Patents Examined by Richard L. Chiesa
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Patent number: 8425657Abstract: A method, and an apparatus to reduce and remove liquid droplets in air, such as fog, mist, haze, spray or steam. The mist and/or air borne water or other liquid droplets catching and collection apparatus creates an “electric wind”, especially enforced by charged needle points or line arranged constructions and/or wires of the first electrode and an electric charging of mist and/or air borne water or other liquid droplets, which will be directed by the “electric wind” and the electric field between the electric source and the opposite grounded or opposite charged counter electrode (second electrode) of fine gauze or something comparable.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2008Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Technische Universiteit DelftInventors: Willibrordus Nicolaas Johannes Ursem, Johannes Cornelis Maria Marijnissen, Rein André Roos
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Patent number: 8424853Abstract: In order to provide an actuating device for a choke valve of a carburetor for motorized equipment, in particular a cut-off grinder, wherein the choke valve is movable between at least a closed position and an open position by an operating element via a mechanical coupling from the operating element to the choke valve, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art, it is proposed that the mechanical coupling has a separating arrangement which is in operative connection with the motorized equipment such that the mechanical coupling between the operating element and the choke valve can be interrupted or respectively closed as a function of different operating states of the motorized equipment.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2009Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Dolmar GmbHInventors: Mathias Wenckel, Carsten Ziegs
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Patent number: 8425658Abstract: An electro-kinetic or electro-static apparatus for moving fluid includes an enlogated electrode energizable with respect to at least one other electrode to generate ions and thereby motivate fluid flow there between. A cleaning device is positioned to frictionally engage at least two opposing surfaces of the elongated electrode. The cleaning device is movable along a length of the elongated electrode to thereby remove detrimental material from the at least two opposing surfaces of the elongated electrode. The cleaning device can be substantially off-center relative to the elongated electrode to frictionally bind upon the elongated electrode during movement of the cleaning device.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2011Date of Patent: April 23, 2013Assignee: Tessera, Inc.Inventor: Jim L. Lee
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Patent number: 8419841Abstract: An air processing device is provided by which a current-carrying section is attached to a casing by an insulating member having a covering section covering an outer periphery face of a current-carrying section and a tube-like section in which a power source-side end of the covering section is supported by a tube bottom section. This consequently secures a long insulating distance from an electric discharge spray section and a charged dust collecting section via the current-carrying section to the casing. As a result, the respective electrodes and the casing can have an improved insulating performance therebetween even under an environment where water droplets are supplied.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2009Date of Patent: April 16, 2013Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Toshio Tanaka, Kanji Motegi, Tsunahiro Ohdou
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Patent number: 8414680Abstract: A method or device for controlling the operation of an electrostatic precipitator, ESP, is provided. The ESP is used to remove dust particles from a process gas generated by a combustion process. An indicator signal is generated, typically by a temperature sensor, which signal is indicative of the temperature of combustion air fed to the combustion process. The ESP is operated in a manner depending on the indicator signal. Thereby, back-corona effects may be avoided to a great extent.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2008Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: ALSTOM Technology LtdInventor: Anders N. G. Karlsson
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Patent number: 8414687Abstract: A method for removing particulate matter from a particulate-bearing gas stream includes flowing a particulate-bearing gas stream at a first volumetric flow rate to a plurality of ESP units; producing electrically charged particulate matter; collecting electrically charged particulate matter on collection electrode plates; reducing the flow through at least one of the ESP units; sequentially increasing the flow through one or more remaining ESP units in an amount so as to maintain the sum of flow through all of the ESP units at the first volumetric flow rate; subjecting the collection electrode plates in the at least one ESP unit with reduced flow to forces which dislodge the particulate matter from the collection electrode plates; collecting the dislodged particulate matter in a particulate collection receptacle; and withdrawing a gas stream of reduced particulate matter contamination.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2010Date of Patent: April 9, 2013Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.Inventor: Dong X. Li
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Patent number: 8409327Abstract: An electrostatic filter assembly configured to be installed in equipment for removing particulate matter entrained within a gas stream. The filter assembly functions in the removal and collection of the particulate matter from the gas stream. The equipment for removing particulate matter includes a high voltage discharge electrode for imparting an electric charge to the particulate matter whereby an electrical field is produced at the filter assembly. The filter assembly includes a filter element and a supporting structure for the filter element. The supporting structure is configured to establish at the filter assembly, under the operating conditions of the equipment for removing particulate matter, an electrical field having an intensity that produces no more than a selected amount of degradation at the filter element during operation of the equipment for removing particulate matter. Also a method of manufacturing such an electrostatic filter assembly.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Taylor, Karim Younsi, David F. Johnston, Yingneng Zhou, Yaru Najem Mendez Hernandez, Prabhakar Neti
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Patent number: 8408526Abstract: A carburetor with a starting fuel supply mechanism which additionally supplies a starting fuel at the start of an engine includes a choke valve in suction passages extending through a main body; and a starting fuel supply path disposed as a bypass of a main fuel passage to connect a float chamber to the suction passages, the starting fuel supply path being provided with an opening/closing valve opened by interlocking with the closing operation of the choke valve, and a valve body of the choke valve which performs the closing operation presses valve opening/closing device while abutting on one end of the valve opening/closing device, to open the opening/closing valve of the starting fuel supply path, so that the starting fuel can be prepared to be supplied.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Nikki Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuhiro Fujii
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Patent number: 8409336Abstract: An air filter system (10) has a filter housing (11), an air filter media (12), and an electrical circuit (13) electrically coupled to the media. The filter media consists of a pleated air filter material (23) with front pleat apexes (25) and rear pleat apexes (26) which are coated with an electrically conductive material to form front vertical strips (27) and rear strips (28). The electrical circuit includes a positive front electrical contact (30) and a rear electrical contact (31). The front electrical contact has a rear surface (30?) in electrical contact with an elongated front electrical contact bar (33), oriented horizontally across and in electrical contact with the filter front strips of conductive ink. Similarly, the rear electrical contact has a front surface (31?) in electrical contact with an elongated rear electrical contact bar (34), oriented horizontally across and in electrical contact with the rear strips of conductive ink.Type: GrantFiled: August 13, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Hunter Fan CompanyInventors: Stephen M. Gatchell, Benjamin David Freeman
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Patent number: 8409328Abstract: A substrate transfer device includes an atmosphere introduction unit and an atmosphere exhaust unit provided at a top and a bottom portion of a main body of the device, respectively; and a substrate transfer mechanism provided between the atmosphere introduction unit and the atmosphere exhaust unit. The substrate transfer device further includes a downward flow forming unit provided, adjacent to the atmosphere introduction unit, to allow an atmosphere to be introduced through the atmosphere introduction unit and to downwardly flow through the substrate transfer mechanism and be exhausted through the atmosphere exhaust unit; and a gas ionizing unit for ionizing the atmosphere and a particle collecting unit for collecting particles included in the atmosphere, the gas ionizing unit and the particle collecting unit being sequentially provided in the direction in which the atmosphere downwardly flows, between the downward flow forming unit and the substrate transfer mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Jun Yamawaku, Junji Oikawa, Hiroyuki Nakayama
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Patent number: 8408525Abstract: A carburetor assembly (1) has an intake channel section (30) and an air channel section (31). In the intake channel section (30), a throttle element and a choke element are arranged. An air control element is arranged in the air channel section (31). A first coupling unit (25) is provided which defines the position of the throttle element in at least one start position of the carburetor assembly (1). A second coupling unit (26) couples the position of the air control element in at least one operating state to the position of the throttle element. To ensure a reliable start, the choke element is held in at least one start position by the first coupling unit (25) and the second coupling unit (26).Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 2010Date of Patent: April 2, 2013Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KGInventors: Werner Gräter, Tobias Baur, Birger Loew
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Patent number: 8404020Abstract: A method for monitoring operation of a rapper in an electrostatic precipitator using a rapper control system is described. The method includes determining model electrical characteristics of the rapper. The model electrical characteristics of the rapper correspond to model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper. The method also includes storing data corresponding to the model electrical characteristics and the model mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper, determining actual electrical characteristics of the rapper, and comparing the actual electrical characteristics of the rapper to the stored model electrical characteristics to determine actual mechanical operating characteristics of the rapper.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2008Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: Babcock & Wilcox Power Generation Group, Inc.Inventors: Terry Lewis Farmer, Vivek Badami, Charles Erklin Seeley, David F. Johnston, Michael M. Mahler, Timothy Gerald Lawrence
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Patent number: 8398059Abstract: The invention relates to a gas liquid contactor and effluent cleaning system and method and more particularly to individually fed nozzle banks including an array of nozzles configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas. An embodiment of the invention is directed towards a gas liquid contactor having a plurality of modules including a liquid inlet and outlet and a gas inlet and outlet. An array of nozzles is in communication with the liquid inlet and the gas inlet. The array of nozzles is configured to produce uniformly spaced flat liquid jets shaped to minimize disruption from a gas flow and maximize gas flow and liquid flow interactions while rapidly replenishing the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2009Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Neumann Systems Group, Inc.Inventors: David Kurt Neumann, Keith R. Hobbs, Jeffrey L. Courtright
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Patent number: 8398745Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus includes a processing chamber for accommodating therein a processing target substrate; a gas exhaust path through which a gas inside the processing chamber is exhausted; one or more exhaust pumps provided in the gas exhaust path; and a scrubber for collecting harmful components from an exhaust gas. The apparatus further includes an ionized gas supply unit for supplying to the gas exhaust path an ionized gas for neutralizing charged particles included in the exhaust gas flowing therethrough.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventors: Jun Yamawaku, Junji Oikawa, Hiroyuki Nakayama
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Patent number: 8398746Abstract: A small area electrostatic aerosol collector includes a collector housing, an inlet nozzle that extends from the housing and an exit port that provides an exit for air to flow back out of the housing. A pumping arrangement pulls air into the housing through the inlet nozzle. The sampled air is moved through ductwork such that particulates are collected on a substrate and the air is evacuated through the exit port after collection. The collector includes a charging device positioned within the ductwork to create an electric field defining a charging point that the air passes through between the inlet nozzle and the substrate. The substrate is held at a neutral or opposite charge relative to the electric field created by the charging device. Particulates are collected on the sample substrate by containing the aerosol in a small area and by forcing the aerosol to flow near the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2011Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Rodney S. Black, Edgar Fogelman, Kevin T. Hommema
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Patent number: 8398744Abstract: A method, apparatus and system for minimizing a quantity of particulate matter entrained within a gas stream is provided. A coarse filter removes at least a portion of particulate matter having a relatively-large particle size from the gas stream. An agglomerator agglomerates particulate matter having a relatively-small particle size remaining in the gas stream into particulate clusters after the portion of the particulate matter having the relatively-large particle size has been removed by the coarse filter. An injector introduces an agglomerating material into the gas stream before the gas stream enters the agglomerator. The agglomerating material promotes agglomeration of the particulate matter having the relatively-small particle size into the particulate clusters. And a second filter receives the gas stream and removes at least a portion of the particulate clusters entrained within the gas stream exiting the agglomerator.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bradley Stephen Rogers, James Easel Roberts
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Patent number: 8393599Abstract: An apparatus for atomizing a precursor liquid for vapor generation and thin film deposition on a substrate. The precursor liquid is atomized by a carrier gas to form a droplet aerosol composed of small precursor liquid droplets suspended in the carrier gas. The droplet aerosol is then heated to form vapor, producing a gas/vapor mixture that can be introduced into a deposition chamber to form thin films on a substrate. The liquid is introduced into the atomizing apparatus in such a manner as to avoid excessive heating that can occur or lead to the formation of undesirable by-products due to material degradation as result of thermal decomposition. The apparatus is particularly suited for vaporizing high molecular weight substances with a low vapor pressure that requires a high vaporization temperature for the liquid to vaporize. The apparatus can also be used to vaporize solid precursors dissolved in a solvent for vaporization.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2012Date of Patent: March 12, 2013Assignee: MSP CorporationInventor: Benjamin Y. H. Liu
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Patent number: 8388731Abstract: A modular ductwork assembly decontaminates an air stream circulating within a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The assembly includes one or more of (a) an ionizing module for removing particulates from the air stream, (b) a sterilization module for neutralizing airborne pathogens present in the air stream, (c) an ozone treatment module for neutralizing pathogens or odoriferous constituents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air stream, optionally (d) baffles for slowing and disrupting the flow rate and promoting turbulence in the air stream traveling through the modules and optionally (e) a fan module for directing a treated air stream, (f) an ozone sensor, (g) a monitoring or ozone control means, (h) a means of delivering and repurposing generated ozone. Each of the modules is arranged substantially adjacent to at least one of the other modules.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2010Date of Patent: March 5, 2013Inventor: Karen Metteer
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Patent number: 8382072Abstract: A fuel and air charge forming device, such as a carburetor, may include a main body, a fuel and air mixing passage in the body, a fluid passage communicating with the fuel and air mixing passage and a solenoid valve. The solenoid valve may include a coil and a valve body having a base fixed against movement and a valve head extending from the base. The valve head may be driven by the coil between a first position wherein the valve head at least partially obstructs the fluid passage and a second position wherein the valve head permits greater fluid flow in the fluid passage to control fluid flow through the fluid passage.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Walbro Engine Management, L.L.C.Inventors: William E. Galka, Ronald H. Roche
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Patent number: 8382886Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for generating electricity from renewable geothermal, wind, and solar energy sources includes a heat balancer for supplementing and regulating the heat energy fed to a turbine generator; a hydrogen-fired boiler for supplying supplementary heat; and an injection manifold for metering controlled amounts of superheated combustible gas into the working fluids to optimize efficiency. Moreover, wind or solar power may be converted to hydrogen in an electrolysis unit to produce hydrogen. A phase separator unit that operates by cavitation of the geothermal fluids removes gases from the source fluid. A pollution prevention trap may be used to remove solids and other unneeded constituents of the geothermal fluids to be stored or processed in a solution mining unit for reuse or sale. Spent geothermal and working fluids may be processed and injected into the geothermal strata to aid in maintaining its temperature or in solution mining of elements in the lithosphere.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2008Date of Patent: February 26, 2013Assignee: Canyon West Energy, LLCInventor: Patrick J. Kelly