Patents Examined by Saeed Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 6926776
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for cleaning a pressurized container having at least one chemical contained therein such as, for example, chlorine gas or sulfur dioxide gas. The pressurized container may be any type of container able to store chemicals under pressure. Preferably, however, the container may be a rail tank car. Generally, the method may include steps for injecting the container with a quantity of input gas to form an input gas/chemical mixture and removing the input gas/chemical mixture from the container via a vacuum pump. input gas/chemical mixture may be pushed into a reaction tank for neutralization of the chemical by a neutralizing solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Tunney, Paul Buchan, Thomas J. Davis, Raymond Blaine Vermette
  • Patent number: 6926012
    Abstract: An apparatus for supercritical processing of multiple workpieces comprises a transfer module, first and second supercritical processing modules, and a robot. The transfer module includes an entrance. The first and second supercritical processing modules are coupled to the transfer module. The robot is preferably located with the transfer module. In operation, the robot transfers a first workpiece from the entrance of the transfer module to the first supercritical processing module. The robot then transfers a second workpiece from the entrance to the second supercritical processing module. After the workpieces have been processed, the robot returns the first and second workpieces to the entrance of the transfer module. Alternatively, the apparatus includes additional supercritical processing modules coupled to the transfer module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Maximilian Albert Biberger, Frederick Paul Layman, Thomas Robert Sutton
  • Patent number: 6913029
    Abstract: A process and apparatus to deliver both process chemical and solvent for cleaning the process chemical in a solvent purge refill system along with an integral solvent sorption module, in a single “assembly” that permits ease of shipping, minimal end-user interaction, sufficient solvent for the solvent purge operation, without residual solvent, requiring disposal. This eliminates customer handling of the solvent, and eliminates the customer's need to find a solvent waste facility, as residual solvent can be returned in the same package in one piece/one step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Sam Zorich, David Allen Roberts, George Oleg Voloshin
  • Patent number: 6913026
    Abstract: The present invention is directed toward methods for cleaning catalytic converters, particularly it pertains to methods of submerging a catalytic converter into an aqueous bath and applying a pressurized fluid through the catalytic converter forcing ash from the channels within the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Enerfab, Inc.
    Inventors: David L. Winnestaffer, Victor L. Bonin
  • Patent number: 6911095
    Abstract: Relatively small particles of glass (i.e., glass swarf) are generated as a by-product of glass grinding, typically performed to smooth edges of a glass product. Disclosed herein is an inventive method of reducing the tendency of the glass swarf to accumulate and harden, thereby improving the ability to maintain a glass grinding facility. According to the present invention, a loosening agent is mixed with the glass swarf to prevent it from accumulating and hardening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2005
    Assignee: Slagease, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Bradley Finn, Jo Finn
  • Patent number: 6908515
    Abstract: The devices and methods of the art do not readily allow moistening of, removing gas bubbles from and/or increasing the transfer of material in through bores and/or pocket holes in printed circuit boards (PCB). Considerable problems are presented by the treatment of very narrow bores with high aspect ratios in particular. To overcome this problem a method was found that involves the following stages: the printed circuit boards PCB are passed through a processing plant on a horizontal conveying path and in one conveying plane 2 by means of transportation means 13, 14 and are thereby brought to contact a liquid for treatment, wherein mechanical pulses are directly transmitted to the printed circuit boards PCB via the transportation means 13, 14 and/or via the liquid for treatment by means of pulse generating means 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Atotech Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Rolf Schroder, Reinhard De Boer, Hans-Joachim Grapentin, Regina Czeczka
  • Patent number: 6907892
    Abstract: In an exhaust pipe, a rotating shaft takeoff connection is provided so as to support a rotating shaft for rotating a switching valve fixed thereon. The rotating shaft extends to the outside of the exhaust pipe and is provided with an introduction hole and branch holes in such a manner that the introduction hole and the branch holes are communicated with each other to form through holes extending from the outside to the inside of the exhaust pipe. Into a gap between the rotating shaft takeoff connection and the rotating shaft, purge gas is introduced via the introduction hole and the branch holes. Furthermore, pure water is introduced into the gap via the introduction hole and the branch holes. By utilizing the purge gas, exhaust gas within the exhaust pipe is prevented from leaking outside the pipe and by utilizing the pure water, accumulated solid substance are prevented from adhering to the related parts of the pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kou Sugano
  • Patent number: 6905554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cleaning a vehicle with a vehicle washing facility which comprises at least one first cleaning tool which is vertically aligned and can be moved past the vehicle in a longitudinal and in a transverse direction thereof and at least one second cleaning tool which is horizontally aligned, can be moved in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and can be adjusted in a vertical direction in accordance with the contour of the vehicle. In order to develop the method further in such a manner that extra long vehicles can also be cleaned, it is suggested in accordance with the invention that a checking device checks whether the length of the vehicle exceeds a predetermined maximum value and that the rear of the vehicle and/or the front of the vehicle be cleaned only with the first or only with the second cleaning tool when the length of the vehicle exceeds the maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2005
    Assignee: Alfred Kaercher GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Berger, Peter Tews
  • Patent number: 6901939
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning an enrober head and a method for using the apparatus, in which the apparatus has a cleaning medium supply vessel having an outlet and an open top, an enrober head mount registered with the open top of the vessel, and a pump, arranged to pump cleaning medium from the vessel to an applicator for application to enrober head elements requiring cleaning. The mount is adapted to attach an enrober head to the vessel, such that, when an enrober head is removed from an enrober and mounted on the apparatus, cleaning medium applied to elements of the enrober head can pass through those elements, through the mount and open top, and back into the vessel, cleaning the enrober head elements, and allowing the cleaning medium to be reapplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: Mars Incorporated
    Inventors: Douglas Scott Mann, Ralph David Lee
  • Patent number: 6896743
    Abstract: A wafer drying method includes submerging a wafer in a cleaning solution in a dry chamber. An organic liquid vapor from an organic liquid is supplied into the dry chamber at a first volumetric supply rate to form an organic liquid layer on a surface of the cleaning solution, the organic liquid layer having at least a prescribed concentration of the organic liquid. The organic liquid vapor is supplied into the dry chamber at a second volumetric supply rate that is lower than the first volumetric supply rate. During and/or following the supplying of the organic liquid vapor into the dry chamber, at least a portion of the wafer is removed from the cleaning solution through the organic liquid layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-Hyung Jung, Young-Min Kwon, Jong-Jae Lee, Dong-Hoon Jung
  • Patent number: 6896744
    Abstract: A highly efficient method for cleaning a substrate, whereby in the cleaning of the substrate, {circle around (1)} in a short time, {circle around (2)} both particle contaminants and metal contaminants can be removed, and {circle around (3)} a problem associated therewith, such as re-deposition of contaminants or a dimensional change due to etching, can be remarkably reduced, and which has the following characteristics. A method for cleaning a surface of a substrate, which comprises at least the following steps (1) and (2), wherein the step (2) is carried out after carrying out the step (1): Step (1): A cleaning step of cleaning the surface of the substrate with an alkaline cleaning agent containing a completing agent, and Step (2): A cleaning step employing a cleaning agent having a hydrofluoric acid content C (wt %) of from 0.03 to 3 wt %, wherein the cleaning time t (seconds) of the substrate with said cleaning agent is at most 45 seconds, and C and t satisfy the relationship of 0.25?tC1.29?5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Morinaga, Hideaki Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 6892417
    Abstract: Apparatus (20) for cleaning a window (24) of a vehicle (22), including a vessel (28), having an inlet (32) through which a washing fluid is received from a reservoir and an outlet (34) through which the fluid is discharged for cleaning the window. There is a heating element (50) for heating the fluid in the vessel, which element preheats the vessel before the washing fluid is received therein, whereby at least an initial quantity of the fluid is rapidly heated and discharged from the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Micro-Heat, Inc.
    Inventors: Shlomi Franco, Jossef Wodnik, Vyshislav Ivanov
  • Patent number: 6883526
    Abstract: There is provided methods for servicing a vehicle's transmission cooling system having inlet and outlet ports. An example method comprises the steps of pumping air into an inlet port of the transmission cooling system to cause transmission fluid to flow out of the outlet port of the transmission cooling system; cycling a solvent through the transmission cooling system, where the solvent enters through the inlet port and exits through the outlet port of the transmission cooling system; re-cycling the solvent exiting through the output port through the transmission cooling system; and pumping air into the inlet port to cause the solvent in the transmission cooling system to exit through the outlet port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Motorvac Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eduardo Betancourt, John Rome
  • Patent number: 6884302
    Abstract: A washer and method for cleaning poultry pads or similar items includes a tub which rotates around a horizontal axis. The tub is mounted on a wheeled frame for towing by a car, tractor or other vehicle. Dirty, soiled pads are placed in the tub on-site and the door is then secured. As the tub rotates during its washing cycle the pads are sprayed by water jets positioned along the interior central water conduit. Water collected in a drain is discharged at each revolution through an open gate valve located on the bottom of the drain. Baffles inside the tub agitate the pads and water, thus improving the cleaning ability of the washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: James A. Bowman
  • Patent number: 6880562
    Abstract: A jar fillable with cleaning fluid has a lid with a suspension system for roller bearings hanging from the inside of the lid. On each of two or more suspension systems, bearings are interwoven between two sides of an overlapping plastic tie looped through a securing loop in the lid. Any desired number of bearings of various sizes and shapes are secured, with a synching of the tie at the bottom, in an alternating array with all bearings parallel, no bearings touching, and each bearing positioned to receive a flow of cleaning fluid through it. The container is shaken in a direction perpendicular to each bearing for maximum cleaning. The bearings are installed by screwing on the lid and removed by removal of the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Inventor: Edward W. Lynn
  • Patent number: 6875284
    Abstract: A device for the side-specific cleaning of a microelectronic workpiece having a front side, a back side, and an edge includes a chamber, a fixture within the chamber that is adapted to hold one or more microelectronic workpieces. At least one transducer is located within the chamber and preferably adjacent to the edge of the microelectronic workpiece. The method includes the steps of immersing the front side, back side, and edge of the microelectronic workpiece in a first processing fluid while preferably rotating the microelectronic workpiece. The microelectronic workpiece is then rinsed and dried and immersed in a second processing fluid such that the back side and edge of the microelectronic workpiece are immersed in the second processing fluid, while preferably rotating the microelectronic workpiece, without exposing the front surface of the microelectronic workpiece to the second processing fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventor: Dana Scranton
  • Patent number: 6866049
    Abstract: A device for wet processing of a semiconductor-containing substrate that addresses contamination in the wet process by removing undesired sources of gas contamination, the method involving pumping a processing liquid through a degasifier, exposing the semiconductor wafer, in a vessel, to the degasified processing liquid; and optionally recirculating the processing liquid through the degasifier and back into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: J. Brett Rolfson
  • Patent number: 6866050
    Abstract: A vacuum transfer system for transferring food grade products. A biased ball in a cage with a substantially uninterrupted cage wall is utilized as a check valve. The ball may be biased by a weight to float in a predictable orientation relative to the cage. The biased ball assures that a certain portion of the ball will consistently engage with and aperture. The biased ball also minimizes chattering of the ball in the cage under high flow conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Inventor: Marcus J. Engle
  • Patent number: 6857436
    Abstract: A method of cleaning surfaces using a mixed phase cleaning mixture of an aqueous solution and a flow of gas sufficient to produce droplets of the liquid which are entrained by the gas for a time sufficient to clean tubing of various lengths and geometries and porous membranes to remove biofilm, debris and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Princeton Trade & Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Emam Labib, Ching-Yue Lai, Peter A. Materna, Geoffrey Lawrence Mahon
  • Patent number: 6855207
    Abstract: An intergrated closed apparatus and system for eliminating contaminants including metallic and/or hydrocarbon-containing contaminants on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The apparatus and system include a heating chamber for heating the contaminated substrate to an elevated temperature, and an input line for purging the chamber with a chlorine-containing gas. The chlorine dissociates from the chlorine-containing gas, reacts with the contaminates, and forms volatile chloride byproducts which are removed from the heating chamber via an output line. A cooling chamber of the apparatus and system having an input line for providing a gas therein cools the substrate. A workpiece holds the substrate, which in turn, is held in position by a pedestal. The pedestal is in contact with a door that seals the closed apparatus and system, whereby the door transfers the substrate from the heating chamber to the cooling chamber, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Brian P. Conchieri, David D. Dussault, Mousa H. Ishaq