Patents Examined by Robert H. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 7144445
    Abstract: Process for purifying or separating a gas or gas mixture using a monolithic adsorbent for the separation or purification of gases or gas mixtures, having a cellular structure with open porosity in the form of a solid foam permeable to the gas molecules. The gas phase of the adsorbent possesses an essentially convex structure and the solid phase an essentially concave structure. The solid foam has a density of greater than or equal to 500 kg/m3 and an open porosity of between 20 and 60%. The gas is air or an H2/CO mixture. The process is of the VSA, PSA or TSA type. This process can be used in particular in OBOGS-type systems to supply passengers of the vehicle or a device participating in the traction of the vehicle and/or in its electrical supply, in particular a fuel cell. This process can also be used in medical oxygen concentrators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Vincent Gueret, Serge Moreau
  • Patent number: 7122073
    Abstract: A low void pressure swing adsorption system wherein flow movement and pressure pulse are influenced from the same source comprised of at least one hermetically sealed vessel containing an adsorbent bed with an inlet coupled to the adsorbent bed by way of an inlet header and an outlet coupled to the adsorbent bed by way of an outlet header. Void volume of the inlet and outlet headers can be limited to less than 20% of the adsorbent bed volume, preferably to less than 10%, and most preferably to less than 5%, by mounting high pressure source(s) and/or low pressure sink(s) proximate to, or nearly proximate to, the adsorbent bed/vessel. Low void volumes and reduced cycle times may be achieved in all bed configurations, including flat header beds, segmented beds, and vertical beds. Radial beds may be configured so that the void volume of the inlet and outlet headers is less than 50% of the volume of the radial adsorbent bed, preferably to less than 20%, and most preferably to less than 10%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank Notaro, Alan Barnard Stewart, Jeffert John Nowobilski, Guoming Zhong, Arun Acharya
  • Patent number: 7101421
    Abstract: Membrane modules that contain one or more hydrogen-selective membranes, methods for preparing the same, and hydrogen purification systems, fuel processors and devices containing the same. In some embodiments, the membrane modules include one or more hydrogen-selective membranes supported on a support or screen structure, of which a variety of embodiments are disclosed. In some embodiments, the membrane or membranes are at least substantially formed from an alloy comprising palladium and copper. In some embodiments, the membranes further include a material having a composition different than the alloy. In some embodiments, the at least one membrane is adhesively mounted on the screen structure during assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: IdaTech, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Edlund, William A. Pledger, R. Todd Studebaker
  • Patent number: 7077891
    Abstract: An adsorbent material fabricated into a reinforcement-free, self-supported coherent thin sheet and configured for use as a parallel passage contactor element in adsorption/separation applications with gases and liquids is disclosed. The adsorbent sheet material is obtained by enmeshing fine adsorbent particulates in a polymer binder. Particulates include but are not limited to carbon particles, inorganic oxides particles, or ceramic particles, or synthetic polymer resin particles. The adsorbent sheet advantageously contains a large volume percentage of active adsorbent particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Mosheim Jaffe, Cristian Ion Contescu
  • Patent number: 7077889
    Abstract: A method for reducing the surface variance of a porous metal substrate. The method does not significantly reduce the bulk porosity. The method can be used to reduce the surface pore diameter. A membrane, can be deposited on the reduced variance surface to form a separation membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Intelligent Engery, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Chellappa, Charles Call, Michael Powell
  • Patent number: 7074256
    Abstract: A polyphosphazene having a glass transition temperature (“Tg”) of approximately ?20° C. or less. The polyphosphazene has at least one pendant group attached to a backbone of the polyphosphazene, wherein the pendant group has no halogen atoms. In addition, no aromatic groups are attached to an oxygen atom that is bound to a phosphorus atom of the backbone. The polyphosphazene may have a Tg ranging from approximately ?100° C. to approximately ?20° C. The polyphosphazene may be selected from the group consisting of poly[bis-3-phenyl-1-propoxy)phosphazene], poly[bis-(2-phenyl-1-ethoxy)phosphazene], poly[bis-(dodecanoxypolyethoxy)-phosphazene], and poly[bis-(2-(2-(2-?-undecylenyloxyethoxy)ethoxy)ethoxy)phosphazene]. The polyphosphazene may be used in a separation membrane to selectively separate individual gases from a gas mixture, such as to separate polar gases from nonpolar gases in the gas mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC
    Inventors: Frederick F. Stewart, Mason K. Harrup, Christopher J. Orme, Thomas A. Luther
  • Patent number: 7074260
    Abstract: A filter for an air conditioner, including a carbon nanotube, wherein nano-sized metal particles of at least one type of metal are deposited into the carbon nanotube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jai-Kwon Lee, Young-Saeng Kim, Chan-Jung Park
  • Patent number: 7063733
    Abstract: A filter member which comprises one layer of deodorizing filter 1, which is composed of a reticulated filter substrate and a deodorizing agent adhering to the surface of its skeletons, and one or two layers of dust collecting filter 2a and 2b laminated on any one side or both sides thereof, with the resulting laminate being pleated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Mori, Tadashi Kuwahara, Yasushi Nemoto
  • Patent number: 7056369
    Abstract: A membrane module for hydrogen separation includes a stack of flat membrane packs disposed adjacent one another so as not to exert a force on one another and a rotationally symmetrical pressure shell enclosing the stack of flat membrane packs. A feed space for a reformate gas is disposed between every two membrane packs in the stack. Each membrane pack has a pair of membrane assemblies and a support structure disposed therebetween and each membrane assembly includes a hydrogen-selective flat membrane supported by at least one membrane frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventors: Thomas Beisswenger, Gerhard Berger, Thomas Poschmann, Karsten Reiners, Wolfgang Weger, Norbert Wiesheu
  • Patent number: 7052533
    Abstract: The invention provides a filter element exhibiting an excellent deodorizing and adsorbing function with low pressure drop, as well as to a method for its manufacture and a filter using the element. The filter element is manufactured by coating a base fabric with an adhesive and allowing the fabric to move in an electrostatic field formed by a high voltage generating device to allow pulverized adsorbent powder with a specific mean particle size and standard deviation to electrostatically adhere to the base fabric surface. The filter element can also be manufactured by dispersing a pulverized adsorbent powder on the surface of a base fabric comprising heat-fusible fibers, and then partially fusing the heat-fusible fibers by heating to attach them to the adsorbent powder and allow the adsorbent powder to adhere to the base fabric surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Kuraray Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Nakahara, Teruyo Fukuura, legal representative, Takayuki Yoshikawa, Masaki Fukuura, deceased
  • Patent number: 7048781
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a contaminant removal agent comprising a polyvalent metal sulfide on the surface of an inert substrate. The substrate can be a layered silicate, such as vermiculite, an aluminosilicate such as montmorillonite, or a nonlayered silicate such as a zeolite. The agent removes mercury from process streams. The ion exchange to deposit the polyvalent metal on the substrate is preferably performed at a pH above the pHZPC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: ADA Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: John Stanley Lovell
  • Patent number: 7048778
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to separate a mixture of gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, by a ceramic membrane having a ceramic support and a silica layer. The invention can efficiently separate the gaseous mixture and can also cope with the extreme conditions found in, e.g., hydrocarbon producing wells. A method of manufacturing the apparatus is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: The Robert Gordon University
    Inventor: Edward Gobina
  • Patent number: 7044991
    Abstract: A dust-collection structure of a dust-collection device includes a body, a dust-collection module, a moving seat and a dust-filtering module. The cart body is provided with a blower having a driving member and the top face of the blower is provided with a connection tube connecting to the dust-filtering module; the dust-collection module is a hollow cylindrical body positioned onto the cart and the cylindrical body is used to hold the dust-collection bag and the top edge of the cylindrical body is a connection body for mounting with the moving seat; the moving seat comprises two upward extended upright rods mounted at the cart body and the top end of the upright rod is pivotally connected with a corresponding extended shaft and the connecting body is locked between two extended shafts, and the circumferential edge of connection body is provided with a connection tube to connect with the dust-suction tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Inventor: Chun Hsiang Wang
  • Patent number: 7041155
    Abstract: A nitrogen selective adsorbent comprises a zeolite of a faujasite crystalline structure containing Li+ and at least one of NH+ and H+ as essential cations, and has a nitrogen adsorption characteristic represented by specific correlation between the number of associated Li+ ions per unit lattice of a zeolite crystal and the amount of adsorbed nitrogen per unit lattice of the zeolite crystal. An air separation method employs the aforesaid nitrogen selective adsorbent for separation between nitrogen and oxygen by selective adsorption of nitrogen in air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Air Water, Inc.
    Inventors: Jin-Bae Kim, Hisanao Jo, Haruo Yoshioka, Hiromi Kiyama
  • Patent number: 7037359
    Abstract: A device, system, and method for collecting grease on rooftop exhaust fans, comprising a gasket formed of sorbent material. The gasket is dimensioned for placement between an exhaust fan and a base for the exhaust fan. When placed between the exhaust fan and the base for the exhaust fan, grease is absorbed and retained by the gasket during operation of the exhaust fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Inventor: Steven R. McCauley
  • Patent number: 7037360
    Abstract: An adsorbent for regenerator systems, to a heat utilization system and a regenerator system that comprise the adsorbent, and to a ferroaluminophosphate and a method for production thereof. More precisely, the invention relates to an adsorbent favorable for regenerator systems, which efficiently utilizes the heat source obtainable from cars and the like to thereby realize efficient regenerator systems, to a regenerator system that comprises the adsorbent, to a ferroaluminophosphate to be the adsorbent favorable for regenerator systems, and to a method for production thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2006
    Assignees: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Inagaki, Atsushi Kosaka, Satoshi Inoue, Yasukazu Aikawa, Takahiko Takewaki, Masanori Yamazaki, Hiromu Watanabe, Hiroyuki Kakiuchi, Miki Iwade
  • Patent number: 7033419
    Abstract: A process to facilitate mercury extraction from high temperature flue/fuel gas via the use of metal sorbents which capture mercury at ambient and high temperatures. The spent sorbents can be regenerated after exposure to mercury. The metal sorbents can be used as pure metals (or combinations of metals) or dispersed on an inert support to increase surface area per gram of metal sorbent. Iridium and ruthenium are effective for mercury removal from flue and smelter gases. Palladium and platinum are effective for mercury removal from fuel gas (syngas). An iridium-platinum alloy is suitable for metal capture in many industrial effluent gas streams including highly corrosive gas streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Evan J. Granite, Henry W. Pennline
  • Patent number: 7033421
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for cooling motors that generate heat during operation. The device is more specifically directed to handheld power tools where long operation can lead to overheating of the handheld tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Suzanne E. Smith, Gavin P. Towler, Stephen R. Dunne, Anil R. Oroskar, Kurt M. Vanden Bussche, Lin Li
  • Patent number: 7033641
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas separating unit which comprises laminating a metal plate on a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas (palladium alloy foil) by cladding, etching selectively a central portion of a cut clad plate (K) using an etching solution, to thereby expose an underlying palladium alloy foil layer, and providing a metal supporting plate on the other side of the palladium alloy foil layer. The method allows the manufacture of a gas separating unit having an enhanced effective area of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas and is excellent in the handlability of a material capable of separating a hydrogen gas during manufacturing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Toyo Kohan Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kinji Saijo, Shinji Ohsawa, Hiroaki Okamoto, Kazuo Yoshida, Tsutomu Seki
  • Patent number: RE39122
    Abstract: A system for drying a gas, such as air, includes a source of gas to be dried, a multistage compressor having an inlet connected to the source, and a dryer connected interstage to the compressor and to the outlet of the compressor. The dryer is connected interstage to the compressor between a compression stage and a heat exchanger of one of the compressor stages for regenerating a first desiccant filled tower. The dryer is also connected to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using a second desiccant filled tower. A communication structure can be activated to connect the first tower to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using the first tower, and to connect the second tower interstage to the compressor for regeneration of the second tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2006
    Assignee: Henderson Engineering Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Charles A. Henderson, Terry D. Henderson