Patents by Inventor Thomas John Bergman, Jr.

Thomas John Bergman, Jr. 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: 6351971
    Abstract: A process and system for producing a high purity argon product with high argon recovery from an air feed stream utilizing a low ratio argon distillation column, a high ratio argon distillation column and a vacuum pressure swing adsorption. unit in combination with a cryogenic air separation plant. The process and system avoids the necessity for an ultrastaged upper column in the cryogenic air separator plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tu Cam Nguyen, Thomas John Bergman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6212906
    Abstract: A cryogenic separation arrangement wherein feed air is processed simultaneously through two regenerator systems and then separated in a reflux condenser, with product and waste from the reflux condenser processed through one and the other respectively of the regenerator systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Chun-Pong Lau, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., John Fredric Billingham, Tu Cam Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6192706
    Abstract: A system for producing carbon monoxide wherein a carbon monoxide containing feed stream is processed in a membrane separation unit for partial removal of carbon dioxide, cooled to complete the removal of carbon dioxide, and then processed in a cryogenic separation system comprising a first cryogenic separation column and a second cryogenic separation column for the production of product carbon monoxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2001
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Bergman, Jr., John Fredric Billingham, Michael Robert Couche, Minish Mahendra Shah
  • Patent number: 6156921
    Abstract: A system provides an oxygen-bearing gas and a gaseous reactant stream to a fluidized bed reactor. A sparger causes an entraining of the oxygen bearing gas into the reactant gas stream. A feed line couples the sparger to the reactor's fluidized bed and introduces the reactant gas stream and entrained oxygen-bearing gas directly into contact with the fluidized bed. A controller controls both the amount of oxygen-bearing gas and the gaseous reactant so that, at the point of feed injection, the fluidized bed catalyst does not experience an oxygen deficiency. To assure safety, the reactant content of the combined feed and oxygen stream is maintained above an upper flammability limit, preferably with a safety margin of at least 25%. In one embodiment, the system enables the production of acrylonitriles from a feed stream comprising ammonia, propylene and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lincoln Wagner, Thomas John Bergman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6145815
    Abstract: A system for the dissolution of gas in a large body of liquid comprising an impeller positioned below the surface of the large body of liquid; a floating hood positioned over the impeller and of sufficient size to capture undissolved gas; a conduit for introducing a feed gas stream beneath the floating hood and directly into the large body of liquid; at least one segregation ring positioned under the floating hood and extending below the surface of the large body of liquid such that a first inner region between the ring and the impeller, and a second outer region between the ring and an outer diameter of the floating hood are created, and a back pressure regulator located in the floating hood adjacent to the outer diameter of the floating hood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Tat Yan Cheng, Steven Donald Clark, Paolo Sergio Bon, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Jeffrey Paul Kingsley, Mark Herbert Kirby, Mitchell Adis, Victor Alexander Coppola
  • Patent number: 6135430
    Abstract: Oxygen or other gases are dissolved in large bodies of liquid by injection under a baffle for passage into a submerged hollow draft-tube-impeller means assembly for downward passage therein. Liquid containing dissolved gas is dispersed throughout the body of liquid, while any undissolved gas is effectively recovered and recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas John Bergman, Jr., Jeffery Paul Kingsley, Mark Herbert Kirby, Mitchell Adis, Victor Alexander Coppola
  • Patent number: 5983667
    Abstract: A process for further purification of nitrogen gas, thereby producing ultra-high purity nitrogen which is substantially free of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon monoxide, wherein the nitrogen gas is contacted with a metal-containing adsorbent at a temperature of 150 K. or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mary Louise Markowski, Thomas John Bergman, Jr., James Philip Natwora, Jr., John Keller Howell, David Richard Thompson
  • Patent number: 5801265
    Abstract: A system provides an oxygen-bearing gas and a gaseous reactant stream to a fluidized bed reactor. A sparger causes an entraining of the oxygen bearing gas into the reactant gas stream. A feed line couples the sparger to the reactor's fluidized bed and introduces the reactant gas stream and entrained oxygen-bearing gas directly into contact with the fluidized bed. A controller controls both the amount of oxygen-bearing gas and the gaseous reactant so that, at the point of feed injection, the fluidized bed catalyst does not experience an oxygen deficiency. To assure safety, the reactant content of the combined feed and oxygen stream is maintained above an upper flammability limit, preferably with a safety margin of at least 25%. In one embodiment, the system enables the production of acrylonitriles from a feed stream comprising ammonia, propylene and oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Lincoln Wagner, Thomas John Bergman, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5740683
    Abstract: A cryogenic rectification system for producing nitrogen, especially at low production flowrates, wherein incoming feed air is cooled by a regenerator without need for cold end imbalance and wherein exogenous cryogenic liquid is added to the rectification column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: John Fredric Billingham, Thomas John Bergman, Jr.