Patents by Inventor Garry W. Barbee

Garry W. Barbee 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: 8293167
    Abstract: A system for treating metallic articles in an atmospheric furnace while injecting at least one fluid material within the furnace and/or in a catalyst bed connected to the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Bernard, Ralph P. Poor, Garry W. Barbee, John W. Gottschalk
  • Publication number: 20080302281
    Abstract: A system for treating metallic articles in an atmospheric furnace while injecting at least one fluid material within the furnace and/or in a catalyst bed connected to the furnace.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2006
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Inventors: William J. Bernard, Ralph P. Poor, Garry W. Barbee, John W. Gottschalk
  • Patent number: 7033446
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using an unsaturated aromatic such as benzene as the carburizing medium. The unsaturated aromatic is gas phase hydrogenated into a napthenes, such as cyclohexane, which is metered into the furnace chamber proper and functions as the carburizing gas. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the napthenes so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The unsaturated aromatic is supplied in liquid form to fuel injectors which inject the liquid aromatic as a vapor at duty cycles and firing orders to produce a uniform dispersion of the hydrocarbon gas about the work resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces. An in-situ methane infrared sensor controls the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Paul Poor, Garry W. Barbee, Stephen Harry Verhoff, James Edward Brug
  • Patent number: 6991687
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using a napthene hydrocarbon as the carburizing medium. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the napthene so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The napthene is supplied in liquid form to fuel injectors which inject the liquid napthene as a vapor at duty cycles and firing orders to produce a uniform dispersion of the hydrocarbon gas about the work resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces. An in-situ methane infrared sensor controls the process. Hydrogen is added to the napthene to either assure full carbon potential and produce methane or to perform variable carburizing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph Paul Poor, Garry W. Barbee, Stephen Harry Verhoff, James Edward Brug
  • Publication number: 20030089426
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using a napthene hydrocarbon as the carburizing medium. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the napthene so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The napthene is supplied in liquid form to fuel injectors which inject the liquid napthene as a vapor at duty cycles and firing orders to produce a uniform dispersion of the hydrocarbon gas about the work resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces. An in-situ methane infrared sensor controls the process. Hydrogen is added to the napthene to either assure full carbon potential and produce methane or to perform variable carburizing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph Paul Poor, Garry W. Barbee, Stephen Harry Verhoff, James Edward Brug
  • Publication number: 20030020214
    Abstract: Vacuum carburizing of ferrous workpieces is performed at low pressure in a vacuum furnace using an unsaturated aromatic such as benzene as the carburizing medium. The unsaturated aromatic is gas phase hydrogenated into a napthenes, such as cyclohexane, which is metered into the furnace chamber proper and functions as the carburizing gas. The furnace is constructed to be generally transparent to the napthenes so that cracking tends to occur at the workpiece which functions as a catalyst to minimize carbon deposits. The unsaturated aromatic is supplied in liquid form to fuel injectors which inject the liquid aromatic as a vapor at duty cycles and firing orders to produce a uniform dispersion of the hydrocarbon gas about the work resulting in uniform carburizing of the workpieces. An in-situ methane infrared sensor controls the process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Publication date: January 30, 2003
    Inventors: Ralph Paul Poor, Garry W. Barbee, Stephen Harry Verhoff, James Edward Brug
  • Patent number: 5554230
    Abstract: A drying system is disclosed for drying wet gases, typically produced by a gas generator to dew points less than 32.degree. F. The system uses a refrigeration cycle having a single compressor to dry the wet gas in a first evaporator while simultaneously defrosting the ice buildup on a second evaporator. The cycle then switches from the first evaporator to the second evaporator after the second evaporator is defrosted. The switching is preceded by a changeover phase in which cooled refrigerant is pulsed to the defrosted evaporator and both evaporators go on line for a short time before the system phase change occurs thus assuring control of the dried gas temperature while avoiding shock to the refrigeration system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Huber, Jerry P. Jason, Garry W. Barbee
  • Patent number: 5211820
    Abstract: A system for use in sensing the oxygen content of an industrial furnace gas typically containing hydrocarbons or hydrogen is disclosed. The system utilizes a conventional automotive EGR oxygen sensor probe positioned in an especially configured housing employing downstream flow regulating means in combination with an orificing plate in the housing to provide uniform distribution of the endothermic gas at a low temperature about the sensor to insure accurate sensor readings with minimal carbon deposition. The electrical contacts at the oxygen sensor's inner and outer electrolyte surfaces are periodically switched to an electrical power supply to cause current to flow through and heat the electrolyte to elevated temperatures while air is flowed over the electrolyte's surfaces to achieve burn out of any carbon deposits and restore the life of the oxygen sensor probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1993
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Michael J. Huber, Garry W. Barbee
  • Patent number: 5137616
    Abstract: A system for use in sensing the oxygen content of an industrial furnace gas typically containing hydrocarbons or hydrogen is disclosed. The system utilizes a conventional automotive EGR oxygen sensor probe positioned in an especially configured housing employing downstream flow regulating means in combination with an orificing plate in the housing to provide uniform distribution of the endothermic gas at a low temperature about the sensor to insure accurate sensor readings with minimal carbon deposition. The electrical contacts at the oxygen sensor's inner and outer electrolyte surfaces are periodically switched to an electrical power supply to cause current to flow through and heat the electrolyte to elevated temperatures while air is flowed over the electrolyte's surfaces to achieve burn out of any carbon deposits and restore the life of the oxygen sensor probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1992
    Assignee: Surface Combustion, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph P. Poor, Michael J. Huber, Garry W. Barbee