Patents by Inventor Dennis C. Berry

Dennis C. Berry has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5192340
    Abstract: An emission control system for a fluid composition comprised of volatile constituents used to clean a hollow fiber filter or capillary flow dialyzer including a housing having a chamber for receiving the dialyzer, a control system is used for establishing a desired environment in the chamber, the dialyzer and the fibers, a separator operatively associated with the chamber for separating gas and liquid components of the fluid composition, a stripper connected to the separator for fractionating lower boiling point volatiles from the gas to return the higher boiling point volatiles to the fluid phase and yield a stripped or solvent humidified gas and a delivery system for routing the stripped gas to the chamber dialyzer and fibers as a drying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Baxter International, Inc.
    Inventors: David C. H. Grant, Randolph H. Watkins, Robert M. Sluga, Steven J. Wurgler, Gregory D. Mills, Dennis C. Berry, Jerry D. Fisher
  • Patent number: 5114608
    Abstract: A method of stabilizing chlorofluorocarbon compositions thereby is provided. The stabilized composition comprises a chlorofluorocarbon and a sufficient amount of an epoxidized, generally high molecular weight stabilizer having an oxirane content sufficient to effectively stabilize the chlorofluorocarbon. The stabilizer is preferably an epoxidized oil having a molecular weight in the range of about 300 to about 1,500 and an oxirane content of at least about 4%. The method includes the step of adding a sufficient amount of such a stabilizer to the chloroflurocarbon composition. The chlorofluorocarbon composition typically comprises chlorofluoromethane, chlorofluoroethane, mixtures thereof or a chlorofluorocarbon-alcohol azeotropic solution. Also provided is an improved continuous dialyzer cleaning method utilizing the stabilized chlorofluorocarbon composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Sluga, Randolph H. Watkins, Henry M. Gajewski, Jerry D. Fisher, Dennis C. Berry
  • Patent number: 5113883
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1992
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Sluga, Randolph H. Watkins, Jerry D. Fisher, Dennis C. Berry, Milo Eldridge
  • Patent number: 5106425
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1992
    Assignee: Baxter International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Sluga, Randolph H. Watkins, Jerry D. Fisher, Dennis C. Berry, Milo Eldridge
  • Patent number: 5082503
    Abstract: A method for maintaining a flammable solvent in a nonflammable environment involves covering the flammable solvent with a nonflammable vapor blanket provided by a nonflammable solvent, such that vapors from the flammable and nonflammable solvents form a nonflammable gaseous mixture in the blanket. Such a method is used in removal of both oil-based and polar contaminants to control the flammability potential of an alcohol solvent. An apparatus for cleaning articles using fluorocarbon and alcohol solvents includes a chamber having a plurality of compartments for containing the solvents and a bounded vapor space. At least one of the compartments contains liquid fluorocarbon and at least one other will contain liquid alcohol. The solvents voltalize into the bounded vapor space to provide a nonflammable vapor blanket over the alcohol-containing compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Baxter International Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Sluga, Randolph H. Watkins, Jerry D. Fisher, Dennis C. Berry, Milo Eldridge