Patents Examined by Robert J. Hill, Jr.
  • Coumarin-based cyanine dyes for non-specific protein binding
    Patent number: 7863048
    Abstract: Protein dyes whose molecular structure is that of a coumarin moiety coupled to a quaternary ammonium heterocycle through a vinyl or polyvinyl linkage demonstrate the ability to associate with proteins in a non-covalent, non-specific manner at low pH, where the associated form displays a significantly higher fluorescence emission than the unassociated form. This makes the dyes useful as selective labels for proteins at the low pH and eliminates the need for the removal of extraneous components from the medium in which the proteins reside prior to detection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Berkelman
  • Method of optimizing heavy crude transportation by incorporation under pressure of dimethyl ether
    Patent number: 7861737
    Abstract: Heavy crude transportation optimization method wherein at least one solvent is added to said crude. According to the method, a predetermined amount of dimethyl ether (DME) is added under pressure so as to adjust the viscosity of the crude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: IFP
    Inventors: Isabelle Henaut, Alain Forestiere, Jean-Philippe Heraud, Jean-François Argillier
  • Process of producing roofing shingle coating asphalt
    Patent number: 7857904
    Abstract: A process of producing a roofing shingle coating asphalt from an asphalt feedstock includes the following steps. Wax and blowing catalyst are added to the asphalt feedstock. Then the asphalt feedstock is blown to produce the coating asphalt. The coating asphalt has a softening point within a range of from about 190° F. (88° C.) to about 235° F. (113° C.) and has a penetration of at least about 15 dmm at 77° F. (25° C.).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Owens Corning Intellectual Capital, LLC
    Inventors: David C. Trumbore, David R. Jones, IV, Edward R. Harrington, Donn R. Vermilion, Jason D. Guerra
  • Method for purifying exhaust gases from a waste incineration plant
    Patent number: 7857889
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for purifying exhaust gases from a waste incineration plant by utilizing a sorption method in a circulating fluidized bed. According to the disclosure, the mass flow of the supplied fresh sorbent is regulated as a function of the concentration of fresh sorbent and/or at least one sorbed pollutant in the recirculated solid matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Von Roll Umwelttechnik AG
    Inventor: Philipp Oliver Morf
  • Integrated refinery with enhanced olefin and reformate production
    Patent number: 7846322
    Abstract: A high-flux membrane, especially a sieving membrane, is used to separate a naphtha feedstock into a retentate fraction having a reduced concentration of normal paraffins for an enhanced reforming feed and a permeate fraction having an increased concentration of normal paraffins for an enhanced cracking feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventor: Lynn H. Rice
  • Process and apparatus for separating gas from a multi-phase mixture being recycled in a reactor
    Patent number: 7842262
    Abstract: A reactor in which a multi-phase mixture, including gas and a catalyst slurry or liquid, is to be conducted. The reactor includes a reaction chamber having a substantially unencumbered center portion through which the multi-phase mixture is conducted upwardly. A downcomer arrangement is disposed laterally outwardly of the center portion and adjacent to an inner surface of the reaction chamber. An external pump communicates with a lower portion of the reaction chamber for circulating components of the mixture downward from an upper end of the downcomer arrangement to a lower end thereof. A collection chamber is disposed below the reaction chamber into which the components exiting the downcomer arrangement are introduced and where the gas is separated from the remainder of the components. The separated gas can be reintroduced into the reaction chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventor: Abdenour Kemoun
  • Sensor for direct measurement of carbonate ions in seawater
    Patent number: 7842507
    Abstract: A system and associated methodology to directly measure the concentration of carbonate ions in seawater by ultraviolet absorbance spectroscopy. Metal ions are added to seawater and the absorbance spectra of the added ions are measured in the ultraviolet. The spectral absorbance (light attenuation) of ions such as divalent lead or copper in seawater is predominantly determined by the carbonate ion content of seawater. Through a knowledge of (1) the strength of association between carbonate and either divalent lead or divalent copper and (2) the spectral characteristics of these cations in seawater (e.g., Pb2+ complexed solely as PbCO3 and Pb2+ complexed solely in the form of chloride complexes), it is possible to directly determine seawater carbonate ion concentrations from absorbance measurements at a variety of wavelengths in the ultraviolet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventor: Robert H. Byrne
  • Extruded seal
    Patent number: 7837755
    Abstract: A filter element, including a filter medium, on which a seal is situated indirectly or directly, which is used for separating the filter intake side from the filter discharge side. The filter medium comprises a fibrous material. The seal is applied indirectly or directly to the filter medium in the extrusion method (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Walz
  • Systems and methods for reducing off-gassed ozone
    Patent number: 7837766
    Abstract: Systems and methods for producing an ozone destructor are disclosed herein. Generally, these systems and methods include an ozone destructor that has a housing defining an air passage duct. In some cases, this air passage duct includes a first chamber and a second chamber that are arranged so that air is able to flow into the first chamber, through the second chamber, and out of the destructor. In some cases, an air drying mechanism is disposed in the first and/or the second chamber. Additionally, in some cases, the ozone destructor further includes multiple mechanisms that reduce ozone to oxygen. In light of these features, the ozone destructor is capable of incrementally drying and reducing air and ozone, respectively, as they pass through the first chamber and the second chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas D. Gillette
  • Apparatus and method for collecting residual products for FPD and semiconductor
    Patent number: 7837770
    Abstract: An apparatus for efficiently collecting reaction by-products in exhaust gases of a semiconductor processing or flat panel display processing device is provided. The collection apparatus includes a heating section connected to a process chamber of the semiconductor processing or flat panel display processing device. The heating section is designed to preheat the reaction by-products to prevent or reduce liquefaction of the reaction by-products. A by-product pile up section then rapidly cools the heated reaction by-products to convert the same into a solid form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventors: Ang-Goo Lee, Kwang-Jin Park
  • High-solvency-dispersive-power (HSDP) crude oil blending for fouling mitigation and on-line cleaning
    Patent number: 7837855
    Abstract: A high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil is added to a blend of incompatible and/or near-incompatible oils to proactively address the potential for fouling heat exchange equipment. The HSDP component dissolves asphaltene precipitates and maintains suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces. HSDP co-blending for fouling mitigation and on-line cleaning can be affected using different concentrations of top-performing and moderate-performing HSDP crude oils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Glen B. Brons, Chris A. Wright
  • Rotary cylinder dual diverter valve
    Patent number: 7837771
    Abstract: A rotary cylinder valve comprises a valve body, a valve cylinder rotationally mounted within the valve body, and first, second, third and fourth valve seats coupled to the valve body. The valve cylinder has a first position in which dual independent flow paths connect the first valve seat with the second valve seat, and connect the third valve seat with the fourth valve seat. The valve cylinder is rotatable to a second position in which the dual independent flow paths connect the first valve seat with the fourth valve seat, and connect the third valve seat with the second valve seat. The valve seats form seals against the valve cylinder, such that no flow path connects the first valve seat with the third valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Michael R. Barone
  • Method for starting autothermal reformer
    Patent number: 7837858
    Abstract: For shortening the starting time of an autothermal reformer, the autothermal reformer is started by a method comprising: a first preheating step of heating a reforming catalyst up to a predetermined temperature with use of heating means, the heating means being positioned upstream of the reforming catalyst to heat the reforming catalyst; a second preheating step of stopping the heating after arrival at the predetermined temperature, feeding vaporized fuel and air to the reforming catalyst at the predetermined temperature, allowing the fuel to be oxidized by the reforming catalyst and thereby heating the reforming catalyst; and a starting step of also supplying steam to the reforming catalyst heated by the second preheating step and starting autothermal reforming under the condition for a steady state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Yukihiro Sugiura, Yasushi Mizuno
  • Methods and systems for removing vanadium from low-grade fuels
    Patent number: 7833409
    Abstract: A method for treating fuel containing vanadium including extracting vanadium from the fuel with an adsorption material and fractionating the fuel into a light oil fraction and a heavy fuel fraction. The light fuel fraction has a reduced amount of vanadium. Systems for fuel preparation are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Parag Prakash Kulkarni, Gregg Anthony Deluga, Arnaldo Frydman, Gregory Ronald Gillette, Narendra Joshi, Ke Liu, Vladimir Zamansky
  • Thermal insulator
    Patent number: 7833327
    Abstract: An adsorbent capable of adsorbing gas low in activity such as nitrogen is used, and a thermal insulator high in production efficiency and excellent in adiabatic performance is presented. A thermal insulator has an adsorbent, a core material, and an enveloping member. The adsorbent includes Li and solid matter of hardness of 5 or more. The gas adsorbing activity becomes very high, and for embodiment by evacuating to a certain degree of vacuum by using a vacuum pump, the remaining gas is adsorbed by the adsorbent of the invention to obtain a desired degree of vacuum, so that a thermal insulator of high production efficiency is obtained. Since the heat conductivity is decreased by adsorbing gas of low activity in the enveloping member, the adiabatic performance is enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Chie Hirai, Kazutaka Uekado, Akiko Yuasa
  • Method of blending high TAN and high Scrude oils and method of reducing particulate induced whole crude oil fouling and asphaltene induced whole crude oil fouling
    Patent number: 7833407
    Abstract: A high solvency dispersive power (HSDP) crude oil is added to a blend of incompatible oils to proactively address the potential for fouling heat exchange equipment. The HSDP component dissolves asphaltene precipitates and maintains suspension of inorganic particulates before coking affects heat exchange surfaces. An HSDP oil is also flushed through heat exchange equipment to remove any deposits and/or precipitates on a regular maintenance schedule before coking can affect heat exchange surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
    Inventors: Glen B. Brons, Chris A. Wright, George A. Lutz, Daniel P. Leta
  • Method of drying an air dehumidifier
    Patent number: 7833312
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a heatable dehumidifier. The heating of the dehumidifier is to be actuated only when several congruent time windows within which a temperature gradient is greater than or equal to 0 could be determined during a certain period of time, i.e. the heating is to be actuated only when no air flows into the interior of the expansion vessel of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Viereck, Reiner Brill, Kai Haemel, Alexander Lodig
  • Method for casein determination in milk
    Patent number: 7829339
    Abstract: The content of casein in milk is determined by two measurements of infrared absorbance in a milk sample by infrared spectrometry before and after a separation of the casein. The casein content is calculated by use of absorbance data recorded during the two absorbance measurements. The new method is considerable faster than the known wet-chemical methods, such as the normal wet chemical reference method for casein determination in milk using a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the milk sample, then a coagulation of the milk, and finally a Kjeldahl nitrogen determination of the filtrate. Further the new method provides a more reliable accuracy than the know determination using a single infrared analysis of a milk sample.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Foss Analytical A/S
    Inventors: Anders Broe Bendtsen, Poul Erik Petersen
  • Carbon dioxide absorbing material, method for producing carbon dioxide absorbing material, method for absorbing carbon dioxide, and apparatus for absorbing carbon dioxide
    Patent number: 7828879
    Abstract: A carbon dioxide-absorbing material containing lithium titanate, the lithium titanate comprising 70 mol % or more of Li4TiO4 and 30 mol % or less of Li2TiO3. Furthermore, the carbon dioxide-absorbing material is obtained by the method for producing a carbon dioxide-absorbing material described below. That is, the absorbing material is obtained by the production method which produces the same by mixing given raw materials such that the atomic ratio between lithium and titanium is from 3.5 to 5.0, and subjecting the resulting mixture to heat treatment. The method for absorbing carbon dioxide includes a carbon dioxide absorption step. The apparatus for absorbing carbon dioxide is provided with carbon dioxide absorption means that absorbs carbon dioxide in the carbon dioxide-absorbing material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Chuo University
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Oh-Ishi, Nobuaki Togashi
  • Method and apparatus for pressure swing adsorption
    Patent number: 7824472
    Abstract: In order to provide a new PSA method which can concentrate simultaneously a strong adsorbate such as xenon and a weak adsorbate such as nitrogen in a high concentration with a high recovery percentage when highly valuable gas such as xenon and krypton contained in the exhaust gas from a semiconductor manufacturing equipment, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsushi Urakami