Patents by Inventor James Butterworth

James Butterworth 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: 11976873
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooler includes a cold region, a heat-transfer fluid circuit, the cold region being positioned in the circuit, and an application heat exchanger configured to exchange calories with a device to be cooled. The cooler includes at least one passive non-return valve fluidly connected to the cold region, the heat exchanger having at least one first fluid inlet positioned downstream of the non-return valve in the flow direction of the heat-transfer fluid, the heat-transfer fluid circulating from the end of the cold region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: L'AIR LIQUIDE, SOCIETE ANONYME POUR L'ETUDE ET L'EXPLOITATION DES PROCEDES GEORGES CLAUDE
    Inventors: James Butterworth, Clément Chassaing
  • Publication number: 20240125414
    Abstract: A bellows member (10) for use in connecting two plumbing interfaces to one another. The bellows member is a generally hollow design with cuff ends (12, 14), each of which connects to an ends of another interface. The bellows member has a flexible bellows body center section that moves to accommodate operational off-axis misalignment, while being able to absorb vacuum and pressure differentials. The disclosed bellows resists vacuum implosion and internal pressurization. The flexible center section is provided with a plurality of convolutes (34, 36, 38) oriented radially outwardly on a horizontal axis. The bellows functions to accommodate misalignment between the two plumbing interfaces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2021
    Publication date: April 18, 2024
    Inventors: James W. Pomeroy, Christoph Goeschel, Matthew Butterworth
  • Patent number: 11585599
    Abstract: Device and method for the cryogenic purification of a stream of gas, comprising a purification circuit comprising a first inlet and a first set of filters arranged in series, the first set of filters comprising a terminal heat exchanger in a heat-exchange relationship with a cold source, the purification circuit comprising, downstream of the terminal exchanger, a first outlet, the device comprising at least one drive member intended to set the stream of gas in motion in the circuit, the purification circuit further comprising, between the terminal exchanger and the first outlet, a second set of filter(s), and the at least one drive member being configured to set two successive volumes of gas for purification in motion in opposite directions of circulation in the circuit. The invention also relates to a machine including such a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: James Butterworth, Yan Pennec
  • Publication number: 20220412637
    Abstract: A cryogenic cooler includes a cold region, a heat-transfer fluid circuit, the cold region being positioned in the circuit, and an application heat exchanger configured to exchange calories with a device to be cooled. The cooler includes at least one passive non-return valve fluidly connected to the cold region, the heat exchanger having at least one first fluid inlet positioned downstream of the non-return valve in the flow direction of the heat-transfer fluid, the heat-transfer fluid circulating from the end of the cold region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2020
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: James BUTTERWORTH, Clément CHASSAING
  • Publication number: 20200124347
    Abstract: Device and method for the cryogenic purification of a stream of gas, comprising a purification circuit comprising a first inlet and a first set of filters arranged in series, the first set of filters comprising a terminal heat exchanger in a heat-exchange relationship with a cold source, the purification circuit comprising, downstream of the terminal exchanger, a first outlet, the device comprising at least one drive member intended to set the stream of gas in motion in the circuit, the purification circuit further comprising, between the terminal exchanger and the first outlet, a second set of filter(s), and the at least one drive member being configured to set two successive volumes of gas for purification in motion in opposite directions of circulation in the circuit. The invention also relates to a machine including such a device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Publication date: April 23, 2020
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: James BUTTERWORTH, Yan PENNEC
  • Patent number: 9784409
    Abstract: A device for filling a tank with a pressurized gas, in particular with pressurized hydrogen, comprising a pressurized-gas source and a circuit for transferring gas from the source to the tank, the transfer circuit including a member for expanding and cooling the gas in order to lower the pressure and temperature of the gas from the source to respective values determined with a view to filling the tank, characterized in that the gas-expansion and cooling member includes a refrigerator that expands the gas by means of a Stirling or Ericsson thermodynamic cycle, the refrigerator being selectively supplied with gas from the source, and in that at least a portion of the cooled and expanded gas supplied to the tank is extracted from the refrigerator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L'Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gerald Aigouy, James Butterworth
  • Publication number: 20150323133
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fixing an item of equipment to the inner surface of a wall of a cryogenic fluid line or a tank and in particular a tank intended to contain liquid oxygen, the method being characterized in that a layer of porous material is interposed between the wall and the item of equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Inventor: James BUTTERWORTH
  • Patent number: 9090023
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fixing an item of equipment to the inner surface of a wall of a cryogenic fluid line or a tank and in particular a tank intended to contain liquid oxygen, the method being characterized in that a layer of porous material is interposed between the wall and the item of equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: L′Air Liquide Société Anonyme Pour L′Étude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: James Butterworth
  • Patent number: 9000692
    Abstract: A linear electrodynamic-type motor, for compressing a fluid circulating in a cryocooler notably using a Stirling cycle, includes a translationally movable induction coil; a power-supply circuit adapted to deliver, to at least one induction coil, an AC power-supply current; a movable mass adopting a translational movement; an induction coil arranged so as to move a respective movable mass between a first position and a second position where the movable mass can compress the fluid; and a secondary circuit arranged to connect the terminals of at least one induction coil in short-circuit. The secondary circuit comprises a compensation component for producing a phase shift between the power-supply voltage and the power-supply current, so as to reduce the phase difference that the inductance of the induction coil produces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gerald Aigouy, James Butterworth, Benoit Debray, Jean Christophe Rey
  • Publication number: 20150068641
    Abstract: A device for filling a tank with a pressurized gas, in particular with pressurized hydrogen, comprising a pressurized-gas source and a circuit for transferring gas from the source to the tank, the transfer circuit including a member for expanding and cooling the gas in order to lower the pressure and temperature of the gas from the source to respective values determined with a view to filling the tank, characterized in that the gas-expansion and cooling member includes a refrigerator that expands the gas by means of a Stirling or Ericsson thermodynamic cycle, the refrigerator being selectively supplied with gas from the source, and in that at least a portion of the cooled and expanded gas supplied to the tank is extracted from the refrigerator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Gerald Aigouy, James Butterworth
  • Patent number: 8690000
    Abstract: A cryogenic tank for a space launcher, comprising a partition and delimiting top and bottom volumes communicating via at least one free central opening formed in the partition, so as, on the one hand, to allow for the flow of liquid by gravity from the top volume to the bottom volume via the central opening or openings and, on the other hand, to prevent the rising of the fluid from the bottom volume to the top volume via the central opening or openings under the action of acceleration forces, the tank also comprising at least one vent forming separate from the central opening or openings and providing fluid communication between the top and bottom volumes, the vent being configured to favor the migration of vapor from the bottom volume to the top volume and to prevent the rising of liquid from the bottom volume to the top volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Société Anonyme pour l'Étude et l'Éxploitation des Procédés Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jerome Lacapere, James Butterworth
  • Publication number: 20130213972
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fixing an item of equipment to the inner surface of a wall of a cryogenic fluid line or a tank and in particular a tank intended to contain liquid oxygen, the method being characterized in that a layer of porous material is interposed between the wall and the item of equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: James Butterworth
  • Publication number: 20120279234
    Abstract: This motor includes: a translationally movable induction coil; a power-supply circuit adapted to deliver, to at least one induction coil, an AC power-supply current; a movable mass adopting a translational movement an induction coil arranged so as to move a respective movable mass between a first position and a second position where the movable mass can compress the fluid; a secondary circuit arranged to connect the terminals of at least one induction coil in short-circuit; The secondary circuit comprises a compensation component for producing a phase shift between the power-supply voltage and the power-supply current, so as to reduce the phase difference that the inductance of the induction coil produces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Exploitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Gérald AIGOUY, James Butterworth, Benoit Debray, Jean Christophe Rey
  • Publication number: 20110289942
    Abstract: A cryogenic tank for a space launcher, comprising a partition and delimiting top and bottom volumes communicating via at least one free central opening formed in the partition, so as, on the one hand, to allow for the flow of liquid by gravity from the top volume to the bottom volume via the central opening or openings and, on the other hand, to prevent the rising of the fluid from the bottom volume to the top volume via the central opening or openings under the action of acceleration forces, the tank also comprising at least one vent forming separate from the central opening or openings and providing fluid communication between the top and bottom volumes, the vent being configured to favor the migration of vapor from the bottom volume to the top volume and to prevent the rising of liquid from the bottom volume to the top volume.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: L'Air Liquide Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude Et L'Explicitation Des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jerome Lacapere, James Butterworth
  • Publication number: 20060282544
    Abstract: The user interface is configured for playing media and includes (i) a media control interface for controlling functions related to playing the media, and (ii) a display object for displaying in an integrated web browser information related to the media. The user interface is configured to communicate with a communications network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Publication date: December 14, 2006
    Inventors: Antonio Monteiro, James Butterworth
  • Publication number: 20060253599
    Abstract: The system delivers a continuous sequence of individual pieces of media information over a communications network to a group of users that selected said media information. The system includes at least one server that transmits the continuous sequence of individual pieces of media information at approximately the same time to each user in the group. The system also includes an application configured to generate a user interface screen. The User interface screen includes a list of available media information, a program guide containing information relating to the media information selected by a user, and an object configured to allow a user to initiate a purchase of a product. Finally, the system includes at least one server configured to maintain an audit log that records data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Publication date: November 9, 2006
    Inventors: Antonio Monteiro, James Butterworth
  • Patent number: 6228458
    Abstract: Hermetically sealed packages for food, cigarettes and the like are formed from packaging material (37) having a tear tape (33) attached thereto. The tear tape includes a surface formed of a material (7) which flows under the conditions needed to seal portions (8,9) of the packaging material together when closing the package so as to fill any gaps between the tape and the packaging material portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: P. P. Payne Limited
    Inventors: Stephen Paul Pinchen, Saul James Butterworth, Stephen Barry Maguire
  • Patent number: 4116840
    Abstract: A liquid distribution pipe in liquid treatment apparatus is divided into two separate liquid distribution sections. Each pipe section fits into a separate nozzle on the surface of the apparatus and is independent of the other pipe section. Each section of liquid distribution pipe can be isolated from all other sections, and can supply or withdraw liquid from the apparatus independent of the other sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1978
    Assignee: Ecodyne Corporation
    Inventor: Donald James Butterworth