Patents by Inventor James A. Murray

James A. Murray 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: 5855749
    Abstract: An electrowinning cell comprised of a tank; an electrolytic solution within the tank defining a solution surface at a predetermined level within the tank; a plurality of flat metallic electrode plates, each of the plates having a support beam along an edge thereof; a support assembly disposed outside the tank for supporting a plurality of the electrodes by the support beams, the support assembly dimensioned to position the electrodes in side-by-side, spaced apart, parallel relationship with a lower portion of the electrodes immersed in the electrolytic solution and an upper portion disposed above the solution surface, the upper portions of the electrodes and the solution surface forming parallel channels extending from one side of the tank to a second side of the tank; a plurality of apertures formed in the tank wall along the one side of the tank, the apertures being disposed above the solution surface and positioned wherein at least one of the plurality of apertures is located between an adjacent pair of th
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1999
    Assignee: ElectroCopper Products Limited
    Inventors: Stephen J. Kohut, James A. Murray, Jonathan M. Berkoe
  • Patent number: 5744018
    Abstract: An electrolytic processing tank contains alternating cathodes and anodes. Each anode carries a sealing unit on either side thereof. The sealing units include flexible U-shaped sealing members which are in surface contact with neighboring cathodes. A sealing member which is T-shaped as seen in an end view is positioned adjacent the end of each anode. Each T-shaped member has a leg whose thickness is the same as that of the anodes, and a crosspiece which extends partway along the leg. The leg is aligned with a neighboring anode, and the end of the leg remote from the crosspiece abuts the anode. The crosspiece projects beyond the opposite end of the leg to form a flexible flap which establishes a seal with a wall of the processing tank. The crosspieces of neighboring T-shaped members overlap one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventors: Manuel G. Santoyo, James A. Murray, Graeme Alexander, Ron Tix, Dale F. Halter
  • Patent number: 5609738
    Abstract: In a tank confined electrolysis process, such as electrowinning or electrorefining, having circulated electroplating solution containing sulfuric acid, a multi-element cover system is applied below the electrode conductor connections and above the surface of the electrolyte bath. This cover is evacuated in the interstices below the cover and above the bath at a rate exceeding the stoichiometric ratio causing any leakage to occur into the volume overlying the bath thereby preventing acid aerosol from escape. The rate of evacuation is restricted so that humidity is maintain under the cover and over the surface of the bath to prevent the formation of crystals formed from aerosol droplets which become supersaturated. In a preferred embodiment, a circular weir in combination with gas discharge over the weir to a downcomer is disclosed. Entrainment of air over the weir and into the downcomer is disclosed to provide sufficient pumping for evacuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Murray, Michael R. Nees, William P. Imrie, Christopher C. Rayner, Chris L. Pfalzgraff, Robert K. Bates, Valmer H. Ness, Terrance J. Cox
  • Patent number: 5470445
    Abstract: In a tank confined electrolysis process, such as electrowinning or electrorefining, having circulated electroplating solution containing sulfuric acid, a multi-element cover system is applied below the electrode conductor connections and above the surface of the electrolyte bath. This cover is evacuated in the interstices below the cover and above the bath at a rate exceeding the stoichiometric ratio causing any leakage to occur into the volume overlying the bath thereby preventing acid aerosol from escape. The rate of evacuation is restricted so that humidity is maintain under the cover and over the surface of the bath to prevent the formation of crystals formed from aerosol droplets which become supersaturated. In a preferred embodiment, a circular weir in combination with gas discharge over the weir to a downcomer is disclosed. Entrainment of air over the weir and into the downcomer is disclosed to provide sufficient pumping for evacuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 28, 1995
    Assignee: Bechtel Group, Inc.
    Inventors: James A. Murray, Michael R. Nees, William P. Imrie, Christopher C. Rayner, Chris L. Pfalzgraff, Robert K. Bates, Valmer H. Ness, Terrance J. Cox
  • Patent number: 4508472
    Abstract: A method for preventing or greatly reducing damage to building foundations resulting from the swelling of moisture-expansive clay beneath and about such foundations. The method includes the steps of first forming a trench about the foundation, the trench extending well below the basement or on-grade floor slab of that foundation, and then substantially filling the trench with an extrudable plastic mass of hydrated lime and water to help stabilize the moisture-expansive clay and to provide a yieldable buffer capable of being displaced upwardly to accommodate horizontal expansion of the clay beneath and about the foundation, thereby relieving lateral stresses and reducing upward forces against the floor slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1982
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Handy, James A. Murray
  • Patent number: 4477914
    Abstract: In a digital system, especially where PCM coded speech is conveyed over twisted pair cables optimized for analogue speech, a pulse is received distorted, the distortion being especially bad on the trailing edge of the pulse. This decays slowly enough to cause intersymbol interference with the next pulse.This is overcome by applying the signal from an amplifier (11), FIG. 4, to one input of a subtractor (12) via a delay and attenuation circuit (13-15) and to the other input of the subtractor directly. The delay (13) is such as to optimize the peak of the received pulse, and the attentuation level is calculated to cancel out the tail of the received pulse so that it is zero at the center of the sampling point of the next bit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Murray, David Nyman
  • Patent number: 4424498
    Abstract: An adaptive equalizer for a twisted pair telephone line comprises a differential input/output amplifier, with the line connected to its positive input via a resistor and DC blocking capacitors. The junction of these capacitors is grounded via an adjustable impedance.The amplifier has a feedback loop with another adjustable impedance also connected to the negative input of the amplifier.Line impedance variations vary the impedance of both of the adjustable impedances, which, include diodes to separately compensate for the line's attenuation and frequency characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1981
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1984
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventors: James A. Murray, David Nyman
  • Patent number: 4220816
    Abstract: A digital duplex transmission system for use in a local area uses a modified dipulse code from the exchange terminal to the subscriber terminal and either a different modified dipulse code or a modified AMI (Alternate Mark Inversion) code in the other direction to achieve time separation of signals at each terminal. Incorporation of a hybrid separator in each terminal further improves the performance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1980
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventors: George A. Howells, James A. Murray, Douglas E. Woodman
  • Patent number: 4022629
    Abstract: The manufacture of cement clinker in a rotary vessel wherein cement raw materials are heated to complete calcination and effect clinkering by the combustion of fuels in the gaseous atmosphere within the vessel is improved by incorporating into the cement raw materials a residual fuel having a low volatiles content and a high ignition temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1977
    Assignee: Kaiser Industries Corporation
    Inventors: Hoke M. Garrett, James A. Murray