Patents Examined by Saeed T. Chaudhry
  • Patent number: 8163093
    Abstract: Methods of cleaning one or more workpieces are described. A method includes oscillating workpieces while performing a cleaning operation (e.g., sonication, rinse, etc.) and dwelling the workpieces at one or more oscillation positions (e.g., an upper oscillation position, an lower oscillation position, or an intermediate oscillation position) for corresponding one or more dwell time periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: WD Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Chaoyuan Chen, Shaun Chen
  • Patent number: 8146613
    Abstract: A system and method for a surgical scrub automated cleaning station are disclosed. The surgical scrub cylinder automated cleaning station includes a rotatable, extendable, and retractable wash cylinder that is operable to accommodate any variety of arm length. More specifically, the surgical scrub automated cleaning station may include an accordion, telescoping, or otherwise adjustable cylinder to accommodate a variety of arm lengths. The surgical scrub cylinder automated cleaning station may be used to provide a surgeon or other health care personnel with a hand and forearm washing. The surgical scrub cylinder automated cleaning station may also be monitored to ensure compliance with one or more hygiene protocols.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Resurgent Health & Medical, LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Barnhill, James Glenn, Kathy Lockridge, Jeff Heng
  • Patent number: 8137479
    Abstract: A dishwasher having a tub defining a wash chamber for washing dishes and a dish rack located within the wash chamber. The dishwasher also has a spray arm assembly configured to spray a first flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a first wash zone. A spray manifold provided within the wash chamber is configured to provide a second flow of wash liquid toward the dish rack, thereby providing a second wash zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Chad T. Vanderroest, Jay C. Landsiedel, Christopher J. Carlson, Vincent P. Gurubatham, Edward L. Thies
  • Patent number: 8133328
    Abstract: A rotary apparatus and method is provided for cleaning liquid storage tanks, particularly above ground tanks. The rotary cleaning apparatus includes a Tee housing that is rotated around a vertical axis and a nozzle housing mounted to the Tee housing for rotation around a horizontal axis, resulting in a 360° spherical spray pattern. A set of downspray nozzles is mounted to the Tee housing at an angle to the vertical axis to rotate with the housing and generate a conical spray pattern. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus draws liquid stored in the tank through a filter and pumps the filtered liquid through the rotary cleaning apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Gamajet Cleaning Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Delaney, Andrew K. Delaney, Bentley F. Gleeson, Minh Q. Le
  • Patent number: 8127576
    Abstract: A laundry machine is disclosed. The disclosed laundry machine includes a drum rotatably provided in a cabinet, a substance supply device provided in the cabinet and supplying moisture to the drum, a water supply device supplying water to the substance supply device, and a valve unit provided in the water supply device, to selectively allow water from the water supply device to be supplied to the substance supply device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Ju Han Yoon, Dong Geun Lee, Sang Hun Bae, Seon Il Heo, Yeon Sik Choi, Sang Jin Kim
  • Patent number: 8118943
    Abstract: A self-propelled robotic pool cleaner (100) has a first pair of driven brushes (12, 14) and second pair of free brushes co-axially mounted for rotation on axles (16) at the opposite ends of the pool cleaner that are transverse to the direction of movement. The first pair of brushes are mounted on one side and are driven by a drive motor (110); the second pair of brushes are mounted on the opposite side of the cleaner. A rotational delay clutch (30) is co-axially positioned between each pair of the first and second brushes so that reversing the drive motor causes the first pair of driven brushes to temporarily rotate at an angular rotational velocity that is greater than that of the second pair of brushes, thereby pivoting the pool cleaner through a predetermined angular change in direction before the synchronous rotation of the second pair of dual brushes is initiated by the engagement of the clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Aqua Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Giora Erlich, Tibor Horvath
  • Patent number: 8109281
    Abstract: A cleaning assembly for containers, particularly for bottles, having a conveying device on which the containers are arranged by means of a receptacle means. To economically and ecologically improve the cleaning assembly, the receptacle means contains a liquid-tight tubular for an individual cleaning of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Heinz Humele, Franz Gmeiner, Kersten Thomas, Uerike Thoms, legal representative, Timm Kirchhoff, Bernd Hansen, Jan Momsen
  • Patent number: 8097090
    Abstract: Described herein are systems and methods for reducing cumulative deposition and unwanted secondary thermal reactions in pyrolysis and other thermal conversion processes. In an embodiment, a system comprises a device, referred to as a reamer, for removing product deposits between thermal conversion and condensation operations of a pyrolysis process. The reamer may comprise, but is not limited to, a mechanical reciprocating rod or ram, a mechanical auger, a drill bit, a high-temperature wiper, brush, or punch to remove deposits and prevent secondary reactions. Alternatively or in addition, the reamer may use a high-velocity curtain or jet (i.e., a hydraulic or pneumatic stream) of vapor, product gas, recycle gas, other gas jet or non-condensing liquid to remove deposits. Preferably, the reamer removes deposits during the pyrolysis process allowing for continuous operation of the pyrolysis process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Ensyn Renewables Inc.
    Inventors: Barry Freel, Geoffrey Hopkins
  • Patent number: 8092611
    Abstract: A method, and corresponding system, for dishwasher operation including receiving an operation setting at a dishwasher to be performed by the dishwasher, where the dishwasher is configured to receive an input of electrical power at a defined operating voltage and frequency; and causing an operation of the dishwasher based on the operation setting by causing an inverter of the dishwasher to operate a pump motor of the dishwasher at an electrical power condition different from the defined operating voltage and frequency received at the dishwasher, where the electrical power condition at the pump motor causes the dishwasher to operate in accordance with a quiet dishwashing cycle, a high water pressure dishwashing cycle, a constant mass flow operation, or a minimum water use operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Edward James Hatfield, Mariano Pablo Filippa, William Hull Bicknell, Robert Keith Hollenbeck
  • Patent number: 8092614
    Abstract: Conveyor-type dish washer and method of operating it, wherein during a final-rinse operation at least from one side, preferably from each the two sides, of the items to be cleaned, at least two final-rinse liquid spray jets are sprayed in different directions in relation to each other, wherein at least one final-rinse liquid spray jet is inclined in the direction of the movement of a dish carrier and at least another final-rinse liquid spray jet is inclined against the direction of the movement of the dish carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: James E. Doherty, Alan Varacins, Charles E. Warner, Harald Disch, Werner Neumaier, Gerhard Frei
  • Patent number: 8092612
    Abstract: A cooling device (70) for cooling a work piece (9) that has reached a high temperature due to the implementation of a closing operation in which a bottom portion (9c) is formed by closing an end portion of the tubular work piece (9) comprises a tilting mechanism (151) which tilts the work piece (9) such that the bottom portion (9c) faces downwards and a cooling water tank (155) storing cooling water. The bottom portion (9c) of the work piece (9) tilted by the tilting mechanism (151) is submerged in cooling water stored in the cooling water tank (155).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Kayaba Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keisuke Mishima, Hirofumi Kuroda
  • Patent number: 8075700
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for a backwash system for cleaning an underwater intake filter assembly. The backwash system includes an underwater tank coupled on one end to a source of compressed fluid and on the other end to the intake screen assembly. The backwash system includes a U-shaped release conduit that is adapted to release a predetermined quantity of fluid to the intake screen in order to clean the filter assembly of waterborne debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ekholm, Dean Brabec, Tom Steinke, Steve Uban
  • Patent number: 8069866
    Abstract: Conduit can connect a beverage line in fluid communication with a supply of first fluid. A pump operates to allow a second fluid to enter the conduit in a predetermined proportion relative to the first fluid. A primary first fluid control means and a secondary first fluid control means are selectively and independently movable between respective open positions in which the first fluid can flow into the conduit and respective closed positions in which flow of the first fluid into the conduit is substantially prevented. In use, the primary first fluid control means is in the open position, and the secondary first fluid control means selectively alternates between the open position and the closed position so as to create a pulsed secondary flow of the first fluid into the conduit for enhanced cleaning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Inventors: Gregory Moore, Clint Donnellan
  • Patent number: 8062430
    Abstract: Filters used in the beverage industry fouled by polyphenol-protein complexes and carbohydrate polymers can be cleaned by treating the filters either with the following methods: Solubilization of at least part of the carbohydrate polymers followed by a treatment of the resulting polyphenol protein complex with an oxidative chemical. Treatment of the fouled filters through a back-wash method using an oxidative chemical. In both cases it is not necessary to rinse the membranes after cleaning with a reductive chemical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Jan Matthijs Jetten, Theodoor Maximiliaan Slaghek
  • Patent number: 8056832
    Abstract: A jetspray nozzle for cleaning a photolithographic mask or semiconductor wafer and method for cleaning the same. The jetspray nozzle in one embodiment includes a water supply inlet, a gas supply inlet, a first row of gas injection nozzles communicating with the gas supply inlet, a mixing cavity defining a jetspray nozzle outlet, and a flow mixing baffle disposed in the cavity. The mixing baffle preferably is configured and arranged to combine gas and water in the jetspray nozzle for delivering a concentrated stream of gas with a cluster of micro water droplets entrained in the gas for removing contaminant particles from the mask. The jetspray nozzle is capable of cleaning photo masks or wafers without the use of chemicals. In one embodiment, the water may be deionized water and the gas may be nitrogen. In another embodiment, the jetspray nozzle further includes a second row of gas injection nozzles spaced above or below the first row of gas injection nozzles that communicate with the gas supply inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kun-Long Hsieh, Chien-Hsing Lu
  • Patent number: 8042558
    Abstract: A high-pressure water cleaning system includes a cleaning main body, a support frame member having a length which is larger than a width of an object, the support frame member being supported at extended end portions thereof at both sides by bearing units and eccentric rotational shafts such that the support frame member is eccentrically rotatable, the eccentric rotatable shafts being configured to rotate to cause the support frame member to perform rotational motion, a plurality of high-pressure water ejecting nozzles which are arranged on the surface of the support frame member to be equally spaced apart from each other and are directed to face the object, and a drive device configured to cause the eccentric rotational shafts to rotate. The high-pressure water ejecting nozzles are supplied with the high-pressure water and eject the high-pressure water to the object being moved at the constant speed while performing the rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Morimasa Kuge, Keiji Tsujita, Eiji Noutomi, Hideyuki Tanaka, Mitsuru Nomura
  • Patent number: 8038799
    Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus and a substrate processing method, with which a resist can be removed satisfactorily from the substrate and a processing solution used for removing the resist can be recycled, are provided. The substrate processing apparatus includes: a substrate holding means holding a substrate; a peroxosulfuric acid generating means generating a peroxosulfuric acid using sulfuric acid; a mixing means mixing the peroxosulfuric acid generated by the peroxosulfuric acid generating means and sulfuric acid of higher temperature and higher concentration than the sulfuric acid used in the peroxosulfuric acid generating means; and a discharging means discharging, toward the substrate held by the substrate holding means, the mixed solution of the peroxosulfuric acid and the sulfuric acid mixed by the mixing means as a processing solution for removing a resist from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignees: Kurita Water Industries Ltd., Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Nagai, Hiroshi Morita, Hiroaki Takahashi, Hiroaki Uchida, Toyohide Hayashi
  • Patent number: 8034186
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of cleaning tubes, in which the tube is at least partially filled with a cleaning medium, wherein a cleaning medium is atomized, in which case the droplets of cleaning medium are accelerated, at least in part, essentially in the direction of a center axis of the tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Peter Elfner, Martin Zoettl
  • Patent number: 8034189
    Abstract: Described and claimed are apparatuses and systems for surface cleaning comprising a pump and an applicator connected to the pump through which one or more cleaning agents can be applied to the surface at an operating pressure that is about 600 PSI or less and an operating flow rate that is about 1 gal/min or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nalco Company
    Inventor: Stefan Münch
  • Patent number: 8034185
    Abstract: A disk cleaning scrub module comprising a scrub lane and a plurality of brushes that rotates and scrub washes a plurality of disks having a diameter D in the scrub lane, wherein a disk-to-disk center distance for scrub wash of the plurality of the disks is S and a ratio of S/D is greater than 1 and less than 1.6 is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventors: Youmin Liu, Rito Ligutom, Kennith Pompliano, Young Bui, Jennifer Hou, James Tuman