Patents Examined by Yolanda E. Wilkins
  • Patent number: 6372053
    Abstract: A variable pressure spray type vehicle laundry apparatus in which a carriage is mounted for longitudinal displacement along overhead parallel beams and an inverted L shaped spray arm carrying both horizontally and vertically directed nozzles circumscribes the vehicle to be laundered. In the preferred embodiment two reversely similar L shaped spray arms are used and caused to operate through a butterfly type cycle to spray various fluids at different pressures on the vehicle. For low pressure operations, the twin arm system is centered over the vehicle and both spray arms are supplied with low pressure fluid at the same time. For high pressure operations, the left and right spray arms are operated in sequence and each is maintained at an optimal spray arm to vehicle spacing during its operating cycle. The carriage is provided with a laterally translatable shuttle structure for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Inventors: Michael J. Belanger, Robert J. Wentworth
  • Patent number: 6357455
    Abstract: For cleaning an adhesive applicator with driven adhesive rollers, which can be rotated around vertical axes and which together with a housing, which is positioned at these adhesive rollers and whose side edges rest or almost rest against the adhesive rollers, forms an adhesive chamber, the adhesive is removed first from the adhesive chamber, for example by opening a floor seal. Then wash water is introduced into the adhesive chamber. The wash water is displaced into turbulent flows by driving the adhesive rollers alternating in opposite directions to each other. The wash water is drained after a fixed cleaning period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Windmöller & Hölscher
    Inventors: Ruediger Duwendag, Olaf Riedel
  • Patent number: 6328812
    Abstract: A pipeline-cleaning method and device thereof is built and applied by firstly forming a sealing circuit including a pipeline pending cleaning, a pressure control device, and two units of pipeline-cleaning device A, A′. A storage tank filled with rigid granules in each pipeline-cleaning device A, A′ is provided with a filter net unit at its lower portion and a filter unit at its upper portion. When cleaning, a pressurized liquid is supplied by the pressure control device to drive the granules circulating the circuit and thereby remove dirt and sediment deposited on the pipe wall by collision and rubbing of the granules to the pipeline inner wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Inventor: Ta-Hsin Huang
  • Patent number: 6328809
    Abstract: The present apparatus is a method and system for treating and drying the surface of an object. According to the described method, with a wet object positioned in a vessel, a drying vapor is introduced into the vessel. The drying vapor condenses on the surface of the object and reduces the surface tension of the residual process fluid, causing the residual process fluid to flow off of the surface. In one embodiment, wet processing of the object and a subsequent evacuation of process fluid is carried out in the vessel prior to introduction of the drying vapor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: SCP Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Tamer Elsawy, R. Mark Hall, Josh Butler
  • Patent number: 6314970
    Abstract: A recycling, pressure cleaning system for micro dispensing tips wherein the cleaning fluid is drawn into a plunger assembly from around the submerged, micro dispensing tip, and then, under high pressure created by pressing down on the plunger, the cleaning fluid is pressurized to move rapidly through the micro dispensing tip. This pressurized fluid moving rapidly through the tip and hypo combination, forces the removal of contaminants. The procedure is repeatable. The cleaning fluid(s) remain contained within the unit. The operator and surrounding environment are protected from release of the cleaning fluid(s) and/or contaminants. The entire top section of the cleaning unit is easily removed by rotating the top section a small amount from the bottom. This allows the operator ease in access to the micro dispensing tip during attachment, removal, and inspection. In addition, removal of the contaminated waste fluid and cleaning efficiency of the cleaning apparatus is increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Inventor: Alan L. Everett
  • Patent number: 6290777
    Abstract: An electronic parts members, or the like, such as the silicon wafer, etc., is washed with wash water. The wash water is prepared by dissolving a hydrogen gas or ozone gas in ultra pure water and has a negative or positive oxidation-reduction potential. This wash water has remarkably improved detergency for electronic parts. In addition, when the pH of the wash water is adjusted, the electronic parts members can be washed more effectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignees: Organo Corp., Alps Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Imaoka, Yukinari Yamashita
  • Patent number: 6284052
    Abstract: A method is provided to clean the interior surfaces, and especially the wafer chuck, of a metal vapor deposition chamber. The method takes advantage of the fact that the chamber controls the introduction and removal of chemical atmospheres, and the temperature inside the chamber. The method first oxidizes the surface to be cleaned with an oxygen plasma, and then removes the oxide products as a vapor with the use of Hhfac. The oxidization is controlled through the use of oxygen atmosphere, temperature, and radio frequency power levels. In this manner, the wafer chuck is cleaned of deposition byproducts without disassembly of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignees: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc., Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tue Nguyen, Lawrence J. Charneski
  • Patent number: 6283132
    Abstract: Disclosed for cleaning an anesthesia spirometry absorber circuit is a cleaning and drying apparatus which includes an adapter for introducing fluids into the exhalation valve after the exhalation valve dome has been removed, a proportionating disk, to be inserted in place of the prior art exhalation valve disk, for directing fluids from the exhalation valve simultaneously into the spirometry valve and into the spigot end of the exhalation valve, a shunt for connecting the exhalation valve spigot end to the inhalation valve spigot end, and a collector for gathering fluids exiting from the spirometry valve and inhalation valve. The collector is insertable between the top cap and bottom cap in place of the removable absorbent canisters of the absorber circuit. An air blower-heater is disclosed for introducing air into the adapter to dry the absorber circuit. The air blower-heater is configured to rest within and to be supported by the adapter, which is securely attachable atop the exhalation valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Inventors: Roger D. Stephens, Erwin Schmidmeister
  • Patent number: 6261380
    Abstract: A method of reusing a coated substrate having a surface coating fixed to the material substrate surface, comprising the steps: (a) allowing the coated substrate, which carries deposits on its surface, to swell as a coated composition to which said deposits adhere, and (b) drying said coated substrate to reuse said coated substrate wherein the coated substrate comprises a material substrate and a coating composition fixed to the surface of said material substrate, said coating composition comprising a crosslinked water swellable hydrophilic resin which is solid in air at ambient temperature and from which surface deposits are readily removable, such that said coated material substrate is reusable, and wherein the condition of said swellable hydrophilic resin is such that while said hydrophilic resin swells in the presence of water it is not washed away from said surface of said material substrate by water when the deposits are readily removed with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Kohno, Hiroyuki Mitsuhashi, Shoji Saibara, Kazushi Miyata
  • Patent number: 6260561
    Abstract: A method for cleaning the interior surfaces of a receptacle holding a body of water comprises providing the receptacle, providing an aqueous solution having from about 1 to about 100 weight percent of an aliphatic amine or salt thereof, adding the aqueous solution to the water within the receptacle. The aliphatic amine is selected from among the following: CH3CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2CH2NH2, R—O—(CH2)3NH2 and R—O—(CH2)3NH(CH2)3NH2 wherein R is an aliphatic hydrocarbon having from 8 to 10 carbon atoms, R optionally having additional ether linkages such as CnH(n+1)—(O—CH2CH2)n′, and wherein n is an integer from 8 to 10 and n′ is an integer from 1 to 5. When the aqueous solution is added to the water, flocculus or precipitants are substantially not formed in the water proximate to the point of addition. Also disclosed is a swimming pool having a liner and a body of water within the liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Charles D. Gartner, Lisa M. Cooke, Debra G. Mendrick, George A. Paul
  • Patent number: 6250317
    Abstract: Method for the removal of an applied film having a resin containing a unit represented by the following formula (1) as a component thereof, the method including contacting the applied film with a mixture (A) comprising (a) an acidic compound and (b) water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Kansai Paint Co. Ltd
    Inventor: Yasuharu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6197124
    Abstract: A process for removing a multiple coating film or an adhering substance and a layer of a cured adhesive agent which comprises a step of contacting a coated article (A) containing a multiple coating film having a lower coating layer formed on a substrate and an upper coating layer formed on the lower coating layer or an adhering substance (B) being allowed to adhere to a substrate by a layer of a cured adhesive agent with a mixture (C) comprising an acidic compound (a) and water as an essential component, the lower coating layer containing a cured binder resin having a chemical structure shown by the following chemical formula (1) and the layer of the cured adhesive agent containing a cured binder resin having a chemical structure shown by the above-mentioned chemical formula (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Kansai Paint Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuharu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 6179931
    Abstract: As a method by which failed products of hard-coated plastic lenses, especially hard-coated high-refractive-index plastic lenses can be regenerated to be in a re-usable condition, plastic lenses coated with a hard coat consisting essentially of an organopolysiloxane compound and an inorganic oxide, are contacted with an aqueous solution of a silicate and/or a phosphate. For example, an aqueous solution of 30% trisodium phosphate heated at 50° C. is sprayed over hard-coated plastic lenses for 5 minutes. The hard coat is removed from the lenses, while the surface of the coat-removed lenses is not roughed. The coat-removed lenses are re-usable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Asahi Lite Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Kobayashi, Yuyoshi Saito, Shoji Kato
  • Patent number: 6168672
    Abstract: A semiconductor wafer processing system with a multi-tasking sequencer control that performs an automatic cleaning process for the process chamber or chambers of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventor: Thu Van Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6165282
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described for removing contaminants from an article using a supercritical or near supercritical solvent fluid held at substantially constant pressure in a pressure vessel. The article to be cleaned is first contacted with a solvent fluid in which the contaminant is soluble at a first supercritical or near-supercritical temperature. The contaminate-containing fluid is then cooled or heated to a second supercritical or near supercritical temperature to lower the solubility of the contaminant in the supercritical fluid and thereby precipitate or phase separate the contaminant. The contaminant is then recovered. Movement of the solvent fluid within the pressure vessel is preferably by convection induced by heating and cooling means in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Southwest Research Institute
    Inventors: Mary C. Marshall, John G. Franjione, Christopher J. Freitas
  • Patent number: 6165280
    Abstract: An assembly is provided for cleaning toner resin from the operating parts of a printing device. The assembly comprises a porous member impregnated with a silicone copolymer and a rigid member with a supporting base to mount said porous member. The assembly is preferably a two-part kit having a brush member for wiping components of the printing device and a pad member mountable for stationary positioning within said printing device for scrubbing components of the printing device as they move relative to the mounted pad. The silicone copolymer has the formula ##STR1## where x represents from about 98.8 molar percent to about 99.5 molar percent, y represents from about 0.5 molar percent to 1.2 molar percent and R comprises from about 70% by weight to about 100% by weight of a C.sub.15 -C.sub.60 alkyl group and from about 0% by weight to about 30% by weight of a C.sub.2 -C.sub.14 alkyl group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Larry Oral Aulick, George Nicholas Powers, Mark Stephen Weisman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6153017
    Abstract: A method for removal of hydrocarbon materials from solid particulate soil contaminated with the hydrocarbon materials. The method comprises forming an aqueous slurry of a mixture of a hydrophobic adsorbent selected from foamed synthetic materials or natural materials which entrap gas, with the soil in the presence of water. The adsorbent has a density less than water. The slurry is mixed for a period of time, and a gravity separation of the adsorbent from the aqueous admixture thus obtained is effected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2000
    Assignee: Petrozyme Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Owen P. Ward, Ajay Singh
  • Patent number: 6135128
    Abstract: A method and system for in-process cleaning of an ion source (12) is provided. The ion source (12) comprises (i) a plasma chamber (22) formed by chamber walls (112, 114, 116) that bound an ionization zone (120); (ii) a source of ionizable dopant gas (66) and a first mechanism (68) for introducing said ionizable dopant gas into said plasma chamber; (iii) a source of cleaning gas (182) and a second mechanism (184) for introducing said cleaning gas into said plasma chamber; and (iv) an exciter (130) at least partially disposed within said chamber for imparting energy to said ionizable dopant gas and said cleaning gas to create a plasma within said plasma chamber. The plasma comprises disassociated and ionized constituents of said dopant gas and disassociated and ionized constituents of said cleaning gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael A. Graf, Victor M. Benveniste
  • Patent number: 6132520
    Abstract: A gas turbine engine component having a thermal barrier coating is immersed in an inorganic hydroxide bath having a high concentration of alkali or alkaline earth hydroxide with the bath at ambient (atmospheric) pressure and elevated temperature for a time sufficient to effect rapid detachment of the thermal barrier coating for removal from the substrate. The component then optionally can be immersed in a water bath to remove any remaining thermal barrier coating. The thermal barrier coating is removed without detectable damage to the substrate or any bondcoat present thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Howmet Research Corporation
    Inventors: John E. Schilbe, Joel L. Cockerill, Kenneth S. Murphy, Bruce M. Warnes
  • Patent number: 6126757
    Abstract: A method of preventing asphalt and tar from sticking to paving equipment comprises diluting a concentrate with about four to about 50 parts water to one part concentrate and spraying, rolling or brushing the diluted concentrate on the equipment, coating the dilution on equipment prior to its coming into contact with tar or asphalt. The concentrate comprises a fatty acid amide or mixture of fatty acid amides, a fatty acid neutralized with an excess of an alkyl- or alkanol- or mixed-type amine or ammonia, and an optional solvent or solvents. The chief advantages of the instant invention are that the dilutions are viscous, and so prevent the diluted material from running off of the equipment prior to contact with tar or asphalt, and that the diluted material leaves a lubricious film on the surface even after all the water in the diluted film has evaporated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: Chemtek, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Gates Kinnaird