Patents Examined by Joye Woodard
  • Patent number: 7871500
    Abstract: A coke drum skirt to minimize the stresses experienced by the coke drum and the supporting structure of the coke drum is described. The skirt includes one circumferential horizontal plate attached to the coke drum, and the circumferential horizontal plate is slidingly sandwiched between a lower supporting plate that supports the weight of the drum through the circumferential horizontal plate and an upper retaining plate that prevents the coke drum from tipping or falling over. The upper retaining plate may be embodied as a series of retaining clips that also keep the coke drum centered and prevent rotation of the coke drum. The upper and lower plates are anchored to a concrete support base. The sliding connection of the plates allows the coke drum to thermally expand and contract while reducing stresses and metal fatigue from the typical fixed securing of the coke drum to the support base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Curtiss-Wright Flow Control Corporation
    Inventor: Ruben F. Lah
  • Patent number: 4929339
    Abstract: A method for conditioning delayed coke includes allowing coke to form in a first chamber or coke drum, while simultaneously conditioning coke in a second coke drum by flowing through it a hydrocarbon conditioning fluid recirculated from another portion of the coking apparatus, said conditioning fluid having a temperature of more than 750.degree. F. and less than 1000.degree. F., and decoking a third coke drum. The coking, conditioning and decoding operations are sequentially switched among the coke drums.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler U.S.A. Corporation
    Inventors: John D. Elliott, Jr., Robert DeBiase
  • Patent number: 4886580
    Abstract: An improved coke handling and quenching apparatus and method comprising a coke box for receiving, cooling and carrying a coke charge from a coke oven in a pollution-free manner and a highly maneuverable self-propelled carrier vehicle for transporting and maneuvering the coke box, the carrier having an upper tilt frame for supporting and dumping the coke box and apparatus for maneuvering the coke box within the tilt frame to assist in alignment of the coke box with the oven face. In a preferred embodiment, the apparatus further includes a gas circulation system for enhancing the cooling of the coke charge by circulating gas within the coke box. The apparatus may also include an inert gas heat recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Kress Corporation
    Inventors: Edward S. Kress, Gene Carpenter
  • Patent number: 4881947
    Abstract: A high efficiency gasifier employs a rotary kiln having an indirect fired gasifier and a recycle system. The rotary kiln provides an essentially oxygen-free gasifying chamber into which raw feed material is introduced. Radiant tubes within the chamber transfer heat to the incoming raw feed material to pyrolyze it and convert it to char and product gas as the material advances toward the outlet end. The recycle system within the chamber returns both product gas and hot char to a receiving end of the kiln to aid in heat transfer to the raw feed material. The feed is thus heated more rapidly, and less heat input is required. Efficiency is further aided by providing additional residence time and gasification of the char.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1989
    Inventors: Thomas H. Parker, Virgil J. Flanigan
  • Patent number: 4878935
    Abstract: The mechanism supports mould side portions (10;110) on an upper support (50;150) and a lower support (52;152) both mounted on an arm (14) for limited movement in a horizontal plane. A force apportioning member (62;162) is mounted on the arm and pivotally engages both supports. The force apportioning member (62;162) pivots on a horizontal axis between the supports to apportion mould closure force between the supports. The pivots may be provided by spherical bearings (64,70;164;170).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Emhart Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Johann Zsifkovits
  • Patent number: 4875979
    Abstract: A process for treating high sulfur petroleum coke to inhibit puffing is disclosed wherein particles of the petroleum coke are contacted, in the absence of a binder, with a compound containing an alkali or alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, at an elevated temperature above that at which the alkali or alkaline earth metal compound begins to react with carbon, but below the temperature at which the coke particles would begin to puff in the absence of the compound. The coke particles are maintained at the elevated temperature for a sufficient period of time to permit the reaction to proceed and allow products of reaction to penetrate into the particles and form an alkali-or alkaline-earth-metal-containing deposit throughout the mass of the particles; and then cooling the so-treated coke particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 24, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas H. Orac, Herbert C. Quandt, David R. Ball
  • Patent number: 4874397
    Abstract: Deposits of flyslag on the walls of a heat exchange zone employed to quench and cool synthesis gas and flyslag particles produced from the gasification of coal may be reduced by (a) temporarily increasing the flow rate of the synthesis gas and flyslag particles during the process to a space velocity of greater than at least 12 meters per second; or (b) after a shutdown or incident where flyslag is deposited, utilizing a space velocity of the synthesis gas and flyslag of greater than 12 meters per second for a time sufficient to remove the deposits, and then utilizing flow rates which prevent or inhibit deposition of flyslag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Walter L. Heitz
  • Patent number: 4871516
    Abstract: An apparatus for conducting sequential chemical reactions between two gaseous reactants and a liquid reaction medium wherein contact between the two gaseous reactants are to be avoided is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first reaction zone provided with means for contacting a first gaseous reactant with a liquid reaction medium to provide an intermediate liquid mixture, a second reaction zone provided with means for contact between a second gaseous reactant and said intermediate liquid mixture to form a product, communication means providing communication for said liquid reaction medium and said intermediate liquid mixture between said first and second reaction zones and circulation means for continuously circulating said liquid reaction medium and said intermediate liquid mixture between said first and second reaction zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: National Distillers and Chemical Corporation
    Inventor: Jawad H. Murib
  • Patent number: 4871426
    Abstract: A liquid fraction and a gas fraction produced during the reprocessing of waste material containing CH compounds by pyrolysis, have a mass ratio approximately equal to 1. Since the liquid fraction is more suitable for further processing than the gas fraction, there is an incentive to augment the liquid fraction at the expense of the gas fraction. In order to achieve this object, the pyrolysis gas is cooled until the benzene and the higher-boiling gaseous constituents of the pyrolysis gas pass into the liquid phase, so that a benzene-containing liquid fraction is produced. A gas mixture containing benzene and toluene is stripped out of the benzene-containing liquid fraction, passed together with the gas fraction at a temperature of 300.degree. to 450.degree. C. over a zeolitic catalyst and then separated by cooling into both a fraction which is liquid at atmospheric pressure and a residual gas fraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1989
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Lechert, Volkert Woebs-Gosch, Song Qun, Walter Kaminsky, Hansjorg Sinn
  • Patent number: 4869730
    Abstract: An improved gas generator in which the composition of gas generated in a heated reactor is maintained when the flow rate from the reactor is adjusted. To accomplish this, the generator includes two diverting means responsive to the flow rate. The first diverts a portion of the reactant mixture before it enters the reactor, the diverted amount being insufficient to change the composition of the generated gas. The second diverts a portion of the generated gas to a burner for heating the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: Holcroft/Loftus, Inc.
    Inventors: Madhu Bhatnagar, Ronald E. Opfer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4867848
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for producing coke in a vertical furnace having an upper part for preheating and devolitalizing raw ovoids of coal, an electrically heated median part for carbonizing and coking the ovoids and a lower part for partially cooling the coked ovoids by counter current flow of recycled product gases recovered from the upper part of the furnace. A cooling chamber is connected to the lower part of the furnace for further cooling the coked ovoids by countercurrent flow of a portion of the recycled product gases which are withdrawn after flowing through the partially cooled coked ovoids and introduced into the upper part of the furnace to prevent condensation of condensibles contained in the product gases. The median part of the furnace may be electrically heated by electrodes, induction coils or a combination of electrodes and induction coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: Usinor Aciers
    Inventors: Jean A. G. Cordier, Bernard E. A. Dussart, Pierre H. Rollot
  • Patent number: 4865816
    Abstract: Odor control product dispenser includes a cabinet having a removable front cover for directly accessing both an upper fan compartment and a lower product compartment from the front. A fan in the fan compartment draws air in through a fan shroud surrounding the fan and directs the air downwardly into the product compartment for flow across an exposed surface of the odor control product in the second compartment and subsequent discharge through air vents in the front and sides of the cabinet. The odor control product is contained in a well in one end of a disposable container. Within the well are a plurality of circumferentially spaced pinwheel type baffles that increase the turbulence of the air flowing across the product as the product evaporates to accelerate the rate of evaporation as the product loses its potency (effectiveness) with age.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: SECO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Walz, Robert D. Howerton, Andrew W. Allen, Theron C. Moss, William H. Kenney
  • Patent number: 4865626
    Abstract: A process for producing gas containing CO and H.sub.2 from pulverulent to coarse-grained coal in a coal gasifier in which a fluidized bed is produced, and to which are supplied coal, oxygen and/or one or more oxygen-containing gases. The coal is supplied in counter-current to the gas removed from the fluidized bed. Thus, the coal is dried, degassed and preheated before it enters the fluidized bed. The upper limit of the particle size of the coal is between about 10 mm and 40 mm, and is determined by the volatile matter content of the coal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Inventors: Gero Papst, Rolf Hauk, Walter Maschlanka
  • Patent number: 4865624
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a steam reforming method of methanol for obtaining hydrogen gas and a system therefor. The present method and present system utilizes a heat transfer medium for regulating the temperature at each step of the process. By optimizing the flow so that the heat transfer medium circulate through the system as heat-exchanging with reactant at each step, temperature of the reactant is regulated at a desirable temperature for proceeding the reaction. Temperature of the decomposition process and the conversion process of methanol is independently regulated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1989
    Assignee: Nippon Sanso Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetake Okada
  • Patent number: 4863569
    Abstract: A device for cleaning the doors of battery-arranged coke furnaces is provided. The device is suspended at four points from steel cables which pass along a pulley and are joined at its other end to a counter-weight. The cable is joined to the counter-weight in a resilient manner by compression actuated springs. The door to be cleaned is correctly positioned by the presence of sliders incorporated into the device and due to the floating arrangement of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Empresa Nacional Siderugica, S.A.
    Inventors: Gerardo A. Marin, Enrique E. Alonso, Juan-Francisco S. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 4861365
    Abstract: Mould side portions (10; 110; 210) of three moulds are supported by a mechanism arranged to equalize mould closure force between the three moulds. Three mould side portions are supported by a triple support (50, 52; 150, 152; 250; 350) centrally pivotally mounted. The opposed mould side portions are mounted two on a double support (32; 232; 332) which is pivoted on a pivot (24; 224; 324) aligned with a line passing centrally between the center mould and one of the other moulds and one on a single support (40, 42; 240; 340) which is pivoted on a pivot (26; 226; 326) aligned with the center-line of the other of said other moulds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 29, 1989
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Johann Zsifkovits
  • Patent number: 4859213
    Abstract: An apparatus for injecting quench gas (cooled syngas) through an injection ring located around the circumference of the gasifier exit duct and having ports in communication with the interior of said duct to achieve thorough mixing of the gasifier gas with the injected quench gas. Interchangeable rings having different configurations and dimensions of the ports may be used to accomodate various types of coal. The rings may be fabricated in sections for ease of maintenance and replacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Clifford C. Segerstrom
  • Patent number: 4859284
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined process for separating and converting asphaltenes of high molecular weight and high softening point from heavy hydrocarbon material containing asphaltenes by a process that combines a deasphalting method to produce solid asphaltenes and a continuous coking procedure for the solid asphaltenes. The combined process converts the material into more valuable liquid hydrocarbon products of lower molecular weight and coke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1989
    Assignee: Intevep, S.A.
    Inventors: Roland Rammler, Hans-Jurgen Weiss, Hans-Adolf Herbertz, Rodolfo B. Solari, Rafael Hidalgo
  • Patent number: 4856266
    Abstract: A plurality of grooves are formed in an outer surface of a spacer. The grooves are formed continuously in the longitudinal direction by a die which surrounds the circumference of the spacer. The grooves extend, in the form of parallel periodically reversing helices along the longitudinal direction of the spacer. The optical fibers are guided into the grooves through guide plates arranged to rotate in a reciprocating motion about the spacer. The position of the grooves is detected and converted into an electric signal. The operation of an actuator for driving the movement of the die and the guide plates is controlled on the basis of the electric signal thereby rotating the plates and the die in synchronism with displacement of said grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kanagawa Ogawa, Yasushi Ito
  • Patent number: 4854944
    Abstract: A method for treating carbonaceous material, e.g. waste oil containing PCB toxic materials, by effecting the pyrolytic gasification thereof to produce a relatively high BTU content gas that is substantially free of the toxic materials to supplement or substitute for natural gas. This is attained by a furnace in which the products of combustion are utilized to separately generate steam and to preheat a supply of carbonaceous material which may be mixed with water. The generated steam is mixed with the preheated carbonaceous material and passed through a premixing and/or a primary dynamic mixer wherein the preheated carbonaceous material and steam mixture is further heated to a temperature ranging between 1600.degree.-1800.degree. F. to effect a partial gasification of the carbonaceous material. The partially gasified material is thereafter directed through one or more secondary dynamic mixing chambers to be further heated in the presence of additional steam to complete the gasification thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1989
    Inventor: William H. Strong