Patents Issued in February 23, 1999
  • Patent number: 5873971
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of forming a tampon is which can be comfortably withdrawn from a body cavity. The method includes the steps of cutting an individual absorbent member from an absorbent strip. Each absorbent member is then shaped to form an elongated absorbent having an outer periphery. A liquid-permeable cover is secured to the outer periphery of the elongated absorbent to form a softwind. The softwind has a first end and a second end and is folded on itself such that the first and second ends are aligned adjacent to one another. The softwind contains two folds therebetween which divide the softwind into first, second and third portions. A withdrawal string is secured to the second portion of the softwind and then the softwind is compressed into a cylindrically shaped pledget. The pledget has an insertion end and a trailing end and the insertion end located adjacent to the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Kimberly Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventor: Tammy Jo Balzar
  • Patent number: 5873972
    Abstract: A floor runner is disclosed for providing path of travel across a floor. The floor runner includes an elongated sheet in rolled form. The sheet is formed of a flexible plastic material having a bottom surface containing an adhesive applied thereto. The sheet has outer spaced apart parallel colored edges extending along the length. The colored edges are distinguishable from the generally translucent central portion of the sheet with the colored edges defining a path of travel therebetween. Further, a method of using the floor runner is disclosed where the floor runner has severed portions or lengths disposed transversely against a length of floor runner extended along a floor. The colored edges of the severed length and floor runner form a generally square-shaped colored perimeter viewable by a user to alert the user of an obstacle positioned therebelow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Terry R. Barnett
  • Patent number: 5873973
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a reinforced composite prepreg material comprising the steps of aligning discontinuous fibers by use of a strong electric field while simultaneously inserting the fibers through a mesh screen and into a ply or plies of fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite in an uncured state in a direction normal to the surface of the composite material. After the fibers are attached in the ply of fiber reinforced polymer matrix composite, the aligned fibers are forced through the composite material by applying a gentle pressure to the top of the conductive fibers while simultaneously being guided by the mesh screen. After the insertion process has been completed, the mesh screen is lifted vertically away from the composite material and any unaligned fibers are simultaneously removed. The newly formed reinforced prepreg composite films are then stacked on top of each other and pressurized and cured in an autoclave or press to produce an improved composite laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Koon, Thomas E. Steelman
  • Patent number: 5873974
    Abstract: An industry standard width composite paper web includes one layer comprising a plurality of narrow web portions derived from trim rolls of paper which are laminated to a second carrier web of the selected standard width. In an alternate embodiment, the carrier web itself may comprise a plurality of narrow trim roll web portions. The web portions comprising each layer may be spaced from one another slightly, and the gaps between web portions in both layers must offset laterally with respect to one another to maintain composite web integrity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Marquip, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl R. Marschke, Harold D. Welch
  • Patent number: 5873975
    Abstract: A computerized apparatus and method for creating and databasing vehicular window template information in memory storage with such template information being used by a window tinting system to generate window tinting film sections for use on corresponding target windows. The database would be continually increased by feeding new digitized window template images into the computer for appropriate scaling, classification, and storage. When tinting a known vehicle, the previously entered template information can be accessed and this will greatly enhance the speed and accuracy of the window tinting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Gary Benoit
  • Patent number: 5873976
    Abstract: A sealing mechanism for sealing thermoplastic-coated container sealing fins, including a movable sealing jaw and an oppositely disposed fixed sealing jaw. The sealing jaws have parallel, dead-ended grooves formed in the sealing surface thereof, wherein two adjacent grooves cross each other in an X-configuration at their longitudinal mid-point. Engagement of the inter-groove lands against heated outer sealing panels causes the thermoplastic to become molten and flow to the X-configuration area. When cooled, the concentrated thermoplastic serves to seal off the crevice between adjacent folded-over, inner panel segments of the container sealing fin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Elopak Systems AG
    Inventor: Michael F. Showler
  • Patent number: 5873977
    Abstract: A method of patterning layered structure oxide thin films involving placing the layered structure thin film (with or without a mask) laid on a substrate into a chamber which is partially filled with CHC1FCF.sub.3 gas and producing a glow discharge to cause the etching of the thin film ferroelectric material. The method provides high etch rates, good etch anisotropy and good etch uniformity. For example, for SBT and SBN thin films, the etch process provides etch rates in the range of 2.5 to 17.5 nm/min depending on the etch conditions and minimal etch residues at the end of the etch process is removed easily by low temperature (250.degree. C.) baking. Also, the method provides good etch selectivity in the films and minimal surface damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignees: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Seshu B. Desu, Wei Pan
  • Patent number: 5873978
    Abstract: Provided is a recording paper having a feeling of plain paper suitable for ink jet recording with water-base ink, with the recording paper having in both machine and cross directions an irreversible shrinkage factor of from -0.10% to +0.10% when it is put under an environment that the relative humidity thereof is changed from 35% to 90% and further changed to 35%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kuroyama, Yoichi Yamazaki, Yasunori Nanri
  • Patent number: 5873979
    Abstract: In preparing individualized polycarboxylic acid crosslinked fibers, defibration requirements are reduced to obtain a particular wet responsiveness and satisfactory absorbency properties are maintained even without washing or bleaching and washing, and improved dry resiliency is obtained, by using a reduced surface tension solution of polycarboxylic acid crosslinking agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
    Inventor: Shahrokh A. Naieni
  • Patent number: 5873980
    Abstract: A solvent recovery system for an oil and grease test collects and condenses solvent vapors to recover solvent. A vessel having an inlet for sealingly receiving an outlet of a separatory funnel receives solvent from the separatory funnel. The solvent is filtered through a filter paper placed in a funnel integral with the vessel. The funnel has a lower tubular section protruding from the vessel. A vapor return tube, integral with the vessel, surrounds the tubular section providing an annular space between an inside wall of the vapor return tube and an outside wall of the tubular section. Filtrate flows downward through the funnel tubular section into an evaporation flask, where the solvent is heated and evaporated leaving an oil and grease residue. Solvent vapors flow upward through the annular space within the vapor return tube into the vessel. A condenser, integral with the vessel, receives and condenses the vapors forming a condensate that is collected in a solvent recovery flask.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Houston Industries Incorporated
    Inventors: Gerald P. Young, Gerald L. Portis, John M. Yardley
  • Patent number: 5873981
    Abstract: A is a process for removing water from an alkanesulfonic acid such as methanesulfonic acid or ethanesulfonic acid by mixing an azeotropic excess of a phenolic compound with water and the alkanesulfonic acid, then boiling off substantially all of the water, and leaving as a remnant substantially all the alkanesulfonic acid and some of the phenol. This process is particularly useful for recycling an alkanesulfonic acid for a reaction which requires the phenolic compound as one of the reagents. One such reaction is the alkanesulfonic acid catalyzed condensation reaction of a phenolic compound with an .alpha.haloketone to form a chlorinated intermediate of a dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene such as 4,4'-dihydroxy-.alpha.-alkylstilbene (DHAMS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: Son T. Nguyen, Louis L. Walker, Katherine S. Clement
  • Patent number: 5873982
    Abstract: In a method and apparatus for discriminating a coal species, discriminating values of coal species/properties are prepared corresponding to coal ranks, a coal to be discriminated is irradiated with near-infrared rays having different wavelengths, and light of near-infrared rays reflected from the coal is received; Aborbances of the coal are acquired, and the coal species/property discriminating value of the coal is discriminated on the basis of the absorbances and a prescribed calibration curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignees: Japan Tobacco Inc., Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc., Kett Electric Laboratory
    Inventors: Junichi Yoshimura, Mitsuyuki Takahashi, Osamu Hatakeyama, Satoshi Sugawara, Fumio Kutsukake, Masatoshi Yokoyama, Takuya Kinoshita, Sadaji Kawazoe, Hiroshi Obara, Yasuo Saito, Yoriyuki Tsunakawa
  • Patent number: 5873983
    Abstract: A method for forming and thermally processing upon a substrate a low melting temperature metal containing conductor layer. There is first provided a substrate. The substrate is fixtured within a clamp comprised of a backing member and a top member connected through a mechanical means to the backing member. A portion of the top member overlaps the substrate and leaves exposed a first portion of the substrate when the substrate is clamped between the backing member and the top member. There is then formed upon the first portion of the substrate a low melting temperature metal containing conductor layer while simultaneously forming upon the top member of the clamp a low melting temperature metal containing conductor layer residue. Finally, there is processing thermally the low melting temperature metal containing conductor layer and the low melting temperature metal containing conductor layer residue while positioning the substrate and the clamp in a substantially face down position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: David Liu
  • Patent number: 5873984
    Abstract: A thin-film magnetic recording media is prepared which contains a carbon overcoat sputtered on a magnetic recording layer. The carbon overcoat is sputtered on the magnetic recording layer using a sputtering process which is conducted in a sputtering chamber having an inert gas and a mixture of nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas, wherein said nitrogen gas and hydrogen gas are provided at a mole ratio of nitrogen/hydrogen between about 0.5 and about 1. The hydrogen and nitrogen doped amorphous carbon overcoat exhibits excellent mechanical properties and tribological performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Trace Storage Tech. Corp.
    Inventors: Fu-Wen Cheng, James Liang, Tain-Wong Hung, Hung-huei Liang
  • Patent number: 5873985
    Abstract: An oxide film having a desired pattern is first formed on a magnesia substrate. A superconducting oxide film is then formed on the exposed portion of the magnesia substrate and also on the oxide film. Thus, a tilt-boundary junction is formed in the boundary between the superconducting oxide film portion on the magnesia substrate and the superconducting oxide film portion on the oxide film. The tilt-boundary junction functions as a Josephson junction. By utilizing the Josephson junction in the tilt-boundary junction, a SQUID pattern can be formed on the magnesia substrate to provide a SQUID device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiichi Tokunaga, Ryokan Yuasa, Shuji Fujiwara, Masao Nakao, Hiroaki Furukawa
  • Patent number: 5873986
    Abstract: A metal recovery apparatus in which metal-laden fluid is cycled through an electrolytic cell at a relatively low flow rate, but fluid within the cell is forced to swirl at a relatively high speed to improve electroplating of metal on an electrode. Two fluid circuits are used to achieve the high speed within the cell: a fluid supply circuit runs fluid through the apparatus at a relatively low flow rate (about 2 to about 4 gallons per minute); a fluid circulation circuit boosts the speed of the fluid within the cell and forces it to swirl by discharging fluid drawn from the cell back into the cell at a relatively high flow rate (about 20 to about 40 gallons per minute). The apparatus includes inner and outer electrodes defining an annular space in which the fluid circulates. The outer electrode is preferably removable from the apparatus and is preferably the cathode. A seam in the cathode allows the cathode to be opened for removal of metal plated on the cathode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: CPAC, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest E. Thompson, III, David L. Fenton, Charles E. Welch
  • Patent number: 5873987
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for reactivating an active cathode attached to an electrolyzer, wherein a porous cathode that is attached to the electrolyzer by means of a flexible member and has a decreased electrode catalyst activity is provided thereon with a fresh active cathode equivalent to, or smaller in wire diameter or pore diameter than, the porous cathode by bending a mounting piece formed around said fresh active cathode without removal of a deteriorated electrode catalyst substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Chlorine Engineers Corp.
    Inventors: Shinji Katayama, Teruo Ichisaka
  • Patent number: 5873988
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multilayer electrode with a porous core structure produced by sintering and composed of an electrically conducting material for an electrolysis cell, especially with a solid electrolyte, in which the porous core structure contains at least two layers of spherical bodies made of metal packed densely together, said layers being formed by sintering and connected together, with the layer facing the electrolyte forming the active layer and being made as a fine layer of spherical bodies of the same or approximately the same size and the layer that covers the active layer on the back being made as a coarse layer of spherical bodies that are larger than the spherical bodies in the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventors: Dirk Schulze, Wolfgang Beyer
  • Patent number: 5873989
    Abstract: A magnetron sputtering source for depositing a material onto a substrate includes a target from which the material is sputtered, a magnet assembly disposed in proximity to the target for confining a plasma at the surface of the target and a drive assembly for scanning the magnet assembly relative to the target. The sputtering source may further include an anode for maintaining substantially constant plasma characteristics as the magnet assembly is scanned relative to the target. The anode may be implemented as variable voltage stationary electrodes positioned at or near the opposite ends of the scan path followed by the magnet assembly, spaced-apart anode wires positioned between the target and the substrate or a movable anode that is scanned with the magnet assembly. The magnet elements of the magnet assembly may have different spacings from the surface of the target to enhance depositional thickness uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Intevac, Inc.
    Inventors: John L. Hughes, Gary A. Davis, Robert J. Kolenkow, Carl T. Petersen, Norman H. Pond, Robert E. Weiss
  • Patent number: 5873990
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed which is a microprocessor based instrument designed to conveniently and rapidly measure various analytes in environmental and biological samples. The instrument operates as a stand-alone unit powered by a battery or a DC power module and may be equipped with a communication port allowing uploading test results to a computer. Several unique electronic, microchip and software configurations were developed for the device to make it a portable, low-cost, safe, automated and simple-to-operate instrument particularly adapted for precise and accurate measurement of metal ions such as heavy metals such as lead in human blood.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Andcare, Inc.
    Inventors: Marek Wojciechowski, Frederick A. Ebeling, Robert W. Henkens, Najih A. Naser, John P. O'Daly, Steven E. Wegner
  • Patent number: 5873991
    Abstract: Method for electrophoretic separation of nucleic acid fragments comprising the following steps:a) providing a polyacrylamide based gel prepared by photoinitiated polymerization of a mixture containing monoolefinic- and di- and/or polyolefinic monomers and a photoinitiator of the general formula: ##STR1## where R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 independently are CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or C.sub.3 H.sub.7 or R.sub.1, R.sub.2 together with the carbon atom form a cycloaliphatic ring with 4-8 carbons;R.sub.3 =H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5 or --O--(CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2).sub.n --OH with n=1-20;b) applying said nucleic acid fragments on said polyacrylamide based gel;c) electrophoretically separating said fragments on said gel. The invention also relates to a kit for use in the method for electrophoretic separation of nucleic acid fragments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Pharmacia Biotech AB
    Inventors: Sven Gothe, Anders Hult, Jan-Olof Johansson, Lennart K.ang.gedal, Anna Sylwan
  • Patent number: 5873992
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electroplating method and products made therefrom, which in one embodiment includes using a current density J.sub.O, to form a conductive metal layer having a surface roughness no greater than the surface roughness of the underlying member. In another embodiment of electroplating a substrate surface having peaks and valleys, the method includes electroplating a conductive metal onto the peaks to cover the peaks with the conductive metal, and into the valleys to substantially fill the valleys with the conductive metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas
    Inventors: John H. Glezen, Hameed A. Naseem, William D. Brown, Leonard W. Schaper, Ajay P. Malshe
  • Patent number: 5873993
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a procedure for continuous or batch production in one or possibly more steps in one or more furnaces of silicon metal (Si), possibly silumin (AlSi alloys) and/or aluminium metal (Al) in the required conditions in a melting bath, preferably using feldspar or feldspar containing rocks dissolved in a fluoride and process equipment for implementing the procedure. Highly pure silicon is produced by electrolysis (step I) in a first furnace comprising a replaceable carbon anode (3) located at the bottom of the furnace and a carbon cathode (1) located at the top of the furnace. For the production of silumin the Si-poor residual electrolyte from step I is transferred to a second furnace and aluminium metal is added (step II). Aluminium metal is produced in a third furnace (step III) by electrolysis after Si has been removed in step I and possibly in step II.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Jan Stubergh
  • Patent number: 5873994
    Abstract: An aromatization process for converting a portion of a cracked gasoline feedstock to aromatics utilizing a catalyst comprising an acid leached zeolite and tin under process conditions suitable for converting a portion of the cracked gasoline feedstock to aromatics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventors: Charles A. Drake, An-hsiang Wu
  • Patent number: 5873995
    Abstract: An end-of-life indicator comprising a housing having a chamber therein and attachable to the water treatment device, a diaphragm disposed within the chamber, a rotatable cap having indicia disposed thereon adapted to cooperate with the housing, a spring device for rotating the cap with respect to the housing, an escapement device for regulating the rotational displacement of the cap and means for resetting the cap to a start position. The chamber is arranged for the ingress of water into the water treatment device to pressurize the chamber and the egress of water from the water treatment device to depressurize the chamber, the ingress and egress of water defining one fill cycle. The diaphragm is arranged to be moved by the pressurizing and depressurizing of the chamber. The escapement device are arranged to cooperate with the diaphragm and the spring device whereby predetermined incremental rotation of the cap is provided during each of the fill cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Clorox Company
    Inventors: Alexander Huang, Richard Fayram, John Stiggelbout
  • Patent number: 5873996
    Abstract: This invention comprises a process and apparatus for producing purified drinking water from surface or ground fresh water sources using no chemical pretreatment or coagulants, by usage of a positively-charged filtration media to attract the typically negatively-charged suspended solids present in the water source. The process, which can be portable, includes a filtration system having a filtration/recirulcation/backwash component and a disinfection step. The process further includes a system controller which receives electrical signals from float controls to control the filtration, recirculation, and backwash steps. This process produces drinking water which meets or exceeds the guidelines set by the World Health Organization for turbidity and microbiological content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Puraq Water Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Lee Rozelle, E. Robert Baumann
  • Patent number: 5873997
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the concentration of contaminants in an aqueous water system, wherein the contaminants are measured with the bioreactor containing a biofilm or microbial community which acts on the water to be analyzed to provide a measure of the amount of the dissolved organic carbon which is biodegradable. A bed for facilitating regulation of water flow through the bioreactor is provided, and an autosampling mechanism enables the measurement of total organic carbon, inorganic carbon and oxygen, between sample inflow and sample outflow at specified time intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia
    Inventor: Louis A. Kaplan
  • Patent number: 5873998
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inorganic filter element comprising:a rigid inorganic porous support; andchannels classifiable into n categories where n.gtoreq.2, with all of the channels in each category having identical right cross-section, identical hydraulic diameter, and identical equivalent diameter, the shapes of the right cross-sections of the channels differing between categories.According to the invention, the channels of the various categories have:hydraulic diameters such that the ratios between any two hydraulic diameters lie in the range 0.75 to 1.3;right cross-sectional areas such that the ratios between any two right cross-sectional areas lie in the range 0.75 to 1.3; andequivalent diameters such that the ratio of the equivalent diameter over the hydraulic diameter of each channel is less than or equal to 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Societe Anonyme: T.A.M.I. Industries
    Inventors: Andre Grangeon, Philippe Lescoche
  • Patent number: 5873999
    Abstract: A sieving screen or filtration screen, and processes for producing the same, featuring the use of a flexible, chemical resistant, intermittent, polymeric coating as an edging material and/or for providing indicia for identification purposes to show, for example, the source of the product, producer's or customer's logos, trade names, part numbers, indications and precautions for use, and any other forms of instruction and/or information, as well as providing an intermittent or discontinuous coating to allow for electrical grounding with a conventional filter clamp or the like. Screen printing is one preferred method for applying the polymeric matter to the sieve or filter screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sefar America Inc.
    Inventor: Richard M. Gaiser
  • Patent number: 5874000
    Abstract: A filter element comprising an inherently stable, porous supporting body with a finer-pored fibrous coating. According to a first aspect, the fibrous coating has first fibers which are longer than the pore size of the supporting body, and clearly shorter second fibers. According to a second aspect, less than 30% fine-grained particles are distributed in the fibrous coating. To produce the filter element the fibers are applied in the dry state by means of an air stream, an adhesive being applied before and/or after this operation. Alternatively the fibers are applied distributed in a liquid, whereby the adhesive can optionally be contained in the liquid. According to a further aspect, a coating layer consisting of fine-grained particles is applied to the fibrous coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Herding GmbH Filtertechnik
    Inventor: Walter Herding
  • Patent number: 5874001
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for in situ removal of biodegradable contaminants from ground water or soil , or both by injecting oxygen gas into ground water containing a biodegradable contaminant in a volume low enough to avoid migration or volatilization of the contaminant but high enough to enhance the rate of biodegradation of the contaminant are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matrix Environmental Technologies
    Inventor: Sean R. Carter
  • Patent number: 5874002
    Abstract: A sewage treatment apparatus including a treatment tank with a floor, walls and having an upper aperture. A hopper having a clarifier chamber is centrally disposed in the treatment tank, maintained at a predetermined height above the treatment tank floor by hopper supports. A deflector cone is centrally disposed on the floor of the treatment tank, its vertex being received in the lower aperture of the hopper. The exterior of the hopper, the deflector cone and the inner walls of the treatment tank define an annular aerator chamber, subdivided into a plurality of aerator zones. Diffusers disposed in each aerator zone introduce oxygenation of and induce flow of sewage in the treatment tank. A cover mounted over the treatment tank aperture maintains a pressurized pocket of air above the sewage for increased oxygenation of the sewage. Treated sewage passes from the aerator zones into the clarifier chamber, then into the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Murphy Cormier
  • Patent number: 5874003
    Abstract: A wastewater treatment apparatus including a biotreatment tank and a floating clarifier within the tank. The floating clarifier includes a floating base and a perimeter wall mounted to and beneath the floating base. A plurality of tented panels mounted to the clarifier walls forms an apertured bottom of the floating clarifier having a plurality of tortuous outlets. The biotreated wastewater from the biotreatment tank enters the floating clarifier, where the suspended solids within the biotreated water settle and descends out of the apertured bottom of the clarifier. The biotreatment tank and clarifier operate continuously while equalizing variations in the wastewater feed rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Bryan L. Rose
  • Patent number: 5874004
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for phase separation of two materials is disclosed. The two materials to be separated are positioned in an extraction cartridge and passed through a filter device, the filter device includes a filter disk member positioned adjacent at least one and preferably two frit members. A drying cartridge may be used to dry the separated liquid material after it leaves the extraction cartridge. The invention can be used for reaction workup, quenching, product isolation and purification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sheila H. DeWitt
    Inventor: Sheila H. DeWitt
  • Patent number: 5874005
    Abstract: Macrocyclic antibiotics having ring structures with at least 10 members act as separation agents in crystallization, precipitation, filtration, electrophoresis and chromatography. The macrocyclic antibiotics include ansamacrolides, macrolides, marocyclic peptides, polyenes and derivatives thereof. The process has been found to be especially advantageous for separation of optical isomers by electrophoresis and chromatography.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventor: Daniel Amstrong
  • Patent number: 5874006
    Abstract: A process for the aseptic concentration of collagen from about 0.25% (w/w) suspensions to gels of 15% using vortex flow filtration with a variety of membrane types--ultrafiltration and microfiltration and polymeric and stainless steel is provided. The resulting gels are suitable for use in medical products and/or pharmaceutical formulations. This process achieves high degree of concentration in a closed system and at high flux with minimal trans-membrane pressure drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Matrix Pharmaceutical, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Lee, Daniel Prows, Louis Fries
  • Patent number: 5874007
    Abstract: Process for purifying an inert fluid in the liquid state, containing at least one of the impurities hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO), with respect to at least one of the impurities, characterized in that:a) the fluid in the liquid state which is to be purified is passed through at least one bed of particles of at least one adsorbent in order to adsorb at least one of the impurities H.sub.2 and CO;b) a fluid in the liquid state which is substantially purified with respect to at least one of the impurities H.sub.2 and CO is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventor: Daniel Gary
  • Patent number: 5874008
    Abstract: A method and improvement for extracting free or "tramp" oil from an oil contaminated fluid wherein oil contaminated fluid entering an oil separator is injected with a fraction of free oil. Coalescence of minute oil globules within the inlet stream is significantly enhanced thereby improving oil separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Inventor: Gene Hirs
  • Patent number: 5874009
    Abstract: A multilayered printed circuit board is produced by (a) forming a resin layer on an inner circuit substrate and abrading it to expose the circuit conductors, (b) contacting a copper foil having a layer of insulating adhesive composed of an epoxy resin, a carboxylic acid-containing acrylic or acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber, a curing agent and accelerator with the resin layer and exposed circuit conductors, (c) removing portions necessary for connection with the copper foil and insulating adhesive exposed to the holes by etching, (d) connecting the copper foil with circuits exposed to the holes and forming a surface circuit by processing the outer layer of the copper foil, and (e) repeating steps (a) to (d) to obtained a multilayered structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teiichi Inada, Yoshiyuki Tsuru, Shin Takanezawa
  • Patent number: 5874010
    Abstract: A method for trimming a pole used in a read-write head comprises the step of depositing a metallic layer on a layer of pole material, patterning the metallic layer so that it can serve as a mask, and ion beam etching the pole material with nitrogen ions. Of importance, a thin nitride layer forms on the metallic layer so that the etch rate of the metallic layer during ion beam etching is slowed. Alternatively, in lieu of the metallic layer, a nitride layer can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Headway Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Hungshin Tao, Yong-Chang Feng, Cheng Tzong Horng, Cherng-Chyi Han
  • Patent number: 5874011
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus for the laser induced etching of a reactive material, or of a multilayer substrate or wafer comprising layers of materials of different etching characteristics and reactivities, are disclosed. Short wavelength laser radiation and control of the process ambient equalize etch rates of the layers of a multilayer substrate or wafer and allow high-resolution etching. A suppressant gas introduced into a halogen-containing ambient suppresses explosive reactions between the ambient and reactive materials or layers. For less reactive layers or materials, reduced-pressure air is a suitable ambient. The techniques and apparatus disclosed herein are particularly useful in the manufacture of magnetic data transfer heads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Revise, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Ehrlich
  • Patent number: 5874012
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided. In the apparatus, an inside surface of a process chamber is prevented from having its quality varied or becoming a heavy metal contamination source by plasma in the chamber, and at the same time the plasma characteristic is stabilized over time. In a plasma processing apparatus including a plasma generating unit, a process chamber capable of having its inside pressure reduced, a gas supply system for supplying a gas to the process chamber, a sample table for holding a sample and a vacuum pumping system, the process chamber has an outer cylinder capable of withstanding depressurization and an inner cylinder arranged inside the outer cylinder and being spaced therefrom through a gap, and a heater and a temperature control are provided in the outer cylinder. A non-magnetic metallic material not containing heavy metals, or ceramic, carbon, silicon or quartz is used for the inner cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Saburo Kanai, Kazue Takahashi, Kouichi Okamura, Ryoji Hamasaki, Satoshi Ito
  • Patent number: 5874013
    Abstract: To realize etching with a high selection ratio and a high accuracy in fabrication of an LSI, the composition of dissociated species of a reaction gas is accurately controlled when dry-etching a thin film on a semiconductor substrate by causing an inert gas excited to a metastable state in a plasma and a flon gas to interact with each other, and selectively obtaining desired dissociated species.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Tokunaga, Sadayuki Okudaira, Tatsumi Mizutani, Kazutami Tago, Hideyuki Kazumi, Ken Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 5874014
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating a work surface, wherein there is provided a chamber having a longitudinal axis and longitudinally extending electrically conductive sidewalls, at least one sidewall having at least one longitudinally extending gap that interrupts a current path through the sidewalls transverse to the longitudinal axis, and wherein the chamber is sealed to allow pressure inside the chamber to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignees: Berkeley Scholars, Inc., Research Triangle Institute, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Anthony E. Robson, Ronald A. Rudder, Robert C. Hendry, Moses M. David, James V. Burt
  • Patent number: 5874015
    Abstract: A method for making an article from rhenium and in particular a rocket nozzle. First a molybdenum mandrel is formed with a portion having the desired shape of the nozzle. A layer of rhenium is deposited over the nozzle portion, and then rhenium wire is wrapped around this rhenium layer. A second rhenium layer or a layer of ruthenium is then deposited over the layer of rhenium wire. Alternating layers of rhenium wire and deposited rhenium or ruthenium are applied until a desired thickness is obtained. A layer of molybdenum is applied to can the assembly and the assembly is subject to hot isostatic pressing. Finally, the molybdenum is etched away leaving the rhenium nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Lee Mittendorf, Trevor G. Sutton
  • Patent number: 5874016
    Abstract: A concrete column forming tube and method of making same for receiving poured concrete column therein to produce a concrete column is characterized by a smooth inside coated surface in the forming tube to eliminate spiral seam lines and other undesirable characteristics on the outside surface of the formed concrete column. The tube is formed from spirally-wound plies of paper adhered together and has a centrifugally-cast epoxy resin coating sprayed onto the inside surface of the spirally-wound tube while the tube is rotating to produce a smooth inside coated surface on the forming tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Sonoco Products Company
    Inventors: Robert D. Bacon, Jr., Arnold B. Floyd, Jr., Troy W. Johnson, Jr., James R. Martin, Honor S. Bonds, John F. Whitehead, Wim van de Camp
  • Patent number: 5874017
    Abstract: A defoaming agent composition containing: (a) from about 10 to about 25% by weight of a microcrystalline wax having a melting point of from about 75 to about 95.degree. C.; and (b) from about 1 to about 5% by weight of an emulsifier selected from the group consisting of alkoxylated sorbitan mono/di/trioleate, alkoxylated sorbitol hexaoleate, sorbitan mono/di/trioleate, polyethylene glycol dioleate, polyethylene glycol distearate, block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, and mixtures thereof; and (c) remainder, water, all weights being based on the weight of the composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Geo Specialty Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Palmer, Mary L. Lightsey, Lynn A. Lavender, Zhentaro He
  • Patent number: 5874018
    Abstract: Glassy solid electrolytes and charge transporting elements including antistatic elements and charge generating elements. The charge generating element has an electrically conductive layer, a charge generating layer overlying the electrically conductive layer, and a layer of glassy solid electrolyte overlying the electrically conductive layer. The glassy solid electrolyte includes a complex of silsesquioxane and a charge carrier. The complex has a surface resistivity from about 1.times.10.sup.10 to about 1.times.10.sup.17 ohms/sq. The complex has a T.sup.2 -silicon:T.sup.3 -silicon ratio of less than 1 to 1. The complex has a ratio of carbon atoms to silicon atoms of greater than about 1.2 to 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Wayne Thomas Ferrar, Jane Robin Cowdery-Corvan, Edward T. Miskinis, Catherine Newell, Donald S. Rimai, Louis Joseph Sorriero, John Anthony Sinicropi, David Steven Weiss, Nicholas Zumbulyadis
  • Patent number: 5874019
    Abstract: Magnetic particles for a magnetic toner comprise:Fe.sup.2+ -containing iron oxide particles having an average particle size of 0.05 to 0.30 .mu.m,containing not less than 0.9 atm % and less than 1.7 atm % of silicon, calculated as Si, based on Fe,having a substantially cubic shape each ridge of which has a curved surface, andhaving a ratio .phi. represented by the following formula of more than 1.0 and less than 1.4:.phi.=l/wwherein l represents an average maximum length of said Fe.sup.2+ -containing particles and w represents an average minimum length of said Fe.sup.2+ -containing particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: Toda Kogyo Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Uchida, Kazuo Fujioka, Koso Aoki, Hiromitsu Misawa, Minoru Kozawa
  • Patent number: 5874020
    Abstract: A Ni--Zn base ferrite is provided with a relatively small dielectric loss (tan.delta.(.epsilon.)) of the order of 10.sup.-3. Its saturation magnetization (4.pi.Ms) is relatively still high. A Ni--Zn base ferrite having a small dielectric loss (of the order of 10.sup.-3) can be obtained by proportioning raw materials to give a finished composition range of Ni.sub.X Zn.sub.1-X Fe.sub.2-Y-Z Mn.sub.Y M.sub.Z O.sub.4 where M: Ge and/or Sn, 0.55.ltoreq.X.ltoreq.1.00, 0.001.ltoreq.Y.ltoreq.0.36, and 0.002.ltoreq.Z.ltoreq.0.36, by calcination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Ishikawa, Yasuhiro Sasaki, Atsushi Ochi, Yoshitsugu Okada, Mitsuru Furuya