Patents by Inventor Don H. Coers

Don H. Coers 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: 5511383
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting the level of cold liquid within a vessel by sensing the expansion of cold liquid due to ambient heat leak, and venting pressurized vapor from the vessel to reduce the rate of expansion of the cold liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Don H. Coers, Ronald C. Weber, Richard J. Kooy
  • Patent number: 5325894
    Abstract: Apparatus for, and a method of, withdrawing liquefied natural gas stored in a primary insulated storage tank at a low pressure and at a temperature close to its boiling point; increasing the pressure of the withdrawn liquefied natural gas and then feeding the pressurized liquefied natural gas through a heat exchanger to warm the liquefied natural gas to a subcooled or near saturated liquid condition at a temperature of about -220.degree. F. to -126.degree. F. when at a pressure of about 50 psig to 550 psig; and feeding the said warmed and pressurized liquefied natural gas to an insulated tank on a vehicle at a refueling facility, said vehicle using liquefied natural gas as its fuel and the insulated vehicle fuel tank being adapted to safely contain and store the said liquefied natural gas in liquid form, at an approximate saturated condition at a temperature of about -220.degree. F. to -126.degree. F. and a pressure of about 50 psig to 550 psig.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 5, 1994
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Technical Services Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Kooy, Don H. Coers
  • Patent number: 4765143
    Abstract: A system for storing electrical energy in the form of triple-point CO.sub.2 and then using such stored energy plus heat to generate electrical power. A reservoir of carbon dioxide liquid at about the triple point is created in an insulated vessel. Liquid carbon dioxide is withdrawn and pumped to a high pressure, which high pressure carbon dioxide is heated and expanded to create rotary power which generates electrical power. The discharge stream from the expander is cooled and returned to the vessel where carbon dioxide vapor is condensed by melting solid carbon dioxide. A fuel-fired gas turbine connected to an electrical power generator can be used to heat the high pressure carbon dioxide, and an ambient air stream flowing toward the gas turbine can be cooled by giving up heat to the high pressure carbon dioxide stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: CBI Research Corporation
    Inventors: John T. Crawford, Lewis Tyree, Jr., Harry C. Fischer, Don H. Coers
  • Patent number: 4714175
    Abstract: A storage tank for liquids is provided with a vertically movable horizontal deck which separates a liquid above the deck from a liquid below the deck. The deck and tank have line and pulley mechanisms to prevent the deck from skewing or tilting during vertical displacement. The liquid above the deck can be the same or different than the liquid below the deck but generally they have different densities so that the deck can float at the interface between the liquids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1987
    Assignee: CBI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Don H. Coers
  • Patent number: 4553524
    Abstract: A portable, compact, gas-fired cooking and barbecuing device for frying and boiling food in conventional cooking utensils, or barbecuing food when a barbecuing attachment is utilized. The device includes a bowl-shaped body having a bottom and a relatively deep, cylindrical side wall. A gas burner assembly is mounted in the bowl-shaped body so that the annular burner of the assembly is positioned toward the bottom of the body to protect it from wind effects. Three circumferentially spaced, radially extending support members connect the burner to the cylindrical side wall of the bowl and serve as supports for cooking utensils in which food is to be fried or boiled. Mounting portions on the other ends of the support members extend above the upper edge of the body for supporting large sized cooking utensils. When the lower cylindrical portion of an annular barbecuing attachment is engaged with the support members of the burner assembly, food items may be barbecued on the barbecuing grill of the attachment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Inventors: Don R. Wheat, Don H. Coers
  • Patent number: 4506508
    Abstract: Condensing exhaust steam by conveying a stream of the exhaust steam under vacuum to a base cooling tower to condense the steam so long as the heat rejection capacity of the base cooling tower is adequate to condense the steam; supplementing the base cooling tower, when it provides inadequate cooling, by contemporaneously also withdrawing cold cooling water from a cold water reservoir and injecting the cooling water into the stream of exhaust steam under vacuum to condense a portion of the steam to water such that the remaining portion of the steam is condensed to water in the base cooling tower; withdrawing hot condensed water from the exhaust steam stream and feeding a portion thereof to a hot reservoir; withdrawing hot cooling water from the hot reservoir, when the cooling tower capacity is adequate to decrease the temperature of the exhaust steam to below the temperature of the hot cooling water in the hot reservoir, and subjecting the withdrawn hot cooling water to the exhaust steam vacuum to cool the hot
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1985
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: Don H. Coers, John T. Crawford