Patents Examined by K. B. Rinehart
  • Patent number: 6877250
    Abstract: In an apparatus for a treatment of a wafer at elevated temperatures, the wafer is taken out of the reactor after heat treatment with the help of a mechanical transport apparatus which preferably grips the wafer around the circumference and on the under side. The transport apparatus includes a wafer surrounding ring. The wafer is placed in a floating wafer reactor where it is cooled in a controlled manner. Transport for further action or treatment then takes place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: ASM International N.V.
    Inventors: Ernst Hendrik August Granneman, Vladimir Ivanovich Kuznetsov, Gert Jan Snijders
  • Patent number: 6834597
    Abstract: This relates to a furnace that is useful in safely detonating or demilitarizing munitions or explosives, particularly small caliber munitions. The preferred variation includes a series of chambers having a set of runners or tracks passing amongst the various chambers to allow movement of the munitions from chamber to chamber in trays. The first chamber is heated in such a way so that a tray of munitions placed on the runners in this chamber are baked and detonated. After the detonation is generally complete, the tray containing the then-detonated munition fragments is slid through an opening at the end of that heated detonation chamber into a first cooling chamber. Generally, this movement takes place by addition of another tray containing non-detonated munitions into the first chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Inventor: Terry Northcutt
  • Patent number: 6775925
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method for the evaporative cooling of a web within a dryer in a compact manner. Excess fluid overspray is controlled, thereby avoiding problems with fluid depositing on internal surfaces of the dryer, which can cause mineral build-up and can result in web breaks or quality defects if fluid drips onto the web. More specifically, a water delivery system is used which directs a water mist to the web by appropriate design and placement of the spray nozzles. The quantity of water delivered to the web is regulated, and is preferably based upon web temperature. Excess mist is controlled by directing hot air to effectively vaporize the excess mist before it is able to contact the internal surfaces of the dryer enclosure and its internal components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: Megtec Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Zagar, Paul Seidl, Jerry Packer, David Welter
  • Patent number: 6769370
    Abstract: An incinerator includes a peripheral wall having a top end and formed with an inlet at the top end and an outlet below the inlet, a bowl-shaped grate disposed between the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of laterally extending baffles extending from a bottom end of the grate to the peripheral wall, and a plurality of vertically extending baffles disposed between the peripheral wall and the grate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Inventors: Ming-Chuo Lee, Johnson Huang
  • Patent number: 6763772
    Abstract: A liquid waste feeding system having a liquid inlet to a plasma torch based waste processing chamber, disposed intermediate the primary plasma torch arrangement at the bottom end of the chamber and the top gas products outlet. the liquid inlet is positioned within the chamber such that liquid waste flowing from the inlet into the chamber is directed at a high temperature zone of waste column, and the liquid inlet is typically associated with a hot gas jet means. The hot gas jet means that provides the required high temperature zone may comprise one or more secondary plasma torches configured to provide hot gas jets into the liquid discharge zone of the inlet. Alternatively, the hot gas jet may be provided by the primary plasma torches, in which case the liquid inlet is disposed within a predetermined area close to and above at least one of the primary plasma torches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2004
    Assignee: E.E.R. Environmental Energy Resources (Israel) Ltd.
    Inventors: Valeri Gnedenko, Alexandre Souris, David Pegaz
  • Patent number: 6748882
    Abstract: In a process for influencing the properties of incineration residues from an incineration plant, in particular a waste incineration plant, the incineration is controlled sot that a sintering and/or fusing of the slag takes place as earl as in the incineration bed of the main incineration zone, and as yet unsintered or unfused incineration residues are separated off at the end of the incineration operation and fed back to the incineration operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2004
    Assignees: Martin GmbH für Umwelt-und Energietechnik, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Johannes Martin, Oliver Gohlke, Joachim Horn, Michael Busch
  • Patent number: 6745497
    Abstract: An axle (30) supports both a nozzle plenum (18) and a plurality lower tubes (28) that telescope into a plurality of upper tubes (26). The nozzle plenum (18) is moved vertically up and down between various operating positions as the tubes (26, 28) telescope into and out of one another to accommodate the changing longitudinal configuration of a vehicle and the nozzle plenum (18) may be rotated about the axle (30) to efficiently direct air against the contour of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Proto-Vest, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Patrick McElroy
  • Patent number: 6745705
    Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace with a body (1) of a furnace, at the lower end of which a discharge device (2) for the ashes produced in the combustion chamber is provided. A continuous conveyor device in the form of a vibrating conveyor (3) is mounted below the discharge device (2). The vibrating chute of said vibrating conveyor reliably and effectively removes the dry ashes which are at the same time cooled with air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Steag Encotech GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Benesch, Reinhold Terhaar
  • Patent number: 6745490
    Abstract: This invention is concerned with a distributive ejection apparatus for liquid material in a freeze-drying apparatus for foodstuffs, medicaments, etc., wherein the liquid material adjusted from the starting material for foodstuffs, medicaments, etc. is caused to freeze onto the inner wall surface of the upright cylindrical tube, and the distributive ejection of the liquid material onto the tube at the time of its freeze-drying by sublimation of the moisture content in the material under the vacuum condition may be done in the state of supplying the liquid material over the entire surface of the inner wall surface of the tube with a substantially uniform thickness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Kyowa Vacuum Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromichi Akimoto, Ryoji Sunama
  • Patent number: 6745706
    Abstract: A system for disposing of municipal solid waste 10) provides commercially-available equipment that is modified to initially remove identifiable unwanted components from the waste (12), and then chop the waste into small pieces (16) of a size suitable for handling and combustion. The moisture content of the waste is reduced in a closed system (20) by passing dry air through the waste in a confined space (30) to absorb moisture and produce moist air, which is then dehumidified via refrigeration equipment (34). The dehumidified air is recycled (30, 40) through the waste repeatedly through the closed system (20) until the water content has reached the predetermined amount. The waste is stored in a bunker (41) for later burning, or is immediately burned in a furnace (24) to produce heat that is used to produce steam (50), which drives a generator (26) to produce electricity (52) that is partly used to power the process and partly sold commercially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Inventor: Richard B. Pallett
  • Patent number: 6742463
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for supplying an air jet form to the furnace of a recovery boiler, where the furnace has a front wall, a rear wall and side walls. Black liquor spraying devices are disposed on the furnace walls at one or several levels of the furnace. A plurality of air ports are located at several horizontal levels for introducing air into the furnace from an air supply. In the arrangement for the secondary air flows, two horizontal air levels at different elevations are arranged above the lower primary levels and below the black liquor sprayer. Secondary air is supplied from two opposite walls and the air ports from each of the two levels are located so that the air jets are introduced in an interlaced pattern having an even number of jets on one opposite wall and an uneven number of jets on the other opposite wall. The air jets of said at least two air levels are located substantially one above each other in substantially vertical rows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Andritz Oy
    Inventors: Kari Saviharju, Jorma Simonen, Liisa Simonen, Esa Vakkilainen, Esko Mattelmäki
  • Patent number: 6739073
    Abstract: A method for performing multiple cleaning and vacuum drying operations in enclosed vessels uses cleaning and vacuum drying apparatus, low-dissolved-air cleaning solution, and drain-to-vacuum process to produce vacuum in a cleaning vessel, so that influence of air pressure on the operations is minimized. The method utilizes physical features that boiling points of general liquids lower with reduced pressure, that liquid saturated vapor pressure reduces with lowered temperature, and that two vacuum vessels of different working temperatures would have a pressure differential between their saturated vapor pressures, and uses heat control units and heat egress units to regulate temperature and pressure in the vacuumized cleaning vessel, so that wet clean, dry clean, vacuum heat drying, and vacuum freeze drying can be performed on the same apparatus, and low-pressure gas used in the dry clean and cleaning solution and waste solution can be recovered to achieve environment protection and energy saving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Cheng-Ming Chou
  • Patent number: 6729248
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to additives for coal-fired furnaces, particularly furnaces using a layer of slag to capture coal particles for combustion. The additive(s) include iron, mineralizer(s), handling aid(s), flow aid(s), and/or abrasive material(s). The iron and mineralizers can lower the melting temperature of ash in low-iron, high alkali coals, leading to improved furnace performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: ADA Environmental Solutions, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Allen Johnson, John Wurster, John Philip Comer
  • Patent number: 6729038
    Abstract: A roller squeegee and spinner adapter tool is disclosed for safely, easily, speedily and thoroughly removing paint or other coating material from a roller by squeegeeing or sliding the major bulk of paint from the roller and then attaching a mini-roller to a paintbrush and roller spinner for conveniently removing residual paint and cleaning solution from the mini-roller via the spinning action (centrifugal force) of the spinner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Paintway Trust
    Inventor: David-Thornton Lonier
  • Patent number: 6729247
    Abstract: A method, and apparatus, for cremating the remains of a deceased being. The method comprises transporting a mobile crematorium to a location wherein the deceased is to be cremated. The mobile crematorium comprises a first combustion chamber, wheels and a trailer hitch. The deceased remains are then heated in the first combustion chamber to a temperature of at least 1000° F. thereby creating combustion gases and noncombustible materials. The combustion gases are allowed to exit the first combustion chamber and the noncombustible materials are removed and placed in a storage device such as an urn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Inventors: Andrew Brown, Nelle B. Brown
  • Patent number: 6725787
    Abstract: A refractory vessel that can be used as a gasifier for black liquor includes a generally cylindrical metal shell having a dome. A refractory shell has a cylindrical portion spaced inwardly from the metal shell and a dome portion that is spaced inwardly from the metal dome. The refractory shell is sized to provide an expansion gap between the liner and the metal shell. A selectively crushable liner is positioned in the gap. The liner has a predetermined yield stress that will provide controlled resistance to expansion of the refractory shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventors: Zia Abdullah, John Peter Gorog
  • Patent number: 6725570
    Abstract: A clothes dryer having a fire protection system. The clothes dryer chamber has an inlet which receives drying air and an exhaust for removing moisture laden air. The temperature within the drying chamber is monitored, and a determination is made from the dryer electronic controller whether or not a fire exists in the tumbler. The fire detection conditions are based on determining whether a certain temperature rise exists within the tumbler when the drying air ceases. The fire suppression system when activated will inject a fire suppressing substance into the tumbler for suppressing the fire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: American Dryer Corporation
    Inventors: Michael W. Confoey, Dennis Slutsky
  • Patent number: 6725569
    Abstract: The device (10) and method are used for ventilating an offset pocket space (12) located in a drying section of a papermaking machine by injecting air from a heated dry air supply inlet (11). The offset pocket space (12) is situated between a set of three axially-parallel drying cylinders (20) over which consecutively runs a paper web (14). The device (10) comprises a first air outlet (50) where a first air stream is directed into a cleft (34) defined where the felt (16) rejoins the felt roll (26), and a second air outlet (52) where a second air stream is directed in close proximity to the felt (16) at a location which is upstream of the cleft (34). In use, the device (10) and the corresponding method allow the first air stream to flow through the felt (16) and lift the paper web (14) away from the felt (16) so as to reach the offset pocket space (12). The second air stream creates an air curtain to lower the pressure in a zone between the first (50) and the second air outlet (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: Enerquin Air Inc.
    Inventors: Rémi Turcotte, Dominique Thifault
  • Patent number: 6722054
    Abstract: A process for lyophilizing a solution of an active agent in a delivery container is provided. Solution of active agent is deposited into a delivery container, the container is covered with a covering plate and placed inside a lyophilizing apparatus. Lyophilization is conducted to dryness by radiation, convection or both. Also provided is a device made by this process, an active agent-plastic administration device such as a syringe containing an active agent in the form of lyophilized cake, and an array of such administration devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Atrix Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody L. Yarborough, Dominic Gregory Madril, Rajan Bawa
  • Patent number: 6715431
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multifunctional disposal apparatus for performing disposal by incineration, desiccation, fusion, degradation, ash melting and others on an object to be disposed such as raw refuse, general garbage, sludge, expanded polystyrene and others produced from a manufacturing plant, a service providing facility, a wholesale market, a general firm, a general store, a general house and others. [Structure] In a multifunctional disposal apparatus comprising: a dry combustion furnace; a kiln furnace; a first smoke feeding portion; a second smoke feeding portion; a smoke combustion portion; a dust filter portion; a second smoke feeding portion; an air heating portion; and a cooling tank portion, the present invention has such structure as that a flow of air is generated in one direction from the cooling tank to the second smoke feeding portion to form a vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Inventor: Takashi Maejima