Patents Examined by Sheldon Jay Richter
  • Patent number: 4257481
    Abstract: A heat exchange element for solar heating is made of a solidified material such as concrete, cement, ceramic or resin bonded particulate material. Internal ducting is provided by embedded pipes or within the material itself. In the latter case a former is removed after the material is set, and this may be a rigid member, or one that can be dissolved or melted out. The element is preferably a laminated panel-like structure, possibly with fibre reinforcement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1981
    Inventor: Michael J. Dobson
  • Patent number: 4228851
    Abstract: A solar heating panel is disclosed which is formed from two corrugated plastic sheets joined face-to-face to form multiple passageways therethrough for flow of a fluid medium. Each of the components is generally rectangular with the corrugations having diverging sidewall portions spaced by transverse wall portions and with the sidewall portions of opposing components in parallel overlapping and contacting relation and the transverse wall portions spaced apart and forming passageways therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1980
    Assignee: Aluminum Company of America
    Inventors: Robert L. LaBarge, Marvin H. Williams
  • Patent number: 4226283
    Abstract: A multitubular heat exchanger mainly used in thermal and nuclear power plants having a plurality of tube bundles located within a shell and including a large number of U-shaped heat transfer tubes for permitting a medium to be heated to flow therethrough, and a vent tube interposed between the tube bundles and arranged in the longitudinal direction of the shell, further includes at least one flow guide plate with or without at least one slit disposed in or near the outer marginal portion of one of the tube bundles for inducing streams of a heating medium to flow toward the vent tube. The provision of the guide plate with or without the slit has the effect of moving a heating medium stagnating zone, which has hitherto been located in one of the tube bundles, to a position which is in the vicinity of the vent tube to thereby prevent corrosion of the heat transfer tubes by noncondensable gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1980
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Furukawa, Tamotsu Yamane
  • Patent number: 4219077
    Abstract: A multitubular heat exchanger used in a power plant is provided with a bundle of U-shaped heat transfer tubes and a vent tube. The vent tube is located between an upper portion and a lower portion of the bundle of U-shaped heat transfer tubes. A steam flow guide plate is located above a hole of the vent tube and below the upper portion of the bundle of U-shaped heat transfer tubes. The steam flow guide plate obstruct a downward steam flow from the upper portion of the bundle toward the vent tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1980
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Furukawa, Yoshikuni Ohshima
  • Patent number: 4195688
    Abstract: A heat-transfer wall kept at a low temperature so that hot vapor brought into contact with its surface condenses thereon. The surface is grooved at a fine pitch, having thin and sharply tapering ridges in between, with shallower fine-pitch grooves or notches formed in the ridges. The wall may be that of a tube, the grooves may consist of a continuous root in the form of a helix, and the ridges may be bent into the grooves to form rounded crests. The wall contour is made by forming fine-pitch shallow grooves crosswise by knurling and then forming fine-pitch deep grooves by cutting and turning up the surfaces in a plowing manner, for example on a lathe. A grooved die may be used to deform and bend the edges of the ridges toward the deep grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 1, 1980
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Fujie, Wataru Nakayama, Heikichi Kuwahara, Takahiro Daikoku, Kimio Kakizaki
  • Patent number: 4190099
    Abstract: One or a number of subsoil cavities are employed for the storage or recovery of hot liquids. At the time of heat storage, a heat-transporting liquid is extracted at low temperature at the lower end of each cavity, heated by heat exchange with an external fluid and reinjected at the upper end. At the time of heat recovery, the heat-transporting liquid is extracted at high temperature at the upper end of each cavity, cooled by heat exchange with an external fluid and reinjected at the lower end. The system comprises flow-arresting means for maintaining a minimum operating pressure at the top of each cavity, air or gas purge means, an expansion reservoir and a safety unit for ensuring one-way flow of the heat-transporting liquid from the expansion reservoir to each cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Societe Nationale elf Aquitaine
    Inventors: Jacques Despois, Francis Nougarede
  • Patent number: 4190101
    Abstract: Improved tube bundle-type heat exchanger comprising at least one tube base cast from a plastic material, such as poly laurin lactam, with a tube bundle cast in the tube base. Several optional features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Swakopmund AG
    Inventor: Werner Hartmann
  • Patent number: 4185688
    Abstract: A noise suppressor for a heat exchanger comprises an air duct having a larger inlet than outlet encompassing the cooling fan to provide an antiresonant space to incoming air. The noise suppressor effectively reduces the noise level emanating from supplementary air-cooled transformers mounted on electric locomotive undercarriages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 29, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alfons M. Wiater, Nicholas L. Paternoster, Walter J. Pasko
  • Patent number: 4184541
    Abstract: Heat exchange apparatus including a toroidal-type radiator having radially extending cooling air passageways formed through the core thereof, a rotary fan positioned radially inwardly of the radiator core, fan shroud means shaped and positioned with respect to the radiator core and the blades of the fan whereby the air stream induced by the fan during operation has a major component in a radial direction, and air recirculation barrier means for substantially eliminating the recirculation of air at the hub region of the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1980
    Assignee: International Harvester Company
    Inventors: Harold D. Beck, C. Paul Kolthoff, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4182399
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved method for removing corrosive heavy metal ions from aqueous fluids used in heat exchange systems. The method provides for the employment of a getter upstream of a heat exchange and in proximate contact therewith so that the getter removes said ions from said fluid before the fluid is introduced into the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Olin Corporation
    Inventor: James M. Popplewell
  • Patent number: 4182410
    Abstract: A condenser having a heat transmitting surface wherein on the condensing and heat transmitting surface along which steam condensate flows down, steps are provided in a vertical row so that the condensate falls from the respective lower ends of the steps down to the lowermost end of the heat transmitting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Hisaka Works Ltd.
    Inventors: Keido Yoshida, Kazuyuki Kobayashi, Hiroyuki Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 4182411
    Abstract: A condenser having heat transmitting surfaces, which comprises two types of heat transmitting plates alternately arranged side by side to define alternate passages for cooling liquid and steam so that the steam is condensed on the heat transmitting surfaces on the steam passage side. The heat transmitting surfaces are formed with grooves and ridges which are recessed in and raised above the base surface, thereby providing a condensate discharging mechanism comprising vertical grooves and inclined grooves for each given region on the condensating and heat transmitting surfaces, and longitudinal grooves are formed between the inclined grooves of said condensate discharging mechanisms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Hisaka Works Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sumitomo, Katsutoshi Fukami, Kazuyuki Kobayashi, Masafumi Doi, Kenzo Kawanishi, Keido Yoshida
  • Patent number: 4182400
    Abstract: Apparatus for transferring heat between solid particles includes an inclined cylindrical drum in which is disposed a helical auger. The outer lip of the auger, which is maintained in contact with the interior wall of the drum, is curved in the upward direction of the incline axis. The auger blade includes a plurality of apertures of generally uniform size. A feed bin is provided to introduce a first granular material into the upper end of the drum, with the particles of such granular material generally being of a size less than the size of the apertures in the auger blade. A second feed bin is provided to introduce a second granular material into the lower end of the drum, with the particle size of the second granular material generally being greater than the size of the apertures. The drum and auger are rotatable about the incline axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: Oros Company
    Inventor: Noel H. de Nevers
  • Patent number: 4182412
    Abstract: The invention relates to finned heat transfer tubes and to a method for impoving the heat transfer properties in boiling liquids of such tubes by plating the tubes in an electroplating bath containing conductive particles such as graphite powder to produce a porous plated surface. The tips of the fins are covered before plating with a non-conductive coating to prevent plating of the tips. The non-conductive coating can be dissolved away or mechanically removed after plating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: UOP Inc.
    Inventor: Ming S. Shum
  • Patent number: 4182407
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a tube sheet comprising two parallel interspaced sheet members which are provided with aligned bores through which at least partly with interposition of sleeves, extend tubes or tube sections. The sleeves are provided with internal chambers which through openings in the sleeve wall communicate with the space between the sheet members. The tube plate according to the present invention is highly resistant to thermal shocks in that the internal chambers in the sleeves extend to beyond at least one of the sheet members, in particular the thermally heaviest loaded part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: B. V. Neratoom
    Inventors: Harry Lagerwerf, Ronald Versluis
  • Patent number: 4181172
    Abstract: The mechanism shown and described herein is a cooling fan and associated dual shroud arrangement including (1) a rotating shroud comprised of a ring secured to the outer tips of the fan blades and a bell-mouthed inlet formed on the leading edge of the ring, and (2) a stationary shroud secured at one end or edge thereof to the radiator and terminating at the outer end thereof in an annular edge in front or upstream of the bell-mouthed inlet. A predetermined clearance is defined between the stationary shroud and the bell-mouthed inlet, effective to provide a smooth recirculating airflow around the rotating shroud and back into the main airflow stream, thereby substantially eliminating tip-vortex characteristics and resultant tip-clearance noise, and without unsteady flow interactions that cause rotational noise. In one alternate embodiment, the radiator is used in lieu of the stationary shroud for cooperation with the bell-mouthed inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Longhouse
  • Patent number: 4181173
    Abstract: A heat exchanger assembly and method for making the assembly. The assembly includes a compartment having at least two sides to define at least one corner. A first plate member which defines the sides and the corner has at least one embossment on each side of the corner with one end of each embossment terminating in spaced relationship to the corner. A second plate member mating with the first plate member and connected by an epoxy adhesive compound defines fluid channel passages for receiving a heat exchange fluid. An embossment in the second plate member which extends about the outside of the corner and overlaps a portion of the ends of the first-mentioned embossments interconnects the first-mentioned embossments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventor: William L. Pringle
  • Patent number: 4180129
    Abstract: A plate type condenser with a plurality of heat transmitting plates assembled face-to-face to form therebetween passages for steam and the cooling liquid alternately. The plate has in a heat transmitting surface, on which condensate occurs successively, a plurality of longitudinal grooves which serve for subjecting the condensate to flow down only in the grooves under the action of surface tension, and a condensate collecting and discharging means consisting of inclined grooves and vertical grooves, for the purpose of preventing the downflow liquid layer on the heat transmitting surface from its growth. The longitudinal groove is curved at the lower portion thereof along the inclination of the inclined groove, and the inclined groove is in the multi-stripes configuration to improve the condensate collecting and discharging performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignee: Hisaka Works, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sumitomo
  • Patent number: 4180128
    Abstract: A system for recovering the waste heat normally exhausted into the atmosphere by chemical or other processing plants. The invented system comprises a substantially self-contained apparatus for receiving hot exhaust gases and extracting the waste heat therefrom for some beneficial use, such as pre-heating inlet air in an inlet plenum. The system may include temperature and pressure controls which enhance the safety and efficiency of the system's operation, and further may include flow controls in a multiple burner installation so that the desired fuel air ratios and heat distribution may be achieved. By building the present invention as a substantially self-contained and self-supporting assembly, on site installation time and the required alteration of pre-existing on site equipment may be minimized, thereby affecting substantial economic savings by minimizing the resulting down time of the processing plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1979
    Assignees: John J. Fallon, Jr., Donald Ritt
    Inventors: John J. Fallon, Jr., Joe B. Blair, Donald R. Phelps, Robert P. Cabeen, III
  • Patent number: 4178766
    Abstract: A method for the thermodynamic assisted compression of gases wherein a gas is alternately compressed and expanded with addition of heat regeneratively. The basic method is applicable to a variety of uses such as gas compression, turbines and in heat temperature boosters. Working fluids may be either gases or vapors. Heat may also be removed during compression steps and added during expansion steps. Process can be used with both steady flow and non-flow apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Inventor: Michael Eskeli