Patents Examined by Hien Tran
  • Patent number: 7282185
    Abstract: Apparatus for controlling emissions from an internal combustion engine including an enclosed housing one end of which is provided with an inlet and the other end an outlet. A coaxial tubular member extends from the inlet into the housing. A catalytic cell surrounds the tubular member and separates two chambers, a first surrounding the tubular member near the inlet and the other on the opposite side of the catalytic cell. Exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine flow through the tubular member, expanding into the other chamber, then through the catalytic cell for conversion of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons to less noxious components, expanding into the first chamber for eventual discharge through the outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Clean Air Power, Inc.
    Inventor: Harold L. Harris
  • Patent number: 7229596
    Abstract: The Rh content by percentage in an HC absorbent catalytic converter provided in an exhaust pipe is greater than the Rh content by percentage in an upstream three-way catalyst. In this way, even when HC which has been temporarily absorbed is emitted in an atmosphere and the exhaust gas becomes rich, the HC absorbent catalytic converter displays improved oxidization and removal of HC due to the high content by percentage of Rh which has a high HC conversion ratio in rich atmospheres. There is no necessity to control the air-fuel ratio to a strongly lean ratio and so HC removal can be improved while maintaining suppression of NOx emissions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Ito, Kimiyoshi Nishizawa, Ritsuo Sato
  • Patent number: 7182919
    Abstract: This invention presents a sulphurous acid generator which employs a combination of novel blending contact and mixing mechanisms which maximize the efficiency and duration of contact between sulphur dioxide gas and water to form sulphurous acid in an open nonpressurized system, without employing a countercurrent absorption tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Inventor: Edward Jackson
  • Patent number: 7160517
    Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to an apparatus for the efficient synthesis of oligosaccharides on a solid support, e.g., formed by subunit addition to terminal subunits immobilized on solid-phase particles. In certain embodiments, the apparatus of the present invention is used in combinatorial methods, e.g., as described herein, of synthesizing oligosaccharides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technolgy
    Inventors: Peter H. Seeberger, Obadiah J. Plante
  • Patent number: 7078000
    Abstract: A non-thermal plasma reactor is provided. The non-thermal plasma reactor includes a plasma-generating substrate, a housing and a mat. The plasma-generating substrate has one or more flow paths for an exhaust gas. The housing has an inlet and an outlet. The mat retains the plasma-generating substrate in the housing such that the one or more flow paths are in fluid communication with the inlet and the outlet. A voltage is supplied to the plasma-generating substrate to generate a plasma field. An electrically insulating layer is disposed between the plasma-generating substrate and the housing for preventing an arc of electricity from the plasma-generating substrate and/or the voltage to the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Foster, Robert X. Li, David E. Nelson
  • Patent number: 7077999
    Abstract: A monolith for imparting swirl to a gas stream includes a stack of alternating flat and corrugated strips defining channels for gas flow. The strips are attached, at an angle, to a carrier. Also, the corrugations of the corrugated strips may be skewed. The carrier defines a cylindrical shell for the strips, and the strips extend from the carrier to a central region. The strips are curved, typically having substantially the shape of involutes, and substantially fill the space between the central region and the shell. Due to the angle of attachment between the strips and the carrier, the gas flow channels are oriented in different directions, at different locations on the outlet face of the monolith. This structure therefore imparts swirl to gas flowing through the monolith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Catacel Corp.
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 7077998
    Abstract: A catalytic cracking reaction-regeneration system, comprising a regenerator, a settler, a gas-solid separator, a buffer, a riser reactor, a horizontal reaction tube, a catalyst delivery pipe, and a down-flow reactor. This system can be used for experiments and researches on various processes such as riser catalytic cracking, sectional feeding, instantaneous contact, and down-flow catalytic cracking and can be used for catalyst evaluation tests. This 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: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventors: Xuefeng Wu, Jun He, Zhanfeng Zhang, Xianglin Yu, Xiaoxiang Zhong
  • Patent number: 7074373
    Abstract: A thermally-integrated lower temperature water-gas shift reactor apparatus for converting carbon monoxide in the presence steam comprises a catalyst bed that is disposed within an outer region surrounding a waste heat recovery steam generator operating at a selected pressure corresponding to the optimum temperature for conducting the catalytic water-gas shift reaction and a process for useful recovery of the exothermic heat of reaction to generate steam that is used in a process for the conversion of hydrocarbon feedstock into useful gases such as hydrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Harvest Energy Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: David W. Warren, Michael B. Donahue
  • Patent number: 7063818
    Abstract: An internal combustion engine HC-adsorbent is located in one of a pair of exhaust passages in parallel to each other downstream of an emission control catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas and through which exhaust gas flows selectively by a switchover valve. The adsorbent is a zeolite mixture having pores at least 3.5 ? and smaller than 6 ? and not equal or larger than 6 ? and smaller than 7 ?, and zeolite having pores at least 7 ? and smaller than 10 ? and not equal or larger than 6 ? and smaller than 7 ?. HCs are desorbed quickly and easily lowering the desorption temperature, while ensuring excellent adsorbing performance for HCs of different molecular diameters. Even when a vehicle travels only a short duration after engine starting, desorption advances quickly and reliably, the adsorbent exhibiting intended adsorbing performance at the next engine starting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuo Endo, Haruhiko Shimizu, Go Motohashi
  • Patent number: 7056477
    Abstract: A modular chemical production system that preferably includes a microreactor for producing a product by reacting two or more reactants. Modularization enables components such as controllers, pumps, valves, microreactors, and processing modules to be added or removed from the system as required to produce a desired product. A minimum system includes a control module and a reaction module, which has a mixing volume and a reaction volume. Various pumping modules and residence time modules may also be included in the system. Modules can be changed if malfunctioning, or for producing a different product, or to change a quantity of the chemical produced. The control module preferably accesses a database in which data define parameters for a plurality of different reactions that are optimized for the production of different chemical products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Cellular Process Chemistry, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Schwalbe, Sebastian Oberbeck, Klaus Golbig, Michael Hohmann, Andreas Oberbeck
  • Patent number: 7048895
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purifying apparatus includes an exhaust pipe 2a for forming an exhaust way 2, and a catalyst disposed in the exhaust way 2 for purifying an exhaust gas. The catalyst includes the first honeycomb catalyst portion 3a and the second honeycomb catalyst portion 4a. The first honeycomb catalyst portion 3a has an outer circumferrencial surface for forming a blowing passage 200 with an inner circumferrencial surface of the exhaust pipe 2a. The radial cross sectional area in the catalyst region of the first honeycomb catalyst portion 3a is set in the 1/5–2/3 range with respect to the radial cross sectional area of a flowing way defined by the inwall surface of the first mounting position 3a placed in the exhaust way 2, with the first honeycomb catalyst portion 3a being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Cataler Corporation
    Inventors: Junya Shirahata, Masayasu Sato, Teruhiko Ozawa
  • Patent number: 7048897
    Abstract: A hydrogen generator including a three-dimensional multilayer ceramic carrier structure defining a fuel reformer. The reformer includes a vaporization zone and a reaction zone including a catalyst. The reformer is operational as either a steam reformer, a partial oxidation reformer or an autothermal reformer. The fuel reformer, or processor, further includes an inlet channel for liquid fuel and an outlet channel for hydrogen enriched gas. The fuel processor is formed utilizing multi-layer ceramic technology in which thin ceramic layers are assembled then sintered to provide miniature dimensions in which the encapsulated catalyst converts or reforms inlet fuel into a hydrogen enriched gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Chowdary Ramesh Koripella, Christopher K. Dyer, Stephen P. Rogers, Dominic Francis Gervasio
  • Patent number: 7048896
    Abstract: A catalyst carrier body includes a honeycomb body with at least partly structured sheet metal layers having exhaust gas channels. An inner surface of a jacket tube at least partially encloses, and is connected in at least one axial subregion to, the honeycomb body. A sleeve has a length axially less than the honeycomb body and an outer surface against part of the inner surface of the jacket tube. The sleeve is on an outer region of the honeycomb body near an end surface and has an inner surface connected or brazed to radially outward end regions of the sheet metal layers at the end surface for preventing flapping. The sleeve has at least one microstructure for reducing a contact area between sleeve and jacket tube. Such a catalyst carrier body is mechanically and thermally resistant even to high alternating loads and suitable in particular for placement near the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft Fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Thomas Nagel, Wolfgang Maus, Hans-Günter Faust, Ludwig Wieres
  • Patent number: 7045100
    Abstract: Method for producing fatty acid methyl ester, including compounding saturated and unsaturated higher fatty substances from at least one of vegetable and animal with an alkaline solution dissolved in alcohol to form a mixture. The method also includes emulsifying the mixture to reach a chemical balance state in a reaction section, wherein fats are transesterified into fatty acid methyl ester, wherein border surfaces of the mixture are enlarged by dynamic turbulence in the reaction section and the transesterification is performed under pressure, and wherein the pressure is reduced during transesterification. The method further includes after reaching a chemical balance state, separating residues from the fatty acid methyl ester in a phase separation section. Apparatus for producing fatty acid methyl ester.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Energea Unwelttechnologie GmbH
    Inventors: Nurhan Ergün, Peter Panning
  • Patent number: 7029634
    Abstract: The invention provides a filter system and particulate filter unit therefor. The filter system may act as a purifier and a muffler for heavy and light duty diesel vehicles. The invention includes one or more combination filter units that remove particulates and nitrogen oxides in successive passes before the gas exits. A particulate filter unit may be used that removes additional particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Starfire Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter J. Sherwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7018590
    Abstract: A catalytic muffler having a housing with a first chamber and a second chamber fluidly communicating through a catalyst bed interspersed there between. A first baffle assembly in the first chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. An inlet passage extends through the housing into the first chamber. An outlet passage extends through the housing into one of the first and second chambers. A second baffle assembly in the second chamber extends between the catalyst bed and the housing. The first and second baffle assemblies act in conjunction with the housing and the reactor bed to define a flow passage through the housing from the inlet passage through at least three discreet zones of the reactor bed to the outlet passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2006
    Assignee: Environmental Control Corporation
    Inventor: Glenn Knight
  • Patent number: 7001573
    Abstract: By a process for removing fine dust from a fluidized-bed reactor, in particular for the oxychlorination of ethylene, is intended to permit specific control of the amount of fine dust particles in a reactor while reducing the height of the reactor and the same time filtering off the fine dust from the main stream leading to the quench. This is achieved if the fine dust inside, the reactor is removed via filter cartridges, and the reaction gas mixture is passed to the quench from the reactor dome, a part-stream in the form of a bypass stream having a predetermined fine dust fraction below a predetermined particle size being removed from the reactor in addition to the main stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Benje
  • Patent number: 6991770
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage tank has an outer cylinder and a cylindrical hydrogen storage module within the outer cylinder spaced apart from an inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder to provide a hydrogen passage therebetween. The cylindrical hydrogen storage module includes a lamination having a plurality of hydrogen storage units filled with powdery hydrogen absorption material and a hydrogen absorption and desorption surface on an entire outer peripheral surface, while interposing a heating/cooling element between ones of adjacent units. First and second main passages penetrate the lamination in a lamination direction of the units, and permit heating fluid and cooling fluid to flow therethrough. Sub passages branch from the main passages and extend over within each of the heating/cooling elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takanori Suzuki, Izuru Kanoya, Mitsuya Hosoe
  • Patent number: 6969492
    Abstract: An exhaust-gas cleaning system includes a nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter for reducing nitrogen oxides which are contained in the exhaust gas. A reducing agent is introduced into the exhaust-gas flow and is in the form of a vapor. A reducing-agent metering device for the metered addition of the reducing agent or a reducing-agent precursor to the exhaust-gas flow includes a vaporizer, which is arranged in the exhaust system upstream of the nitrogen oxide reduction catalytic converter. As a heat source, the vaporizer has (1) a heatable deflector surface, onto which the reducing agent, which is supplied by a feed unit, is directed under pressure; or (2) a microwave generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignees: DaimlerChrysler AG, Dr. Ing. h.c.F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft, Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, Audi Aktiengesellschaft, Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Christian Goerigk, Stefan Wessels
  • Patent number: 6967005
    Abstract: A CFB reactor or combustor having a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system (150) employed downstream of the CFB reactor or combustor furnace (10) together with a dry scrubber system (220) to achieve enhanced NOx reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2005
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Donald L. Wietzke, Mikhail Maryamchik, Michael L. Silvey, Michael J. Szmania