Patents Issued in January 9, 2001
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Patent number: 6171339Abstract: The present invention provides instruments and methods for insertion of multiple spinal implants into the intervertebral space between opposing vertebral bodies. Instrumentation according to the invention includes a multi-lumen guide, complimentary obturators, drill depth guides and other associated instruments. The methods of the invention provide for greater ease and accuracy in aligning multiple spinal implants in an intervertebral disk space.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Sulzer Spine-Tech Inc.Inventors: Rodney L. Houfburg, Richard A. Erickson
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Patent number: 6171340Abstract: A method of repairing a damaged joint uses a prosthetic shield and/or spacers to protect regenerating cell growth on the articulating surface of the joint. The shield and spacers protect the articulating surfaces of the joint from compression and frictional stresses while guarding the bone from further damage. The shield and spacers also can deliver transplanted cells and cell enhancing growth factors to the site. The shield can be left in place or removed after the joint heals.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Charles L. McDowell
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Patent number: 6171341Abstract: A humeral prosthesis of such a type that is provided with a rod intended to be anchored in the humeral canal of a patient, a metaphyseal element extending the rod upward and towards the inside, being this metaphyseal element attached at an area of connection to a flange that serves as support for a generally hemispheric cap capable of interacting with the shoulder socket. The area of connection is arranged approximately along a median line of the mentioned flange and the area of connection extends only over a portion of the mentioned median line so as to establish outside of the area of connection, or outside of a portion of the area of connection, a clearance zone for the joining and fusing of the osseous fragments of the metaphysis.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Tornier SAInventors: Pascal Boileau, Gilles Walch
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Patent number: 6171342Abstract: A medical fastening system for a modular knee prosthesis system includes a femoral component having a first surface, a second surface, and an aperture extending therebetween. A modular adapter element has a first end that is mountable adjacent the first surface of the femoral component and a second, mating end that is engagable with a second prosthesis component. The system also includes a first bolt that mates the adapter element to the femoral component. Various connection options are possible to secure different components of the system to each other.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Depuy Orthopaedics, Inc.Inventors: Michael J. O'Neil, Arnold Oyola, Dennis Sullivan, Amit Birla, John E. Slamin, Dennis P. Colleran, Stefan M. Gabriel, George B. Cipolletti, Richard E. Jones
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Patent number: 6171343Abstract: The present invention provides methods for modifying surfaces made from metal alloy and/or UHMWPE, preferably surfaces which are frictionally engaged, e.g., in an orthopaedic implant. The methods of the present invention reduce the coefficient of friction of the metal alloy component, reduce the shearing of fibrils from the UHMWPE component, and reduce sub-surface fatigue in the UHMWPE component. The method involves solvent immersion of the UHMWPE component to remove short chains of polyethylene at or near the surface of the component, and to swell and toughen the subsurface of the component. The method also involves firmly coating the surface of the metal alloy component with an adherent layer of diamond-like carbon (“DLC”) by creating a metal-silicide interface at the surface of the metal alloy to permit firmer adhesion of DLC.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Southwest Research InstituteInventors: Geoffrey Dearnaley, James Lankford, Jr.
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Patent number: 6171344Abstract: Methods and materials for tissue reconstruction, repair, and/or augmentation are disclosed. The invention provides isolated bladder submucosa seeded with cells for use in tissue reconstruction. The methods of the invention include the use of isolated bladder submucosa seeded with cells for augmentation of bladder and other organs and tissues.Type: GrantFiled: August 15, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Children's Medical Center CorporationInventor: Anthony Atala
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Patent number: 6171345Abstract: There is provided a detergent composition comprising one or more surfactants and a compound capable of binding to coloured substances which may occur as stains on fabrics.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Lever Brothers Company, division of Conopco, Inc.Inventors: Daniel Convents, Cornelis Theodorus Verrips
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Patent number: 6171346Abstract: Stained areas (2) of fabric are separately treated with a non-aqueous cleaning composition, followed by an aqueous cleaning composition, and by using a hand-held device (1) which is rocked back and forth on said stained areas (2). The fabric (3) is then placed in a bag or other container, together with a sheet substrate releasably containing an aqueous cleaning composition. The bag is tumbled in a hot air clothes dryer to clean and refresh the entire fabric (3).Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: The Procter & Gamble CompanyInventors: Bruce Albert Yeazell, Michael Peter Siklosi
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Patent number: 6171347Abstract: A multicomponent kit for coloring and later removing color from fibers is described, which consists of a first component and a second component. The first component includes a composition for oxidative dyeing of hair and the second component includes an aqueous or aqueous-alcoholic composition for reductive removal of color from dyed hair. The composition for reductive removal of color from hair has a pH of from 1.8 to 6 and is in the form of a gel, cream, emulsion, foam or solution. It contains from 1 to 50% by weight of one or more reductones, advantageously ascorbic and/or isoascorbic acid or salts thereof, and, in addition to the reductones, from 0.1 to 10% by weight of one or more thiols or a combination of from 0.1 to 10% by weight of one or more thiols and from 0.001 to 5% by weight of one or more sulfites. It also includes one or more pH adjusting agents and standard cosmetic additive ingredients.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Wella AktiengesellschaftInventors: Manuela Kunz, Dominique Le Cruer
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Patent number: 6171348Abstract: A dyestuff mixture containing one or more copper formazan dyestuffs of the formula (1), one or more disazo dyestuffs of the formula (2) and one or two monoazo dyestuffs of the formula (3)Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: DyStar Textilfarben GmbHInventors: Werner Hubert Russ, Andreas Von Der Eltz, Bengt-Thomas Gröbel, Daniele Negri
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Patent number: 6171349Abstract: A reactive dye composition comprising (a) at least a black or navy reactive dye with good color fastness to laundering-oxidative bleach response; and (b) at least a red, orange, yellow or other shade of reactive azo dye. The dye composition of the present invention is suitable for use in dyeing fiber materials. It has good property in build-up, wash fastness, wash-off, and levelness, especially performing excellently in the properties of good color fastness to laundering-oxidative bleach response.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Everlight USA, Inc.Inventors: Bao-Kun Lai, Der-Chin Song
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Patent number: 6171350Abstract: An apparatus that performs a process wherein the lines representing the lead rows on the four sides, respectively, of an electronic part 322 are calculated. The diagonals of the rectangle formed from these lines and the intersection angle between these diagonals are used as the base lines and base point of the electronic part. Likewise the lines representing the outer-end rows of the bonding pads of p.c. board 320 are calculated. The diagonals of the rectangle defined by these lines and the intersection angle between these diagonals are used as the base lines and base point of the p.c. board. Subsequently correction of the angle and position is carried out based on the corrective amounts of the average intersection angle &thgr;e between both base lines and the coordinate differences Xe and Ye between both base points to align precisely electronic part 322 with p.c. board 320, thus the implementation being possible to be completed.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1994Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Tomoyuki Kida
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Patent number: 6171351Abstract: An abrasive coating is formed on the tip of a component of a drive unit for abrading an abradable coating during a stripping operation by thermal spraying a ceramic layer on the component, the ceramic layer being profiled and providing a succession of abrading edges and intermediate spaces between the abrading edges to take up and remove abraded material. The abrading edges can be formed as deposits of ceramic material on the component or, as a ceramic layer applied on a profiled surface etched on the component.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: MTU Motoren-und Turbinen Union M{umlaut over (u)}nchen GmbHInventors: Johannes Schröder, Thomas Uihlein, Hans Weber, Herbert Fischer, Erwin Fischhaber, Norbert Legrand
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Patent number: 6171352Abstract: The invention provides a chemical-mechanical abrasive composition for use in semiconductor processing, which comprises 70-95% by weight of an aqueous medium, 1-25% by weight of an abrasive, 0.1-20% by weight of an abrasion accelerator, wherein the abrasion accelerator comprises monocarboxy group- or an amido group-containing compound and optionally a nitrate salt. The chemical-mechanical abrasive composition of the invention can further comprise an anionic surfactant, e.g. polycarboxylic acid or polyacrylic acid copolymer, so as to reduce the viscosity of the abrasive composition.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Eternal Chemical Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsung-Ho Lee, Tsui-Ping Yeh
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Patent number: 6171353Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for effectively treating waste gases which are discharged during a processing of manufacturing semiconductors. The apparatus for treating waste gases according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a waste gases heating chamber, a waste gases collecting chamber, a waste gases collecting chamber cover, a scraping device for the waste gases collecting chamber cover, a scraping device for the waste gases collecting chamber, and a driving source for driving the scraping device for the waste gases collecting chamber cover, and the scraping device for the waste gases collecting chamber. The apparatus for treating waste gases further includes a cooling tube which is disposed on an outer surface of the waste gases collecting chamber, for cooling waste gases.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Union Industry Co., Ltd.Inventors: Young-bae Park, Hyung-ryul Kim
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Patent number: 6171354Abstract: A filtering device (10,30,54,70) for use with a register (52,56,110) in a forced air climate control system (50) primarily includes a filter substrate (12,32) and an adhesive layer (14,34). The filter substrate (12,32) filters particulate matter from air flowing through it. The adhesive layer (14,34) is disposed in a discontinuous pattern on the filter substrate (12,32) to permit removable attachment of the filter substrate (12,32) to the register (52,56,110) while simultaneously allowing air to bypass the filter substrate (12,32) when the filter substrate (12,32) becomes substantially saturated with the particulate matter.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc.Inventor: Marilyn M. Johnson
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Patent number: 6171355Abstract: An arrangement for separating a hydrophobic liquid phase from a gaseous stream includes a coalescer filter, a housing, a gas flow direction arrangement, and a liquid collection arrangement. The coalescer filter includes a non-woven media of fibers. The housing includes an interior having a gas flow inlet and a gas flow outlet. The liquid collection arrangement is positioned within the housing construction and is oriented for receiving liquid collected from the coalescer filter and drained therefrom. Methods for conducting the separations are also provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.Inventors: Steven Scott Gieseke, Robert Allen Dushek
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Patent number: 6171356Abstract: Method and apparatus for creating a cyclonic action within a cannister. Communication of air between a first truncated conical member with a hole or opening located in its central area and the inside of the lower casing of the cannister takes place using an annulus between the outside of the conical member or, alternatively, by using holes or openings extending through the conical member. Transition areas create lower pressure areas which attract debris laden air downwardly so as to deposit the debris in the lower pressure area of the cannister.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventor: Frank Twerdun
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Patent number: 6171357Abstract: A combined air filter and EMI shield including an air filter formed of a conducting metal thread mesh. Preferably, a mesh size of the air filter is selected in accordance with electromagnetic interference and air flow requirements.Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: ECI Telecom Ltd.Inventor: Baruch Guttmann
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Patent number: 6171358Abstract: Homogeneous calcium nitrate based fertilizers containing sulphur, and method for their preparations. Solid gypsum and/or a slow reacting sulphate mineral is mixed with melted calcium nitrate fertilizer at a temperature of 90-110° C. and kept at this temperature for 3-15 minutes and subsequently particulated at a temperature of 80-110° C. The particulation by prilling is preformed at 95-110 ° C. and the particulation by granulation is performed at 90-110° C. The fertilizer is a homogeneous composition of a calcium nitrate fertilizer and gypsum and/or a slow reacting sulphate mineral comprising 0.1-5.0 weight % SO4—S, 14-19 weight % water soluble calcium and 16-21 weight % total calcium, and 0-3.0 weight % water soluble magnesium. The fertilizer may contain microamounts of Se and/or Co. and/or micronutrients like Mn, Cu, B and Zn.Type: GrantFiled: February 24, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASAInventors: Torstein Obrestad, Johanne Rødsvik, Torbjørn Legard
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Patent number: 6171359Abstract: A powder mixture suitable for use in providing a corrosion resistant coating on metal surface by thermal diffusion coating process. The powder mixture comprises a base metal powder of 0.1-5 wt. % of an additive consisting of at least one oxide of transition metals having particle size preferably of not more than 1 micron.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Inventors: Leonid Levinski, Samoilov Victor, Shtikan Isaak, Sheinkman Avraham
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Patent number: 6171360Abstract: The present invention relates to a molding method characterized by kneading a binder comprising an agar having an average molecular weight of 30,000 to 150,000 with a metal powder, a ceramic powder, or a mixed powder thereof, injection-molding the thus obtained molding composition into a green body, removing at least the water from the green body, and then sintering the green body to obtain a molded product.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Yamaha CorporationInventors: Katsunori Suzuki, Toshiharu Fukushima
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Patent number: 6171361Abstract: A glass composition which is lithium-free and which is suitable as a metallurgical mold powder includes, based on total weight of the glass composition: Oxide wt % Na2O 0.2-14.4 K2O 0.0-2.5 CaO 31.0-41.9 Al2O3 4.9-8.5 B2O3 0.00-1.9 SiO2 15.6-30.0 F 18.1-30.8 wherein the glass composition has a total content of Na2O+K2O+CaO which ranges from about 38.4 to about 52.6% so that the glass composition is lithium-free and suitable as a metallurgical mold powder.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1996Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: PEMCO CorporationInventors: Dechun Fu, Manfred Beck
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Patent number: 6171362Abstract: A method for refining molten Al alloy and a non-halogen based flux for refining molten Al alloy which make it possible to perform refining such as removal of gas and inclusions at a high reduction level, and are free from a problem that the flux remains in the molten Al alloy, wherein a refining flux is injected into molten Al alloy obtained by melting an Al raw material to refine the melt, thereafter, the resultant is supplied to a mold, so as to cast the Al alloy. At this time, alum is used as the refining flux.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Kobe Steel, LtdInventors: Kenji Osumi, Takayuki Kitano, Kazuhisa Fujisawa
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Patent number: 6171363Abstract: Metal powder from the group Ta, Nb, Ti, Mo, W, V, Zr, Hf preferrably Ta or Nb, is made in a fine powder form by reduction of metal oxide by contact with a gaseous reducing agent, preferrably an alkaline earth metal, to near complete reduction, leaching, further deoxidation and agglomeration, the powder so produced being sinterable to capacitor anode form and processable to other usages.Type: GrantFiled: May 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: H. C. Starck, Inc.Inventors: Leonid N. Shekhter, Terrance B. Tripp, Leonid L. Lanin
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Patent number: 6171364Abstract: A process of producing molten iron involves: a) introducing iron oxide, flux, oxygen, nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen to a smelter reactor; b) maintaining conditions to cause (i) the iron oxide to be reduced, (ii) molten iron to be created and stirred in the bottom of the reactor, surmounted by a layer of foaming, FeO-containing slag, and (iii) carbon monoxide gas to rise through the slag; c) causing at least some of the carbon monoxide to react with the oxygen; d) releasing an offgas containing CO, CO2, H2, and H2O; and e) removing at least some of the molten iron and slag from the reactor. Good process stability is achieved by: f) repeatedly measuring, during the process, the conditions of the slag height, the temperature of the molten iron, the levels of CO, CO2, H2, and H2O in the offgas, the carbon level in the molten iron, and the FeO level in the slag, and g) subsequently adjusting one or more process variables (e.g.Type: GrantFiled: March 21, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Steel Technology CorporationInventors: Balu Sarma, Kenneth B. Downing
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Patent number: 6171365Abstract: In a method for producing liquid pig iron (16) and a sponge metal from charging substances comprising iron ore (4) respectively metal ore, the charging substances are directly reduced to sponge iron in at least one first reduction zone (2) the sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasifying zone (15) under the supply of carbon carriers (10) and oxygen-containing gas and a CO— and H2-containing reducing gas is produced which is fed to the first reduction zone (2), is reacted there and withdrawn as a top gas, wherein the withdrawn top gas after a scrubbing operation is subjected to CO2 elimination and optionally to heating and is supplied to at least one further reduction zone (27) for the direct reduction of metal ore, in particular of iron ore (26), as a reducing gas that is at least largely free from CO2 and after reaction with the metal ore (26) is withdrawn as an export gas and purified in a scrubber.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Voest-Alpine Industrieanlagenbau GmbHInventors: G{umlaut over (u)}nter Schrey, Herbert Gr{umlaut over (u)}nbacher, Gerald Rosenfellner
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Patent number: 6171366Abstract: Systems and methods for cleaning and operating gas cleaning devices using vibration generators wherein the systems include sensors and programs for monitoring and predicting resonant conditions of different surface areas and zones in order to vary the frequency and amplitude of vibrations to establish optimum resonant conditions on such surface areas or zones and thereby optimize cleaning and operation of such gas cleaning devices.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Lab, S.A.Inventors: Jean-Francois Vicard, Frank Gallo
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Patent number: 6171367Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for delivering and recycling a liquid such that a substantially air bubble-free liquid flow can be supplied to a process machine and a liquid flow that contains air bubbles can be recycled back into a liquid reservoir for venting away the air bubbles. The method and apparatus is not only capable of supplying air bubble-free liquid to a process machine, but also capable of saving a costly process liquid from being purged out into a waste tank in order to eliminate air bubbles entrapped in the liquid.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 1997Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., LtdInventors: Ray Peng, T. Y. Liu, Y. F. Lin, R. C. Wang
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Patent number: 6171368Abstract: Apparatus and an associated method of operation are disclosed for removal of gaseous contaminants, particularly oxygen, from closed containers. The apparatus is economical, simple to install and operate, of convenient size, and highly effective. A gas extractor communicates with a container for a gas-sensitive product. A high gas concentration in the container causes operation of the extractor until the gas concentration is reduced to a desired low level, when the extractor operation stops. Separate sensors and controllers responsive to concentrations can be present, or the extractor can be self-actuated by use as a power source of a battery which operates on gas generated by operation of the extractor. The system preferably is used for oxygen extraction from containers holding oxygen-sensitive contents. The preferred extractor includes an electrochemical cell which has a ion-permeable membrane disposed between two electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Med-E-CellInventors: Henri J. R. Maget, Robert J. Rosati
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Patent number: 6171369Abstract: A disposable vacuum cleaner filter bag is constructed of layers which include a filtration grade meltblown fleece layer having a basis weight of about 10-50 g/m2 and air permeability of about 100-1000 L/(m2×s) and a coarse filter layer in which the coarse filter layer is placed upstream of the filtration grade meltblown fleece layer. The coarse filter layer can include either wet-laid high dust capacity paper, dry-laid high dust capacity paper, high bulk meltblown nonwoven, Spunblown (Modular) nonwoven or microdenier spunbond nonwoven. Juxtaposition of the layers causes the coarse filter layer to capture large dirt particles and permits the filtration grade meltblown fleece layer to capture much of the remaining dust particles. The novel bag exhibits high air permeability and low pressure drop at high dust loading. A method of filtering gas through such a filter is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Airflo Europe, N.V.Inventors: Bas Schultink, Jan Schultink
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Patent number: 6171370Abstract: An adsorbent for separating gases, which comprises a binder and a crystalline low-silica faujasite type zeolite with a SiO2/Al2O3 molar ratio of from 1.9 to 2.1, wherein the average pore diameter of the macropores is equal to or larger than the mean free path of an adsorbable component when desorbing the adsorbable component from the adsorbent, and at least 70% of the total volume of the macropores is occupied by macropores having a diameter equal to or larger than the mean free path of the adsorbable component.Type: GrantFiled: March 2, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Tosoh CorporationInventors: Shigeru Hirano, Taizo Kawamoto, Toru Nishimura, Keiji Yoshimura
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Patent number: 6171371Abstract: The cycle employed is of the transatmospheric type with the use of a production buffer tank (C1), and with a purge/elution phase close to the low pressure in which gas output by another adsorber in the first cocurrent decompression phase is introduced in countercurrent into the adsorber (A, B) and, simultaneously, the countercurrent pumping is continued. During the production step, the oxygen produced is also sent into an auxiliary tank (C2), and the gas contained in this auxiliary tank is, with regard to the adsorber, used solely during a fraction of the pressurization phase of the adsorber.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges ClaudeInventors: Nathalie Derive, Anne Dubois, Christian Monereau
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Patent number: 6171372Abstract: The present invention provides a nitrogen dioxide absorbent for the exhaust gas purifying facility designed to remove by absorption or adsorption of NO2 from a gas (such as ventilation gas from road tunnels) containing NOx in low concentrations. The absorbent is composed of a porous carrier and a basic amino acid and/or organic amine compound supported thereon. The absorbent is produced by impregnating a porous carrier sequentially with two aqueous solutions each containing in an amount of, for example, 0.5-3.0 mol/l (preferably 1.0-2.0 mol/l) of basic amino acid and 0.5-3.0 mol/l (preferably 1.0-2.0 mol/l) of organic amine compound, or impregnating a porous carrier with a solution containing 0.5-3.0 mol/l (preferably 1.0-2.0 mol/l) of basic amino acid and/or 0.5-3.0 mol/l (preferably 1.0-2.0 mol/l) of organic amine compound.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Hitachi Zosen CorporationInventors: Masayoshi Ichiki, Yuki Sairyo, Atsushi Fukuju
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Patent number: 6171373Abstract: An adsorptive monolith made by extruding a mixture of activated carbon, a ceramic forming material, a flux material, and water, drying the extruded monolith, and firing the dried monolith at a temperature and for a time period sufficient to react the ceramic material together and form a ceramic matrix. The extrudable mixture may also comprise a wet binder. The monolith has a shape with at least one passage therethrough and desirably has a plurality of passages therethrough to form a honeycomb. The monolith may be dried by vacuum drying, freeze drying, or control humidity drying. The monolith is useful for removing volatile organic compounds and other chemical agents such as ozone from fluid streams. Particularly useful applications include adsorptive filters for removing ozone from xerographic devices and other appropriate office machines and volatile organic compounds from automobile engine air intake systems.Type: GrantFiled: March 10, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignees: Applied Ceramics, Inc., Westvaco CorporationInventors: Minwoo Park, Frank R. Rhodes, Jack H. L'Amoreaux, Frederick S. Baker, Robert K. Beckler, John C. McCue
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Patent number: 6171374Abstract: An improved plate-and-frame assembly selectively transfers a fluid component from one fluid stream to another fluid stream. In a preferred embodiment, a plate-and-frame humidity exchanger with unitary plates and seals transfers water vapor and heat between two fluid streams.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Ballard Power Systems Inc.Inventors: Russell H. Barton, Brian Wells, Joel A. Ronne
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Patent number: 6171375Abstract: A vacuum cleaner exhaust filter assembly includes a main HEPA exhaust filter, and an ion generation stage to add ions to the air. The ion generation stage preferably is a polypropylene mesh which generates ions through static electric interaction with the moving air as the result of friction. The exhaust filter assembly preferably also includes a pre-filter impregnated with carbon, preferably in the form of activated charcoal, to absorb odors from the exhaust air. The filter components, arranged in the preferred order, are the carbon pre-filter, the main HEPA exhaust filter, and the ion generation mesh.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Electrolux LLCInventor: Mark S. Howie
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Patent number: 6171376Abstract: An air conditioner has an electronic dust collector incorporated in its casing. A mounting plate is grounded which, in turn, grounds the casing of the air conditioner. This reduces adsorption of dust to the casing, thereby preventing soiling of the casing with dust or fine particles.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasumasa Hironaka, Ayumi Tajika
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Patent number: 6171377Abstract: A system for drying a gas, such as air, includes a source of gas to be dried, a multi-stage compressor having an inlet connected to the source, and a dryer connected interstage to the compressor and to the outlet of the compressor. The dryer is connected interstage to the compressor between a compression stage and a heat exchanger of one of the compressor stages for regenerating a first desiccant filled tower. The dryer is also connected to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using a second desiccant filled tower. A communication structure can be activated to connect the first tower to the outlet of the compressor for drying the gas using the first tower, and to connect the second tower interstage to the compressor for regeneration of the second tower.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Henderson Engineering Co., Inc.Inventor: Charles A. Henderson
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Patent number: 6171378Abstract: A chemical preconcentrator is disclosed with applications to chemical sensing and analysis. The preconcentrator can be formed by depositing a resistive heating element (e.g. platinum) over a membrane (e.g. silicon nitride) suspended above a substrate. A coating of a sorptive material (e.g. a microporous hydrophobic sol-gel coating or a polymer coating) is formed on the suspended membrane proximate to the heating element to selective sorb one or more chemical species of interest over a time period, thereby concentrating the chemical species in the sorptive material. Upon heating the sorptive material with the resistive heating element, the sorbed chemical species are released for detection and analysis in a relatively high concentration and over a relatively short time period. The sorptive material can be made to selectively sorb particular chemical species of interest while not substantially sorbing other chemical species not of interest.Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Sandia CorporationInventors: Ronald P. Manginell, Gregory C. Frye-Mason
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Patent number: 6171379Abstract: The separator is of a type comprising at least one inclined deflecting surface mounted within a fluid flowing path so that water droplets contained in the flow of fluid are separated from the fluid when the fluid is deflected by the deflecting surface. The deflecting surfaces comprise collecting recesses for water that has been separated, which recesses are connected to an under-pressure space in which is maintained an under-pressure with respect to the pressure prevailing in the fluid flowing path.Type: GrantFiled: November 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Societe d'Etudes et de Constructions Aero-NavalesInventor: Andre Charles Rolland
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Patent number: 6171380Abstract: The air drawn into a diesel engine serially passes through a filter and a cavity, which acts as an acoustic attenuator, before being supplied to the cylinders of the diesel engine. In the cavity the air is in a heat transfer relationship with a heat sink for the electronic components of a microprocessor control. The electronic components may be located in the plenum cavity or in a separate chamber but must have a heat transfer relationship with the cavity, such as through a common wall on which the electronic components are mounted. A heat sink may extend into the cavity.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Carrier CorporationInventors: Richard J. Wood, Philip L. Lavrich, Patrick C. Marks, Michael F. Taras, Walter E. Lare, Jr.
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Patent number: 6171381Abstract: The present invention relates to an aqueous metallic ink composition having utility in ink for writing instruments, for printing, for coating, and the like. The composition includes a metallic powder pigment, a colorant, water, and a water-soluble organic solvent, and further includes a natural polysaccharide and at least one compound selected from cellulose derivatives, a cyclodextrin, cyclodextrin derivatives, a water-soluble soy polysaccharide, and water-soluble soy polysaccharide derivatives. In case that an anionic polymer is added as a pigment dispersant into the aqueous metallic pigment composition, the pH value is adjusted to 8.0-10.Type: GrantFiled: July 7, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Sakura Color Products CorporationInventors: Yasuyuki Yoshimura, Naoshi Murata, Kenichi Shibuya, Kaoru Matsumoto
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Patent number: 6171382Abstract: Aqueous carbon black dispersions contain carbon black and surfactants, in addition to water. The dispersions are produced by dispersing the carbon black and the other constituents in water, using bead mills, ultrasonic mills and/or an ultra-turrax. The aqueous carbon black dispersions can be used to produce printing inks such as ink-jet inks or writing inks.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Degussa-Huls AGInventors: Andreas St{umlaut over (u)}bbe, Horst Kleinhenz, J{umlaut over (u)}rgen Leimann, Alfons Karl
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Patent number: 6171383Abstract: Bismuth manganese oxide green pigments are used as additives to various materials such as plastics, plastic or organic coating compositions, glass and ceramic coating compositions, and the like. The green bismuth manganese oxide pigments preferably comprise Bi12MnO20 crystallized in the cubic crystal structure. The pigments possess improved reflectance characteristics, particularly in the IR region, and may reduce IR-induced heat buildup.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Cerdec Aktiengesellschaft Keramische FarbenInventors: George Emil Sakoske, Joseph E. Sarver
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Patent number: 6171384Abstract: An amorphous silicate pigment having a pore volume of at least about 4.0 ml/g as measured by mercury intrusion, a BET surface area of at least about 300 m2/g, and an Al2O3 content of about 2.0-10.0 wt % is provided. The invention can be successfully used in recording media coatings, particularly coatings for recording media used in ink jet printing systems.Type: GrantFiled: May 4, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: J. M. Huber Corp.Inventors: Donald P. Conley, Gary W. Loock, Barry W. Preston, Michael C. Withiam
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Patent number: 6171385Abstract: A method of mounting and demounting a semiconductor wafer, in which a temperature dependent adhesive and curable joint is provided by an adhesive mixture between the semiconductor wafer and a carrier plate. The adhesive mixture contains a colophonium resin which is chemically modified and esterified. The cured joint is released with water again after polishing the semiconductor wafer. The adhesive mixture suitable for carrying out the method is this resin with an amine which saponifies the resin.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 1998Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Wacker Siltronic Gesellschaft f{umlaut over (u)}r Halbleitermaterialien AGInventors: Robert Rurlaender, Norbert Franze, Franz Mangs, Anton Schnegg
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Patent number: 6171386Abstract: A cement composition includes cement, water in an amount from about 30% to 200% by weight of cement, and an interpolymer latex in an amount from about 10% to 50% by weight of cement. The interpolymer latex includes at least one conjugated diene monomer having 4 to 8 carbon atoms in an amount from about 5% to 95% by weight of the interpolymer latex, at least one vinyl aromatic monomer having 8 to 12 carbon atoms in an amount from about 5% to 95% by weight of the interpolymer latex, and a copolymerizable functional monomer in an amount from about 0.5% to 50% by weight of the interpolymer latex. A method of making a cement composition involves placing the above ingredients in a suitable mixer well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and mixing the ingredients until they form the cement composition.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Benchmark Research& Technology Inc.Inventor: Freddie Lynne Sabins
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Patent number: 6171387Abstract: A method for the reversible agglomeration of fine particles of plaster of Paris (CaSO4.½H2O) and agglomerates made by the method which comprises agitating the fine particles in the presence of an organic polar liquid preferably nearly dry and having some ability to form hydrogen bonds (especially n-propanol) and then drying off most of the liquid whereby the fine particles spontaneously interlink (possibly by mechanical keying) in a way which allows the interlinks to be disrupted so as to release fine particles when the agglomerates are stirred into water by hand. Also a dry precursor mixture comprising the agglomerates containing conventional auxiliary additives for use in mixing with water to make aqueous compositions for use as filler pastes, casting materials or plaster slurries.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries PLCInventors: Ronald Scott Charnock, Derrick Frederick Deamer, Anthony John Harris
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Patent number: 6171388Abstract: A composition of matter comprising (a) gypsum (CaSO4 . 2H2O); (b) one or more naturally occurring or synthetic latex polymers; and (c) one or more nonionic surfactants; wherein said composition of matter has a density less than 0.64 g/cm3 and wherein wallboard produced from said composition of matter satisfies the criteria of ASTM Methods C-36 and C-473 is provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 11, 1999Date of Patent: January 9, 2001Assignee: Rhodia Inc.Inventor: Richard M. Jobbins