Patents Examined by Timothy M. McMahon
  • Patent number: 5505917
    Abstract: A concentric receiver tube for passing water to be disinfected twice before the aperture path of a concentric solar reflector. The novel receiver tube uses the water that is heated by the reflector to additionally pre-heat fresh incoming water to maximize the heat transfer exchange rate. The novel concentric tube receiver to preheat and disinfect water when the source of heat are combustion gases or catalyst beds. The maximum disinfecting temperature needs only be 90 C in order to create an instantaneous disinfection condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Inventor: Robert K. Collier, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5506146
    Abstract: A method for the determination of the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) in a one-step reaction, in which the determination of APTT is initiated by contacting a reagent that contains the substances necessary for the APTT determination in a premixed form, with the sample to be tested. A reagent which contains the substances necessary for the APTT determination is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Stiftung Fur Diagnostische Forschung
    Inventor: Dieter Josef
  • Patent number: 5503789
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is a "METHOD FOR FORMING AND MAKING A CARVABLE/MOLDABLE MATERIAL" used for making artistic works of art. The method includes a mixture of pozzolan, plaster of paris, a liquid binder and water which when mixed, then poured into a mold and allowed to cure, forms a workpeice of carvable material. However a most important feature of the present invention is the fact that at any later time if the artist so desires, application of a small amount of water upon the surface of the workpeice will restore the workpeice into a moldable condition so as to allow the artist to recarve, mold, shape and/or restore, unlike any artistic carvable/moldable material heretofore disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Inventors: Harold L. Hull, John D. Barton
  • Patent number: 5503804
    Abstract: A catalyzer control apparatus for purifying exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine has an electrically heated catalyzer that is heated by a battery which battery is isolated from the conventionally provided engine battery. The temperature of the catalyzer is detected by a sensor and a control circuit located with an engine control unit selectively applies power to heat the catalyzer. The catalyzer is arranged to be pre-heated prior to engine start and by isolating the battery for heating the catalyzer from the normally provided engine battery so, because the catalyzer takes a great power, engine starting is enhanced by virtue of having separate batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignees: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Automotive Engineering Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masakatsu Fujishita, Takeshi Atago, Keiichi Mashino, Suetaro Shibukawa, Shigeyuki Yoshihara
  • Patent number: 5503806
    Abstract: A new and improved airbag inflator including a varying permeability filter. The inflator includes a housing for holding gas generating materials and has an outer diffuser wall with a plurality of discharge or diffuser ports arranged to direct the gas into an airbag for rapid inflation. The housing includes a ring of diffuser ports spaced apart around the periphery of the outer diffuser side wall and these ports are generally closer to one of the top or bottom end walls of the container than they are to the opposite end wall. A new and improved gas filter of varying permeability is mounted in the housing inside the periphery of the outer diffuser wall adjacent to the ring of ports. The annular filter has a gas permeability characteristic that varies between a maximum permeability rating in a first region farthest away from the ring of ports to a minimum permeability rating adjacent a second region closer to the ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Morton International, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian H. Fulmer, Todd S. Parker
  • Patent number: 5504009
    Abstract: This invention consists in a device consisting of a vessel (1) containing chemical solution soluble in water, a sample room or sample itself (13), and electric conduction meter (3); and a method in which the chemical solution is brought into contact with the sample so as to absorb water adsorbed to the surface of the sample and then electric conductivity of the chemical solution is measured. By means of such a structure as above, water content having been adsorbed by the sample can be measured with high precision in a short, period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Tadahiro Ohmi
    Inventors: Tadahiro Ohmi, Jun Takano
  • Patent number: 5496523
    Abstract: A micro volume, filtered pipette tip device useful with either of two respective pipettors comprising (i) a manual or electronic, air displacement pipettor operable within the approximate range of 0 to 20 microliters and having a relatively long insert tip, and (ii) a manual or electronic, air displacement pipettor operable within the approximate range of 20 to 200 microliters and having a relatively short insert tip. The filtered pipette tip device includes a pipette tip body having insert and fill chambers extending in continuous tapering configuration from the mounting end to the fluid contacting end. A filter is positioned within the axial bore in the intermediate section, providing a dividing barrier between the insert and fill chambers of the pipette tip device. The insert chamber includes a tapering internal wall structure configured to receive a continuously tapering terminal insert portion of each of the two respective pipettors in a snug, sealed fit within the insert chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: Sorenson Bioscience
    Inventors: Arnona Gazit, Abraham Yaniv
  • Patent number: 5496741
    Abstract: A device and process for increasing analyte concentration in a sorbent from a source of analytes contained in a sample uses means for increasing a temperature differential between the sample and the sorbent. The sorbent can be a polymeric coating on a substrate. The sorbent is located in a headspace of the sample and has internal cooling means such as liquid carbon dioxide so that the sorbent can be cooled relative to the sample. Preferably, the sample is heated to further increase the temperature differential between the sample and the sorbent. As the temperature differential increases, a partition coefficient of the sorbent/sample also increases. Preferably, the sorbent is located in a headspace of the sample. Previously, for certain analytes, the partition coefficient was too low and the concentration of analytes extracted into the sorbent from the sample was insufficient to provide an accurate measurement of concentration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignee: University of Waterloo
    Inventor: Janusz B. Pawliszyn
  • Patent number: 5494631
    Abstract: A pair of semispherical molds, each having dimple-forming projections on a connecting portion is used to shape a resinous material into a golf ball having dimples on a seam corresponding to the connecting portion. A ball fixing means is utilized to hold the golf ball thereto with the seam uncovered. A cutting member disposed at an end of a rotary shaft, and having a radius of curvature smaller than a sectional radius of curvature of the dimple is utilized to remove a burr from the seam of the golf ball. The rotary shaft rotates on its axis and moves forward when the cutting member is brought into contact with the dimple on the seam and backward when the cutting member is brought into contact with a convex land portion. The cutting member is then pressed against the seam successively in alternate contact with the dimples and the land portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Rubber Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kengo Oka, Tadahiro Ebisuno, Keiji Moriyama, Kazushige Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 5494826
    Abstract: A microcalorimeter includes instrumentation for reducing measurement errors due to system fluctuations. One or more sensors is utilized to detect heat content of a sample gas, and create a composition independent system. Instrumentation for automatically compensating for pressure and temperature variations is also employed in the microcalorimeter. A method for continuously measuring the BTU content of a gas utilizing the microcalorimeter includes steps for adjusting system parameters in response to changes in ambient conditions and sample gas composition to further reduce measurement error.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph R. Stetter, G. Jorgan Maclay
  • Patent number: 5492676
    Abstract: A denitrification system comprises an electrostatic precipitator (3) in the foremost stage of the system inlet, an ozone supply nozzle (4) for an ozonizer (5) for generating ozone required for oxidizing the NO into NO.sub.2, followed by a fan or an agitator (6), and an NO.sub.2 absorbent filter (7) in the final stage arranged in that order. Further, this system may comprise the control of feeding back the residual O.sub.3 concentration after oxidation, to achieve the higher denitrification rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Matsushita Seiko Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Katatani, Akira Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 5490974
    Abstract: The tubular heater comprises numerous tubes, which are disposed in a combustion chamber and contain catalyst. A synthesis gas, which mainly comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, is prepared in the tubes. There is a risk of a formation of carbides (metal dusting corrosion) on the outside surface of the outlet ends of the tubes. To prevent such corrosion, a gaseous or vaporous protecting fluid, which is substantially free of CO, is supplied to the region surrounding the outlet ends of the tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1996
    Assignee: Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Friedrich Hohmann, Werner Roll, Hans G. Mortel
  • Patent number: 5489415
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved urinal block composition comprised of fluid-soluble chemical components, and an improved dispenser to be used with that urinal block. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a unique combination of chemicals that when blended together to form a urinal block composition yields a stable product that is effective at deodorizing and cleaning urinals and toilets. The improvement of using an acid stable protease enzyme with the other fluid-soluble chemical components of the urinal block composition provides the advantage of dissolving and otherwise neutralizing odors associated with urinals and toilets. The urinal block is retained in and dispensable from a disposable dispenser assembly 10 for use in urinals and toilets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Eftichios Van Vlahakis
    Inventors: Eftichios Van Vlahakis, John A. Manolas, Michael J. Marrese
  • Patent number: 5486339
    Abstract: According to the invention the non-catalytic high-pressure process for producing the melamine occurs in one single body having a vertical cylindrical shape divided into three sectors separated by means of diaphragms, each sector communicating with the other two through pipelines separated from one another. The top sector (L) is provided with at least one nozzle (1) for letting in the molten urea, with at least one distributor for the reaction gas (3), with at least one pipe (7) connecting said sector with the bottom reaction sector (R), with at least one valve (15) for extracting the residual gas and for adjusting the operating pressure of the reactor and with at least one exchanger cooling the urea.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Inventor: Wladimiro Bizzotto
  • Patent number: 5486334
    Abstract: Methods are provided for inhibiting the corrosion of metals in contact with aqueous systems. Sulfono benzotriazole compounds or their salts are added to these aqueous systems to inhibit the corrosion of metal, such as iron surfaces present in cooling water systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignee: Betz Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Orin Hollander
  • Patent number: 5484577
    Abstract: A catalytic hydrocarbon reformer operates at lower temperature and pressure relative to conventional reformers. Convective heat transfer between the hot combustion gas stream and the reactor tube is enhanced through use of a narrow gap heat transfer area, which induces turbulent flow of the combustion gas stream across the reactor tube. The reactor tube includes a catalyst fines collection tube to accumulate and retain catalyst particles or fines entrained in the reformate gas stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 16, 1996
    Assignee: Ballard Power System Inc.
    Inventors: Richard F. Buswell, Ronald Cohen, Joseph V. Clausi, Stanley L. Leavitt, David S. Watkins
  • Patent number: 5482553
    Abstract: A system for pin-point injection or application of a viscous, hot-melt conformal coating which is injected or applied onto a surface of an article and is readily removable from the surface to provide a temporary mask to selected areas of the article. The system includes a material supply unit which can accept the coating in at least one of granular, flake, chunk or block form and can heat the coating to transform the coating into a substantially viscous form for pumping out of the unit by a pump member. A heatable hose is also included having first and second opposite ends, the first end being connected for operable communication with the pump member and the hose including a heating element controlled by the supply unit and positioned along the length of the hose for maintaining a desired temperature within an interior of the hose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Joe F. Loftin, James E. Roberson, Wayne A. Wood
  • Patent number: 5480618
    Abstract: A gas generator apparatus for generating gas for inflating a motor vehicle airbag comprises an ignition device including a first housing and a first pyrotechnic charge disposed in the first housing; a gas generator including a second housing having an opening, a sealing membrane covering the opening for hermetically sealing the second housing and being located adjacent to the first pyrotechnic charge in the first housing, a second pyrotechnic charge located in the second housing adjacent to the membrane, and a gas generating pyrotechnic material arranged in the second housing to be responsive to a combustion of the second pyrotechnic charge, wherein a combustion of the first pyrotechnic charge initiates a combustion of the second pyrotechnic charge through the membrane which in turn initiates combustion of the gas generating pyrotechnic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Autoliv Development AB
    Inventors: Staffan Calsson, Torsten Persson
  • Patent number: 5480619
    Abstract: A combined regenerative scrubber and condensing heat exchanger system comprises a housing having an inlet and an outlet for channeling flue gas into and out of the housing. A first heat exchanger is located in the housing for contacting a downward flow of the flue gas for providing an initial cooling of the flue gas. The flue gas is channeled through a second heat exchanger in an upward direction for providing a further cooling of the flue gas. A reagent scrubbing spray device is used to spray reagent into the flue gas as well as onto the second heat exchanger for removing SO.sub.2 from the flue gas and for cleaning the second heat exchanger. A regeneration device is used to regenerate reagent from the reaction product as well as to recover SO.sub.2 from the reaction product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: The Babcock & Wilcox Company
    Inventors: Dennis W. Johnson, Pervaje A. Bhat
  • Patent number: 5478535
    Abstract: This apparatus for gas-liquid reactions includes a vessel (1) which is gas-tight and capable of withstanding pressure, a rotatory agitator device (3) to provide for the gas-liquid contact and a heat exchanger device. This heat exchanger device is provided as an assembly of plates (4) positioned approximately vertically around the agitator device, in such a manner as to form an angle of 0 to 70.degree. with respect to the radius, in the direction of rotation of the agitator device, and a heat exchanger fluid circulates inside these plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignees: Biazzi SA, Exato GmbH
    Inventors: Gerard Fierz, Peter Forschner, Jean-Pierre Landert, Pierre Marmillod