Patents Examined by Susanne C. Tinker
  • Patent number: 5730072
    Abstract: A method and system for continuous incineration of solid waste, directed to reducing formation of pathogens (such as dioxins) during incineration by inducing rapid combustion in an oxygen-rich environment. Waste may be shredded first. Waste is then dispersed widely across a first combustion chamber in which it undergoes incineration into ash and gas. Alternative embodiments for continuous removal of hot ash are disclosed. Gas is encouraged to travel a spiral path into a second combustion chamber, in which further incineration occurs. Gas travels through the second combustion chamber also in a spiral path, and is cooled in a quench tube. An evacuator means, advantageously a large fan, draws air through the system continuously during combustion, encouraging flow of waste through the system and replenishing oxygen available for rapid combustion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Envirotech Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank H. Wright, Martin A. Sokolowski, Matthew H. Fleeger
  • Patent number: 5730070
    Abstract: An apparatus for introducing gas recirculation into a furnace to control steam temperature includes a hot air chamber for receiving hot air from an air preheater. The hot air chamber has at least one outlet communicating with the interior of the furnace. The apparatus includes a recirculation gas chamber for receiving recirculation gas from a recirculation fan and includes at least one outlet communicating with the interior of the furnace. Each of the chambers is disposed about at least a portion of the circumference of the furnace with one of the chambers disposed above at least a portion of the other. Ducts are provided between the hot air chamber and the air preheater and between the recirculation gas chamber and the recirculation fan to provide communication between the elements. A passageway is disposed between the hot air chamber and the recirculation gas chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert C. Kunkel, Thomas J. Dunn, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5727480
    Abstract: An over-fire air control system for a pulverized fuel furnace, in which a burner assembly is provided for discharging a fuel/primary air mixture along with secondary air to combust the fuel. The amount of primary air and secondary air discharge is controlled to achieve incomplete combustion, and an overfire air port is provided through which additional air is discharged to complete the combustion. The overfire air port receives two streams of air, one high in volume and low in velocity and the other low in volume and high in velocity. Dampers are provided for controlling the air streams to achieve optimum quantifies and velocities of the air. According to one embodiment, a source of one of the air streams is the primary air portion of the fuel/primary air mixture applied to the burner assembly. As a result, the formation of nitrous oxides are reduced and fairly precise air fuel ratios can be maintained despite variations in the quality of the fuel and the pressure and amount of primary air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler International, Inc.
    Inventor: Juan Antonio Garcia-Mallol
  • Patent number: 5727481
    Abstract: A mobile incinerator suitable for burning explosive material, has armored walls capable of withstanding internal explosions, a primary combustion chamber within which initial burning of the material to be incinerated takes place, a secondary combustion chamber to burn exhaust from the primary combustion chamber a second time to reduce pollution and safety hazards, and a trailer for providing transportation. The armored walls may include steel plates reinforced by steel channel beams. The mobile incinerator includes: vents for allowing air and exhaust to pass into; between and out of the combustion chambers, assisted by a draft induction fan, with flammable fluid delivered to and ignited within the combustion chambers; pressure release hatches; a loading cart mounted on telescoping rails by which material to be incinerated can be inserted through an opening; refractory material lining the primary combustion chamber; an exterior shell of aluminum sheeting; and a control system powered by a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Randall Paul Voorhees, Joseph Ernest Voorhees
  • Patent number: 5727483
    Abstract: A rotary incinerator for disposal of industrial waste is provided. The incinerator is slopedly and rotatably disposed to a slant support and has a plurality of spirally arranged tubular conveying ribs on entire inner periphery for squeezedly transmitting the incinerating waste from the lower portion to an exit in the tapered upper end so that the waste is stirred while incinerating and the slag and ash are automatically discharged via the exit, a combustion system worked together with a ventilation system at a lower end for supplying the flame and the fresh air into the incinerator, a drive system for driving the incinerator to rotate and a control device for controlling the operation of the above recited elements. The improvement is characterized in safe and rapid incineration of the industrial waste, therefore, economical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Inventors: Kang-Shin Chen, Chung-Hsing Wu
  • Patent number: 5724825
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic temperature controlling system for semiconductor process, when one of the chillers in the temperature controlling system is out of order, then another chiller will automatically take over the function of the broken one by using the second temperature controlling path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Mosel Vitelic Inc.
    Inventors: Wen Hong Lee, Thomas Chang, Simon Chang
  • Patent number: 5724901
    Abstract: An oxygen-enriched gas burner and method of operation thereof for incinerating and/or melting and/or vitrifying and/or performing thermal treatment and/or oxidizing ground/liquid waste materials and particularly, but not exclusively, contaminated waste materials. The burner comprises a body having annular chambers and defining an injection nozzle which is adjustable whereby to adjust the configuration of a flame and wherein the nozzle is provided, at the center thereof with an axial feed port through which the grounded solid/liquid waste material is injected within the flame. The waste material is fed axially within the flame under control pressure with the waste feed and flame configuration being adjusted independently from one another whereby the waste material is substantially incinerated without substantially affecting the combustion of the gas which would otherwise produce undesirable carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Gaz Metropolitan and Company Limited
    Inventors: Christophe Guy, Jamal Chaouki, Jean-Guy Chouinard
  • Patent number: 5724827
    Abstract: There is an ice regenerative air conditioner system in which a cooled-liquid from an ice storage tank is heated by exchanging heat between the cooled-liquid and a coolant supplied from indoor heat exchangers in a heat exchanger 1b used for heating the cooled-liquid (or water) placed against the indoor heat exchangers 1B and 1C in series, next, a super-cooled liquid is generated by exchanging heat between the cooled-liquid heated and the coolant at a super-cooling apparatus 1c placed against the indoor heat exchangers 1B and 1C in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Hiroichi Yamaguchi, Toshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5724900
    Abstract: A method for processing waste includes low-temperature carbonizing one portion of the waste creating low-temperature carbonization gas and low-temperature carbonization residue. A carbon-rich fraction is separated off from the low-temperature carbonization residue. At least some of the carbon-rich fraction of the low-temperature carbonization residue is supplied as fuel for a support flame for burning another portion of the waste. A plant for processing waste includes a revolving tubular kiln in which a burner is disposed. A low-temperature carbonization drum has an outlet side communicating with a low-temperature carbonization gas line and a separator device for solid low-temperature carbonization residue. A line carries a carbon-rich fraction of the low-temperature carbonization residue from the separator device to the burner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Herbert Tratz
  • Patent number: 5724899
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for environmentally sound usage of combustible solid waste in operating rotary cement kilns. A cement kiln is modified to contain a port in the rotary cylinder for delivery of combustible solid waste into the kiln for burning in contact with calcining mineral material. The port is provided with a closure and means for moving the closure between a port-opened and port-closed position at predetermined times during rotation of the kiln cylinder. The invention allows efficient use of solid waste as supplemental fuel in the cement manufacturing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Assignees: Cadence Environmental Energy, Inc., Ash Grove Cement Company
    Inventors: Theodore J. Reese, Eric R. Hansen, Michel R. Benoit
  • Patent number: 5722333
    Abstract: This invention provides a variety of incineration furnace with modular fire grate apparatus for cylindrical incinerator furnaces of water jacket configuration. The invented fire grate module is provided with refuse dump agitation capability from underside of waste fuel dump on the fire grate and also with air supply function in the fire grate apparatus itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1998
    Inventor: Kwangsoo Hyun
  • Patent number: 5720232
    Abstract: Discarded rubber tires for reclamation and recovery of the constituents therein and/or environmentally safe disposal are transferred from a pan feeder system into a hopper and transferred by an auger into a pyrolysis chamber. The pan feeder system excludes air or oxygen from passing through the hopper and auger into the pyrolysis chamber. Tire pieces from the pan feeder system are transferred by an auger through the pyrolysis chamber which is heated to a temperature between 350.degree. and 650.degree. F. The pyrolysis chamber includes a vapor recovery system for removing the vapors and maintaining a vacuum in the pyrolysis chamber. The vapors are withdrawn through a heat exchanger and into a liquid/gas separator where the condensed liquids are removed and the gas is recycled for fuel or other disposition. The solid residue from the tire pyrolysis is transferred by a closed auger to a closed bin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1998
    Inventor: William R. Meador
  • Patent number: 5718117
    Abstract: The apparatus includes a plate (10) having a first layer (12) and a second layer (14) opposed to the first layer (12). A first fluid distributing conduit (28) is disposed in the first layer (12) and a second fluid distributing conduit (28) is disposed in the second layer (14). A first nozzle housing (30) having a first aperture (36) is disposed in the first fluid distributing conduit (28) and a second nozzle housing (30) having a second aperture (36) is disposed in the second fluid distributing conduit (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Motorola, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. McDunn, Linda Limper-Brenner, Minoo D. Press
  • Patent number: 5715693
    Abstract: A refrigeration system having a modulatable compressor and a Rankine cycle refrigeration circuit having at least two evaporators. The flow rate of the compressor is modulated in response to the sensed temperature of the masses being cooled, and the control circuit switches valves to control the refrigerant flow path and modulates the flow rate of the compressor to optimize the efficiency of the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 10, 1998
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas R. van der Walt, Reuven Z. Unger
  • Patent number: 5713312
    Abstract: A syngas cooler apparatus includes an elongated generally cylindrical pressure vessel having an axial extremity that is a top end during normal operation of the cooler and an axial extremity that is a bottom end during normal operation of the cooler. A laterally extending support member extends within the pressure vessel proximate to the top end and front, back, and two side walls define at least one flow channel in the pressure vessel. The pressure vessel has an inlet and an outlet communicating with the flow channel. A pendant heat exchanger surface comprising a plurality of loops is disposed in the flow channel. Each of the loops is formed from tubing and the major portion of the entire axial extent of the tubing are rectilinear axial sections that are disposed with the axes thereof substantially in a vertical plan during normal operation. The pendant is disposed in the flow channel intermediate the inlet and the outlet and is supported solely from the laterally extending support member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard E. Waryasz
  • Patent number: 5709160
    Abstract: An apparatus for the combustion of a suspension of a combustible liquid and combustible solids in particle shape, for instance carbon particles, includes a tank, a burner unit and a pipe which is connected to the burner unit and which protrudes into the tank where it is connected to a pump system. The pump system includes an eddy current pump with a branched outlet, where one of the outlet branches is connected to the pipe, while the other branch or branches is formed as a nozzle or a jet with its outlet directed into the tank, thus serving to stir the suspension in the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro a.s.
    Inventors: Arne Werge-Olsen, Anders Ruud, Inge Holden
  • Patent number: 5709094
    Abstract: An air conditioner control apparatus measures coolant temperatures and pressures at both inlet side and outlet side of a compressor, or detects a electric capacity of the coolant and the like in order to determine the kind of coolant. For example, when a CPU 31 detects that the coolant R22 is used, the apparatus selects a data item of a fluorocarbone-based coolant R22 stored in a data selection means 35 storing pressure-temperature data items, and calculates a super-heated rate or a super-cooled rate according to the ability of a compressor 1 so that the room temperature reaches the predetermined one set by the operator and setting a calculation result. Next, a vapor temperature is calculated by each indoor air conditioner side, and during a cooling operation, electronic expansion valves 9, 11 are controlled so that target super-heated temperature are reached to the temperatures in temperature sensors 17 and 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yasunori Ooyabu, Hideaki Motohashi, Megumi Komazaki, Kokichi Furuhama
  • Patent number: 5704301
    Abstract: Rotary combustor and spring assembly therefor. The combustor includes a tire surrounding a kiln and a spring assembly interposed between the tire and kiln for interconnecting the tire and kiln. The spring assembly includes a clevis member attached to the tire and a spring member having an end portion thereof pivotally connected to the clevis member and an intermediate portion thereof attached to the kiln. The other end portion of the spring member is pivotally connected to an adjacent clevis member. The spring member allows for relative motion of the tire and the kiln as the first and second end portions of the spring member pivot about their respective clevis members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation
    Inventor: George A. Blasiole
  • Patent number: 5704218
    Abstract: An integrated environmental control system is disclosed for providing conditioned supply air to loads such as a passenger cabin of an aircraft. The system comprises at least two shafts, each shaft having a fan, compressor, and turbine mechanically secured to the shaft; common heat transfer components including primary and secondary heat exchangers, a reheater, and a condenser with a water collector; lines that deliver the supply air separately through the compressors and turbines of each shaft and deliver the supply air in common through the common heat transfer components to the load; and shutoff valves secured in fluid communication with each turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. Christians, Diane G. Drew, Mark L. Harris, Erin G. Kline, Michael Zager
  • Patent number: 5701754
    Abstract: A new and improved automobile refrigerator comprising, in combination, an automobile dashboard having an exterior surface with a recess formed therein. A door is positioned over the recess to selectively open and close the recess. A hinge couples the lower edge of the door with the lower edge of the recess to allow the pivoting of the door to provide or prohibit access to the space within the recess interior of the dashboard. A box in the recess behind the door has upper and lower walls, side walls and a rear wall in the box-like configuration with an opening in the front of the walls terminating at the dashboard. Thermal insulation is located along all of the walls including the front door to abate the flow of thermal energy to and from the space within the box. A rectangular gasket is formed on the interior surface of the door adapted to contact the dashboard adjacent to the periphery of the opening. Flexible connectors have upper ends coupled to the box at upper extents thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 30, 1997
    Inventors: Young Tai Choi, Yeung H. Huh