Patents by Inventor William J. Curran

William J. Curran 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).

  • Publication number: 20080271800
    Abstract: A modular fluid handling system is disclosed and may include a plurality of fluid handling units. Adjacent fluid handling units may be coupled together to form the fluid handling system. The fluid handling system may deliver fluid from at least one fluid source to fluid utilizing equipment. A plurality of fluid passages may be formed from the coupled plurality of fluid handling units, where the diameter of at least one fluid passage may be greater than the diameter of at least one other fluid passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Matheson Tri-Gas
    Inventors: William J. Curran, Dane C. Scott
  • Publication number: 20070289652
    Abstract: A fluid handling unit is disclosed and includes a body, a plurality of fluid passage ports formed in the body, and a plurality of orifices formed on surfaces of the body to provide fluid access to the ports from outside the unit. At least two of the orifices may have different cross-sectional areas. A modular fluid handling system is also disclosed and includes a plurality of fluid handling units, wherein adjacent fluid handling units are coupled together to form the fluid handling system. The fluid handling system may deliver fluid from at least one fluid source to fluid utilizing equipment. A plurality of fluid passages may be formed by the fluid handling units, and the diameter of one fluid passage may be greater than the diameter of another fluid passage. At least one control component may be coupled with at least one fluid handling unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: Matheson Tri-Gas
    Inventors: William J. Curran, Dane C. Scott
  • Patent number: 7025337
    Abstract: A method for controlling the delivery of vapor from a bubbler containing a supply of chemical fluid through which a carrier gas is bubbled and from which bubbler vapors are delivered in a vapor stream entrained with the carrier gas. In general, the method involves equilibrating the pressure within the head space to that of the chemical fluid fill line to maintain a constant fluid level based on pressure and not relying on conventional level sensors and controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Curran
  • Patent number: 7011299
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and system is described for controlling the delivery of vapor from a bubbler containing a supply of chemical fluid through which a carrier gas is bubbled and from which bubbler vapors are delivered in a vapor stream entrained with the carrier gas. In general, the present invention involves equilibrating the pressure within the head space to that of the chemical fluid fill line, thus maintaining a constant fluid level based on pressure and not relying on conventional level sensors and controllers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2006
    Assignee: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Curran
  • Publication number: 20040124549
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a method and system is described for controlling the delivery of vapor from a bubbler containing a supply of chemical fluid through which a carrier gas is bubbled and from which bubbler vapors are delivered in a vapor stream entrained with the carrier gas. In general, the present invention involves equilibrating the pressure within the head space to that of the chemical fluid fill line, thus maintaining a constant fluid level based on pressure and not relying on conventional level sensors and controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Inventor: William J. Curran
  • Patent number: 6298881
    Abstract: A modular fluid handling assembly includes a plurality of fluid handling units. Each fluid handling unit includes a fluid passage and associated port, a vacuum passage and associated port, a vacuum pressure source, and a containment seal. The fluid passage ports and vacuum passage ports of adjacent fluid handling units respectively communicate. The containment seal is disposed between adjacent fluid handling units and surrounds the communicating fluid passage ports and vacuum passage ports. The vacuum pressure source is in continuous communication with the vacuum passages of the fluid handling units, generates an urging force which aids in sealing adjacent fluid handling units together, and draws off any fluid that may leak from a fluid passage port. A sensor can be tapped into the vacuum line to sense whether any fluid has leaked from a fluid passage port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Shigemoto & Annett II, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Curran, Hiromi Dick Shigemoto, John Annett, Lope M. Amores
  • Patent number: 5802099
    Abstract: The heat energy in a reactor used to process substrates is controlled to allow a more accurate measurement of the substrate temperature. The method of substrate temperature measurement is applicable to any reactor geometry and any type of heat source. Further, the method does not affect the process and so the performance of the reactor is unaffected when the substrate temperature measurement method is utilized. At a first predetermined time t1 during the process cycle, power to the heat source is turned off. At a second predetermined time t2, i.e., at the end of a time interval after the power is turned off, the heat energy from the reactor is measured for a predefined time interval, i.e., from second predetermined time t2 to a third predetermined time t3. After the measurement, i.e., at a fourth predetermined time t4, the power to the heat source is turned-on again and the process cycle continues. The time window over which the power is turned-off, i.e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Moore Epitaxial, Inc.
    Inventors: William J. Curran, Gary M. Moore
  • Patent number: 4197509
    Abstract: A variable segmented ramp voltage synthesizer is disclosed as including a ster pulse generator and a plurality of series connected one-shot multivibrators connected to the output thereof for producing a like plurality of gating signals. In response to said gating signals, a like plurality of successively increasing voltages, effected by a given positive direct current voltage source and appropriately different resistances, are gated into a constant current generator. The output signal from said constant current generator is substantially stair-step in waveform, and it is supplied to a predetermined, relatively large capacitance for the charging thereof with respect to another direct current voltage that is more negative than the aforementioned positive direct current voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: William J. Curran, John J. Kulik