Patents Examined by Saeed T. Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 8511326
    Abstract: A tank system is described for dropping fluid onto a passing vehicle. The tank system includes a tank with a fluid supply inlet. Optionally, a soap injector is included for injecting soap into the water flow to create a fluid mix that is supplied to the tank. A lighting system is attached to the tank. The fluid mix, or any other chemical in the tank, may be heated with the heating unit. An air motor is included for providing air to an air manifold that is disposed within the tank. When air is introduced into the fluid mix, bubbles are created. As the fluid mix and bubbles fill the tank, they fall from the tank via an overflow lip, with the fluid mix and/or bubbles being illuminated by the lighting system as they fall onto a vehicle passing below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Inventor: G. Thomas Ennis
  • Patent number: 8505560
    Abstract: A support removal apparatus is disclosed for removing water-soluble support material from rapid prototype parts, substantially comprising a retention tank for holding an aqueous cleaning solution; a box manifold hydraulically coupled to the retention tank and equipped with nozzle heads in hydraulic communication with a pump's discharge; a heat chamber for housing a heating element to heat the aqueous cleaning solution to a predetermined temperature range; a drain box hydraulically coupled to the retention tank and a pump's intake to convey the aqueous cleaning solution into and through the box manifold; a thermocouple for maintaining the temperature within an optimal range; a level indicator for measuring the solution level in the retention tank for safe operability of the pump and heating element; a cabinet for housing select components of the support removal apparatus and having an integral work platform, accessible compartments, and a localized water supply; and a microprocessor having communicative capabi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: David Jonathan Tafoya
  • Patent number: 8506724
    Abstract: A system using electrochemically-activated water (ECAW) for manufacturing, processing, packaging, and dispensing beverages including: (a) using ECAW to neutralize incompatible residues when transitioning from the production of one beverage to another; (b) using ECAW to rehabilitate and disinfect granular activated charcoal beds used in the feed water purification system; (c) producing a carbonated ECAW product and using the carbonated ECAW for system cleaning or disinfecting; (d) using ECAW solutions in the beverage facility clean-in-place system to achieve improved microbial control while greatly reducing water usage and reducing or eliminating the use of chemical detergents and disinfectants; (e) further reducing biofilm growth in the processing system, and purifying ingredient water without the use of chlorine, by adding an ECAW anolyte to the water ingredient feed stream; and/or (f) washing the beverage product bottles or other packages with one or more ECAW solutions prior to packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Radical Waters International Ltd.
    Inventor: Robin Duncan Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 8499409
    Abstract: A cleaning device (1) for hose filters comprising a cleaning head (5) having at least one nozzle (11) rotating about a longitudinal axis (L), is characterized in that the cleaning head (5) comprises a fixed jacket (15) having a smooth outer surface which surrounds the at least one rotating nozzle (11) at a distance and in which a series of through holes (17) are formed, said holes being distributed over the circumference of the jacket (15) and being arranged with respect to each nozzle (11) such that a jet emerging from each nozzle (11) during operation can pass through a through hole (17) at least intermittently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Inventor: Christian Reining
  • Patent number: 8496756
    Abstract: Methods for processing substrates in twin chamber processing systems having first and second process chambers and shared processing resources are provided herein. In some embodiments, a method may include flowing a process gas from a shared gas panel to a processing volume of the first process chamber and to a processing volume of the second process chamber; forming a first plasma in the first processing volume to process the first substrate and a second plasma to process the second substrate; monitoring the first processing volume and the second processing volume to determine if a process endpoint is reached in either volume; and either terminating the first and second plasma simultaneously when a first endpoint is reached; or terminating the first plasma when a first endpoint is reached in the first processing volume while continuing to provide the second plasma in the second processing volume until a second endpoint is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James P. Cruse, Dermot Cantwell, Ming Xu, Charles Hardy, Benjamin Schwarz, Kenneth S. Collins, Andrew Nguyen, Zhifeng Sui, Evans Lee
  • Patent number: 8491724
    Abstract: A method is provided enabling a dishwasher to be operated with variable wash programs, wherein the filter systems of the dishwasher do not become overloaded with protruding wash residues in the rinsing fluid. The method makes it possible to vary the pressure used to convey the rinsing fluid from the circulating pump to the at least one spray device. The advantage thereof is that protruding wash residues in the rinsing liquid can be reduced or flattened in order to prevent the filter systems in the dishwasher from becoming overloaded so that the cleaning effects of the filter system can remain functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Beer, Rüdiger Eiermann, Claus Köther, Roland Rieger
  • Patent number: 8490635
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement of two conduits, wherein the conduits are positioned parallel with respect to each other and wherein each conduit is provided with means suitable to remove solids from its surface and positioned along the length of one of the two sides of the conduit, wherein the means are one or more pairs of oppositely oriented nozzles, each nozzle having an outflow opening for gas directed, along the surface of the conduit, towards the outflow opening of the other nozzle of said pair, wherein the pairs of oppositely oriented nozzles of one conduit are arranged in a staggered configuration relative to the pairs of oppositely oriented nozzles of the other conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Mathew Baker, Wouter Koen Harteveld, Hans Joachim Heinen
  • Patent number: 8480814
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a shopping cart includes urging the shopping cart up a ramp and into an interior of a wash chamber of a shopping cart cleaner. A main door leading into said interior of the wash chamber may be closed. A cleaning mode of the shopping cart cleaner may be selected from either an automatic cleaning mode or a manual cleaning mode. A sump that is disposed at a bottom of the wash chamber may be filled with a quantity of water. The shopping cart may be washed with the water and a wash detergent. The shopping cart may be rinsed with the water and a rinse chemical. The water may be drained from the sump. The main door may be opened. The shopping cart may be removed from the wash chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Inventors: John Dimitrios Fanourgiakis, Nicholaos Dimitrios Fanourgiakis, Manoli Dimitrios Fanourgiakis, George Dimitrios Fanourgiakis
  • Patent number: 8480812
    Abstract: A process for quickly removing hydrocarbon contaminants and noxious gases in a safe and effective manner from catalytic reactors, other media packed process vessels and associated equipment in the vapor phase without using steam. The cleaning agent contains one or more solvents, such as terpenes or other organic solvents. The cleaning agent is injected into contaminated equipment, along with a carrier gas, in the form of a cleaning vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Refined Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Cody Nath, Barry Baker, Sean Sears
  • Patent number: 8480810
    Abstract: A method and system for cleaning a surface, having particulate matter thereon, of a substrate features impinging upon the surface a jet of a liquid having coupling elements entrained therein. A sufficient drag force is imparted upon the coupling elements to have the same move with respect to the liquid and cause the particulate matter to move with respect to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventors: Erik M. Freer, John M. de Larios, Katrina Mikhaylichenko, Michael Ravkin, Mikhail Korolik, Fritz C. Redeker
  • Patent number: 8474089
    Abstract: A double bucket system for flat mops that is mounted in a frame. One bucket contains only clean water. The second bucket is used to hold dirty water. The second bucket has a special fixture attached that the user slides the mop through. The frame compresses the mop as it slides through, which ensure complete, even pressing of the mop to extract the greatest amount of dirty water. The frame includes footpads upon which the user stands during the pressing operation. This ensures that the device remains in place during the pressing. Finally, once the mop has been thoroughly pressed, the user can pick up clean water from the first bucket for the next portion of the floor to be cleaned. In this way, the user is able to quickly clean a large floor with clean water instead of repeatedly dipping the mop back into dirty water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Howard Goentzel
  • Patent number: 8475600
    Abstract: A cleaning sheet including a cleaning layer which has a microasperity shape having an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.05 ?m or less and a maximum height Rz of 1.0 ?m or less. Preferably, a substantial surface area of the cleaning layer per a flat surface of 1 mm2 is 150% or more of a substantial surface area of a silicon wafer mirror surface per a flat area of 1 mm2. The cleaning sheet may be provided on at least one surface of a transfer member so that the transfer member has a cleaning function. When the cleaning sheet or the transfer member having a cleaning function is transferred in a substrate processing apparatus in place of a substrate to be processed therein, the cleaning sheet contacts and cleans a site of the substrate processing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Uenda, Yukio Arimitsu, Yoshio Terada, Yasuhiro Amano, Akihisa Murata
  • Patent number: 8475603
    Abstract: The invention is directed toward a system and method for sanitizing a condensate drain to reduce sludge and related pathogens. The system is directed to a sanitizing assembly having a treatment chamber connected to the condensate drain, where the treatment chamber includes a top end and a shaft. A spray assembly is positioned proximate to the top end of the treatment chamber. This spray assembly has a nozzle spray connected to a hot water source. A spray controller within the spray assembly helps disperse a sufficient quantity and pressure of hot water within the shaft to dislodge sludge, when necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: Stewart Kaiser
  • Patent number: 8475601
    Abstract: A rapid and effective means for decontaminating fouled oil-control booms is provided. The process involves washing the boom with pressured washing fluid, reorienting the boom to facilitate full inspection, and drying the boom. This can be performed in an assembly-line manner, using one or more conveyors to transport the boom sequentially to a washing area, an inspection area, and a drying area. Consequently, contaminated oil-control booms can be cleaned and redeployed rapidly and inexpensively during an oil release accident.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Inventor: William G Yates, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8468644
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in cleaning a floor uses a flat mop including a generally flat mop head having a handle and absorbent fabric material. The mop head is foldable to a folded condition, wherein a loop of the fabric material depends from the folded parts. The fabric material is inserted into cleaning liquid to wet the material. The mop head is introduced to a wringer to wring the material between the jaws and a wringing surface. The damp absorbent fabric material is used to mop the floor. The floor is dried using a separate drying tool that includes a head secured to a handle, and one or more attachment devices to attach a dry absorbent cloth to the head. The floor is dried by applying the cloth to the floor using the tool and moving a dry portion of the cloth over the floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventor: Ronald Alexander (Scot) Young
  • Patent number: 8470096
    Abstract: A method for cleaning a bell cup after its removal from a rotary paint atomizer. A device is provided that preferably includes an enclosure within which the bell cup is retained during the cleaning operation. Pressurized cleaning fluid is introduced into the enclosure where it flows over the bell cup and removes paint therefrom. The enclosure may be connected to the nozzle end of a paint spray gun that can be used to deliver the pressurized cleaning fluid thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Charles C. Marks
  • Patent number: 8454763
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber and at least one dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has at least one spray arm assembly located in the wash chamber, and at least one nozzle located in the wash chamber beneath the dish rack. A diverter valve controls the supply of liquid from a liquid supply to the at least one nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad T. Vanderroest, Jay C. Landsiedel, Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Edward L. Thies
  • Patent number: 8454762
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber and at least one dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has at least one spray arm located in the wash chamber and at least one nozzle located in the wash chamber and configured to provide a spray of liquid into the dish rack. A diverter valve controls the supply of liquid from a liquid supply to the at least one nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad T. Vanderroest, Jay C. Landsiedel, Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Edward L. Thies
  • Patent number: 8449685
    Abstract: A cover for a pedicure spa containing an automatic sanitation apparatus is disclosed. When activated, the cover automatically sprays disinfectant in a circular motion from a nozzle on the bottom of the cover. The interior surfaces of the pedicure basin are treated with the disinfectant solution. The pedicure basin is thereby efficiently and thoroughly sanitized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony Veltri
  • Patent number: 8425683
    Abstract: A method for tracking a scraper within a pipeline has the steps of moving the scraper along a path in the pipeline such that the scraper produces an acoustic signal, sensing the acoustic signal as produced by the scraper by at least a pair of acoustic sensors positioned in spaced relation along the pipeline, time-stamping the sensed acoustic signal, and calculating a location of the scraper based on the time-stamped acoustic signal. The acoustic signal can be a transient pressure wave produced by the movement of the scraper or a pressure signal produced by a mechanism positioned on the scraper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignees: Acoustic Systems, Inc., Acoustic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bao-Wen Yang, Eric Yang, Marion Recane, Stephanie H. Yang