Patents Examined by Steven E. Warner
  • Patent number: 4787154
    Abstract: A suction-filter-drier, in particular for isolating and drying a product from suspension, comprising a closed container having an outer wall and a horizontal axis and including a liquid permeable filter positioned in the container and spaced from the outer wall; and having a plurality of filter chambers disposed between the filter means and the outer wall; and further including a hollow rotatable rotor extending axially through the container with the rotor being oblate in cross-section with a rotor disc supported on the rotor, and including means for selectively oscillating the rotor by imparting a reversely pivoting motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Hans-Joachim Titus
  • Patent number: 4787323
    Abstract: Oily sludges containing volatile hydrocarbons are mixed with diatomaceous earth or perlite in a system which includes an indirect dryer for vaporizing liquids have a boiling point of less than about 700.degree. F. Dried solids are discharged from the dryer and conveyed to an oxidation unit comprising a rotary kiln or lift pipe combustor. Dried hydrocarbon free solids are recirculated for mixing with the oily sludge and condensable vapors are condensed and separated for further use or disposal. A system including the indirect dryer, condenser, oxidation unit, separators for the condensate and separators for gaseous products can be modified to receive hydrocarbon contaminated soils and other earth-like materials having particle sizes ranging from as low as 10 microns up to about 1.0 inches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: Gary L. Beer, Ying H. Li
  • Patent number: 4787153
    Abstract: A shoe drier has a base, a cap and a U-shaped hanging element. A motor is mounted on the base for driving an impeller to rotate. A heating chamber is disposed on the base for encasing a heater which emits thermal gas for drying a pair of wet shoes. The impeller transmits thermal gas to an upwardly semicircular channel which is complemented by matching a semicircular channel disposed on the cap. The cap has a downwardly semicircular. The U-shaped hanging element has an upper housing, and a first and a second lower housing. The U-shaped hanging element pivotally engages with the circular channels. A plurality of evenly spaced slots are provided on both upper parts of the both wings of the upper housing for guiding thermal gas to flow laterally out of the upper housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 4787322
    Abstract: A stoker assembly for a solid particulate burning stove that includes a fuel directing flange for directing the fuel to an upper combustion plate and ventilation tubes to prevent the ignition and combustion of fuel stored in remote bins. The fuel directing flange serves to prevent the solid particulate fuel from falling back into the auger conveyor and being ground into smaller particulate matter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Inventor: Oliver J. Whitfield
  • Patent number: 4787321
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid waste conversion plan for the conversion of such solid waste as old tires to a gas or liquid hydrocarbon product, wherein the partial pyrolysis of the solid waste is carried out in a reactor having a grate in the lower section and a plurality of rotating fingers extending through the grate for preventing compaction of the solid waste in the reactor. The reactor, a heat exchange means and a stripper are connected in series. A blower is positioned between the heat exchange means and stripper for drawing oxygen-containing gas into the reactor and removing the gases formed therein and passing those gases through the heat exchange means and into the stripper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1988
    Assignee: Howbeit, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Schnellbacher, Ray M. Mason
  • Patent number: 4785554
    Abstract: Bulk material containing vaporizable ingredients, such as lignite, hard coal, peat, waste wood, clarifier sludge, waste sludge, contaminated earth, catalysts, zeolites and filter cake, is conditioned by means of a vibrating plate conveyor divided into a heating section and a drying section, using an indirect heat exchange method. The bulk material is heated in an enclosed heating section while withdrawing the vapor from this section. In the downstream enclosed drying section, the vaporizable fractions contained in the bulk material are further reduced with the aid of heat supplied indirectly, the vapor being withdrawn. The bulk material is separated several times into coarse and fine fractions utilizing at least one slotted grid, the fines being immediately recycled and remixed with the coarse fractions which have a higher water content. The bulk material is mixed several times while being heated in the drying section before discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: UHDE GmbH
    Inventors: Hartmut Hederer, Manfred Kreft, Wolfgang Hillebrand
  • Patent number: 4785769
    Abstract: A burner throat is defined by a cage of tubes and is lined by fitting refractory tiles. A plurality of retaining means each having two joined parts, the outer part abutting the tubes and the inner part exerting an abutting force radially inwards on the tiles to retain them in position. In use the abutting force on the tiles can be varied to suit the design characteristics and environment, by varying the exposed length of a pin which threadedly mates in a complementary bore in each of the two parts. To further secure the tiles, a dowel is provided to mate in complementary bores formed in an adjacent side of abutting tiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: W. B. Black & Sons (Holdings) Limited
    Inventor: William B. Black
  • Patent number: 4785747
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a gasification burner for heating apparatus (boiler, hot air generator or the like) which uses solid fuel. The gasification burner is placed generally at the center of the hearth of the heating apparatus to achieve gasification of the solid fuel before its transformation into charcoal or coals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Assignee: Chaubois Technologie Inc.
    Inventor: Andre Landreau
  • Patent number: 4785744
    Abstract: The incinerator comprises a combustion chamber (14) comprising a lower grate (40) and an outer wall (34), a device (24-32) supplying the materials to be incinerated, a primary air (44,46) blower casing (42) situated in the center of the grate, and a secondary air circuit (50,52) comprising injection nozzles (48) distributed on the periphery of the combustion chamber. Some at least of the nozzles are formed of nozzle pairs (48a,48b) oriented according to a first angle above and under a horizontal plane and according to a second angle on either side of a vertical diametral plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1988
    Inventor: Claude Fontaine
  • Patent number: 4783968
    Abstract: A two mass vibration isolator particularly suited to a linear reciprocating machine. Vibration into and out of the machine is attenuated by an isolator placed between the machine and its mounting frame. The isolator is an elastomer with a damping ratio of at least 0.1 sandwiched between two retainers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1988
    Assignee: Helix Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Graham J. Higham, Ronald N. Morris, Gerald R. Pruitt
  • Patent number: 4782766
    Abstract: A combustion controller controls the supply of combustion gas to the combustion barrel of a rotary combustor used for incinerating solid waste material. The rotary combustor includes a combustion barrel having a gas-porous side wall and windboxes underneath the combustion barrel to supply the combustion gas to support incineration of the waste material into combustion products which include exhaust gases. The windboxes receive combustion gas via individual control ducts which are controlled by the combustion controller to regulate the corresponding supplies of combustion gas and thereby to provide substantially complete incineration of the solid material. An oxygen sensor detects the percentage of oxygen present in the exhaust gases and the combustion gas supplied to the combustion barrel is controlled to maintain the percentage of oxygen near a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Suh Y. Lee, William G. Collins, Jr., John T. Healy
  • Patent number: 4782793
    Abstract: The fossil-fuel fired vapor generator has a vertical flue formed of vertical tubes and a funnel at the bottom end which is formed by helically extending tubes. In addition, the helically extending tubes are in communication with the vertically extending flue tubes via bifurcation elements in order to convey the working medium upwardly into the flue tubes. The flue may be of rectangular cross-section with the funnel of similar shape or the flue may be of at least a pentagonal cross-section while the funnel has a rectangular outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: Sulzer Brothers Limited
    Inventor: Abdulla Salem
  • Patent number: 4782772
    Abstract: A method of purifying flue gas from the firing equipment of a combustion unit, especially fuel gas from fitting equipment to which low-ash flue is supplied, or from a grating firing having a high degree of ash removal, with the flue gas containing noxious compounds. A finely divided or pulverous basic additive is used on which the noxious compounds produced during firing are adsorbed. Flue dust, especially flue dust/additive mixture, that is carried along in the flue gas is separated from the latter, with at least a portion of the separated-off flue dust being hydrated and sifted, whereby subsequently at least a portion of the dry, hydrated flue dust is returned to the flue gas purification process. Non-pulverized flue dust is homogenously mixed with finely sprayed water to effect the hydration. The return of flue dust to the flue gas purification process is undertaken by returning at least a portion of dry, thus-hydrated flue dust to the firing equipment of the combustion unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1988
    Assignee: L. & C. Steinmuller GmbH
    Inventors: Yaqub Chughtai, Volkmar Sitte
  • Patent number: 4781128
    Abstract: A combustible element has a defined geometrical configuration and comprises a fragmented non-consolidated content of combustible material and a combustible enclosure for the material. A plurality of such elements define in a combustion chamber a channel having a geometrically defined configuration, which provides the combustion area and access for the air utilized in the combustion of the fragmented content of the element and of combustible gases evolved during combustion of the combustible material, as well as egress means for gaseous combustion products. Apparatus for the combustion of such elements is preferably provided with a heat exchanging surface defined by a smoke chamber laterally surrounding the combustion chamber. High combustion efficiency and other advantages are stated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Samuel Salner
  • Patent number: 4781739
    Abstract: The low energy triple distillation pressure process for producing high purity industrial oxygen is improved in several ways, including higher O.sub.2 pressure, higher recovery of both oxygen and crude argon, and lower N.sub.2 content in the argon. This is done with the traditional triple pressure column arrangement (columns 22, 24, and 27 of FIG. 1) preferably by totally condensing liquid air in reboiler 21 and then splitting it with valves 42 and 43; by providing all LN.sub.2 reflux duty from reboiler 26; by evaporating product oxygen in 23 with partially condensing air; and by intermediate refluxing column 27 with condenser 28 which provides a separate vapor stream to column 22.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Inventor: Donald C. Erickson
  • Patent number: 4780964
    Abstract: A tray-type freeze drying device determines the end of a first stage of a freeze drying process by regularly and drastically reducing the pressure surrounding the product being freeze dried. No decrease in product temperature during the reduction in pressure indicates the completion of the sublimation of water from the product and the end of the first stage of drying. A decrease in product temperature during the drastic reduction in pressure indicates the need to continue the sublimation procedure and the first stage of drying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1988
    Assignee: FTS Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Taylor N. Thompson, Sr.
  • Patent number: 4779575
    Abstract: Liquid friction heating apparatus includes a pump rotor and an impeller rotor in a liquid reservoir. As the pump and impeller are rotated they impart frictional heat to the liquid. Further, the pump at all times delivers liquid to the inlet of the impeller which impells the liquid through restricted orifices to further heat the liquid. The pump positively prevents cavitation and ensures a constant flow through the orifices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Inventor: Eugene W. Perkins
  • Patent number: 4779358
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly for a web drying apparatus that can be quickly assembled and disassembled from the front or tending side of the web drying apparatus. At the rear of the web drying apparatus, instead of the normal bolt fastening system, a slidable connection is provided between the nozzle housing and the bulkhead. By manipulating the front end of the nozzle housing, nozzle mounting flanges secured to the rear end of the nozzle housing are slid under nozzle support clips on the bulkhead to secure the rear end of the nozzle housing to the bulkhead. Conventional systems are used to secure the front end of the nozzle housing. There may be one or two bulkheads in the nozzle assembly of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Thermo Electron - Web Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Eugene C. Atkinson, Robert S. Krueger, Leo A. VanOursouw, James M. Miller
  • Patent number: 4779795
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a boiler comprising a firebox, a control device controlling the flow of air into the firebox, a water jacket surrounding at least part of the firebox, a sensor to sense the temperature of the water in or being discharged from the water jacket, the sensor being adapted to control directly or indirectly the control device. The sensor can be a temperature sensitive valve associated with the water jacket to control the position of the control device to thereby govern the flow of air to the firebox. The invention further provides a method of providing space heating and hot water from a boiler unit comprising the operation of a boiler unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Inventor: John A. Winmill
  • Patent number: 4779548
    Abstract: An incineration apparatus is provided, preferably of the thermal heat regeneration type, in which noxious or other gases are passed to an incineration chamber, to be burnt at a sufficiently high temperature that they are disposed of, and in doing so, pass through heat-exchange beds of elements such as stones or the like, whereby the direction of gas flow may optionally be reversed. The stoneware beds reside in recovery chambers adjacent but contiguous with the combustion chamber, separated therefrom by built-up refractory blockwalls. The walls are of arcuate configuration and support the heat-retention elements in the recovery chambers. The walls are generally the thickness of a single refractory block, and are of a radius that is less than any radius of the combustion chamber and are of a sufficient radius such that the forces of the stone or other heat-retention elements outside the walls may be resisted to prevent wall collapse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Regenerative Environmental Equipment Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James H. Mueller, Rodney L. Pennington