Patents Examined by Michael J. Early
  • Patent number: 7360367
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transportation of a cryogenic fluid. The system includes a floating liquefaction unit receiving a gas from a source, a shuttle vessel for carrying liquefied gas away from the liquefaction unit, and a floating regasification unit for receiving the liquefied gas from the vessel, regassifying the liquefied gas and providing the gas to a distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group Advanced Parts Manufacture
    Inventors: Bradford S. Hubbard, Ned P. Baudat, W. Scott Worthington
  • Patent number: 7318319
    Abstract: Methods and systems for transportation of a cryogenic fluid. The system includes a floating liquefaction unit receiving a gas from a source, a shuttle vessel for carrying liquefied gas away from the liquefaction unit, and a floating regasification unit for receiving the liquefied gas from the vessel, regassifying the liquefied gas and providing the gas to a distribution system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Wood Group Advanced Parts Manufacture
    Inventors: Bradford S. Hubbard, Ned P. Baudat, W. Scott Worthington
  • Patent number: 7296564
    Abstract: A novel football field grille is disclosed. The novel football field grill includes a firebox; a retractable lid mounted on the firebox, capable of retracting from a first closed position to a second open position; a hollow goalpost, having a first end and a second end, the first end of the goalpost mounted on the retractable lid, and the second end of the hollow goalpost in fluid communication with the firebox when the retractable lid is in the first closed position; and a support leg, mounted to the firebox to engage a surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Douglas Wilson
  • Patent number: 7293426
    Abstract: An apparatus for freezing a biological sample having a frame, an enclosure adapted to conduct a cryogenic fluid therethrough, and a block in the enclosure such that the block is cooled to a temperature capable of freezing the sample. A force generating device is mounted on the frame generally above the enclosure. A sample holder is removably attached to the force generating device having a cavity at its free end for receiving a sample to be frozen. The force generating device, sample holder, and block are constructed to compress the sample between the block and the sample holder such that the holder penetrates the surface of the block and effectively seals the sample during compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: Washington University
    Inventor: John E. Heuser
  • Patent number: 7278268
    Abstract: A system and method of cooling a CCD camera may employ a composite material housing design that allows the cold side of a TEC to be mounted relatively close to the CCD and the hot side of the TEC to be isolated from the housing cavity in which the CCD resides. An efficient heat transfer path may facilitate cooling the CCD to a predetermined or selected operating temperature and isolate the CCD from the heat loads generated by operation the TEC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Precision, LLC
    Inventor: Steven C. Quarre
  • Patent number: 7263987
    Abstract: A grill cooker that efficiently cools a grilling unit to prevent food from sticking to the grilling unit, and a multipurpose cooking apparatus in which the grill cooker is installed. The grill cooker includes a grilling unit on an upper portion of a cabinet, an air cooling unit on an outside of the cabinet, and a connection member on the upper portion of the cabinet. The grilling unit includes a grilling pipe having an inlet and an outlet. The air cooling unit includes a blowing fan and an air discharging pipe. The connection member has a tapered hole. The inlet of the grilling pipe is connected to an upper portion of the tapered hole, and the air discharging pipe is connected to a lower end of the tapered hole. The grill cooker is removably set in a recess in an upper portion of the multipurpose cooking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han Jun Sung, Yong Hyun Kwon, Chul Kim, Tae Uk Lee, Sung Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 7251952
    Abstract: The invention provides an improved air chiller unit mounted on an aircraft for sending cooled air to service carts for serving meals. An air chiller unit is equipped with a refrigeration cycle unit disposed on a casing. The refrigeration cycle unit is equipped with a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator and so on for a refrigerant, and the cooled air is sent via a blower device 60 to a galley etc. A housing 630 of the blower device 60 has an inlet and two outlets 650, 652 for cooled air. A duct member is inserted to one of the two outlets 650 and 652, and the other outlet is sealed. The casing 10 is formed of a honeycomb panel. Since the honeycomb panel has high flexural rigidity, the base plate can support the refrigeration cycle unit by itself. Further, since the panel has superior heat insulating property, the air cooling efficiency can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: Jamco Corporation
    Inventor: Masaji Ozaki
  • Patent number: 7246504
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cooling storage units and a sales management system is to be provided for the same permitting the exclusion of a made-to-order production system which indispensably requires pre-shipment cooling tests. Thermally insulated boxes of different predetermined sets of specifications, each usable as a freezer, a refrigerator, or a freezer-refrigerator, and cooling units so fabricated as to have a prescribed cooling capacity for any one of the group of thermally insulated boxes are made ready in advance. One thermally insulated box, meeting the specified requirements from the group of thermally insulated boxes, and a matching cooling unit are transported to the installation site of the cooling storage unit. The thermally insulated box and the cooling unit are combined at the installation site to constitute the cooling storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Assignee: Hoshizaki Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiko Hirano, Shinichi Kaga
  • Patent number: 7240507
    Abstract: A heat exchanger for cooling a liquid comprising a cavity (2) containing a refrigerating liquid capable of evaporation under the effect of a depression maintained by a pump. The cavity includes at least a first wall (21) in contact with the liquid to be cooled, the first wall (21) being substantially conical such that its cross-sectional surface tapers from the base towards the top, and at least a second wall (22) forming the base of the conical shape and incorporating communication (30) between the cavity (2) of the exchanger and the pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Thermagen
    Inventor: Pierre Jeuch
  • Patent number: 7231777
    Abstract: A portable personal cooling device substantially utilizing components typical in gas refrigerant air conditioning. The device is worn as a backpack, with adjustable shoulder straps for user size variations. Gas refrigeration provides effective cooling even in conditions of high humidity and temperature extremes. The device is compact, lightweight, and includes on/off and temperature control. Cooling is powered by a rechargeable battery or standard AC voltage, along with a transformer. The compressor is powered by the fan motor. A base for removably fitting the housing's base insert provides for upright storage and use of the device when not being worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Arnold, Virginia Arnold
  • Patent number: 7214054
    Abstract: In a first broad aspect, the invention provides an apparatus usable with a liquid. The apparatus includes a container for receiving the liquid and an object. The object is substantially buoyant and supportable by the liquid while being at least in part submerged into the liquid. A first magnet is mounted to the object, the first magnet defining first magnet first and second magnetic poles having opposed polarities. A second magnet is movable over a predetermined path relatively to the container. The second magnet defines second magnet first and second magnetic poles having opposed polarities. Moving the second magnet over the predetermined path modifies the magnetic fields present substantially adjacent the first magnet, thereby causing a force onto the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Inventor: Nick Boulachanis
  • Patent number: 7210305
    Abstract: An outdoor unit for an air conditioner allows condensed water generated from an outdoor heat exchanger to be easily discharged, and prevents coldness from the outdoor heat exchanger from being transmitted to a bottom of the outdoor unit, thus preventing freezing of the condensed water on the bottom. The outdoor unit includes a cabinet having a bottom panel, an outdoor heat exchanger installed in the cabinet, and a support member made of heat insulating material supporting the outdoor heat exchanger with a spacing between a lower end of the outdoor heat exchanger and the bottom panel of the cabinet, to prevent condensed water generated from the outdoor heat exchanger from freezing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Ho Shin
  • Patent number: 7204095
    Abstract: A refrigerator which includes a main body having a freezing compartment and a refrigerating compartment, an evaporating unit provided in the main body, and a first duct and a second duct in communication with the evaporating unit to guide cooling air generated from the evaporating unit to the freezing compartment and the refrigerating compartment of the main body, respectively, wherein the second duct is provided around a edge of a rear of the refrigerating compartment of the main body and having a cooling air supply hole to supply the cooling air to the refrigerating compartment. Thus, according to the present invention, the cooling air is supplied from the edge of the rear of the refrigerating compartment, thereby providing the duct of a simple structure and facilitating a refrigerating efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bu-kil Jeong, Eui-young Chang
  • Patent number: 7204101
    Abstract: A cryogenic air separation system that optimizes the recovery of argon includes an air intake, a high-pressure distillation column, a low-pressure distillation column, a crude argon distillation column, and a controller that automatically controls the composition of the raw argon stream to decrease the concentration of oxygen in the stream while preventing the concentration of nitrogen in the crude argon stream from exceeding a selected value. In addition, the controller also controls the composition of the crude argon stream until an oxygen concentration of the crude argon stream reaches a selected value. The controller may include a multivariable predictive controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Air Liquide Large Industries U.S. LP
    Inventors: David S. Seiver, Scott A. Swafford
  • Patent number: 7201018
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for delivering an ultra high purity fluid comprising at least one component to a point of use at a required pressure without mechanical pumping. In one embodiment, a high purity feed comprising at least one component in gaseous or liquid form is charged into a vessel and at least partially converted to a solid phase source. As the feed is converted to a solid phase source, additional feed may be added until the vessel is at least substantially filled with a solid phase source or slush. Once filled, the solid phase source or slush may be isochorically heated whereby the solid phase source is converted to a product at an elevated pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2007
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Yliy Gershtein, Alexander Schwarz, Wayne Thomas McDermott, John Frederick Cirucci, John Christopher Ivankovits
  • Patent number: 7185514
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fractionating a gas produced by the pyrolysis of hydrocarbons (1) for the recovery of C2 and higher hydrocarbons, in particular ethylene and ethane, comprising an operation (70) for compressing and drying gas (1) as a result of it passing into a series of compressors (3, 10, 17, 24, 36), an operation (80) for progressively cooling and partially liquefying the gas produced by compression and drying operation (70) as a result of it successively passing into a cryogenic exchanger (62), and a distillation operation (90) in a column (64), and the corresponding installation. According to the invention, cryogenic exchanger (62) is cooled by at least one cooling liquid (400) which is liquid natural gas (LNG).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Technip France
    Inventor: Henri Paradowski
  • Patent number: 7182593
    Abstract: A jar candle includes at least two decorative elements located adjacent the interior of the jar and positioned in a predetermined relationship with respect to one another. A manufacturing method for forming the jar candle includes proving a jar having an interior surface defining an interior region. A sleeve having a predetermined pattern is slid over the jar. The sleeve and jar are aligned and a decorative element is applied to the interior surface of the jar element in alignment with the pre-determined pattern on the sleeve. The jar is then filled with wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Silk Road Gifts, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent Lin
  • Patent number: 7171816
    Abstract: An air conditioner is disclosed to supply a room with oxygen as well as control temperature and humidity of the air. The present invention includes an outdoor module 10, an indoor module 20, a refrigerant tube 30, and an oxygen generating module. The oxygen generating module includes an oxygen generator 100 installed at the outdoor module 10 so as to generate oxygen by in-taking outdoor air, an oxygen exhauster 200 installed in the indoor module 20 so as to exhaust the oxygen, and an oxygen transport tube 300 transporting the oxygen generated from the oxygen generator 100 to the oxygen exhauster 200.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ho Geun Jang, Dong Jin Kwak, Min Chul Cho
  • Patent number: 7159405
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a method and apparatus for controlling and raising the temperature of a fitting used to transfer liquefied gas to a storage vessel. A hollow metal tube containing heated inert gas contacts the fitting such that heat is transferred to the fitting. By raising the temperature of the fitting, problems such as leakage due to freezing the o-ring seal can be reduced. The method utilizes a vortex tube as the heat source to avoid problems with sparking when an incendiary gas such as hydrogen is being transferred to the storage vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: John P. Smith
  • Patent number: RE40124
    Abstract: A process for the high-yield recovery of ethylene and heavier hydrocarbons from the gas produced by pyrolysis of hydrocarbons in which the liquid products resulting from the fractionated condensation of a cracking gas for the recovery of almost all the ethylene, are supplied to a distillation column, called a de-ethanizer, at different intermediate levels. At the top of the de-ethanizer the vapor of the column distillate is treated directly in an acetylene hydrogenation reactor, the effluent containing virtually no acetylene being separated by a distillation column called a de-methanizer, into an ethylene- and ethane-enriched tail product, while the head product is recycled by compression or treated for subsequent recovery of ethylene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Technip
    Inventors: Victor Kaiser, Jean-Paul Laugier, Yvon Simon