Patents Examined by Joye Woodard
  • Patent number: 4852996
    Abstract: Part of the synthesis gas produced by coal gasification in an allothermically heated fluidized bed reactor is burned after removal of dust and sulfur and serves as a source of energy to heat the reactor by indirect heat exchange and to produce the steam required for the gasification process. The flue gas exiting from the heat exchanger of the reactor can be used to perform work in expansion turbines. The rest of the synthesis gas is available for use in downstream processes, such as iron ore reduction, or can be burned and used to perform work in turbines to produce electric current. The result is a process that is environmentally safer and operates with a better yield than direct coal burning or autothermal coal gasification, but requires no outside source of energy, such as nuclear power, as prior art allothermal coal gasification processes do.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Man Gutehoffnungshuette GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Knop, Gunter Wolters, Helmut Kubiak
  • Patent number: 4851084
    Abstract: In a pyrolysis plant having a preliminary cooling stage and a final cooling stage, in the event of an operational malfunction of the preliminary cooling stage as indicated by temperature measurement of the pyrolysis gas cooled therein, the pyrolysis gas is withdrawn upstream of the final cooling stage and previously stored, cold pyrolysis gas is drawn from a gas reservoir and fed to the pyrolysis reactor and to the final cooling stage so that these parts of the plant can remain in unaltered operation. As a result of this procedure, a shutdown of the entire plant is avoided in the event of malfunctions of the preliminary cooling stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Hauser, Frank Steinstrasser
  • Patent number: 4851013
    Abstract: A process for monitoring the conditions in the reaction zone of a gasifier in a process for the gasification of coal to produce synthesis gas is disclosed, the process being characterized by continual or periodic calculation of the rate of steam production by the heat exchange system of the gasifier, and comparison of the calculated rate with a pre-selected value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Hans-Wolfgang Luke
  • Patent number: 4849057
    Abstract: A plant for the pyrolysis of waste material containing hydrocarbons has a cooling stage. In this cooling stage, the hot pyrolysis gas coming from the pyrolysis reactor is cooled by direct heat exchange with low-boiling pyrolysis oil which is obtained in a further cooling stage by condensation of pyrolysis gas. For this purpose, a multiplicity of spray nozzles disposed in the form of a ring are provided in the heat exchange channel of the cooling stage, with a spray direction of the nozzles pointing substantially downwards. The end of the hot gas line which connects the cooling stage to the pyrolysis reactor is located above the spray nozzles. At the same time, feed lines for a protective, buffer or blanketing gas end in this region. In addition, an annular channel encloses the heat exchange channel and has orifices in the inner wall surface of the heat exchange channel, so that pyrolysis oil fed through the line cools and wets the wall of the heat exchange channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Steinstrasser, Gerhard Rossol
  • Patent number: 4842830
    Abstract: An apparatus for positioning a catalyst bed for converting vapors into an active hydrogen-donor solvent is disclosed. In one embodiment the catalyst bed is positioned within the upper portion vapor space of a vessel used for hydrogen-donor solvent hydrogenation. In another embodiment the catalyst bed is positioned in a separate vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Jim Y. Low
  • Patent number: 4840770
    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: February 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 20, 1989
    Assignee: SECO Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David K. Walz, Robert D. Howerton, Andrew W. Allen, Thera C. Moss, William H. Kenney
  • Patent number: 4836842
    Abstract: A plunger assembly includes a plunger which has a base portion secured within an opening in the closed top of a cylindrical plunger holder. The bottom of the plunger holder is open and two opposed locking flanges projected inwardly into the opening. An adapter having an upper portion above a support collar receives the plunger holder and the two parts are relatively rotated 90.degree. to locate the locking flanges between the support collar and the bottom of opposed increased diameter portions on the adapter upper portion. Detents releasably retain the two parts at this relative orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Albert J. Trahan
  • Patent number: 4836839
    Abstract: The casing for a cylinder in an I.S. glassware forming machine is displaced with the kick-up basket and strikes the neck ring assembly in the event there is any misalignment therebetween. The plunger holder and a float cover move laterally as one due to float clearances defined between the float cover and the top cap of the spring retainer, and between the plunger holder and the adapter assembly, and between the cooling tube, which is connected to the plunger, and the bore of the locking bolt which secures the adapter assembly to the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Emhart Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Albert J. Trahan, Robert J. Douglas
  • Patent number: 4832725
    Abstract: The refractory tube controlling the flow of glass from a glass feeder bowl is combined with a rotary stirring device used to control surface cord into one unit, herein called a "Tubex"; thereby eliminating one of the two rotary drive mechanisms and also eliminating alignment and relative rotary speed problems. The stirrers are diamond-shaped platinum-rhodium alloy blades connected to the refractory element, preferably as three, equally-spaced stirrers at a common radius on the rotated Tubex element. A novel rotary support mounting and drive for said element is provided. The Tubex is used in TV panel glass manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Owens-Illinois Television Products Inc.
    Inventor: William F. Rehring
  • Patent number: 4830834
    Abstract: Improved heat utilization is achieved in a process for the catalytic steam reforming of hydrocarbons to form a product stream rich in hydrogen by (a) first passing the process gas through a first portion of catalyst comprising 25-75% of the total steam reforming catalyst (whereby the heat needed for the endothermic reactions during reforming and for heating the process gas is supplied partly from a moderately hot flue gas generated by combustion of a fluid fuel and partly from the product stream) and then (b) passing the partly reformed process gas through the remaining portion of the reforming catalyst. In this second step, the heat needed for the further endothermic reactions and for heating the process gas is supplied by a hot flue gas, the hot flue gas thereby being cooled to form the moderately hot flue gas mentioned unde (a). A reactor for use in this process is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: EPRI Electric Power Research Institute
    Inventors: Henrik O. Stahl, Jens R. Rostrup-Nielsen
  • Patent number: 4828651
    Abstract: Process for the removal of coke from a coking reactor of a series of coking reactors, comprising the projection of water under pressure at the coke via a water-ejection device hanging from a flexible tube guided by a guide pulley movably mounted above the reactors for translation between each reactor of the series of reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1989
    Assignee: Institut Francais du Petrole
    Inventors: Daniel Lumbroso, Andrien Orieux, Michel Davidson
  • Patent number: 4826573
    Abstract: Organic material is compacted to a density greater than 280 kg/m.sub.3 in a press, is preheated to a temperature of 44.degree.-46.degree. C., is then subjected in an irradiation device to 1-20 electromagnetic wave pulses having a duration of almost 5 s and a frequency between 800 and 2000 MHz and is subsequently subjected to a fermentation causing its heating, until its temperature has risen to 85.degree.-90.degree. C., and is subjected to pyrolysis in a pyrolysis oven. During irradiation, fermentation and pyrolysis no air is supplied to the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 2, 1989
    Assignee: Iris M. P. Van Der Heyden
    Inventor: Wilhelmus J. H. Schippers
  • Patent number: 4824526
    Abstract: Arsenic can be continuously removed from shale oil by passing the shale oil through a first guard bed containing catalyst capable of substantially reducing the arsenic content of the oil, until the desired amount of arsenic is removed. The flow of the shale oil is thereafter directed to a second guard bed containing another or similar catalyst capable of substantially reducing the arsenic content of the oil. Concurrently, the spent catalyst in the first bed is regenerated in situ so that continuous upgrading of the shale oil is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1989
    Assignee: Amoco Corporation
    Inventor: Shri K. Goyal
  • Patent number: 4822574
    Abstract: A tubular reactor for heat treatment of granular material in suspension has a vessel (1) up through which a flow of gas and burning fuel passes. The vessel contains vanes (20) which cause the gas to follow a helical path and fling outwards entrained material, which falls down the vessel wall and is displaced inwardly by frusto-conical rings (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: F. L. Smidth & Co. A/S
    Inventor: Jorn Touborg
  • Patent number: 4820384
    Abstract: This is an apparatus for attaching a removable cover to a large vessel. It is adaptable to existing vessels, especially those which have a mounting rim or flange. It uses multiple connector pins which are attached permanently to the vessel and which can be fastened to the cover assembly by a remote operation. It also uses fluid pressure to force the cover against the vessel opening, after which the cover is mechanically secured in place by a second remote operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Inventor: Raymond E. Pechacek
  • Patent number: 4643977
    Abstract: Micro-reactivity of cokes can be estimated by carbonizing a small sample of powdered coal to form a char and until constant weight at a desired test temperature, then measuring weight loss in a given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Coal Industry (Patents) Limited
    Inventors: Joseph Goleczka, Edmund P. Mills, Edward K. Harrison, Roy Nichols
  • Patent number: 4563142
    Abstract: A worm press extruder or the like includes a worm shaft which conveys a flow medium within a housing cylinder. In order to provide the medium with an appropriate pressure and temperature the worm shaft cooperates with a constriction plate so as to define a gap therebetween. The gap is controlled by heat responsive unit e.g. a bolt of high thermal expansion coefficient which is connected to a stationary portion of the housing as well as to another housing portion which is movable with respect to the stationary housing portion by lever means. Consequently, when the temperature of the bolt is changed its length is altered thus causing the other housing portion which is associated with the constriction plate to shift towards the stationary housing portion. Since the worm shaft is supported by the stationary housing portion and cannot move axially with respect to the latter, the movement of the constriction plate causes a modification of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1986
    Assignee: Battenfeld Extrusionstechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Karl Klingenberg
  • Patent number: 4548572
    Abstract: A soap saving device for pressure bonding two or more pieces of wet soap comprising a rack particularly adapted for hanging in a shower or bath stall. The rack carries two or more soap trays with at least one tray being fixedly supported on the rack and another tray being moveable relative the rack. An elastic element, such as a rubber band or spring, can drive the moveable tray toward the fixed tray when an operate latch is disengaged in a first species. If two or more pieces of wet soap are stacked between the two trays, a pressure bonding force can be applied to the soap pieces to mold the several pieces into a single bar. The operate latch is dispensed within a second species, and the elastic element is manually extended momentarily to enable the moveable soap tray to be separated so that the two or more pieces of wet soap can be placed on the moveable tray for pressure bonding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Inventor: Edward C. Hoffman
  • Patent number: 4541841
    Abstract: Converting carbon-containing raw material, particularly coal, wood or crude oil, into a combustible product gas by a gasification reaction in the presence of a catalyst which is dissolved in the steam intended for the gasification reaction, forming a homogeneous gaseous solution. The ash-containing gasification residue is separated and the catalyst is extracted from the separated gasification residue by the steam intended for the gasification reaction at a temperature and a pressure, at which a homogeneous gaseous solution of the catalyst in steam is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Kraftwerk Union Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Dieter Reinhardt
  • Patent number: 4540357
    Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus for fabricating non-linear side wall conveyor belting wherein the non-linear side walls are cured simultaneously with the conveyor belting with which they are associated, thereby providing a much stronger attachment than obtainable through use of conventional adhesives or a thermal bonding process. The apparatus of the invention comprises a novel mold having fixed inner side wall mold components and movable outer side wall mold components adapted for movement between an open position, wherein the outer side wall mold component is spaced from the corresponding inner side wall mold component in order to permit insertion of side wall material, and a closed position wherein the side wall mold components are substantially engaged so as to form the side wall material into a suitable non-linear shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Cambelt International Corporation
    Inventors: Clarence R. Campbell, Elliot S. Mickelson, Steven A. Baumgartner