Patents Examined by Joye L. Woodard
  • Patent number: 5302176
    Abstract: A furnace for heating a glass sheet therein has a gravity bending zone for bending the glass sheet due to gravity, a press bending zone for bending the glass sheet under pressure, and an annealing zone for annealing the bent glass sheet. In the gravity bending zone, the glass sheet on a ring mold is preliminarily bent due to gravity. After the preliminarily bent glass sheet has been fed from the gravity bending zone into the press bending zone, the glass sheet is transferred from the ring mold to a movable lower mold assembly. The lower mold assembly is lifted to press the glass sheet against a fixed upper mold for finally bending the glass sheet. Thereafter, the lower mold with the finally bent glass sheet is lowered until the glass sheet is placed on the ring mold. Then, the glass sheet is fed with the ring mold into the annealing zone in which the glass sheet is annealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shibuya, Kazuo Yamada
  • Patent number: 5302254
    Abstract: A plant for treating industrial and/or urban waste includes a stage for drying of the waste, followed by a stage for effecting thermolysis of the dried waste and a stage for effecting recovery of the solids and gases resulting from the thermolysis. Thermolysis of the waste is effected in a reactor by indirect heat exchange with combustion gases and drying gases for drying of the waste are subsequently treated to remove vapor materials and then recycled to a gas generator for generating the drying gases. Additionally the plant includes a stage for effecting dechlorination of the solids resulting from the thermolysis by washing the solids with an aqueous liquid, as well as a stage of separating the wash solids and the resulting wash liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1994
    Assignee: Institut Francais Du Petrole
    Inventors: Gerard Martin, Robert Gaulard
  • Patent number: 5300134
    Abstract: An apparatus and process is provided for the deformation of the heat-softened end of a glass tube. In the formation of hollow articles such as, for example, vials from glass tubes, either large processing pauses occur or the formation elements have to be moved with high speed to the next tube being processed. To keep the processing pause short a forming roller is provided, which is shifted back and forth relative to the glass tube. Shifting of the forming roller takes place in such a manner that the forming roller, toward the end of the rolling, is at the starting position for forming the next glass tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Schott Glaswerke
    Inventors: Reinhard Mannl, Alfons Wolfrum, Franz Neumeier
  • Patent number: 5296102
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for recovering oil from solid hydrocarbonaceous terial, such as oil shale, in particulate form using a combustion chamber and a reaction chamber arranged side-by-side and connected by a first passageway extending between the upper regions of the chambers and a return passageway. The particulate material is fluidized in the chambers and induced to circulate therebetween by the configuration of the chambers and passageways and/or the nature of the fluidization. Residual carbon on the spent hydrocarbonaceous material introduced into the combustion chamber through the return passageway is burnt, heating the material which then circulates through the first passageway to mix with and heat fresh feed material introduced into the reaction chamber giving off effluent vapours which are collected and processed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Southern Pacific Petroleum NL and Central Pacific Minerals NL
    Inventor: Donald J. Nicklin
  • Patent number: 5296014
    Abstract: A device for bending glass sheets which includes a furnace for heating the glass, a conveyor, a bending station within which there is suspended, notably from a plate, an upper bending mold at least partly disposed inside the skirt of a peripheral suction box, and the lower face of which is covered with a covering in such a way that this covering is supported by an attachment device which can be removed and is not integral with the upper mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Lesage, Jean-Marc Petitcollin, Arnaud Borderiou, Thierry Franco
  • Patent number: 5292357
    Abstract: A support device for glass sheets in a vertical or substantially vertical position serve for holding them during various treatments associated with the operations of curving and/or toughening. The support device is constituted of one or more cross-members (2,3) on which the lower edge face of the glass sheet (1) rests, each cross-member being suspended from a lifting beam (12) by one or more pairs of stays (4) running down the two opposite faces of the glass sheets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Jean Arnould, Christian Pommera, Georges Vallee, Bruno Vandecastele
  • Patent number: 5292355
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for bending a glass sheet. A glass sheet heated close to its softening temperature is supported on a ring mould and the glass sheet is allowed to bend by gravity. If necessary, the bending can be assisted mechanically. Air is circulated from a furnace section (1.1) above a glass sheet (7) to be bent into a furnace section (1.2) below the glass sheet so as to produce a different pressure effect on the opposite sides of a glass sheet (7). This pressure effect is used to support the glass sheet which is also heated over its central area to a sufficient temperature for bending and/or tempering, said temperature being sufficiently high that, without said support provided by the pressure effect, the central glass sheet area would bend and sag excessively downwards. The generation of pressure effect can be intensified by fitting the furnace with a ceiling (3) which includes an opening (3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Inventor: Risto K. Nikander
  • Patent number: 5286271
    Abstract: Glass sheets are heated to their heat softening temperature and transferred to a shaping station having an upper vacuum mold with a downwardly facing shaping surface corresponding to the desired shape of the glass sheet. The glass sheet is lifted into engagement with the shaping surface and held thereagainst by vacuum. The mold and the glass sheet are then moved to a transfer station and the vacuum is released to deposit the shaped glass sheet onto a contoured conveying surface which generally conforms to the shaped glass sheet. The glass sheet is deposited onto the contoured conveying surface as it is moving from the shaping station to the transfer station to impart movement in the glass sheet along the contoured conveying surface and minimize marring of the glass sheet as it contacts the contoured conveying surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: PPG Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard E. Rueter, Robert G. Frank, Michael T. Fecik
  • Patent number: 5286349
    Abstract: Apparatus for reclaiming a useful oil product has an evaporation chamber, including an inlet for the waste oil, and an outlet for the vaporized oil, as a useful oil product. Burners are provided for heating the evaporation chamber to vaporize oil from the waste oil. A pump and a float arrangement are provided for monitoring the level of waste oil in the evaporation chamber, and for pumping additional waste oil into the chamber to maintain the waste oil at a desired level. Continuous operation of the apparatus results in a build up of solid wastes, e.g. heavy metals, in the chamber. After a period of operation, the burners are turned off, and the chamber opened, to enable the solid residue to be removed from the chamber. The vaporized oil can be condensed and collected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Inventor: Edward C. Shurtleff
  • Patent number: 5285660
    Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Jean-Marc Petitcollin, Jean-Luc Lesage, Arnaud Borderiou
  • Patent number: 5279713
    Abstract: A door is equipped on its side facing the area to be closed off, with a sealing element disposed around the peripheral edges of the door, a door locking device to retain the door in a closed position, and possibly a thermal layer for insulating the door from passage of heat therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Ruhrkohle Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Klaus Wessiepe, Wilhelm Stewen
  • Patent number: 5279712
    Abstract: A process for the pyrolysis of carbonation materials such as wood which comprises directly or indirectly heating the carbonaceous material with flue gases. When carbonization commences the direct heating is stopped while indirect heating continues until carbonization is complete. There is also described an application for effecting the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Pasco Nominees Pty Limited
    Inventor: Anthony Constantine
  • Patent number: 5279635
    Abstract: A method of and apparatus for establishing a predetermined thermal profile in a glass sheet immediately prior to press bending outside the heating furnace. The press bending members are provided with arrays of heating elements that are individually or zone regulated to assist in establishing an optimum temperature profile in the glass sheet conducive to proper bending. The temperature profile established in the heated sheet by the arrays of heating elements is coordinated with that established in the furnace and subsequently, modified by heat dissipation as the glass sheet advances to the bending station to achieve the proper bending temperature. The heating elements can also be utilized to create a temperature profile in the glass sheet generally higher than that originally established in the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 18, 1994
    Assignee: Libbey-Owens-Ford Co.
    Inventors: Jeffrey R. Flaugher, Timothy A. Nissen, Vincent N. Procaccini, Sugato Deb
  • Patent number: 5275218
    Abstract: A precure tread for a tire has surface grooves facing a tread face, rear grooves facing a crown portion of a base tire, and a passage for communication between the rear grooves to atmosphere. The groove bottom of the rear grooves is located at a higher level than a groove bottom of the surface groove in the radial direction. The tire durability can be considerably improved when this precure tread is applied to a new tire or a retread tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Shohachiro Nakayama, Toyomi Iwata, Masahiro Kuroda, Naoyuki Goto, Hiroshi Ueda, Michio Ishii
  • Patent number: 5273568
    Abstract: A quench station (14) including apparatus for quenching a heated glass sheet G conveyed by rolls (22) of a roller conveyor (20) is disclosed as including upper and lower sets of blastheads (32) having outlets (34) that are positioned closer to the conveyed glass sheet than the conveyor roll radius R and which are oriented and sized to provide highly efficient quenching such as during heat strengthening or tempering. These blasthead outlets (34) are preferably round and the blastheads (32) are vertically aligned with each other to provide aligned locations (36) of impingement with the oppositely facing surfaces of the glass sheet. In one embodiment, a set of upper roll mimics (38) located above the conveyor rolls (22) in a vertically aligned relationship provide symmetry that results in uniform quenching of both the upper and lower glass sheet surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Glasstech, Inc.
    Inventors: Ronald A. McMaster, Carl Kramer
  • Patent number: 5271808
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided reclaiming a useful oil product from waste oil, such as used lubricating oil. The apparatus comprises an oil feed means, a boiler, a heater and a separating means. The heater is used to heat the waste oil in the boiler to a temperature such that lighter hydrocarbons remain unvolatilized, trapping contaminants therewith. The separating means separates the volatilized lighter hydrocarbons from the unvolatilized heavier hydrocarbons and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Inventor: Edward C. Shurtleff
  • Patent number: 5269827
    Abstract: An instrument and system for the preparation of a sample for analysis provides a crucible holder which improves the holding and control of a melting crucible during operation of the device for agitating a powdered sample and flux while being heated. The crucible holder is coupled to an agitation assembly which provides independently controlled operation on two different axes using separately adjustable variable frequency and amplitude motion along each of the two operating axes to provide an finite number of agitation patterns for the crucible. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the heating flame is controlled by controlling the supply of compressed air and a combustion gas. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a pilot burner is provided which both ignites the main burner located under the crucible and preheats the casting dish to a temperature which is substantially the same as the crucible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Leco Corporation
    Inventors: James H. Lenke, Peter M. Willis, Scott A. Ponegalek
  • Patent number: 5268016
    Abstract: An apparatus for cambering glass sheets includes a reheating furnace for reheating a glass sheet, a sealed cambering station and a conveyor for transferring a heated glass sheet from the furnace to the cambering station. The cambering station includes a shaping upper member. The glass sheet therein is raised into engagement with the upper member, for example by gas pressure, in order to camber the glass sheet. Hot gas ducts surrounding the upper member blow hot gas onto the upper member in such a way as to increased the temperature thereof to a temperature higher than that of the glass sheet when the glass sheet enters the cambering station. Therefore, the glass sheet can be introduced into the cambering station at a relatively low temperature and heated to a temperature high enough for cambering only when in contact with the upper member. The cambered glass sheet can then be discharged to a cooling station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1993
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage International
    Inventors: Denis Mathivat, Bernard Letemps, Francois Malard
  • Patent number: 5266169
    Abstract: A center transfer unit positioned between a solids collection chamber and a cleaning particle vessel contains vibrating inclined screens to separate chunks of waste solids from cleaning particles recycled to the cleaning particle vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cathy J. Geary, Joseph L. Greene, Jr., Larry F. Knight, Ronald W. DeLorme
  • Patent number: 5264016
    Abstract: A glass blank is molded into a lens while being clamped between a pair of molds and heated by a heater. A mold clamping force is applied, substantially concurrently with the heating, to the molds to deform the lens blank. The mold clamping force is unable to deform the lens blank when the temperature of the lens blank is below a transition point of the lens blank and the mold clamping force is able to deform the lens blank when the temperature of the lens blank is above the transition point. The deformation starting point of the lens blank is detected based on a movement of the molds. A temperature of the molds at the deformation starting point is also detected. The temperature of the molds at the starting point is stored in a control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshizo Komiyama