Patents Examined by Steven E. Warner
  • Patent number: 4709559
    Abstract: A cooling system for relatively movable components, such as a rotor seated for rotation with respect to a stationary component, includes a sealed channel in the stationary component disposed between the stationary component and the movable component, and an evaporator disposed within the sealed channel. The channel is filled with coolant, such as alcohol or oil, which is circulated by a pump in a closed circulation path. Heat is thereby conveyed from the system components to be cooled to the evaporator, and from the evaporator to a location where the heat can be dissipated without disturbing operation of the device. The cooling system is suitable for use, for example, in a computer tomograph for cooling the radiation detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Peter Dotzauer, Martin Schmidt
  • Patent number: 4708068
    Abstract: An incineration equipment for removing organic substances from various parts of an extruder in a plastics forming machine, has a combustion chamber formed in the upper portion of a heating furnace accommodating a fluidized-bed consisting of refractory particles therein, into which furnace the various parts are to be thrown, and a burning system for heating the fluidized-bed and also for causing gaseous decomposed polymers produced by thermal decomposition of the organic substances and mixed with air fed from the bottom of the furnace through a porous dispersion plate to burn in the combustion chamber. This burning system connects through a single directional control valve with a fuel tank and an air tank, and it comprises a burner having its tip end opened in the combustion chamber, and a temperature sensor for sensing the temperature in the furnace and outputting an operation signal for actuating the directional control valve in accordance with the sensed furnace temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hisashi Hattori, Hidemitsu Takenoshita, Yoichiro Hanada
  • Patent number: 4708093
    Abstract: An apparatus for drying and superheating steam, especially for supplying steam to a turbine. The apparatus includes a horizontal cylindrical pressure tank that has at least one steam inlet, a water separator that is disposed in the lower portion of the pressure tank and extends essentially over the entire length of the tank, a superheater that is disposed in the upper portion of the pressure tank and extends essentially over the entire length of the tank, and at least one steam outlet disposed on the upper side of the tank and connected to the superheater. The steam inlet is disposed at one end face of the pressure tank. Drying steam leaves the water separator, one end of which is supplied with wet steam, and enters the pressure tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1987
    Assignee: L. & C. Steinmuller GmbH
    Inventors: Gunter Keintzel, Klaus Westebbe
  • Patent number: 4706463
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for recovery of a microorganism having ice nucleating activity from a fermentation medium which comprises the steps of (a) bringing the temperature of the medium to a temperature of about 15.degree. C. or less, (b) forming a concentrate of the medium while maintaining the temperature of about 15.degree. C. or less, (c) running the concentrate into a cryogenic fluid to form frozen pellets of the concentrate and (d) freeze drying said pellets at a temperature below 25.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Carole B. Lindsey
  • Patent number: 4706554
    Abstract: A system of vertical louvers for installation on a cooling tower having fixed horizontal slats. The louvers are mounted side by side for opening and closing movement about vertical axes. When closed, the louvers block the air spaces between the slats. When open or partially open, the air spaces are exposed to varying degrees in order to provide control of the pattern of air flow through the cooling tower. The louvers are mounted between concrete or wood beams of the cooling tower by a steam of angle brackets, pins or bolts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1987
    Assignee: Kelly Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Micheal Baldino, Robert L. Voss, Larry L. Hladik
  • Patent number: 4704871
    Abstract: A magnetic refrigerator operating in the 12 to 77K range utilizes a belt which carries ferromagnetic or paramagnetic material and which is disposed in a loop which passes through the center of a solenoidal magnet to achieve cooling. The magnetic material carried by the belt, which can be blocks in frames of a linked belt, can be a mixture of substances with different Curie temperatures arranged such that the Curie temperatures progressively increase from one edge of the belt to the other. This magnetic refrigerator can be used to cool and liquefy hydrogen or other fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: John A. Barclay, Walter F. Stewart, Michael D. Henke, Kenneth E. Kalash
  • Patent number: 4704994
    Abstract: A nuclear steam generator vessel having a stayed tube sheet with an untubed circular central region in the upper surface thereof, a baffle plate disposed a predetermined distance above the tube sheet parallel thereto and a plurality of tube lane blocks spaced-apart longitudinally of a tube lane extending diametrically across the tube sheet, incorporates a system for controlling the flow velocity of secondary fluid along the tube sheet to reduce deposition of sludge thereon. The system includes a cylindrical flow boosting ring disposed coaxially with the central region and supported beneath the baffle plate a predetermined distance above the tube sheet. The ring may be used alone or in combination with one or both of two perpendicular vertical plates which extend diametrically across the central region in contact with the tube sheet, one of these plates lying along the tube lane axis and spanning the innermost ones of the tube lane blocks. When the ring is used with the vertical plates it is supported thereby.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Min-Hsiung Hu, Glen W. Hopkins
  • Patent number: 4702157
    Abstract: An automatic aeration window comprises a movable frame with three parallel window panes separated by gaps, a first lower passage and a second lower passage at the bottom of the window and an upper intermediate passage connecting the two at the top of the mobile frame. In order to enable a light-weight construction of the movable window frame, the first lower passage, connected to an external opening on the outer face of the window and to a first lower opening, is provided in the fixed frame of the window. A closing flap controlled by a puller is also mounted in the fixed window frame, while the second lower passage preferably also passes through this fixed frame. The invention may be used in windows to provide aeration and good acoustic and thermal insulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Inventor: Jean-Daniel Comparon
  • Patent number: 4702178
    Abstract: An emergency exhaust system (59) is provided for a mobile incineration system (10). A hinged gate (76) controls access to the emergency exhaust system (59), and operates only upon the sensing of a malfunction in one of a plurality of critical incineration system components (114, 36, 56) by sensors/relays (122-126). A malfunction as sensed by Sensors/relays (122-126) causes the power to be cut through switch (98) to the main incineration system components (114, 36, 56, 46, 116, 118, 22). In a preferred embodiment, the emergency exhaust system (59) comprises a plurality of water sprayers (64) to cool the volatile waste combustion products, and a granulated activated carbon column (68) to remove hazardous substances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Shirco Infrared Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: James N. Welsh
  • Patent number: 4702177
    Abstract: A waste product feeder in which when waste products are charged through a hopper into a trough are transported by a screw and then discharged, they are successively scraped by a scraper in a predetermined quantity or volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1987
    Assignee: Ishikawajima-Harima Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Minoru Narisoko, Mikio Kiyotomo
  • Patent number: 4700637
    Abstract: An incinerator, or furnace, receives low-level radiation waste from a nuclear installation in varying volumes and calorific values. A supplemental, conventional fuel is concomitantly supplied under the control of the exhaust temperature of the products of combustion. The low-level radiation waste and supplemental fuel are mixed with combustion air in a first stage where combustion is initiated, the products of combustion being flowed downward into a second stage where the combustion is complete prior to exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael S. McCartney
  • Patent number: 4699642
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide, and subsequently re-evaporating the substantially pure liquid carbon dioxide to produce substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide from impure carbon dioxide gas which is produced during the fermentation step of a brewing process or has been used as an overgas in a brewing plant, the substantially pure gaseous carbon dioxide being for use in carbonating the brewed product or as an overgas in the brewing plant. The process comprises the steps of:(a) removing impure carbon dioxide gas from the brewing plant;(b) pressurizing the impure carbon dioxide gas.The present invention also provides an apparatus for carrying out the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Kims Developments Limited
    Inventors: Edward J. Perry, Anthony R. Coleman
  • Patent number: 4699091
    Abstract: Normally wasted heat from the pilot burner and flue of a fuel fired hot water heater is used to preheat the water supplied to the main tank. An auxilliary storage tank receives incoming cold water. Water from the storage tank circulates through a conduit loop which extends in a spiral pattern through the flue and also through a special heat exchanger which concentrates heat generated by the pilot burner. The water that is preheated in the conduit loop is returned to the storage tank for storage until required by the main tank, at which time the preheated water is delivered to the main tank through a transfer conduit. Alternative embodiments are arranged to effect automatic flushing of the conduit loop when hot water is withdrawn from the main tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Inventor: Larry G. Waters
  • Patent number: 4699045
    Abstract: The housing of a foundation ventilator has the usual front screen to protect the louvres within the housing, but the screen is part of a support frame used to mount the ventilator in an opening in a foundation wall. The support frame is frictionally retained in the opening by threaded bolts which can be easily loosened to gain access to the interior of the housing for cleaning or repair. It is not necessary to remove the ventilator from the wall. Similarly, if the support frame is damaged, it can be replaced without the expense of replacing the entire ventilator. The support frame has a connecting flange which seats within an extension of the housing to prevent relative lateral movement. Interlocking tabs and detents releasably attach the housing to the support frame with the screen in the support frame covering the front of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1987
    Assignee: Temp-Vent Corporation
    Inventor: Robert C. Hensley
  • Patent number: 4697550
    Abstract: A device for cooling a reactor positioned in a vessel. The vessel comprises a water space and a steam space. Cooling pipes that convey evaporating water extend through the reactor. The pipes communicate outside the reactor with the water space at the intake end and with the steam space at the outflow end. The object is to prevent local excess cooling that would interfere with the reaction. A fresh-water preheating section is positioned inside the steam space. The preheating section communicates with an inflow outside the vessel and with an outflow inside the steam space. The preheating section also has open pipes extending through it from top to bottom into the steam space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1987
    Assignee: Borsig GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kehrer
  • Patent number: 4696169
    Abstract: A cryogenic support member is comprised of a non-metallic rod having a depression in at least one end and a metallic end connection assembled to the rod. The metallic end connection comprises a metallic plug which conforms to the shape and is disposed in the depression and a metallic sleeve is disposed over the rod and plug. The plug and the sleeve are shrink-fitted to the depression in the rod to form a connection good in compression, tension and bending.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventors: Ralph C. Niemann, John D. Gonczy, Thomas H. Nicol
  • Patent number: 4694757
    Abstract: A refuse fuel burning boiler system incorporating a unique tuyere construction wherein the tuyere plates associated with the conveyor-like stoker grate are hingedly mounted to permit the passage of any hard deposits of metal or glass contaminates which form upon the grate during incineration of the refuse fuel. The tuyere plates and support structure are designed for relatively easy retrofit into an existing conventionally designed refuse burning boiler or be incorporated into a new boiler construction. Vertical pivoting of the tuyere plates is limited by hold-down members installed between adjacent plates. These members further function to fix the lateral position of each plate and form the top of an enclosure over the recess in the support wall in which the plates are pivotally mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: The City of Columbus, Ohio
    Inventors: Richard A. Hawkins, Merle D. Hunter
  • Patent number: 4695303
    Abstract: A method for extracting natural gas liquids from a gas stream that has a high content of hydrogen and carbon dioxide is shown. This gas stream is scrubbed, dehydrated, filtered compressed and chilled prior to entering a demethanizer where the overhead residue gas consisting of hydrogen, nitrogen and methane are separated from the demethanizer bottoms product. Ths bottoms product is then warmed prior to entering a de-ethanizer where ethane, ethylene, and carbon dioxide are separated from the de-ethanizer bottoms product which consists of the heavier compounds of propylene, propane, butane, pentane and the like. The cold demethanizer residue gas is used to cool the incoming inlet gas stream via an inlet gas cooler, and expanded vapor from a high pressure separator is cross exchanged with the de-ethanizer overhead product stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: McDermott International, Inc.
    Inventors: George J. Montgomery, IV, Hafez K. Aghili
  • Patent number: 4693090
    Abstract: A thermally powered engine has a pair of power cylinders with each power cylinder defining a closed interior space. A power pistin is reciprocally mounted in the interior space of each power cylinder with each piston dividing the interior of its cylinder into upper and lower portions. A liquid piston interconnects the upper portions of the two power cylinders. First mechanically powered valves having two states control the flow of the working fluid of a heat transfer loop through the lower portions of each power cylinder. A second mechanically powered valve causes the first mechanically powered valve to change state so that movement of the power pistons in the pair of power cylinders is substantially 180.degree. out of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Inventor: Peter M. Blackman
  • Patent number: 4693213
    Abstract: A waste heat recovery boiler for a turbine including two denitrating devices disposed in the boiler to reduce the NOx concentration in an exhaust gas below a pre-determined value even when a turbine load changes. The overall denitration efficiency distribution of the boiler with respect to the turbine load can be set arbitrarily by selecting suitable positions of the denitrating devices and the amounts of a catalyst, and any adverse effects resulting from the change of the turbine load can be avoided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1987
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiji Yanai, Tetsuzo Kuribayashi