Patents Issued in January 9, 2001
  • Patent number: 6171489
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particles and to the novel polymer beads per se. The invention provides a process for producing polymer beads incorporating solid particulate material, which process comprises producing a dispersion having a dispersed phase including one or more monomers also including solid particulate material, and causing said one or more monomers to undergo a polymerisation reaction to form said polymer beads, wherein said dispersion further includes a solid phase dispersing agent for dispersing solid particles of material in the dispersed phase and wherein said solid phase dispersing agent reacts with at least one monomer to thereby become chemically incorporated in said polymer. The polymer beads comprise a polymer matrix having solid particulate material dispersed substantially uniformly therein and wherein the polymer matrix incorporates a solid phase dispersing agent chemically reacted into the polymeric matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: ICI Australia Operations Proprietary Limited, Industrial Research Organisation
    Inventors: Mathew John Ballard, Robert James Eldridge, James Sydney Bates
  • Patent number: 6171490
    Abstract: A water purifier capable of magnetizing water and adding ceramic components into the magnetized water. The water is magnetized by a rotating permanent magnet, such that its molecular structure is changed into the hexagonal ring structure, and, the dissolved oxygen content of water is increased by passing through a plurality of micro holes or fine grooves on the inside surface of a ceramic filter. Also, mineral components disposed in the double wall of the ceramic filter are added to the water passing through it. Accordingly, the water may be converted into condition suitable to the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Kil Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6171491
    Abstract: A fuel filter comprises a head (96) having an inlet (100) and an outlet (102). The head is connected to an element (266) by a nipple portion (186) which has a valve element (196) therein. An actuating projection (222, 272) is engageable with the valve element to open flow through said nipple portion when the correct element is attached thereto. The actuating projection is further supported on a central portion (220, 276) which prevents connection to a nipple portion that extends too far into the element. According to a further embodiment, the filter includes a housing (412) with a removable element (424) mounted therein. The housing has an inlet port (414) in direct fluid communication with a chamber (418). The outlet port (416) is in direct fluid communication with a central standpipe (422). The standpipe has a flow element (442) movable therein for controlling the condition of flow openings (436) in the standpipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Peter Popoff, David H. Hodgkins, Michael D. Clausen, Russell D. Jensen, Walter H. Stone, Victor A. Oelschlaegel
  • Patent number: 6171492
    Abstract: An improved filter for liquid fuel housing an elongated tubular housing with a cylindrical wall and having an inlet end and an outlet end and including an integral inlet connector portion at the inlet end and an integral outlet connector portion at the outlet end and a filter element positioned within the tubular housing and having filter media defining a central passageway closed at one end, the passageway having an opposite end in communication with the housing outlet connector portion, the filter media having an external surface in communication with the housing inlet connector portion so that liquid fuel flowing through the housing flows through the filter media, the housing cylindrical wall being formed of an inner wall portion and an outer wall portion with a space therebetween providing a housing that resists static electric induced sparks passing therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Purolator Products Company
    Inventors: Richard E. Hedgepeth, Theodore M. Bryson
  • Patent number: 6171493
    Abstract: A biological fluid processing or fluid filtration system is provided having novel open and closed loop processing systems wherein the gases transferred into and out of the system during processing pass through a porous medium in upstream and/or downstream gas inlet or outlet housings or vents in a manner which precludes the fluid being processed or filtered from ever contacting the housings or vents. Each housing or vent is separated from the fluid by a column of gas in its respective transfer line. The upstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the unfiltered biological fluid, and the downstream gas inlet housing or vent is in communication with the filtered biological fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Lexion Medical
    Inventors: Majid Zia, Chaouki A. Khamis
  • Patent number: 6171494
    Abstract: A new and improved way of continuously cooking fiber material, wherein temperatures and alkaline levels are controlled to be maintained within specific levels in different zones of the digesting process in order to optimize chemical consumption and heat-economy and at the same time achieve very good pulp properties. The digesting process includes a top separator that separates the transport liquid from the fiber material and permits the fiber material to be exposed to the cooking liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kvaener Pulping AB
    Inventors: Vidar Snekkenes, Johan Engström, Sven-Erik Ohlsson, Per Nyström, Sören Söderqvist, Björn Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6171495
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus incorporating an automatic, three-way valve having inlet, outlet and drain passages and a close-open timing mechanism. The timing mechanism is adjusted to a predetermined period of time in order to close the drain passage and then open the outlet passage or vice-versa automatically after a predetermined period of time in response to the starting or stopping of an external source of pressurized fluid being directed to the three-way valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Mordeki Drori
  • Patent number: 6171496
    Abstract: An antimicrobial microfiltration filter is made from a bundle of polymeric semipermeable hollow fibers treated with an antimicrobial agent and a microporous filter medium which may also be treated with an antimicrobial agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Microban Products Company
    Inventor: Arvind S. Patil
  • Patent number: 6171497
    Abstract: A module that can be practically used at a pressure of about 3 kgf/cm2 is obtained by treating a polyamide based reverse osmosis membrane with an oxidizing agent. A composite reverse osmosis membrane comprises a thin film which is a polyamide based skin layer obtained by polycondensation of a compound having two or more reactive amino groups and a polyfunctional acid halide compound having two or more reactive acid halide groups, and a microporous support for supporting the thin film. The polyamide based skin layer formed on the surface of the membrane has a mean roughness of 50 nm or more. The composite reverse osmosis membrane is treated with an oxidizing agent. A salt rejection of 99% or more and a flux of 1.5 m3/m2·day or more are obtained when evaluated by using a solution having pH 6.5 containing 500 ppm of sodium chloride at an operating pressure of 7.5 kgf/cm2 and a temperature of 25° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Hirose, Tomomi Ohara, Masaaki Ando
  • Patent number: 6171498
    Abstract: An upflow water clarifier for treating a liquid that contains dissolved or suspended solids has a central pier disposed in the center of a conical section angled at an angle of about 40 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal. Water enters the clarifier at the bottom and is removed at the top. The central pier bears at least part of the weight of an observation deck and includes a mechanism for discharging sludge from the clarifier. The pier can also house both a sludge discharge line and an effluent withdrawal line, and as a support for a radial trough used to collect the effluent. The pier may also serve as an aid during construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company
    Inventors: John J. Fassbender, Daniel H. Phillips, David K. Wyness
  • Patent number: 6171499
    Abstract: The invention concerns an optimized method for the treatment and energetic upgrading of urban and industrial sewage sludge. It consists of a <<novel>> combination of known and tested equipment, forming a compact assembly with six functions which are: anaerobic sludge digestion (1) and biogas production, mechanical dehydration (2) up to 22-24% of dry solid, a gas turbine installation (3) burning the biogas into <<total energy>>, thermal drying (4) of the sludge up to 92% of dry solid consisting of a thin-layer dryer and a vibrated dryer/cooler with fluid bed (4b), condensation of the vapors (5) for heating the digester and the premises, and optimized energetic upgrading (6) of the dried sludge as booster fuel capable of being stored and fed into the household refuse incinerating boiler-furnaces. The method according to the invention is also applicable to the treatment and transformation of liquid manure into granulated and bagged fertilizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Youssef Bouchalat
  • Patent number: 6171500
    Abstract: A process for breaking an oil-water emulsion. The process comprises contacting the oil-water emulsion with a bacterial culture produced by growth in a liquid medium containing hydrocarbons under non-sterile conditions. The oil-water emulsion and bacterial culture are contacted under conditions that minimise degradation of the oil. The oil-water emulsion is permitted to form an oil layer and a water layer, which are then separated. The process is particularly useful in the treatment of slop-oil emulsion in the petroleum industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Petrozyme Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Owen P. Ward, Ajay Singh
  • Patent number: 6171501
    Abstract: The invention provides a process for the separation of amino acids and their salts from impurities contained in an aqueous feed solution containing the same, the process comprising: a) bringing the feed solution into contact with a substantially immiscible extractant phase comprising an amine and an acid, both of which are substantially water immiscible in both free and salt forms, to extract amino acid and salts thereof in the phase, wherein the extraction is carried out while the feed solution is within two pH units of the initial pH of the feed solution; and b) backwashing the extractant phase with a substantially neutral aqueous system to recover substantially all of the extracted amino acid and the extracted salts thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Yissum Research Development Company of the University of Jerusalem
    Inventors: Aharon Meir Eyal, Nadjda Cohen-Sydov
  • Patent number: 6171502
    Abstract: The present invention provides a column endpiece for a chromatography column. The column endpiece includes a base part, an extension piece for a discharge tube, and a frit. The frit produces a pressure drop per unit length that is at least twice as great as the pressure drop per unit length created in the sorbent packing when the eluent is flowing through.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Merck PatentGesellschaft
    Inventors: Hans Daniel Jakob Mueller, Axel Delp, Hans-Dieter Harders, Joseph H. Spurk, Peter F. Pelz
  • Patent number: 6171503
    Abstract: A method of removing ammonium ions or amines from contaminated water includes treating the water with sodium tetraphenylborate under acidic conditions. Advantageously, the tetraphenylborate is immobilized on polymer beads and the water is contacted with the beads or passed through a bed of the beads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Dalhousie University
    Inventors: T. Stanley Cameron, Osvald Knop, Neil S. Cameron, Elinor M. Cameron, G. Ronald Brown
  • Patent number: 6171504
    Abstract: An improved magnetic water or fluid treatment system is provided, consisting of strong magnets arranged in a specific spacial and polar orientation with respect to each other to form a treating device for mounting on fluid-carrying pipes, and which produces a very strong and focused magnetic field. The method of magnetically treating fluids is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: A. Steven Patterson
  • Patent number: 6171505
    Abstract: The invention is a method for clarifying, dewatering or improving retention and drainage of industrial waste water or paper furnish with an effective amount of at least one dispersion of a water soluble cationic polymer flocculant wherein the improvement comprises the addition of said polymer which has a concentration of at least twenty five percent to said waste water or paper furnish. The industrial waste is preferably food processing waste water, oily waste water, paper mill waste water and inorganic contaminated waste water. The paper furnish may be an aqueous cellulosic suspension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nalco Chemical Company
    Inventors: Elise E. Maury, Rudolf Buelte, Cathy C. Johnson
  • Patent number: 6171506
    Abstract: A process of thickening an aqueous suspension of mineral solids by sedimentation comprising adding to the suspension water-soluble anionic bridging polymeric flocculant having intrinsic viscosity at least 5 dl/g and water-soluble cationic polymeric flocculant, allowing the solids to settle under gravity so as to form a lower underflow fraction containing a concentration of solids greater than that of the suspension and an upper overflow fraction containing a concentration of solids lower than that of the suspension and removing the underflow fraction, characterised in that the anionic and cationic flocculants are added to the suspension as an aqueous composition formed by blending 1 part by weight of the cationic polymeric flocculant with 2 to 99 parts by weight of the anionic polymeric flocculant and sufficient water to give a total polymer concentration of below 5 wt % and under conditions whereby counter-ionic precipitation can occur and in the aqueous composition substantially all of the anionic polymer
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Water Treatments Limited
    Inventors: Anthony Peter Allen, Peter Albert Sedders
  • Patent number: 6171507
    Abstract: A method and system for treating stormwater runoff containing impurities includes collecting the runoff in a basin and allowing the runoff to settle in the basin for a predetermined time before allowing the filtration step to be initiated. The time delay is controlled by a controller sensitive rain fall, turbidity, or other variables selected by the user. During the filtration step a separator member is positioned floatingly between a filter element and impurities floating on the surface of the unfiltered water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SWAF, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Roy, David L. Earl, William L. Hamrick, Philip G. King
  • Patent number: 6171508
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating ship ballast water before it is discharged into coastal waters. The ballast water may contain a generalized and diverse species population of harmful non-indigenous microorganisms. Before discharge, the ballast water is oxygenated and deoxygenated to reduce the populations of anaerobic and aerobic microorganisms, respectively. If anaerobic microorganisms are of no concern, the oxygenation step can be eliminated. Also, a method and apparatus for treating large volumes of any water, to reduce the population of a wide spectrum of diverse species of microorganisms wherein the water is deoxygenated, and then held in a sealed space for a period of time until the aerobic population has been reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Browning Transport Management, Inc.
    Inventor: Wilson J. Browning, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6171509
    Abstract: A method for avoiding the precipitation of salts from a salt containing water stream prior to the stream reaching a supercritical water reactor is presented. The salt containing water stream is preferably kept at temperatures below supercritical conditions as the stream is transferred to the reactor. After the salt stream reaches the reactor the temperature of the salt stream is preferably raised to the appropriate temperature by mixing the salt stream, within the reactor, with a second stream that has been heated above the supercritical temperature of water. Alternatively, a method for preventing the clogging of the conduits upstream from the reactor may involve the mixing of two subcritical waste streams. One stream may include salts, the other preferably includes oxidizable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Chematur Engineering AB
    Inventors: Roy Nelson McBrayer, Jr., Lars Henning Tidlund, Lars Berhil Stenmark
  • Patent number: 6171510
    Abstract: A method for forming a chamber or nozzle structure in a substrate. The chamber is formed by first creating a surface feature, such as a pit or trench, on the surface of the substrate. A layer of resist is applied to the sidewall of the surface feature and the substrate is isotropically etched such that the etch works back up the inside of the resist on the surface feature sidewall to form a re-entrant angle between the surface feature sidewall and the top of the chamber wall. This results in a chamber that is wider than the opening between the sidewalls of the surface feature. An anisotropic etch step may be performed before or after the isotropic etch step or steps to control the final shape of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventor: William T. Lee
  • Patent number: 6171511
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for thermal etching under oxidizing conditions of a ceramic, more particularly with the aim of revealing its grain boundaries and for the study of its granular microstructure. The invention applies to technical and nuclear ceramics and in particular UO2 and to (U, Pu) O2 mixtures. The thermal etching is performed in a furnace or kiln under a controlled atmosphere constituted by an oxidizing gas supplying a chemical oxygen potential of −75 to −125 kJ/mole and comprises the following successive stages: rapid rise in the temperature of the furnace to a rate of 900 to 1500° C./h from the initial temperature to a temperature plateau, maintaining the temperature at said plateau at a value of 1250 to 1450° C. for between 30 and 15 minutes, lowering the temperature to the final temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique, Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires
    Inventors: François Charollais, Mireille Bauer, Michel Coster, Pascal Piluso, Claude Fort
  • Patent number: 6171512
    Abstract: A method for preparing a semiconductor member comprises: forming a substrate having a non-porous silicon monocrystalline layer and a porous silicon layer; bonding another substrate having a surface made of an insulating material to the surface of the monocrystalline layer; and etching to remove the porous silicon layer by immersing in an etching solution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyofumi Sakaguchi, Takao Yonehara, Nobuhiko Sato
  • Patent number: 6171513
    Abstract: A system for chemical-mechanical polishing is described which includes a wafer backing film having concentric first and second portions, and a wafer carrier having corresponding first and second portions for mounting the portions of the wafer backing film thereon. The portions of the wafer backing film are of different materials. The second portion of the wafer backing film has an annular shape and surrounds the first portion; the second portion of the wafer carrier is adjustable with respect to the first portion of the wafer carrier in a vertical direction. The second portion of the wafer backing film is less compressible than the first portion, and is adjusted in the vertical direction so that the outer edge of the wafer is substantially sealed when backside air is applied to the wafer during a film removal process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Morgan Davis, Ralph R. Comulada, Jr., Fen Fen Jamin, Bradley Paul Jones, Francis R. Krug, Michael Francis Lofaro
  • Patent number: 6171514
    Abstract: A polishing method for planarizing a substrate which provides an efficient polishing so that a time needed for polishing is reduced as compared to the conventional method. A first polishing process removes a portion of a polish stop layer that covers a high area by using a first slurry having a high polishing capability against the polish stop layer. A second polishing process, subsequent to the first polishing process, removes the high area by using a second slurry having a high polishing capability for polishing a material covered by the polish stop layer. A polishing capability of the second slurry for polishing the polish stop layer is lower than the polishing capability of the first slurry for polishing the polish stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kouichi Hara, Norikazu Ozaki
  • Patent number: 6171515
    Abstract: A fiber treatment composition is disclosed. The composition contains siloxanes having amine-, polyol-, functionalities. The composition provides good hand, resistance to yellowing, and hydrophilicity to the fibers. The composition is preferably formulated as an aqueous emulsion. Applying the composition to textile fabrics produces treated fabrics having good hydrophilicity, good hand, and resistance to yellowing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Dow Corning Corporation, Dow Corning, Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin John Evans, Howard Edwin Griffin, Raymond Kemp, Linda Denise Kennan, Kenneth Edward Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6171516
    Abstract: A treatment agent for elastic polyurethane fibers comprising a dispersion in which a higher fatty acid magnesium salt is colloidally dispersed in a silicone mixture consisting of a silicone oil with a viscosity of 5×10−6−50×10−6 m2/S at 25° C. as a dispersion medium and a dispersant mainly comprising a modified silicone at a ratio by weight of the dispersion medium/the dispersant=100/0.5−100/4.5, wherein the amount of the higher fatty acid magnesium salt is 1 to 10 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the silicone oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Takemoto Oil & Fat Co., Ltd., Du Pont Toray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Inuzuka, Yasushi Miyamoto, Eiji Kawanishi, Noboru Watanabe
  • Patent number: 6171517
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to an antioxidant compound which reduces the rate at which insoluble sulfur converts to a migratable form of sulfur in an unvulcanized compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Uniroyal Chemical Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Cornell, Darilyn Helen Roberts, William Robert True
  • Patent number: 6171518
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of preparing an oriented cross-linked polymer, which comprises the steps of orienting and polymerizing a liquid-crystal composition. The liquid-crystal composition comprises a monomer which reduces the order during polymerization. This makes it possible to obtain oriented cross-linked polymers having a low degree of optical anisotropy and optical elements having a relatively low degree of scattering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Rifat A. M. Hikmet, Johan Lub
  • Patent number: 6171519
    Abstract: A ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture having a negative value of &Dgr;e and allowing a high speed response and a low voltage driving, as well as a liquid crystal display devise using the crystal mixture of the invention. The ferroelectric liquid crystal mixture according to the invention comprises two or more compounds from at least two different of the following classes of compounds: A. thiadiazoles, B. phenanthrenes, C. 2-fluoropyridines, D. difluorobenzenes, E. meta-substituted aromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Hoechst Research & Technology Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Toshiaki Nonaka, Ayako Takeichi, Li Ji, Kazuya Nagao, Rainer Wingen, Javier Manero, Barbara Hornung, Wolfgang Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6171520
    Abstract: Disclosed are SH-labeling reagents containing acridine compounds represented by the following formula (I): wherein A represents the following group: —(CH2)m1— or —(CH2)m2—Q—(CH2)n— in which Q represents a group —S+RX−—, a group —N+RR1X−— wherein R1 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group, a group wherein R2 and R3 may be the same or different and are each independently a group —(CH2)k— (k: a number of 1 to 3) or —O(CH2CH2O)l— (l: a number of 1 to 3), m1 stands for a number of 1 to 6, m2 denotes a number of 0 to 2, n means a number of 1 to 2; R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms or an aryl group; and X− represents an anion, or intermediates thereof; preparation processes of the acridine compounds; and methods for labeling analytes by using the compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: SS Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Imai, Hiromichi Eto, Takeshi Kotsugai, Tadashi Narita
  • Patent number: 6171521
    Abstract: This invention is directed to a zwitterionic water-soluble imine of formula: wherein R1 is heterocyclyl, heteroaryl, aryl, arylalkyl, cycloalkyl or lower alkyl; R2 is alkyl, alkenyl, aminoalkyl, diaminoalkyl, hydroxyalkyl, alkoxyalkyl, thioalkyl, alkylthioalkyl or arylalkyl; R3 is hydrogen and lower alkyl, or R1 and R3 taken together form a cycloalkyl, p is 2, 3, 4 or 5; and Z is CO2−, OCO2−, SO3−, OSO3−, PO3− or OPO3− which are useful as ferrous metal corrosion inhibitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Nalco/Exxon Energy Chemicals, L.P.
    Inventor: G. Richard Meyer
  • Patent number: 6171522
    Abstract: The invention relates to ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been displaced, and the uses of these compounds. A compound disclosed by the invention comprises an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion M+m in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality. The anionic portion is comprised of one of the groups (A) and (B): wherein Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4 and Y5 represent a carbonyl group, a sulfonyl group, a thiocarbonyl group, a thionyl group, a —C(═NCN)— or a —C(═C(CN)2)— group; Z represents an electroattractive radical; each of the substituents, RA, RB, RC and RD represents independently of one another a monovalent or divalent organic radical or is part of a polymer chain, with at least one of the substituents RC and RD being a perfluorinated radical. The compounds can be used especially for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorants, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignees: Hydro-Qu{acute over (e)}bec, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Christophe Michot, Michel Armand, Michel Gauthier, Yves Choquette
  • Patent number: 6171523
    Abstract: Conductive polyphenylene ether-polyamide compositions having excellent ductility are prepared by melt blending polyphenylene ether, an unsaturated impact modifying polymer and a functionalizing compound in an initial step, optionally in combination with a portion of the polyamide, and subsequently melt blending with the remainder of the polyamide and conductive carbon black having a low volatiles content. A mixture of polyamides, illustrated by mixtures of polyamide-6 and polyamide-66, is employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Norberto Silvi, William R. Haaf, Mark Giammattei, Robert Hossan, Thomas J. Stanley, William D. Richards
  • Patent number: 6171524
    Abstract: An improved protective coating for thermochromic materials comprising a sheet of thermochromic material bonded to a substrate and coated with a layer of protective liquid which hardens to protect and bond with the thermochromic material and substrate against erosion by atmospheric conditions or abrasion, together with a method for forming such a coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventor: Antony J. Kubichan
  • Patent number: 6171525
    Abstract: Disclosed is a process for the production of a photochromic object, composed of a polymer and containing at least one spirooxazin compound, having the following process steps: an acrylate monomer or a methacrylate monomer, respectively a mixture of a multiple thereof is utilized as the polymerizable monomer, the photochromic dyes as well as a polymerization initiator are mixed in the polymerizable monomer, the mixture yielded thereby is placed in a casting mold, polymerized and hardened. The present invention is distinguished by, in order to obtain a neutral gray, neutral brown or green photochromic tint of the polymerizable mixture, several photochromic dyes being added of which at least one is not a spirooxazin, and by the concentration of the spirooxazin compound(s) amounting to no more than 0.045 weight percent relative to the mass of the utilized monomer, and that of the polymerization initiator(s) amounting to more than 1 weight percent relative to the mass of the utilized monomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Optische Werke G. Rodenstock
    Inventors: Erhard Effer, Manfred Melzig, Herbert Zinner, Herbert Schuster
  • Patent number: 6171526
    Abstract: A calibration apparatus and method for making a grooved plastic spacer for a slotted core telecommunications cable. The method includes attaching a calibration apparatus having helically shaped calibration members to an extrusion die. The calibration members are inserted into respective grooves of the spacer so that, as the spacer exits from the die, the calibration members maintain the shape of the grooves until the spacer is sufficiently cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Siecor Corporation
    Inventors: Warren W. McAlpine, MaryAnn Clarke
  • Patent number: 6171527
    Abstract: A molded resin article is prepared by introducing a thermoplastic resin having a temperature greater than a transfer starting temperature into the cavity of a mold, which is retained at a temperature less than the transfer starting temperature, and injection-molding the thermoplastic resin in the mold in which the heat capacity of a surface on the cavity side is set such that the temperature of the thermoplastic resin near the surface of the mold, which resin is cooled in said mold to a temperature less than the transfer starting temperature, is increased again to a temperature exceeding the transfer starting temperature after the cavity is filled with the thermoplastic resin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Koichi Warino, Toshiyuki Ito, Masahiro Suzuki, Takao Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 6171528
    Abstract: Method for making a plastic lens is provided. More particularly, a method for applying alternating periods of ultraviolet light to a lens forming composition is described. The lens forming composition is cured while controlling the rate of heat generation and/or dissipation via manipulation of the duration of the ultraviolet light or the cooling in the curing chamber. The ultraviolet light is preferably directed toward the lens forming composition which is disposed in a mold cavity formed by two mold members. The ultraviolet light may be directed in pulses or continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Q2100, Inc.
    Inventors: Omar M. Buazza, Stephen C. Luetke, Galen R. Powers
  • Patent number: 6171529
    Abstract: A method of releasing from the mold a transparent polymer material article formed in a cavity of a two-part mold by polymerizing a liquid polymerizable substance includes the step of uniformly heating the article in the mold to a mold release temperature in the range from Tg+20° C. to Tg+80° C., where Tg is the glass transition temperature of the transparent polymer material, without separating the article and the mold parts. An external mechanical force is applied to separate at least one of the mold parts from the article while it is at the mold release temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Essilor International Compagnie General d'Optique
    Inventors: Gil de Marignan, Gaston Derozier
  • Patent number: 6171530
    Abstract: A process for manufacturing a high performance gun propellant containing an energetic thermoplastic elastomeric binder and a high-energy oxidizer is disclosed. The process includes preparing or obtaining a molding powder of the high-energy oxidizer particles coated with the energetic thermoplastic elastomeric binder and extruding the molding powder into the desired gun propellant configuration. The high-energy oxidizer has a concentration in the range from 70% to 85%, by weight, and the energetic thermoplastic elastomeric binder has a concentration in the range from 15% to 30%, by weight. The molding powder has a particle size in the range from 200&mgr; to 2000&mgr;. Typical thermoplastic elastomeric binders include oxetane, oxirane, and nitramine backbone polymers, copolymers, and mixtures thereof. Typical high-energy oxidizers include nitramine oxidizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cordant Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew C. Haaland, Paul C. Braithwaite, James A. Hartwell, Val D. Lott, Michael T. Rose
  • Patent number: 6171531
    Abstract: A method for cascade, closed loop control of multiple operating parameters for an extrusion blow molding machine having multiple accumulators is disclosed. The method provides closed loop control of the ram back pressure during refill, along with the closed loop adjustment of the pressure set points for “slave” accumulators based on a comparison of ram positions with that of a “master” accumulator. For systems that supply each accumulator with a separate extruder, the rotational speed of the extruder screw is the controlled operating parameter during refill. With respect to extrusion of the parisons, there is closed loop control of the ram velocity in conjunction with adjustment of the velocity set points for the slave accumulators based on a comparison of ram positions with that of the master accumulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cincinnati Malacron Inc.
    Inventors: Dean H. Reber, James R. Utech
  • Patent number: 6171532
    Abstract: In a process for stabilizing a foamed starting slip material, the starting slip material which is foamed comprises the following constituents: a. inorganic sinterable material, b. a source of blowing gas, c. a framework former which forms a framework when the pH of the starting slip material is changed, d. pH control material, e. liquid, f. if desired, one or more of the following materials: dispersant binder viscosity modifier, and the pH of the starting slip material is changed to initiate or accelerate the formation of the framework from the framework former.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: BASF Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hans-Josef Sterzel
  • Patent number: 6171533
    Abstract: A novel tube material, and method of forming the tube, are described. The tube has an inner liner, preferably flexible, an intermediate layer of in situ molded expanding foam material, and a flexible outer liner. The tube is rigid, with the structural strength derived entirely from the intermediate layer. The preferred method of construction uses an inner core which is used to hold the inner liner in place during forming. The inner core includes a mechanism to reduce its diameter, to facilitate removal after curing of the foam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Cerntube Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Kevin Adams, Mariano Villaescusa, Michael Clarkson
  • Patent number: 6171534
    Abstract: A method of making a loudspeaker cone and surround assembly comprises clamping at least the outer marginal edge of a cone in a mold having a cavity defining a surround and injecting an elastomeric material into the cavity through an annular orifice extending substantially continuously around the said marginal outer edge to form a surround attached to the outer marginal edge of the cone. The method includes the step of feeding the elastomeric material to the annular orifice through an annular feed chamber extending around the mold cavity. The annular orifice may be narrow in width in comparison to the thickness of the surround and the method may comprise the step of separating the surround from an annular ring of sprue formed by elastomer which has solidified in or outside the annular orifice by tearing while the elastomer is still hot from the injection molding step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Inventors: Patrick Arthur Leach, David Ian Leach
  • Patent number: 6171535
    Abstract: The process for fabricating an orthotic joint of the present invention involves creating a casting mold of the anatomical joint for which the brace is being fitted. Then layers of nylon and cross-link carbon composite grade and the PVA bag are placed over the mold as is done in typical laminating processees for such braces. Then, a series of reinforcing strips of nylon and composite are attached to the layup in the same location where the sidebars would normally be located. The bottom layer which is typically a layer of nylon stockinette is the longest of the layers and the nylon strips are alternated with the composite strips with each successive strip being shorter than the strip immediately below it. A dummy disk is then provided at the joint. A second set of strips is then positioned where the upper sidebar would be located. Additional laminating substrate materials of nylon and cross-link carbon composite braid and a PVA bag are then placed over the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Glynn Orthopedics Services Inc
    Inventor: Daniel W. Glynn
  • Patent number: 6171536
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for melt spinning molten polymeric material into filaments, preferably embodied in the form of a spin pack assembly, utilizes an annular polymer filter formed of a screen mesh material to have a U-shaped axial cross-section defining an open end oriented to face upwardly for receiving polymer within the annular interior of the screen to flow outwardly therefrom to a downstream spinneret for extrusion. The filter eliminates any need to utilize sand or other filter material contained by the screen as a primary or auxiliary filtration medium and enables effective polymer flow substantially through the entire surface area of the screen without stagnation of material flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Arteva North America S.A.R.L.
    Inventors: William O. Novak, J. Richard Goodall
  • Patent number: 6171537
    Abstract: A process for the preparation of poly(urethaneurea) fibers by reacting a blocked aliphatic diamine with a capped glycol prepolymer, followed by extrusion spinning, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey David Cohen
  • Patent number: 6171538
    Abstract: A multi-cavity coinjection mold and method for simultaneously producing a plurality of multi-layered articles comprising: a mold structure defining a plurality of mold cavities; a first supply source for supplying metered amounts of a first molding material; a second supply source for supplying metered amounts of a second molding material; a hot runner system in communication with the first and second supply sources for conveying the metered amounts of the first and the second materials separately to a region proximate each of the cavities; a valve mechanism per cavity for receiving the metered amounts of the first and second materials from the hot runner system and for sequentially supplying desired quantity of the first and second materials contiguously to each cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: DTL Technology Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Martin H. Beck, George F. Rollend