Patents by Inventor Perry L. Murata

Perry L. Murata 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: 5069352
    Abstract: A substantially rigid inner container is positioned on a upper surface of a floor of an outer container. The inner container is sized to receive at least partial support from the outer container and to have a volume such that when filled to a maximum capacity the total weight of the inner container, outer container and cargo do not exceed a predetermined maximum weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Bruce A. Harbolt, Perry L. Murata
  • Patent number: 5033494
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for transferring a liquid, particularly liquids, such as molten sulfur which are difficult to handle, from a liquid supply, such as a molten sulfur tank truck, to another location, such as a pug mill in which a sulfur/asphalt pavement material is blended. The apparatus comprises a relatively small transfer vessel, which is connected, through a shutoff valve, to the liquid for receiving a gravity flow of liquid therefrom, and an air compressor for pressurizing the transfer vessel through a pressurized air conduit. A check valve installed in the transfer vessel adjacent the liquid inlet of the vessel prevents the trasfer of liquid from the vessel back into the supply when the vessel is pressurized. An electrically-controlled valve in the pressurized air conduit enables an associated control unit to control the flow of pressurized air into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1991
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Bruce A. Harbolt, Perry L. Murata
  • Patent number: 4752452
    Abstract: The invention is a process and apparatus useful for preparing an aqueous ammonia solution at a temperature below the boiling point thereof by single stage dilution of anhydrous ammonia with water. In the invention, an anhydrous ammonia fluid comprising ammonia vapor is mixed with water to provide an aqueous ammonia fluid at a first temperature above the boiling point of said aqueous ammonia fluid, the aqueous ammonia fluid is cooled to a second temperature above the boiling point of said aqueous ammonia fluid, and the cooled aqueous ammonia fluid is then indirectly contacted with liquid anhydrous ammonia to further cool said aqueous ammonia fluid to a temperature below its boiling point and thereby heat the liquid anhydrous ammonia to vaporize at least a portion thereof. The heated anhydrous ammonia fluid is utilized in the process of this invention to provide the aqueous ammonia fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Bruce A. Harbolt, Perry L. Murata
  • Patent number: 4710360
    Abstract: Apparatus for endothermic dissolutions in water, including: a mixing tank 40, wherein solute is slurried with water; pump 59 and spray pipe 63, for spraying slurry into spray box 70; and fan 75 for drawing ambient air upwardly, in direct heat exchange relationship with descending slurry droplets. Dissolution is promoted, as the droplets extract heat from the countercurrent flow of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Bruce Harbolt, Perry L. Murata, Neal C. Burmaster
  • Patent number: 4610714
    Abstract: An energy efficient, economical method for dissolving urea, and other endothermic materials, e.g. potassium chloride, ammonium nitrate, etc., in water, without the use of fossil fuel-derived heat, which comprises: forming a slurry of such material and water, said slurry including said material as both a dissolved and solid phase; forming droplets of said slurry; and contacting said droplets of said slurry, in direct heat exchange relationship, with a moisture-containing air stream, having a temperature greater than the temperature of said droplets of said slurry, at conditions whereby both heat and moisture are removed from said moisture-containing air to thereby dissolve at least a portion of said solid phase. This process is especially useful for forming aqueous forming urea solutions, useful in agricultural applications and having from 19 to 23 percent, by weight, nitrogen. An apparatus, useful in said method, is also disclosed and claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: Union Oil Company of California
    Inventors: Bruce Harbolt, Perry L. Murata, Neal C. Burmaster