Patents by Inventor Michael Clinton Johnson

Michael Clinton Johnson 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: 8447175
    Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Lee Timm, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Justin Cole Germond, Keith Randall Pace, Kenneth Leroy Burgers, Michael Clinton Johnson
  • Publication number: 20110023501
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for reliable ultra-high purity (UHP) helium gas supply and maintaining dedicated onsite inventory. Specifically, the invention employs multiple ISO containers whereby vaporized UHP helium in the standby ISO container(s) is used to build-up pressure in the online ISO container. The thermal shields of the ISO containers can be used to decrease heat leaks into the backup ISO container thereby decreasing helium vaporation rate and the amount of gas needed to be withdrawn in order to maintain the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of the vessel. An even lower supply rate is possible by drawing UHP helium gas using an economizer valve but maintaining liquid in the ISO container. This makes it possible to efficiently manage the supply rate, from low flows to higher flow requirements, and to optimize UHP helium draw rate from the storage vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 30, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Robert SCHULTE, John Joseph BYRNE, Michael Clinton JOHNSON, Shrikar CHAKRAVARTI, Kwamina BEDU-AMISSAH
  • Publication number: 20100326537
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for vapor phase fluid delivery to a desired end use are provided, wherein the conditions of the system are monitored to determine when the water concentration or supply vessel surface temperature exceeds a specified value or when the low vapor pressure fluid pressure falls below a specified value for the purpose of removing a first supply vessel from service by discontinuing vapor flow from the first supply vessel and initiating vapor flow from a second supply vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Publication date: December 30, 2010
    Inventors: Christos Sarigiannidis, Thomas John Bergman, JR., Michael Clinton Johnson, Shrikar Chakravarti
  • Patent number: 7813627
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for vapor phase fluid delivery to a desired end use are provided, wherein the conditions of the system are monitored to determine when the water concentration or supply vessel surface temperature exceeds a specified value or when the low vapor pressure fluid pressure falls below a specified value for the purpose of removing a first supply vessel from service by discontinuing vapor flow from the first supply vessel and initiating vapor flow from a second supply vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Christos Sarigiannidis, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Michael Clinton Johnson, Shrikar Chakravarti
  • Patent number: 7778530
    Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Lee Timm, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Justin Cole Germond, Keith Randall Pace, Kenneth Leroy Burgers, Michael Clinton Johnson
  • Publication number: 20100170268
    Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2010
    Publication date: July 8, 2010
    Inventors: MARTIN LEE TIMM, Thomas John Bergman, JR., Justin Cole Germond, Keith Randall Pace, Kenneth Leroy Burgers, Michael Clinton Johnson
  • Publication number: 20090321416
    Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery devices disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a thermally conductive non-adhesive layer disposed therebetween to the gaps and provide substantially uniform energy to the transport vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Christos Sarigiannidis, Thomas John Bergman, JR., Michael Clinton Johnson, Jerry Michael Mahl, Judy Donelli, Shrikar Chakravarti, Heng Zhu, Kenneth Leroy Burgers, Justin Cole Germond
  • Publication number: 20080078447
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for vapor phase fluid delivery to a desired end use are provided, wherein the conditions of the system are monitored to determine when the water concentration or supply vessel surface temperature exceeds a specified value or when the low vapor pressure fluid pressure falls below a specified value for the purpose of removing a first supply vessel from service by discontinuing vapor flow from the first supply vessel and initiating vapor flow from a second supply vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Inventors: Christos Sarigiannidis, Thomas John Bergman, Michael Clinton Johnson, Shrikar Chakravarti
  • Publication number: 20080000239
    Abstract: A system for delivering vapor phase fluid at an elevated pressure from a transport vessel containing liquefied or two-phase fluid is provided. The system includes: (a) a transport vessel positioned in a substantially horizontal position; (b) one or more energy delivery elements disposed on the lower portion of the transport vessel wherein the energy delivery devices include a heating means and a first insulation means, wherein the energy delivery devices are configured to the contour of the transport vessel; (c) one or more substantially rigid support devices disposed on the outer periphery of the energy delivery devices, wherein the support devices hold the energy delivery devices in thermal contact with a lower portion of the transport vessel; and (d) one or more attaching devices secure the rigid support devices onto the transport vessel and hold the energy delivery devices between the substantially rigid support device and a wall of the transport vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Inventors: Martin Lee Timm, Thomas John Bergman, Justin Cole Germond, Keith Randall Pace, Kenneth Leroy Burgers, Michael Clinton Johnson
  • Patent number: 7064834
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for detecting contaminants that can precipitate and deposit on a workpiece during a carbon dioxide application, especially contaminants that are already present and dissolved in the fresh carbon dioxide fed to the application. One aspect of this invention includes a method of detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream, including the steps of sampling at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream to form a carbon dioxide sample; modifying at least one physical condition of the carbon dioxide sample to form an aerosol that includes gaseous carbon dioxide and at least one suspended contaminant; and detecting the number of particles of suspended contaminant in at least a portion of the carbon dioxide sample with at least one particle counter. A system for continuously detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clinton Johnson, Carl Joseph Heim, John Fredric Billingham, Mark Leonard Malczewski
  • Patent number: 6962629
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified through the use of catalytic oxidation. Carbon dioxide is exposed to at least one catalyst, oxidizing at least a portion of the nonvolatile organic residues to form purified carbon dioxide that is directed to an application. Carbon dioxide that is in a near-critical, critical, or supercritical phase can be exposed to the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clinton Johnson, Carl Joseph Heim, John Fredric Billingham
  • Publication number: 20030221704
    Abstract: Carbon dioxide is purified through the use of catalytic oxidation. Carbon dioxide is exposed to at least one catalyst, oxidizing at least a portion of the nonvolatile organic residues to form purified carbon dioxide that is directed to an application. Carbon dioxide that is in a near-critical, critical, or supercritical phase can be exposed to the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Applicant: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clinton Johnson, Carl Joseph Heim, John Fredric Billingham
  • Publication number: 20030197852
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and systems for detecting contaminants that can precipitate and deposit on a workpiece during a carbon dioxide application, especially contaminants that are already present and dissolved in the fresh carbon dioxide fed to the application. One aspect of this invention includes a method of detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream, including the steps of sampling at least a portion of the carbon dioxide stream to form a carbon dioxide sample; modifying at least one physical condition of the carbon dioxide sample to form an aerosol that includes gaseous carbon dioxide and at least one suspended contaminant; and detecting the number of particles of suspended contaminant in at least a portion of the carbon dioxide sample with at least one particle counter. A system for continuously detecting contaminants dissolved in a carbon dioxide stream is also described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicant: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Clinton Johnson, Carl Joseph Heim, John Fredric Billingham, Mark Leonard Malczewski
  • Publication number: 20030039596
    Abstract: Apparatus useful for purifying a gas stream comprises a heat exchanger, a monolithic supported catalyst system whose downstream end is connected in fluid communication with an inlet of the heat exchanger, a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, a catalyst system comprising a catalyst supported on a monolithic unitary support having passages therethrough, the support having a length and upstream and downstream ends at opposite ends of the length, wherein the diameter of said support is from one-half to two times the diameter of the shell of the heat exchanger, and wherein the downstream end of said support is connected in fluid communication with the inlets of said tubes by a passageway whose length does not exceed the length of the support and whose diameter is at no point less than the smaller of the diameter of said support and the diameter of said shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2001
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Clinton Johnson, Carl Joseph Heim, David Wesley Kreutter