Patents Examined by Robert H. Spitzer
  • Patent number: 6939395
    Abstract: An adsorber for cleaning raw gas has at least one filter element wherein the at least one filter element is made of electrically conducting adsorber material. A filter module has a module housing in which such an adsorber is arranged. The housing has at least one inlet opening for the raw gas entering the filter module and at least one outlet opening for the clean gas exiting the filter module. A first ventilation damper unit closes the inlet opening as needed and a second ventilation damper unit closes the outlet opening as needed for performing regeneration and adsorption phases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: M+W Zander Facility Engineering GmbH
    Inventor: Manfred Renz
  • Patent number: 6939392
    Abstract: A system for the management of thermal transfer in a gas turbine engine includes a heat generating sub-system in operable communication with the engine, a fuel source to supply a fuel, a fuel stabilization unit to receive the fuel from the fuel source and to provide the fuel to the engine, and a heat exchanger in thermal communication with the fuel to transfer heat from the heat generating sub-system to the fuel. A method of managing thermal transfer in an aircraft includes removing oxygen from a stream of a fuel fed to an engine used to drive the aircraft, transferring heat from a heat generating sub-system of the aircraft to the fuel, and combusting the fuel. A system for the thermal management of an aircraft provides for powering the aircraft, supplying a fuel deoxygenating the fuel, and transferring heat between a heat generating sub-system of the aircraft and the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: He Huang, Scott F. Kaslusky, Thomas G. Tillman, Timothy D. DeValve, Luca Bertuccioli, Michael K. Sahm, Louis J. Spadaccini, Robert L. Bayt, Foster Philip Lamm, Daniel R. Sabatino
  • Patent number: 6939396
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for cleaning ambient air of a vehicular adsorption unit (8). The vehicle includes a combustion engine (1) and a passenger ventilation system (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11). Adsorption takes place whether the engine (1) is running or not. During adsorption, a fan (11) forces ambient air from an inlet (6) to the ventilation system in a first direction, through an adsorption unit (8), and out of an outlet (10). To desorb when the engine is running, air is supplied to a heater (13). Heated air is passes through the adsorption unit (8) to release pollutants and regenerate the unit. Pollutant containing air passes through a second heater (4, 16) and then through the first heater (13) to heat the ambient air. Finally, polluted air is drawn from the heat exchanger (13) to an intake conduit (3) of the engine (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Martin Petersson, Jan Ke Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6939394
    Abstract: A fluid storage and dispensing apparatus, including a fluid storage and dispensing vessel having an interior volume, in which the interior volume contains a physical adsorbent sorptively retaining a fluid thereon and from which the fluid is desorbable for dispensing from the vessel, and a dispensing assembly coupled to the vessel for dispensing desorbed fluid from the vessel. The physical adsorbent includes a monolithic carbon physical adsorbent that is characterized by at least one of the following characteristics: (a) a fill density measured for arsine gas at 25° C. and pressure of 650 torr that is greater than 400 grams arsine per liter of adsorbent; (b) at least 30% of overall porosity of the adsorbent including slit-shaped pores having a size in a range of from about 0.3 to about 0.72 nanometer, and at least 20% of the overall porosity including micropores of diameter <2 nanometers; and (c) having been formed by pyrolysis and optional activation, at temperature(s) below 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Donald Carruthers
  • Patent number: 6936093
    Abstract: A multilayer filter assembly for use inside an electronic enclosure, such as a hard disk drive enclosure containing a rotating disk, is disclosed. The filter assembly provides filtration of air entering the enclosure, as well as air circulating within the enclosure. The filter assembly is generally a single-piece unit that can be formed without a rigid frame, thus allowing the filter assembly to be produced at a reduced cost. In one implementation of the invention, the multilayer filter assembly contains at least two particulate removal layers covering, enclosing, and dividing at least two adsorbent regions. One of the adsorbent regions is configured to be placed flush against an interior wall of the electronic enclosure to allow air to flow in and out of the enclosure, while the other adsorbent region is configured to be placed in an upright position in the enclosure with exposed surfaces that allow airflow through this portion of the filter assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Katsushi Isogawa, Carl J. Soldner, Kristin Fischer, Vijay K. Garikipati, James P. Hand
  • Patent number: 6936094
    Abstract: Provided are an adsorption sheet and an air-purifying filter, which can have low air-flow resistance and high deodorizing performance and be resistant to clogging by dust, from which a powdered adsorbent can hardly drop off, and in which any attached agent can hardly lose its effect. Such a product can be obtained by a process including the steps of: sufficiently premixing an agent-bearing activated carbon powder and a powdered thermoplastic resin to form a mixed powder; then spreading the mixed powder on a base sheet having a certain bulkiness and bearing an agent; stacking an air-permeable sheet thereon; and hot-pressing them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Toyo Boseki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shinichi Minemura, Toyota Seki, Makoto Morita
  • Patent number: 6936091
    Abstract: A valve assembly for use in a gas purification system having a plurality of vessels each having a first port opening and a second port opening. The gas purification system includes a first valve element having a first aperture to selectively connect a first port opening of a vessel to an outlet of the first valve element. The gas purification system also includes a second valve element having a second aperture to selectively connect a second port opening of a vessel to an input of the second valve element. Also provided are a motor adapted to rotate continuously and a converting mechanism that converts continuous movement of the motor into intermittent movement. The first and second valve elements are intermittently moved by the motor and the converting mechanism such that the intermittent movement changes the vessel connected to the second aperture and the vessel connected to the first aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Automation USA, Inc.
    Inventor: David Bayreuther
  • Patent number: 6932859
    Abstract: A composition of and a method of making high performance hollow fiber membranes is described. The membranes have a high resistance to plasticization by use of a predetermined amount of crosslinking. The preferred polymer material for the membrane is a polyimide polymer comprising covalently bonded ester crosslinks. The resultant hollow fiber membrane exhibits a high permeability of CO2 in combination with a high CO2/CH4 selectivity. Another embodiment provides a method of making the hollow fiber membrane from a monesterified polymer followed by final crosslinking after hollow fiber formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignees: Chevron USA Inc, University of Texas System
    Inventors: William J. Koros, David Wallace, John D. Wind, Stephen J. Miller, Claudia Staudt-Bickel
  • Patent number: 6929682
    Abstract: An adsorbent capsule including a core of pressed adsorbent material having a water-insoluble binder, and a water-vapor or permeable coating of water-based resin, namely, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Multisorb Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Hurley, Keith W. Ware, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6929683
    Abstract: A pressure swing adsorption system including a pressure vessel having an opening and a valve manifold including a body having a first cavity fluidly connected to the opening. The body further includes a passage and a channel, such that the passage connects the channel to the cavity. The valve manifold further includes a valve provided within the passage. The valve is configured to selectively permit and restrict flow between the channel and the cavity via the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: H2gen Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin D. Lomax, Jr., Michael S. Streeks
  • Patent number: 6929678
    Abstract: A purge and trap concentrator and a method for drying a stream of sample gas in a gas analysis instrument. A dryer tube has an inlet that receives a stream of sample gas during a drying interval and receives a stream of dry gas during a regeneration interval. The dryer tube also has an outlet and an interior passageway between the inlet and an outlet. Support material comprising polymer sorbent is placed in the interior passageway and provides a support surface area for a hygroscopic coating comprising lithium chloride. A controller controls a heater to increase the temperature of the dryer tube to between 100 and 300 degrees centigrade during the regeneration interval and controls the heater to decrease the temperature of the dryer tube to below 100 degrees centigrade during the drying interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Teledyne Tekmar Company
    Inventor: Thomas M. Hartlein
  • Patent number: 6926750
    Abstract: A filter element comprises an oil-impregnated filtering member, and a transmission preventing layer formed on a downstream side of the filtering member, for restricting transmission of at least the carbon dusts from the oil-impregnated filtering member. The filtering member may be formed like a ridge-like-folded structure. The transmission preventing layer may be formed of a coating layer having a resistance against a viscous oil that is impregnated in the filtering member. This coating layer may be formed uniformly as a whole or the thickness or the content of the coating layer may be increased partially. A ventilation shutting-off member (filling layer) may be formed as the transmission preventing layer in the root portion areas of the ridge portions. The transmission preventing layer may comprise a resistant component that is insoluble in the oil that is impregnated in the filtering member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignees: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha, Tigers Polymer Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Tanaka, Akira Terasaki, Tatsuya Sagano, Hideyo Uehara, Hiroto Koura, Tsumoru Okada, Shinsuke Mizuta, Takatsugu Miura
  • Patent number: 6926761
    Abstract: A breather bag filter assembly for use with an electronic enclosure, such as a hard disk drive enclosure containing a rotating disk, is disclosed. The filter assembly provides filtration of air entering and exiting an electronic enclosure through a breather hole. The filter assembly is a deformable sealed cavity that exchanges air with the drive enclosure as the air pressure inside the drive enclosure fluctuates. In one implementation of the invention the filter assembly contains three layers of material. Two layers of material form the exterior of the filter assembly surrounding a third layer that is composed of an adsorbent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher M. Johnson, Patrick L. McPhail, Vijay K. Garikipati, Andre D. Leier
  • Patent number: 6923851
    Abstract: The blue smoke control collector system is used for the collection of the blue haze which is actually comprised of tiny oil droplets that hover over hot asphaltic concrete mix. The system is designed to collect and filter the air generated at hot mix asphalt transfer points, asphaltic concrete silo loading areas and truck loading areas and to remove the oil therefrom. Oil captured in the system settles into a plenum and is then drained therefrom for suitable disposal. The filtered air can be released in to the atmosphere. An optional activated charcoal filter stage can be included to reduce odor in the released air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Butler-Justice, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Butler, Michael Justice
  • Patent number: 6923846
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a composite membrane includes coating a substrate, such as, for example, an asymmetrical porous hollow fiber substrate, with a solution which includes a perfluorinated polymer and a perfluorinated solvent. Prior to coating, the substrate is impregnated with an impregnation fluid which is immiscible with the perfluorinated solvent. The method of the invention further includes removing the perfluorinated solvent and the impregnation fluid. A composite membrane includes a porous asymmetric hollow fiber substrate having an outer surface coated with a perfluoropolymer coating. Separation devices which include composite membranes and methods of separating a fluid mixture into a fraction enriched in a first component and a fraction depleted in that component also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: L' Air Liquide—Societe Anonyme à Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Joyce Katz Nelson, Benjamin Bikson, James Timothy Macheras
  • Patent number: 6923850
    Abstract: A dehumidifying agent of coating film delamination type, characterized in that it comprises a package formed by using, at least partly, a sheet having a double layer structure, wherein a film unsusceptible to moisture permeation is arranged on the surface side and a moisture-permeable film is arranged on the inner side, and a deliquescent salt filled in the package, and it is subjected to use through delaminating the film unsusceptible to moisture permeation. The dehumidifying agent can be packaged with simplicity and ease and can be stored for a long period of time, and as a result, can be provided with improved economy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: S.T. Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuichi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6923845
    Abstract: An air drying system for a vehicle including a membrane air dryer is provided. The air dryer is supplied with a stream of compressed air that has a low and constant concentration of oil vapor. A coalescing filter element may be used to maintain the oil vapor concentration. The filtered material may be discharged from the coalescing filter by a pressure swing drain valve, which discharges the filtered material upon unloading of the compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC
    Inventors: Randall W. Nichols, Richard B. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 6923844
    Abstract: A gas separation method and apparatus that recovers efficiently principal gas components from a feed gas that includes a plurality of components, and enables supplying the product gases continuously at a stable flow rate and component concentration. A first separation step using a first adsorption column and a second separation step using a second adsorption column are provided, a circulating feed gas, consisting of the recovered exhaust gases discharged in each of the steps and the feed gas, is used as a gas to be separated. The outflow rate and component concentration of a second gas product are maintained constant by controlling the outflow rate of the first gas product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsushi Urakami, Tooru Nagasaka, Masato Kawai, Akihiro Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6923849
    Abstract: A hydrocarbon adsorbent state determining apparatus is provided for compensating the ability of a hydrocarbon adsorbent to adsorb moisture for fluctuations due to a change in the flow velocity of exhaust gases to accurately determine the state of the hydrocarbon adsorbent, including a deterioration thereof, irrespective of the change in the flow rate of exhaust gases. The hydrocarbon adsorbent state determining apparatus determines the state of a hydrocarbon adsorbent disposed in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine for adsorbing hydrocarbons and moisture within exhaust gases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2005
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masaki Ueno, Hideharu Yamazaki, Shiro Takakura, Yasuyuki Miyahara, Tetsuo Endo
  • Patent number: 6921428
    Abstract: A halide gas separating and collecting device for separating and collecting halide gas from mixed gas containing the halide gas, wherein at least first and second stage separating membrane modules are stacked in multiple stages. The method comprises: feeding the mixed gas to the inlet of the first stage separating membrane module, feeding the gas passed through the previous separating membrane module to the inlets of the second and subsequent stage separating membrane modules, recycling the gas unpassed through the second and subsequent stage separating membrane modules to the inlet of the first stage separating membrane module, and controlling the flow of gas unpassed through the first stage separating membrane module by a control valve connected to the unpassed gas outlet of the first stage separating membrane module, whereby the halide gas can be separated and collected as unpassed gas at a high density and a high collection rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Yamamoto, Masayuki Kinouchi, Naoki Takada, Yoji Kase, Masao Kikuchi