Patents by Inventor Thomas R. Schulte

Thomas R. Schulte 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: 5452583
    Abstract: A system and process for recovering high purity coolant gas from at least one fiber optic heat exchanger, characterized by controlling a flow of coolant gas into and out of the heat exchanger using a pressure, impurity and/or flow rate monitoring or transmitting means in conjunction with a flow adjusting or controlling device to limit air or other gas infiltration into at least one fiber optic passageway of the heat exchanger. A sealing means may also be used at at least one end of the fiber optic passageway to further reduce air or other gas infiltration into the passageway. The resulting high purity coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger is delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger. Optionally, the resulting coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger may be cooled, filtered and/or purified before being delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schulte
  • Patent number: 5390533
    Abstract: A process and system for pressurizing a vessel for integrity testing with gas comprising helium, recovering the gas comprising helium, and purifying the gas comprising helium for reuse. The process for purifying the gas stream comprising helium comprises drying the gas stream; separating the dried gas stream in a membrane separator stage into a helium-enriched permeate product stream and a helium-depleted raffinate stream; recovering helium in the raffinate stream in a membrane stripper stage thereby producing a purge stream; and purging water from the dryer with the purge stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schulte, Carl J. Heim, Vladimir T. Gorjaczkowski, Salvatore Giglia
  • Patent number: 5386707
    Abstract: A method for withdrawing from a vessel pressurized cryogenic helium fluid with an objectionable impurity concentration of less than 5 ppmv. The method comprises pressurizing at or near the top of the vessel with helium fluid from an external source having a concentration of up to 1000 ppmv of the objectionable impurity, and withdrawing from a port near the bottom of a vessel helium fluid at a cryogenic temperature below the temperature at which the withdrawn fluid has an objectionable impurity of 5 ppmv.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schulte, Robert E. Goelz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5377491
    Abstract: A system and process for recovering high purity coolant gas from at least one fiber optic heat exchanger, characterized by controlling a flow of coolant gas into and out of the heat exchanger using a pressure, impurity and/or flow rate monitoring or transmitting means in conjunction with a flow adjusting or controlling device to limit air or other gas infiltration into at least one fiber optic passageway of the heat exchanger. A sealing means may also be used at at least one end of the fiber optic passageway to further reduce air or other gas infiltration into the passageway. The resulting high purity coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger is delivered to the inlet of the heat exchanger. Optionally, the resulting coolant gas from the outlet of the heat exchanger may be cooled, filtered and/or purified before being delivered to the inlet of heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 3, 1995
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas R. Schulte
  • Patent number: 5344480
    Abstract: A process and system for pressurizing a vessel for integrity testing with gas comprising helium, recovering the gas comprising helium, and purifying the gas comprising helium for reuse. The process for purifying the gas stream comprising helium comprises drying the gas stream; separating the dried gas stream in a membrane separator stage into a helium-enriched permeate product stream and a helium-depleted raffinate stream; recovering helium in the raffinate stream in a membrane stripper stage thereby producing a purge stream; and purging water from the dryer with the purge stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas R. Schulte, Carl J. Heim, Vladimir T. Gorjaczkowski, Salvatore Giglia
  • Patent number: 4834178
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for fireflooding with liquid heat transfer media comprising injection of oxidant gas and liquid heat transfer media into a well through separate conduits, the liquid conduit downstream end submerged in a liquid volume, so as to form a seal and prevent oxidant gas migration into the liquid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Knecht, Thomas R. Schulte, Raymond F. Drnevich
  • Patent number: 4778010
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for fireflooding with liquid heat transfer media comprising injection of oxidant gas and liquid heat transfer media into a well through separate conduits, the liquid conduit downstream end submerged in a liquid volume, so as to form a seal and prevent oxidant gas migration into the liquid conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1988
    Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Knecht, Thomas R. Schulte, Raymond F. Drnevich