Patents Examined by Scott Bushey
  • Patent number: 7413173
    Abstract: A molded base plate for use in a humidifier and ventilation assembly is disclosed. The base plate is connected to a cover which forms the water chamber of the humidifier. A thermally conductive material is used in the molding process of the base plate so that heat applied to the base plate is conducted into the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: RIC Investments, LLC
    Inventors: Mark DiMatteo, William Perroz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7407583
    Abstract: A method of in-situ groundwater nitrification, by: extracting groundwater from the ground; adding oxygen to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the oxygen reacts with in-situ nitrifying bacteria to oxidize ammonia to nitrate, and wherein the nutrients encourage the nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce. A method of in-situ groundwater de-nitrification, by: extracting the groundwater from the ground; adding carbon to the extracted groundwater; adding nutrients to the extracted groundwater; and injecting the groundwater back into the ground, wherein the carbon reacts with in-situ de-nitrifying bacteria to reduce nitrate to nitrogen gas, and wherein the nutrients encourage the de-nitrifying bacteria to grow and reproduce.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: University Technologies International, LLP
    Inventors: Stephen B. Mailath, Ann Chien Chu
  • Patent number: 7407154
    Abstract: Hot water (12) in a bath (11) is pumped up by a suction pump (9) and introduced into a carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) through solution flow rate adjusting means (14) and then, poured into the bath (11). Carbon dioxide gas supplied from a carbon dioxide gas cylinder (1) is introduced into the carbon dioxide gas dissolver (7) through gas flow rate adjusting means (5). At this time, the quantity of bubbles existing in artificial carbonated spring in a take-out pipe (15) is measured with a measuring device (13), and the solution flow rate adjusting means (14), gas flow rate adjusting means (5) and the like are controlled by means of a control device (16) using a relational expression between a preliminarily set quantity of bubbles and carbon dioxide concentration to obtain a desired concentration of carbon dioxide gas in carbonated spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Sakakibara, Ken Ooyachi, Hiroshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7401767
    Abstract: A method for treating contaminates includes delivering a stream of a fluid to a directional microporous diffuser that has a sidewall with microscopic openings and has a partitioned interior region to effect discharge of microbubbles from less than the entire sidewall portion of the directional microporous diffuser at any particular interval of time. The directional microporous diffuser described include an elongated member providing the sidewall, the sidewall defining an interior portion of said member and coupled to the first inlet port and a partition member that divides the interior of the elongated member into plural, mutually isolated regions. End caps are disposed to seal ends of the directional microporous diffuser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Inventor: William B. Kerfoot
  • Patent number: 7401768
    Abstract: A humidification device for a fuel battery system, which rapidly exchanges dry air with humid air over a wide area, thus increasing humidification efficiency, and which appropriately heats dry air and humid air during cold weather, thus preventing the moisture of humid air from freezing, therefore being effectively used in cold regions. The humidification device includes a hollow fiber membrane to pass dry air and humid air so that moisture exchange is conducted between the dry air and the humid air, and a dry air guide pipe to supply new dry air into the hollow fiber membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Hyun-Yoo Kim
  • Patent number: 7398963
    Abstract: An apparatus for mixing gas and liquid is disclosed. The apparatus includes a draft tube having a gas inlet, a liquid inlet, a gas-liquid outlet, and an impeller rotatably mounted within the draft tube. The gas can be entrained into the liquid by rotation of an impeller having a low pitch ratio, such as less than 1:1. The impeller can have a diameter than is greater than the axial length of the impeller and includes at least one blade extending at least 30° around an axis of rotation of the impeller. Liquid turning vanes can also be positioned external to the draft tube to rotate liquid entering the draft tube in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the impeller. The impeller can be constructed to create a reduced pressure zone, which directs gas axially downward within the draft tube upon rotation of the impeller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Inventor: Blair H. Hills
  • Patent number: 7387664
    Abstract: A wet type air cleaner includes a cylindrical housing provided with an air inlet at a top surface thereof and at least one of air outlets at a lateral surface thereof, for storing cleaning water in a bottom portion thereof, a blower unit including a fan having a spray unit incorporated thereon, for sending indoor air introduced through the air inlet downward while dispersing the cleaning water, and a water supply unit for supplying the cleaning water contained in the housing to the fan, to thereby allow the cleaning water to be sprayed to contact the air introduced through the air inlet, while adsorbing foreign substances contained in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Woong Kim
  • Patent number: 7384026
    Abstract: A heating tower apparatus for heating a liquid. The heating tower includes a frame assembly, liquid distribution assembly and a fill medium. The heating tower additionally includes a hood that extends from the frame assembly. A shroud is disposed within the hood and the hood provides an air flow outlet. The heating tower further includes a track connected to the frame assembly along with a first door connected to the track and a second door connected to the track. The first door moves along the track between the hood and a first air flow inlet while the second door moves along the track between the hood and a second air flow outlet. The heating tower also includes first and second winches that operate to move the first and second doors along the track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Spx Cooling Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Eldon F. Mockry, Jidong Yang, Larry F. Burdick
  • Patent number: 7384027
    Abstract: A mixing bag for use in bioprocessing in which a fluid is received and agitated using an internal fluid-agitating element driven by an external motive device is disclosed. The bag may include an integral sparger and sensor receiver. Related methods are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: LevTech, Inc.
    Inventors: Alexandre N. Terentiev, Sergey Terentyev
  • Patent number: 7380774
    Abstract: A humidifier is superior in terms of hygiene, simple in terms of maintenance, humidity is easily adjusted, and energy consumption is low. The humidifier uses, as a moisture permeable membrane, a moisture-permeable polyurethane obtained by using, as raw materials, at least an isocyanate component, a diol as a chain extender, and polyethylene glycol as a polyol component, and reacting these raw materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Akita, Shunichi Hayashi, Hiroshi Mizutani, Norio Miwa, Akio Yagi, Takashi Nitta, Tadao Takahashi, Izumi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7380773
    Abstract: A gas and heat exchange apparatus including at least one substantially vertical elongate hollow member, a plurality of internal members spaced inside the at least one hollow member, each internal member having at least one opening, structure for gas intake and exhaust in fluid connection with the at least one hollow member, structure for draining the at least one hollow member and a structure for adding liquid to the upper end of the at least one hollow member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventor: Desmond James Boxsell
  • Patent number: 7377494
    Abstract: The present invention is a family of portable humidifiers. Each of the portable humidifiers has a housing, a number of wick assemblies, and a fan. The housing has an air inlet, an air outlet and a reservoir for holding water. The number of wick assemblies are positioned within the housing to contact the water in the reservoir. The wick assemblies are arranged in parallel between the air inlet and the fan. The fan is provided within the housing for creating an airflow. The airflow enters the air inlet, passes through the wick assemblies for adding moisture to the airflow from the water in the reservoir, and exits through the air outlet. The number for at least one of the portable humidifiers is different from the number for another of the portable humidifiers. Preferably each of the portable humidifiers includes a wick frame seated within the reservoir for supporting the wick assemblies. Each of the wick assemblies preferably has a wick element and a button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sunbeam Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jon French, Robert A. Barker, Don Bryce, Francis E. Marino, Tsuguji Nakano, Gregory W. Bachmann
  • Patent number: 7377495
    Abstract: A pressure regulator that regulates the pressure at which carbon dioxide is introduced to water in a carbonated beverage system based on the temperature of the water. The regulator may be capable of operating in a first mode in which the carbon dioxide pressure varies substantially linearly over a first water temperature range, and a second mode in which the carbon dioxide pressure is substantially constant over a second water temperature range. A first flow path having a relatively small gas flow capacity may serve as a pilot to control the gas flow through a second flow path having a larger gas flow capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thompson Design Innovation, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Scott M. Thompson, Steven R. Christoffersen, Samuel Durham, David E. Green
  • Patent number: 7377497
    Abstract: A system for introducing air into a slurry in a flue gas desulphurization process includes a stationary lance and an impeller. The lance include an outlet portion and a vane assembly. The outlet directs air away from the impeller. The vane assembly may produce turbulence and may convert a portion of the swirling flow from the impeller into longitudinal flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Philadelphia Gear Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Peter Dowd, Wojciech Wyczalkowski, Peter John Knights
  • Patent number: 7377498
    Abstract: The liquid distributor includes a plurality of parallel spaced apart passages for receiving liquid, at least one carrier beam disposed transversely of and over the walls of the passages and at least one sheet metal plate slidably mounted on one of walls of the carrier beam in parallel relation to the wall. The walls of the carrier beam have hooks disposed in apertures of the passages and elevations disposed in recesses in the metal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Sulzer Chemtech AG
    Inventors: Emil Fehr, Bruno Keller, Wilhelmus Cornelis Van Leeuwen, John Heggen
  • Patent number: 7377499
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the gas enrichment of fluids, to a method for producing fluids that are enriched with gases and to the use of the aforementioned device in human and veterinary medicine and the pharmaceutical, foodstuff cosmetic and environmental industries. The invention has a wide range of applications as a result of the salutary and prophylactic action produced by the effective gas enrichment of the fluids enriched by means of the inventive device. In addition, the inventive device has a simple construction, making it cost-effective to produce, easy to operate and portable and allowing the fluids thus enriched to be rapidly available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Inventor: Abolghassem Pakdaman
  • Patent number: 7377492
    Abstract: A system for concentrating gas, using the concentrated gas to pump liquid, and recycling the gas and liquid is disclosed. The system comprises a body of liquid, a down pipe in fluid communication with the body of liquid, a gas injection apparatus for introducing gas into the liquid that passes through the down pipe, a separator for separating compressed gas from the liquid, and a gas-liquid recycle loop. The down pipe and the gas injection apparatus are structured and arranged to compress the gas. The gas-liquid recycle loop comprises a compressed gas storage vessel containing the separated gas, a reservoir containing liquid separated from the compressed gas, and a gas-liquid pump. The gas-liquid pump has a gas inlet in communication with the gas storage vessel, and a fluid inlet in communication with the reservoir. The gas-liquid pump is structured and arranged for pumping the liquid back to the body of liquid and delivering the gas to the gas injection apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: A Better Power, LLC
    Inventors: Julius S. Vrana, William W. Timmons, David J. Walters
  • Patent number: 7374156
    Abstract: A process for producing carbonated water having a high concentration, inexpensively and easily, involves using a static mixer having 20 to 100 elements so as to provide a value Re×N of 100,000 to 2,000,000, in with Re represents a Reynolds number, when a mixture of water and carbonic acid gas flow in the static mixer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Ooyachi, Hiroki Sakakibara, Satoshi Suzuki, Hiroshi Tasaka, Masaaki Satou
  • Patent number: 7370848
    Abstract: A vaporization chamber for a substrate processing system includes a main body, a cover member and a transition member. The main body is made of aluminum and defines a first inner surface, which defines, at least in part, a cavity. The cover member is also made of aluminum. The cover member defines a second inner surface, which also defines, at least in part, the cavity. The cover member includes a carrier gas cover inlet, a liquid source cover inlet, a source cover outlet which extends from a first outer surface through the cover member to the second inner surface. The transition member is made of stainless steel and has a transition outer surface and a transition inner surface. The transition inner surface is aluminum cladded. The cover member including a carrier gas cover inlet, a liquid source cover inlet, a source cover outlet which extend from a first outer surface through the cover member to second inner surface. The transition inner surface and the cover outer surface are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael R. Stamp, Frederick J. AmRhein, Arnold J. Dale, Joseph C. Pottebaum, Brian J. Ebert
  • Patent number: 7370846
    Abstract: The invention comprises multiple configurations of downcomers in a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray for vapor-liquid contacting processes such as the separation of chemical compounds via fractional distillation or the removal of a component of a gas stream with a treating liquid. In one embodiment, side downcomers are incorporated into a parallel flow multiple downcomer tray. In another embodiment, the downcomers have an inclined side wall that directs liquid onto the deck below the downcomer. The inclined side wall also provides additional volume above the inferior downcomer inlet to reduce pinching at this inlet without the need for a stilling deck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Zhanping Xu, Daniel R. Monkelbaan, Brian J. Nowak, Robert J. Miller