Patents Examined by Kaity Handal
  • Patent number: 7261865
    Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body, in particular for cleaning exhaust gas originating in an internal combustion engine. The honeycomb body has at least two zones arranged in series in the flow direction with different coatings. The honeycomb body preferably has a first zone and a second zone which is arranged downstream, the first zone having an adsorbing coating, and the second zone having a catalytically active coating. The electrically heatable honeycomb body serves in particular as a trap for pollutants, preferably hydrocarbons or nitrogen oxides, which are contained in the exhaust gas. The configuration of the adsorbing first zone is matched to the light-off performance of the electrically heatable honeycomb body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Rolf Brück
  • Patent number: 7258843
    Abstract: An assembly includes a honeycomb body secured by an inner casing tube in a housing, in particular a housing of an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine. The inner casing tube has an overall length which is bounded axially by two edges and is substantially smaller than the axial length of the honeycomb body. The inner casing tube is also disposed in an approximately axially central position around the honeycomb body and is connected, in particular brazed, thereto in at least one axial connection region. The inner casing tube has a region within the axial connection region in which it is connected to the honeycomb body on the inside or attached directly adjacent the latter on the outside and is connected to the housing. Regions of the inner casing tube which are not connected to the housing but are connected to the honeycomb body toward the inside are constructed as radially elastic spring elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Jörg-Roman Konieczny, Katrin Schaper, Wolfgang Maus
  • Patent number: 7258842
    Abstract: A catalyst assembly includes a housing having at least first and second recesses with side surfaces, and a catalyst carrier body fixed in said housing. The catalyst carrier body has a casing tube and a honeycomb body through which an exhaust gas can flow. The casing tube has at least first and second protuberances with side surfaces and said casing tube is connected to said honeycomb body at least in a partial region. The protuberances extend at least partially into said recesses to form a fixed mounting and at least one floating mounting with an axial mounting play. The assembly ensures that the catalyst carrier body is permanently fixed, in particular during structure-borne vibrations that occur in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Rolf Brück, Wolfgang Maus, Katrin Schaper, Jörg-Roman Konieczny
  • Patent number: 7252693
    Abstract: A process and reaction unit for isothermal shift conversion of a carbon monoxide containing feed gas. The process comprises the steps of introducing the feed gas in a reaction unit into reactor tubes with a fixed bed of a shift conversion catalyst in a reaction zone, contacting the feed gas with the catalyst at conditions being effective in carbon monoxide shift conversion reaction with steam reactant to hydrogen and cooling the reaction by indirect heat exchange with a cooling agent by passing the cooling agent in a falling film along shell side of the reactor tubes and removing heated cooling agent from the falling film, passing hydrogen when it is formed by the shift conversion reaction through a hydrogen selective membrane to a permeate zone, and withdrawing hydrogen from the permeate zone and carbon monoxide depleted feed gas from the reaction zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Rostrup-Nielsen, Erik Løgsted-Nielsen
  • Patent number: 7250143
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for spraying water in a feedwater tank of a thermal power plant. Because the spraying device comprises a catalyst for the conversion of the gases contained in the water, the gases released from the water during the spray degasification can be removed easily, reliably and completely. Thus, the degree of efficiency of the thermal circuit of the power plant and the lifespan of the components arranged in the circuit are increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Balke-Durr GmbH
    Inventors: Günter Grobelny, Robert-Joachim Keck
  • Patent number: 7244281
    Abstract: A plasma fuel reformer assembly for producing reformate gas includes a fuel reformer having an air/fuel input assembly, an electrode assembly, and a soot trap positioned downstream of the electrode assembly. The electrode assembly includes a first electrode and a second electrode that is spaced apart from the first electrode. The fuel reformer further includes a reformer controller electrically coupled to the air/fuel input assembly. The reformer controller includes a processing unit electrically connected to a memory unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel N. Crane, Jr., William Taylor, III
  • Patent number: 7238327
    Abstract: A catalytic converter and method for its assembly including an external shell formed in two halves containing a catalytic substrate, two internal shields and two-piece inlet and outlet cones. The inlet and outlet cones are attached as halves to each side of the external shell, and are assembled to each other as the external shells are assembled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: Carl Irving, Joseph Michael Lanzesira, Chris Darr, Houliang Li, Darren Nance
  • Patent number: 7232553
    Abstract: Disclosed is a plate type steam reformer comprising a plate type burner capable of heating a broad area of a reactor as a heat source, positioned on a bottom of the reformer; a reforming reactor requiring a relatively high temperature, positioned over the burner; a high temperature water gas shift reactor requiring a relatively moderate temperature, positioned over the reforming reactor; a low temperature water gas shift reactor requiring a relatively low temperature, positioned over the high temperature water gas shift reactor; and dividing plates positioned between the above three reactors and between the reforming reactor and the burner such that combustion exhaust gas produced in the burner supplies heat to the above reactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignees: Korea Gas Corporation, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
    Inventors: Young-Sam Oh, Young-Soon Baek, Taek-Yong Song, Sang-Eon Park, Ki-Won Jun, Ri-Sang Choi
  • Patent number: 7229598
    Abstract: A honeycomb body, which is composed in such a manner that a strip of corrugated foil made of heat-resistant stainless steel containing aluminum and a strip of flat foil made of stainless steel are alternately wound or laminated on each other, is incorporated into an outer cylinder made of metal and integrated into one body by means of diffusion bonding, so that a diffusion bonded metallic catalyst carrier can be formed. Surface roughness of the strip of foil after the completion of diffusion bonding is 0.001 to 2.0 ?m when it is expressed by center line average height Ra, and no sintered bridges are formed at both end portions of the diffusion bonded section in the longitudinal direction. The catalyst carrier is manufactured in a condition so that ?b, which is defined by ?b=6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuo Takahashi, Tadayuki Otani, Kazutoshi Iwami, Masayuki Kasuya
  • Patent number: 7226565
    Abstract: Ethylenically unsaturated monomers are polymerized in a gas-phase fluidized-bed reactor comprising a reactor space (1) in the form of a vertical tube, a calming zone (2) adjoining the upper part of the reactor space, a circulated gas line (3), a circulated gas compressor (4), a cooling apparatus (5), a gas distributor plate (6) which forms the lower boundary of the reactor space and, if desired, a flow divider (7), wherein the gas distributor plate (6) has a plurality of gas flow orifices (8) whose outlet sides are widened conically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Basell Polyolefine GmbH
    Inventors: Benno Knauer, Peter Hennenberger, Klaus Hilligardt, Eckard Schauss, Horst Bullack
  • Patent number: 7223296
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system may include a burner unit that generates combustion gas and a combustion gas passage through which the combustion gas generated by the burner unit flows. A reformer, having a reforming catalyst, generates a reformed gas containing hydrogen by steam reforming a feed material and steam using the heat from the combustion gas. An evaporator evaporates water into steam using the heat from the combustion gas, flowing through the combustion gas passage, and supplies the steam to the reformer. The combustion gas passage is arranged to cover at least a portion of an outer surface of the reformer, and the evaporator is arranged to cover at least a portion of an outer surface of the combustion gas passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomonori Asou, Akira Maenishi, Yutaka Yoshida, Kunihiro Ukai, Yuji Mukai
  • Patent number: 7220392
    Abstract: A fuel conversion reactor includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger for controlling the temperature of a hot gaseous mixture produced by catalytic or non-catalytic reaction of a fuel with a gaseous fluid, and for controlling the temperature of the gaseous fluid and/or the fuel prior to the reaction. The reactor is either a catalytic or non-catalytic burner, or a fuel reformer for converting a fuel to hydrogen. A preferred reactor includes an outer shell having first and second ends and an inner surface, a primary inner shell extending into the outer shell, the primary inner shell defining a heat exchanging chamber and having primary and secondary ends, and a secondary inner shell having a first end located adjacent the secondary end of the primary inner shell. One or more outlet apertures are formed between the two inner shells for passage of the gaseous fluid out of the heat exchanging chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Dana Canada Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoyang Rong, Brian E. Cheadle
  • Patent number: 7204965
    Abstract: A filter catalyst is for purifying exhaust gases emitted from internal combustion engines and including particulates, and includes a wall-flow honeycomb structure and an upstream-side straight honeycomb structure. The wall-flow honeycomb structure includes inlet cells clogged on the downstream side of the exhaust gases, outlet cells neighboring the inlet cells and clogged on the upstream side of the exhaust gases, filter cellular walls demarcating the inlet cells and the outlet cells and having pores, and a catalytic layer formed on the surface of the filter cellular walls and/or the surface of the pores of the filter cellular walls. The upstream-side straight honeycomb structure is disposed on the upstream side of the exhaust gases with respect to the wall-flow honeycomb structure, is provided integrally with the wall-flow honeycomb structure, and includes upstream-side straight cells in which the exhaust gases flow straight, and upstream-side cellular walls demarcating the upstream-side straight cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Seiji Okawara, Mamoru Nishimura, Mikio Ishihara
  • Patent number: 7201782
    Abstract: A gas generation system includes a chemical reactor configured to produce a gas from a continuous flow of aqueous solution, and includes a pump configured to control the flow of the aqueous solution through the chemical reactor to control a production rate of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: John A Devos
  • Patent number: 7198762
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising at least an electrostatic filter (20) with corona effect comprising an emitting structure (29, 32, 33) and a collector structure (24). The invention is characterized in that the collector structure (24) comprises a plurality of cavities trapping the particles contained in the gas medium, such as gases of an internal combustion engine. The emitting structure (29, 32, 33) comprises a plurality of serrated plates such as ratchets (32) designed to be connected to a high voltage circuit. Preferably, the collector structure (24) comprises a separator formed of a wire mesh. Advantageously, said device is associated with an oxidation catalytic converter and/or a continuously regenerating mechanical filter and/or suction means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Inventor: Daniel Teboul
  • Patent number: 7198763
    Abstract: A method and a device for the distribution of gas. The method includes the steps of transferring the gas into a swirl chamber through an inlet section positioned tangentially to the swirl chamber, swirling the gas in the swirl chamber by passage through a number of equally displaced bent vanes, the surface of the upstream part of the vanes lying in a plane perpendicular to the swirl chamber's axis, the downstream part of the vanes being parallel to the swirl chamber's axis, and the vanes extending radially outward, and passing the gas through an outlet section positioned downstream the swirl chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Haldor Topsoe A/S
    Inventor: Olav Holm-Christensen
  • Patent number: 7198761
    Abstract: A hydrogen fuel system for a vehicle includes a fuel tank having a fuel inlet for receiving a borohydride fuel into a fuel holding portion of an internal cavity, and a waste inlet arranged to receive the waste liquid generated by an on-board hydrogen reaction process. The waste liquid is received into a waste liquid portion of the internal cavity. An expandable divider element is positioned within the tank to keep the fuel holding portion of the internal cavity separate from the waste liquid holding portion. The waste liquid holding portion can be positioned within the internal cavity so as to allow heat from the waste liquid to preheat the fuel stored in the fuel holding portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler Corporation
    Inventors: Jason W Buelow, Doanh Tran, Thomas S Moore, Mohsen D Shabana, Christopher E Borroni-Bird
  • Patent number: 7195657
    Abstract: A hydrogen generation system comprises a reformer 1 that contains a reforming catalyst, an evaporator 4 that supplies steam to the reformer 1, a heater 3 that heats the reformer 1 and the evaporator 4, a material feed portion 5 that feeds a feed material containing hydrocarbon compound to the reformer 1 through the evaporator 4, and a water supply portion 6 that has a flow rate switch 6a and supplies water to the reformer 1 and the evaporator 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunihiro Ukai, Kiyoshi Taguchi, Hidenobu Wakita, Seiji Fujihara, Akira Maenishi
  • Patent number: 7195742
    Abstract: An apparatus for preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide in a reformate flow includes a reactor defining a flow path for a reformate flow; at least one catalyst bed disposed along the flow path; and a distributor for distributing oxygen from an oxygen source to the at least one catalyst bed, the distributor including a conduit positioned at least one of upstream of and through the at least one catalyst bed, the conduit having a sidewall permeable to flow of oxygen from within the conduit to the at least one catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: UTC Fuel Cells, LLC
    Inventors: Ke Liu, Sean C. Emerson, Richard James Bellows
  • Patent number: 7189374
    Abstract: A diesel engine (1) has an exhaust system (4) and an oxidation catalyst (5a). Exhaust gas for recirculation is taken through an intake pipe (6) downstream of the catalyst, and preferably upstream of a filter (5b) for soot. The recirculated gases are passed through a cooler (7) upstream of the EGR valve (8). Good removal of soot and NOx is achieved even at low exhaust gas temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Johnson Matthey Public Limited Company
    Inventor: Pelham Nigel Hawker