Patents Examined by Steven P. Griffin
  • Patent number: 7752869
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a preform having a core and a multilayer clad, includes covering a circumference of a rod including at least the core and an inner clad layer with a first tube including at least a high viscosity clad layer, and unifying the rod and the first tube by heating and contracting the first tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Otosaka, Dai Inoue, Hiroshi Oyamada, Jun Abe, Hideo Hirasawa
  • Patent number: 7752870
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber preform using, for example, an MCVD process, is modified to reduce the presence of hydrogen-induced transmission losses in an optical fiber drawn from the preform. A relatively porous, unsintered soot layer is first formed (similar to the initial soot layer commonly associated with the solution-doped process of the prior art) and then subjected to a flow of a metal halide (such as SiCl4) to reduce the presence of excess oxygen. It is imperative that the metal halide treatment occur in the absence of oxygen. Sintering of the treated layer, followed by a conventional collapsing process is then used to form the inventive preform. In accordance with the present invention, both the sintering and collapsing steps are performed in a non-oxygen based ambient. When the drawn fiber is then later exposed to hydrogen, the lack of oxygen thus eliminates the formation of Si—OH and the associated attenuation problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated
    Inventor: Daniel Scott Homa
  • Patent number: 7754139
    Abstract: An increase in the cutting hardness of a shaped body comprising a crystalline aluminosilicate is achieved by treating the shaped body with a gas comprising water vapor at from 100 to 600° C. and an absolute pressure of from 0.1 to 10 bar for a period of at least 20 hours, and this shaped body having an increased cutting hardness can be used in processes for chemical synthesis, in particular in a process for preparing triethylenediamine (TEDA) by reaction of ethylenediamine (EDA) and/or piperazine (PIP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengessellschaft
    Inventors: Marco Bosch, Bernd Stein, Matthias Frauenkron, Ulrich Müller
  • Patent number: 7754048
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for bleaching a cellulosic fibre material with a peroxide compound in an aqueous alkaline medium, comprising a bleaching step wherein: a) a first polymer (A) comprising a homopolymer of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid, or a copolymer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, and a solution of a second polymer (B) comprising a poly-alpha-hydroxyacrylic acid or a salt thereof, are added to a cellulosic fibre material, and b) thereafter adding a peroxide compound and an alkaline substance and carrying out the bleaching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kemira Oyj
    Inventors: Aarto Paren, Jukka Jäkärä, Ilkka Renvall, Jonni Ahlgren, Riitta Laitinen, Jussi Nikkarinen, Tapio Viitanen
  • Patent number: 7748238
    Abstract: A system for directing cooling air onto a neck ring in a glassware molding machine that includes at least one air plenum stationarily disposed at a blank mold station and having an internal cavity for receiving cooling air flowing laterally inwardly toward the axis and at least one outlet opening adjacent to the axis, a plunger wear plate disposed overlying at least a portion of the air plenum, and having an array of axially oriented openings for receiving air directed from the air plenum, a plurality of openings in the neck ring arm for receiving air from the openings in the plunger wear plate across a gap between the neck ring arm and the plunger wear plate when the neck ring arm overlies the plunger wear plate, and a plurality of air passages in the neck ring for receiving air from the neck ring arm openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Robin L Flynn
  • Patent number: 7748237
    Abstract: The invention disclose a convection glass heating furnace, which includes upper and lower furnace bodies, at least one gas-collection box are set in the upper and lower furnace bodies respectively, glass inlets and outlets are setup in the gas-collection box, and a jet-flow plate is set at the gas outlets. The gas inlets of gas-collection box are connected with the exhaust port of a blower fan through pipelines. Gas heating devices are setup in the gas-collection boxes. The gas inlets of the blower fan and its upstream gas routes along with the exhaust port of the blower fan and its downstream gas route form a gas circulation loop together. Glass is heated in the heating furnace of the invention by the hot gas sprayed on its surfaces, so the deficiencies of low heating efficiency and long heating time can be effectively avoided when heating the glass with high reflectivity and transmission ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Landglass Technology Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Yan Zhao
  • Patent number: 7748236
    Abstract: The present invention discloses improved apparatuses for forming sheet glass. In one embodiment, the invention introduces a structural web that supports the forming structure in a manner such that the thermal creep which inevitably occurs has a minimum impact on the glass flow characteristics of the forming structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard B. Pitbladdo
  • Patent number: 7748972
    Abstract: Tensioning installation for the frameworks of pre-tensioned architectural elements designed for the two-way pre-tensioning of concrete or mortar plates, or the like, comprising a molding assembly made up of a flat molding plate (3) delimited on the perimeter by adjustably positioning side walls (4). The assembly rests on an oversized support platform (1)on which the molding assembly is surrounded by a perimeter area (10) of support platform (1) proper, in which perimeter area (10) hydraulic tensioning devices (7) are provided, which are integral to support platform (1) and are arranged in juxtaposition forming opposite facing pairs according to rectilinear alignments forming a grid. Said hydraulic tensioning devices (7) are all connected together serially forming a hydraulic circuit (8) which, in turn, is connected to a hydraulic pressure connection point (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Inventor: Carlos Fradera Pellicer
  • Patent number: 7744725
    Abstract: An additive for internal addition, which improves the paper qualities of a pulp sheet, such as stiffness and bulk which includes a polymer emulsion containing a natural cationic polymer (A) or synthetic cationic polymer (A?) and polymer particles (B) containing vinyl monomer-derived structural units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Kubota, Zenbei Meiwa, Hiromichi Takahashi, Yoshihiro Hasebe
  • Patent number: 7740742
    Abstract: The powder composition for paper manufacturing of the invention contains a hydrophobic organic compound (A), an emulsifying and dispersing agent (B), and optionally water-soluble saccharides (C) added based on necessity and has an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 2,000 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Kao Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshihito Hamada, Kazuo Kubota, Atsushi Hiraishi, Jun Kozuka, Takahiro Kawaguchi, Tsutomu Miyahara, Hiroshi Noro, Koichi Ohori, Haruyuki Sato
  • Patent number: 7736581
    Abstract: A method is provided for manufacturing a plugged honeycomb structure 30 including a honeycomb substrate 1 and plugging portions 15 arranged so as to form complementary checkered patterns at both end surfaces 11 and 21 of the honeycomb substrate 1. The method includes attaching a first mask film 4a to the first end surface 11 of the honeycomb substrate 1, making slurry permeation holes 3a to introduce a plugging slurry 6, attaching a second mask film 4b to the second end surface 21 of the honeycomb substrate 1, making slurry permeation holes 3b, allowing air to flow into the cells 2 so as to discharge air giving a pressure of 0.05 to 5 MPa between the first mask film 4a and the honeycomb substrate 1; and filling cell opening end portions 7 with the plugging slurry 6 to fire the resultant slurry filled substrate 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Ito, Takeshi Tokunaga
  • Patent number: 7736566
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a compressed gas tank that includes a combination of an injection molding process and a rotomolding process. In a first step, a boss to be positioned in the opening of an outer structural layer of the tank is provided and a thin portion of the liner is injection molded to the boss so that a channel within the boss is filled with the liner material to increase the seal integrity between the boss and the liner. Once the liner material is hardened, the surface of the injection molding liner portion is cleaned. Next, a rotomolding process is performed to mold the remaining portion of the liner to the boss. During the rotomolding process, the injection molded portion of the liner melts to be part of the liner made during the rotomolding process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Rainer Pechtold, Ingo Hermann, Markus Lindner
  • Patent number: 7736582
    Abstract: A method of consolidating particulate materials into articles having combinations of properties not available by conventional processes by liquid phase sintering. These particulate materials are comprised of core particles individually coated with layers of a metal compound having a relatively higher fracture toughness than the core, such as WC or TaC. These coated particles include an outer layer comprised a metal, such as Co or Ni. The particles with these coatings are pressed to form an article and the article densified at pressures and temperatures where full density is achieved without the degradation of the material forming the core particle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Allomet Corporation
    Inventor: Richard Edmund Toth
  • Patent number: 7736550
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for manufacturing an optical device by means of a replication method comprising the steps of: a) filling a gap between a substrate and a mold with a liquid light-transmissive polymeric material, b) curing the polymeric material to obtain a replica layer, c) removing the mold. In order to manufacture optical devices, such as lenses having a larger NA-value, it is proposed according to the present invention that the replication method is repeated at least two times while using the same or different molds, and that the substrate, together with one or more replica layers obtained during one or more previous runs of the replication method, is used as a substrate for the next run of the replication method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Anteryon B.V.
    Inventors: Aloysius Franciscus Maria Sander, Gerardus Maria Dohmen, Edwin Maria Wolterink
  • Patent number: 7735338
    Abstract: The method of making thin glass panes includes conveying a glass melt through a vertical inlet to a drawing tank with a slit nozzle; drawing a glass ribbon downward from the slit nozzle; setting a total throughput by setting length and cross section of the inlet and by heating and cooling the inlet to control glass melt viscosity so that pressure in the inlet decreases; and setting a throughput per unit of length in a lateral direction along the glass ribbon via nozzle system geometry and by heating and cooling of the drawing tank and slit nozzle to control melt viscosity, so that glass does not wet an underside of the slit nozzle near a breaking edge. The setting of the total throughput and the throughput per unit length are largely decoupled to simplify process control. An inventive apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Mueller, Horst Loch, Dirk Sprenger, Jose Zimmer, Holger Wegener
  • Patent number: 7731878
    Abstract: A process of forming a microperforated plastic film includes providing a post tool having multiple posts, bringing plastic into contact with the post tool such that the plastic conforms to the shape of the posts, and solidifying the plastic into a solidified plastic film having a plurality of microperforations in the shape of the posts. Another step in the process is displacing any skins formed over the holes after solidifying the plastic. The process may be used to form a film for sound absorption where the posts are shaped and arranged to provide microperforations that provide a particular sound absorption spectrum. In one embodiment, the microperforations each have a narrowest diameter of 20 mils, a narrowest diameter less than a film thickness, and a widest diameter greater than narrowest diameter. The widest diameter may be about 125% or more of the narrowest diameter in an embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Kenneth Brian Wood
  • Patent number: 7731874
    Abstract: A method of molding an optical component which includes providing a first mold and a second mold which mold the optical component, a cylindrical body whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a second symmetry axis about which a second mold is rotationally symmetric, a trunk mold whose rotational symmetry axis is identical with a first symmetry axis about which a first mold is rotationally symmetric, a supporting means which supports the first mold in such a way that the first mold moves relatively to the trunk mold in parallel with the first symmetry axis, and a second tapered surface and a first tapered surface which contacts the second tapered surface, which connect the cylindrical body with the trunk mold in such a way that the second symmetry axis is identical with the first symmetry axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignees: FUJIFILM Corporation, FUJINON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Saeki, Masanori Utsugi
  • Patent number: 7730746
    Abstract: Apparatus to eject on demand discrete hollow microsphere droplets that are characterized by a highly regular and predictable spherical shape, devoid of tails or other irregularities common in the prior art with a selected pure gas contained in the center. With this method and apparatus, droplets may be formed of any suitable material including glass, ceramic, plastic, or metal. A variety of gases at various pressures including complete vacuums may be contained in the hollow microsphere. Microspheres filled with ionizable gas may be used as pixels in a plasma display panel. Microspheres used as a pixel elements may be referred to as Plasma-spheres. The inside of each Plasma-sphere may contain a luminescent material such as a phosphor and/or a secondary electron emission material such as magnesium oxide or a rare earth oxide introduced during the gas filling of the microsphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Imaging Systems Technology
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pavliscak, Carol Ann Wedding
  • Patent number: 7731872
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for making an ophthalmic lens. The present methods and systems are effecting in coupling two mold sections together at two or more discrete regions. Embodiments of the methods and systems form a bore that extends completely through one of the mold sections and only partially through the other mold section. During formation of the bore, the mold material in proximity to the bore being formed becomes molten and diffuses from the bore. A portion of the molten mold material is provided at a contact point between the two mold sections and when the molten material cools, the material forms a spot weld between the mold sections. By forming multiple hollow spot welds in a mold assembly, the two mold sections can be securely coupled to each other during the manufacture of an ophthalmic lens, such as a silicone hydrogel contact lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: CooperVision International Holding Company, LP
    Inventors: Ian Bruce, Robert Oag, Stuart Bailey, Stephen Saunders
  • Patent number: 7727451
    Abstract: A molded body treating apparatus includes a support, at least one flat plate and a first movement mechanism. The support is configured to support a honeycomb molded body which has a first end portion and a second end portion in a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb molded body and which includes a plurality of cells each extending along the longitudinal direction from a first end at the first end portion to a second end at the second end portion. Either the first end or the second end of each of the plurality of cells is sealed with a plug material paste. The first movement mechanism is configured to move the at least one flat plate along the longitudinal direction to press the either one of the first and second end portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Ibiden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuya Naruse, Syuhei Hayakawa