract: Fluid storage and dispensing systems, and processes for supplying fluids for use thereof. Various arrangements of fluid storage and dispensing systems are described, involving permutations of the physical sorbent-containing fluid storage and dispensing vessels and internal regulator-equipped fluid storage and dispensing vessels. The systems and processes are applicable to a wide variety of end-use applications, including storage and dispensing of hazardous fluids with enhanced safety. In a specific end-use application, reagent gas is dispensed to a semiconductor manufacturing facility from a large-scale, fixedly positioned fluid storage and dispensing vessel containing physical sorbent holding gas at subatmospheric pressure, with such vessel being refillable from a safe gas source of refill gas, as disclosed herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Karl Olander, James V. McManus, Steven J. Hultquist, Jose I. Arno, Peter C. Van Buskirk
  • Patent number: 8282714
    Abstract: A pyrolyzed monolith carbon physical adsorbent that is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics: (a) a fill density measured for arsine gas at 25° C. and pressure of 650 torr that is greater than 400 grams arsine per liter of adsorbent; (b) at least 30% of overall porosity of the adsorbent including slit-shaped pores having a size in a range of from about 0.3 to about 0.72 nanometer, and at least 20% of the overall porosity including micropores of diameter<2 nanometers; and (c) having a bulk density of from about 0.80 to about 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter, preferably from 0.9 to 2.0 grams per cubic centimeter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Donald Carruthers
  • Patent number: 8277545
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a method of reducing an amount of mercury discharged to an environment in a flue gas (12) generated by combustion of a fuel source. The method includes contacting the flue gas with a moist pulverous material upstream of a particle separator (24), mixing powdered activated carbon (PAC) in an amount between about 0.5 lb/MMacf and 10 lbs/MMacf with the flue gas (12) upstream of the particle separator (24), wherein the PAC interacts with at least a portion of mercury containing compounds in the flue gas (12), and separating the mercury containing compounds from the flue gas (12) containing the moist pulverous material and PAC, thereby reducing an amount of mercury in the flue gas (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Leif A. V. Lindau
  • Patent number: 8277546
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorption trap for adsorption of hydrocarbon vapors includes a sheet-like hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent member having a hydrocarbon adsorptive media disposed between two or more media retention layers. The sheet-like member is inserted into an air permeable media support body including a first support member having a first set of locking members and a second support member having a second set of cooperatively configured locking members. The locking members are cooperatively aligned and configured to releaseably lock the first and second support members into a facing relationship with the hydrocarbon vapor adsorbent media arranged and retained therebetween. Mounting features are provided for mounting the hydrocarbon adsorption trap within the intake tract.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Joshua Tarrant, Alexander Braithwaite
  • Patent number: 8273155
    Abstract: Disclosed is a formulation for the absorption of CO2, which comprises water, at least one CO2 absorption compound and a carbonic anhydrase as an activator to enhance the absorption capacity of the CO2 absorption compound. The invention also concerns the use of carbonic anhydrase, in a CO2 absorption solution to increase the CO2 absorption rate of such solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: CO2 Solutions Inc.
    Inventors: Sylvie Fradette, Olivera Ceperkovic
  • Patent number: 8273162
    Abstract: The objective of the unit 10 is mainly to adsorb Hydrogen Sulfide gas (also known as H2S) and other gases including but not limited to Carbon Dioxide 26 from plumbing, sewer, and wastewater management system vents 21 thereby removing the odor and or greenhouse gasses associated with the air stream/gas 26. The unique “T” housing 12 shaped design, along with the unique perforated disc containment system 14 holds the filtration media 16 in the horizontal portion 120 of the “T” housing 12. configuration allows fresh air circulation 28 to blend with the odorous gasses 26 passing through the filtration media 16 within the containment chamber and reduces their concentration (PPM) thereby increasing the life of the unit 10. Having the inlet to the filtration media at the base of the vertical portion of the “T” 120 and two outlets at the distal ends 119 of equal or greater size and diameter as each other or as the inlet, also reduces Pressure drop across the media 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventors: Louis John Pagano, Mark Steven Russo, Anthony J. Prisco, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8273164
    Abstract: A fuel vapor processor has a fuel tank, a canister, a vapor pipe, a recovery pipe, an air pipe, a suction device, a vapor pipe valve, an air pipe valve, and a pressure regulator. The vapor pipe leads fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank to the canister for trapping the fuel vapor in the canister. The recovery pipe recoveries the fuel vapor desorbed from the canister into the fuel tank. The air pipe communicates the canister with the atmosphere. The suction device is disposed on the recovery pipe for desorbing the fuel vapor trapped in the canister. The pressure regulator is communicated with the air pipe between the air pipe valve and the canister in order to allow gas flow from the atmosphere toward the canister. During desorption of the fuel vapor due to the suction device, the vapor pipe valve and the air pipe valve are closed, and negative pressure is kept in the canister such that the fuel vapor is desorbed from the canister and fresh air is led into the canister via the pressure regulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Masanobu Shinagawa, Hideki Teshima, Takashi Mani
  • Patent number: 8268045
    Abstract: A compressed air producing method, in which two or more adsorption columns, in all or part of which a zeolite-series adsorbent is charged, are switched over to purify feed air and the adsorbent charged in at least one adsorption column of said adsorption columns is regenerated in turn with regeneration gas, is characterized by comprising a step of performing, when an adsorption column (R) in a regeneration step transfers to a purification step, the purge of said adsorbent with purified air, and characterized in that the internal pressure of an adsorption column (R) in the purge step is controlled such that a differential pressure thereof from the internal pressure of an adsorption column (P) in the purification step falls within a specified value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Yong Yi Lim, Tsuyoshi Matsutomi, Shoji Kaneshima, Shinji Tomita
  • Patent number: 8268048
    Abstract: Solid nanoparticulate transition metal complexes of Co(II) salen exhibit reversible oxygen absorption in a near stoichiometric manner. In contrast, no measurable oxygen binding was observed with unprocessed Co(II) salen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: University of Kansas
    Inventors: Bala Subramaniam, Andrew S. Borovik, Chad A. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8268047
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases (i.e., containing less than about 10 volume % helium and more typically, less than about 5% helium by volume). The present invention more particularly relates to processes and systems for recovering helium from low helium-containing feed gases using temperature swing adsorption (TSA) systems and multiple (e.g. two) stage vacuum pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) systems. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the first stage VPSA system is configured to provide regeneration gas for the TSA system, and/or the VPSA second stage tail gas is recycled to the first stage VPSA system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Mohamed Safdar Allie
  • Patent number: 8262773
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for removing contaminants from a hydrocarbon stream, such as a stream of raw natural gas. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed through a first adsorbent bed containing molecular sieves to adsorb contaminants on the molecular sieves, thereby removing at least some of the contaminants from the hydrocarbon stream. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream may optionally be passed through a second adsorbent bed containing a desiccant material other than molecular sieves. The molecular sieves are regenerated using a wet regeneration process in which both the water content and temperature of the regeneration fluid stream are staged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: P. Scott Northrop, Francis S. Wu, Margaret Wu, legal representative, Narasimhan Sundaram
  • Patent number: 8262772
    Abstract: A process and system for recovering valuable by-products (e.g., hydrogen) from refinery gas streams. For hydrogen-only recovery, the invention comprises a partial condensation step to upgrade the refinery fuel gas to a minimum of 60% hydrogen, which is further purified in a pressure swing adsorption process. When configured to recover hydrogen, methane-rich gas and raw LPG (methane depleted gas containing C2 hydrocarbons and heavier), the invention comprises two partial condensation steps where the feed is cooled in the first step to allow separation of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons, and the resulting vapor is cooled to a lower temperature in a second step for hydrogen recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramona Manuela Dragomir, Raymond Francis Drnevich, Dante Patrick Bonaquist
  • Patent number: 8262771
    Abstract: A flammable gas concentration device comprises an adsorption tower filled by an adsorbent for adsorbing a flammable gas. Raw gas containing air and a flammable gas is fed to the adsorption tower via a feeding path and an exhaust gas in the raw gas which has not been adsorbed to the adsorbent is discharged to an outside of the adsorption tower via a discharge path. Pressure in the adsorption tower is reduced lower than an atmospheric pressure, and the flammable gas adsorbed by the adsorbent is desorbed and collected through a collection path. A flammable gas adsorption step of feeding the raw gas to the adsorption tower and discharging the exhaust gas from the adsorption tower, and a flammable gas desorption step of collecting the desorbed flammable gas are sequentially executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Seki, Etsuo Shito, Katsuhiko Hirao