Patents Issued in September 14, 2004
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Patent number: 6790312Abstract: A form-fill-seal machine has an ultrasonic vibration emitter head 11 positioned outside the tube being formed by the overlapping of the margins 3 and 5 of a film web, and an anvil 13 positioned inside the tube defined by those margins, the anvil being mounted on an anvil carrier 25 which is supported by a frame element entirely independent of the forming box 1 used to fold the film, so as to isolate the anvil from vibrations sustained from the forming box. The anvil carrier can be mounted directly to a carrier body for the ultrasonic vibration emitter, and preferably has the shape of an inverted letter J where the anvil is positioned near the toe 25a of the J, the mounting to the sealing machine frame is at the top of the stem 25c of the J, with a slot 25b between the toe 25a and the stem 25c.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Cryovac, Inc.Inventors: Lino Cosaro, Stefano Capitani
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Patent number: 6790313Abstract: A method to remove sulfides and other volatile contaminants from liquor vapor condensate in a pulp manufacturing process, where the mentioned liquor vapor condensate is fed into a stripper, which is part of a closed loop system including the stripper, a regenerative thermal oxidization process (RTO) and a SO2 scrubber, in which loop a gas is circulated, preferably air, and such components formed or stripped off, in this loop whereafter the circulating gas is stripped off sulfides and other volatile components from the liquor vapor condensate, whereafter the gas stream is fed into a RTO process, where the stripped off contaminants are combusted are under formation of SO2 and thereafter the SO2 enriched gas is led to a SO2 scrubber, where preferably alkali is used as absorption medium, and thereafter the circulating gas is returned back into the stripper.Type: GrantFiled: November 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Excelentec Holding ABInventors: Kent K. Sandquist, Olle Wennberg
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Patent number: 6790314Abstract: The present invention is a woven sculpted fabric for the manufacture of a tissue web having a tissue contacting surface. The tissue contacting surface of the woven sculpted fabric includes at least a first group of strands and a second group of strands wherein the first group of strands extend in the cross-machine direction of the woven sculpted fabric and the second group of strands extend in the machine direction of the woven sculpted fabric.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.Inventors: Mark Alan Burazin, Jeffrey Dean Lindsay
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Patent number: 6790315Abstract: A drying section for drying a web in a papermaking machine has a pre-drying section and a final drying section, wherein the pre-drying section includes a hot press formed by a first press member and a rotatable counter roll in engagement with each other so as to form a nip therebetween through which the web passes. The hot press further includes a heating device disposed in heat-transfer relation to the counter roll and operable to heat a surface region of the counter roll which then passes through the nip so as to heat the web therein, and an imprinting fabric arranged in an endless loop, the imprinting fabric defining an imprinting surface for imprinting the web and being arranged to pass through the nip of the hot press with the web against the imprinting surface such that the web is imprinted. The imprinting fabric continues to support the imprinted web downstream of the hot press at least up to the final drying section.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Metso Paper Karlstad ABInventor: Ingvar Klerelid
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Patent number: 6790316Abstract: The invention relates to a method for positioning a shoe of a shoe press/shoe clender in a paper machine. In the method, the position of the shoe (11) of the shoe calender/shoe press is measured and, based on the results of the measurement, the position of the shoe is controlled so as to be as desired in the direction of nip compression. The invention also relates to an arrangment for positioning a shoe of a shoe press/shoe calender in a paper machine, which arrangment comprises a shoe roll (10) or equivalent which includes a shoe (11) and hydraulic cylinders (12) connected thereto for moving the shoe (11). The arrangement comprises further at least two measuring devices (15) for measuring the position of the shoe (11) and means (12) for controlling the position of the shoe (11) based the results obtained by means of the measuring devices so as to be as desired in the direction of nip compression.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Metso Paper, Inc.Inventors: Kari Hasanen, Timo Torvi, Helena Leppäskoski
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Patent number: 6790317Abstract: A low-energy input process for the pyrolytic conversion of biomass to charcoal or carbonized charcoal is provided. The biomass is sealed in a container, pressurized with air and heated to ignition. Control of pressure by input of air and release of gases to maintain successively lower pressure levels results in a typical time for the conversion of less than 30 minutes.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: University of HawaiiInventor: Michael J. Antal, Jr.
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Patent number: 6790318Abstract: A process for removing contaminants and/or leachables from polymeric materials useful in the manufacture of biocompatible medical devices such as intraocular lenses, corneal inlays and contact lenses using continuous soxhlet extraction.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Bausch & Lomb IncorporatedInventors: Yu-Chin Lai, Dominic V. Ruscio, David P. Vanderbilt
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Patent number: 6790319Abstract: A method for recovering a titanium compound includes bringing a waste solution containing a titanium alkoxide into contact with a halogenating agent to convert at least a part of the titanium alkoxide to a titanium halide, and then distilling the solution containing the titanium halide to recover the titanium halide from the solution, or the method includes distilling a waste solution containing a titanium alkoxide and a titanium halide to recover at least a part of the titanium halide from the waste solution, bringing a residue in a distiller after the distillation into contact with a halogenating agent to convert at least a part of the titanium alkoxide to a titanium halide, and distilling the solution containing the titanium halide to recover the titanium halide from the solution. The method can recover an increased amount of a titanium compound from a waste solution containing a titanium alkoxide.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.Inventors: Takumi Kitahara, Tetsuya Nakano
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Patent number: 6790321Abstract: A surface acoustic wave device used as a branching filter and the like in, for example, a mobile communications field to handle high frequencies of about several GHz is manufacturable by forming a metal film on a wafer-like piezoelectric substrate and selectively removing the metal film to form comb-teeth-shaped metal electrodes. The metal film is partly formed in two or more film-forming modes involving different in-wafer-plane film-forming-velocity distributions, and the remaining part thereof is formed in a fixed film-forming mode. An in-wafer-plane film-thickness distribution of a part of the metal film is precisely controllable. Forming the remaining part of the metal film precisely controls the final thickness of the metal film.Type: GrantFiled: December 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha ToshibaInventor: Toshiyuki Takagi
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Patent number: 6790322Abstract: In a process for the combinatorial production of a library of materials in the form of a two-dimensional matrix in the surface region of a planar substrate by sputtering, the planar target used for the sputtering is arranged in parallel to the planar substrate and has surface regions of different chemical composition.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: hte Aktiengesellschaft the high throughput experimentation companyInventors: Stephan A. Schunk, Dirk Demuth, Hartmut Hibst
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Patent number: 6790323Abstract: A magnetron especially advantageous for low-pressure plasma sputtering or sustained self-sputtering having reduced area but full target coverage. The magnetron includes an outer pole face surrounding an inner pole face with a gap therebetween. The outer pole of the magnetron of the invention is smaller than that of a circular magnetron similarly extending from the center to the periphery of the target and has a substantially larger total magnetic intensity. Thereby, sputtering at low pressure and high ionization fraction is enabled.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.Inventors: Jianming Fu, Praburam Gopalraja, Fusen Chen, John Foster
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Patent number: 6790324Abstract: An apparatus for producing orthohydrogen and/or parahydrogen. The apparatus includes a container holding water and at least one pair of closely-spaced electrodes arranged within the container and submerged in the water. A first power supply provides a particular first pulsed signal to the electrodes. A coil may also be arranged within the container and submerged in the water if the production of parahydrogen is also required. A second power supply provides a second pulsed signal to the coil through a switch to apply energy to the water. When the second power supply is disconnected from the coil by the switch and only the electrodes receive a pulsed signal, then orthohydrogen can be produced. When the second power supply is connected to the coil and both the electrodes and coil receive pulsed signals, then the first and second pulsed signals can be controlled to produce parahydrogen.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Xogen Power Inc.Inventor: Stephen Barrie Chambers
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Patent number: 6790325Abstract: A method for creating a mandrel for electroforming orifice sheets with tapered bores is described. The method uses photo-imagable polymer or photoresist to create the desired profile. This is followed by electroforming a parent mandrel over which a mandrel-quality sheet of glass is melted. An array of pillars with defined location and shape is formed with a desired profile for the mandrel to be used for the electroforming process. The glass is then metalized. A photoresist mask is formed on the metalized glass and a dielectric is deposited onto the pillars.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventors: Craig M. Gates, Niranjan Thirukkovalur
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Patent number: 6790326Abstract: A plasma sputter reactor including a target with an annular vault formed in its surface facing the wafer to be sputter coated and having inner and outer sidewalls and a roof thereover. A well is formed at the back of the target between the tubular inner sidewall. A magneton associated with the target includes a stationary annular magnet assembly of one vertical polarity disposed outside of the outer sidewall, a rotatable tubular magnet assembly of the other polarity positioned in the well behind the inner sidewall, and a small unbalanced magnetron rotatable over the roof about the central axis of the target.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: applied materials, inc.Inventors: Anantha Subramani, Umesh Kelkar, Jianming Fu, Praburam Gopalraja
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Patent number: 6790327Abstract: An apparatus for determining the concentration of a substrate in a sample solution using an electrode system comprising a working electrode, a counter electrode, and a reaction layer which contains at least an oxidoreductase and an electron mediator and is formed on the electrode system to electrochemically measure a reduced amount of the electron mediator resulting from enzyme reaction in the reaction layer, wherein a third electrode is formed as an interfering substance detecting electrode. A current flowing between the counter electrode and the third electrode is measured which is taken as a positive error. Subsequently, voltage application between the counter electrode and the third electrode is released and a voltage for oxidizing the reduced form electron mediator is applied between the working electrode and the counter electrode to measure a current flowing between the two electrodes.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shin Ikeda, Toshihiko Yoshioka, Shiro Nankai
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Patent number: 6790328Abstract: A microfluidic device for forming and/or dispensing minute volume segments of a material is described. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a microfluidic device and method is provided for spatially confining the material in a focusing element. The device is also capable of segmenting the confined material into minute volume segments, and dispensing a volume segment to a waste or collection channel. The device further includes means for driving the respective streams of sample and focusing fluids through respective channels into a chamber, such that the focusing fluid streams spatially confine the sample material. The device may also include additional means for driving a minute volume segment of the spatially confined sample material into a collection channel in fluid communication with the waste reservoir.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: UT-Battelle, LLCInventors: Stephen C. Jacobson, J. Michael Ramsey
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Patent number: 6790329Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a coating film by which a coating film excellent in weathering resistance, light degradation resistance, smoothness and the like can be formed on the outer panel portion of an article to be coated such as a car, and a coating film excellent in rust prevention can be formed on the inner panel portion (bag-structured portion) of the article to be coated, with the interface between the outer and inner panel portions of the article being excellent in rust prevention and finish as well, and by which resources saving and coating cost reduction can be expected.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Nippon Paint Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Sakamoto, Noriyuki Tsuboniwa, Motoki Fujii, Kazuo Morichika, Ichiro Kawakami
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Patent number: 6790330Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods for cell isolation and analysis. Cells are introduced into a dielectrophoretic prefilter including one or more trapping electrodes configured to trap at least a portion of the cells with a dielectrophoretic force. The cells trapped from the prefilter are directed into a dielectrophoretic field-flow fractionation separator coupled to the prefilter. The cells are discriminated by balancing a dielectrophoretic force (and optionally a magnetophoretic force) with a gravitational force to displace the cells to positions within a velocity profile in the separator. At least a portion of the cells are trapped as a function of the cells' time of emergence from the separator with two or more spiral electrode segments coupled to the separator.Type: GrantFiled: June 14, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas SystemInventors: Peter Gascoyne, Jody V. Vykoukal, Frederick F. Becker
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Patent number: 6790331Abstract: A finite element model of the environment of electrodeposit coating is prepared by a simulation method, change of an electric field in an electrolytic cell for the case of electrodeposit coating is simulated, the distribution of currents then flowing through individual parts of a finite element model of a to-be-coated object is obtained, the electric variables of currents flowing through the respective surfaces of the finite elements of the to-be-coated object are obtained and accumulated according to the current distribution, the thickness of an electrodeposition coating film is calculated as h=&Sgr;KFICC.E.&Dgr;t/&rgr; if the cumulative electric variable is higher than a deposition starting electric variable such that a fixed concentration is attained by OH− or H+.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: C. Uyemura & Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinji Katsumaru, Kiyotaka Yagesawa, Takashi Wada, Katsuhiko Ohara
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Patent number: 6790332Abstract: A method for galvanically depositing nickel, cobalt, nickel alloys or cobalt alloys in a galvanic bath includes using electrolytes containing nickel compounds or cobalt compounds. At least one anode and at least one cathode of the bath are subject to periodic current pulses. The IA/IC ratio of the anode current density IA to the cathode current density IC is selected to be greater than 1 and smaller than 1.5, where the anode current density IA and the cathode current density IC are defined as current densities with respect to a deposition body on which deposition occurs during the application of periodic current pulses where the deposition body serves as anode and cathode respectively. The charge ratio QA/QC=TAIA/TCIC of the charge QA, transported during anode pulse of duration TA, to the charge QC transported during a cathode pulse of duration TC, is between 30% and 45%.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Astrium GmbHInventors: RĂĽdiger Ewald, Peter Filke, Michael Heckmann, Wolflgang Keinath, GĂĽnter Langel, Anton Schmidt
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Patent number: 6790333Abstract: The present invention relates to a to-be-mounted electronic component to which functional alloy plating using a bonding material for mounting is applied with a substitute bonding material for solder (tin-lead alloy), and aims at providing alloy plating which has been put to a practical use in such a way that the function of existing alloy plating of this type has been significantly improved to eliminate toxic plating from various kinds of electronic components for use in electronic devices so that it is useful in protecting the environment. Functional alloy plating using substitute bonding material for Pb and electronic component to be mounted to which the functional alloy plating is applied, characterized in that with Sn (tin) as a base, one of Bi (bismuth), Ag (silver) and Cu (copper) is selected, a Bi content to the Sn is set to 1.0% or less, the Bi content to the Sn is set to 2.0 to 10.0%, an Ag content to the Sn is set to 1.0 to 3.0%, the Ag content to the Sn is set to 3.0 to 5.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Nishihara Rikoh CorporationInventor: Masaaki Ishiyama
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Patent number: 6790334Abstract: A combined adhesion promotion method of a metal to a non-conductive substrate and directly metallizing the non-conductive substrate with the metal. The method involves texturing a non-conductive substrate with a cobalt etch followed by applying a sulfide to the textured non-conductive substrate to provide an electrically conductive surface on the non-conductive substrate. After the surface of the non-conductive substrate has been made electrically conductive, the surface of the non-conductive substrate can be directly metallized. The method reduces the number of process steps for direct metallization of a non-conductive substrate. Thus, the method is more efficient in contrast to conventional methods of metallizing a non-conductive substrate.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Zatoon Begum, Martin T. Goosey, John E. Graves, Mark A. Poole, Amrik Singh
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Patent number: 6790335Abstract: A method of manufacturing a decorative plate (1) includes the steps of: preparing a metal substrate and covering selected areas (11, 16) of the substrate with a protective film; anodizing the substrate; and removing the protective film to expose metallic surfaces in the selected areas of the substrate.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., LTDInventor: Wente Lai
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Patent number: 6790336Abstract: A copper damascene process for a mechanically weak low k dielectric layer is described. Electropolishing is used to etch back the copper. A sacrificial conductive layer beneath the barrier layer assures complete planarization of the copper.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Intel CorporationInventor: Tatyana Andryushchenko
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Patent number: 6790337Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and device for reducing emissions of process gases from Hall-Héroult cells to the ambient air. The cells comprise an anode superstructure (1) with covers which can be opened for access to the cell's anodes, among other things. The anode superstructure comprises an extraction system for the removal of process gases, which extraction system is adjusted to remove a standised quantity of process gases during normal operation of the cell. The extraction system is designed so that an increased quantity of process gases is removed when the covers of the anode superstructure are opened. One embodiment of the present invention includes a vertical partition wall (10′) which is located inside the anode superstructure and contributes to an improved flow pattern in the anode superstructure.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Norsk Hydro AsaInventors: Silja Bjerke Vestre, Morten Karlsen
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Patent number: 6790338Abstract: A method for preparing metal salts of organic sulfonic acids such as tin alkane sulfonates by electrolysis is described. The method comprises: (A) providing a membraneless electrolytic cell having an upper section and a lower section, and comprising: (i) a metal anode positioned in the lower section of the electrolytic cell, and (ii) a cathode positioned in the upper section of the electrolytic cell, (B) charging to the cell, an aqueous solution of an organic sulfonic acid, (C) passing a current through the cell whereby the metal of the anode dissolves in the sulfonic acid and forms the desired metal sulfonate, (D) accumulating the metal sulfonate in a lower portion of the lower section of the cell, and (E) recovering an aqueous solution of the desired metal sulfonate from the lower portion of the lower section of the cell.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: OM Group, Inc.Inventors: George P. Kinstle, Alex T. Magdics, Thomas E. Nappier
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Patent number: 6790339Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the electrochemical preparation of chlorine from aqueous solutions of hydrogen chloride in an electrolysis cell, comprising an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, the anode chamber being separated from the cathode chamber by a cation exchange membrane, the anode chamber containing an anode and the cathode chamber a gas diffusion cathode, and the aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride being passed into the anode chamber and an oxygen-containing gas into the cathode chamber, and the oxygen pressure in the cathode chamber being at least about 1.05 bar.Type: GrantFiled: July 30, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Bayer AktiengesellschaftInventors: Andreas Bulan, Fritz Gestermann, Hans-Dieter Pinter, Gerd Speer
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Patent number: 6790340Abstract: An electrochemical etching system has an etching bath for holding an n-type silicon substrate with a first surface of the substrate in contact with hydrofluoric acid, an electrode positioned in the hydrofluoric acid, a power source having a positive pole connected to the silicon substrate and a negative pole connected to the electrode, and an illumination unit having a light source for illumination of a second surface of the silicon substrate. The illumination unit illuminates the second surface of the silicon substrate with an illumination intensity of 10 m W/cm2 or more. A ratio of a maximum illumination to a minimum illumination of the second surface of the silicon substrate is 1.69:1 or less. With the etching system, pores and/or trenches of a certain size and shape can be formed in an entire area of the silicon substrate having a diameter of more than three inches.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Shinichi Izuo, Hiroshi Ohji, Kazuhiko Tsutsumi, Patrick James French
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Patent number: 6790341Abstract: The present invention provides microband electrode array sensors for detecting the presence and measuring the concentration of analytes in a sample. The microband electrodes of the invention have both a width and thickness of microscopic dimensions. Preferably the width and thickness of the microbrand electrodes are less than the diffusion length of the analyte(s) of interest. In general, both the thickness and width of the electrodes are less than about 25 micrometers. The electrodes are separated by a gap insulating material that is large enough that the diffusion layers of the electrodes do not overlap such that there is no interference and the currents at the electrodes are additive. Microband electrode arrays of this invention exhibit true steady-state amperometric behavior.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: University of WashingtonInventors: Steven Saban, Robert B. Darling, Paul Yager
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Patent number: 6790342Abstract: Processes are provided to produce a dilute ethylene stream and a dilute propylene stream from a cracked gas stream. One process comprises separating the cracked gas stream to produce a C3− stream and a C3+ stream; hydrogenating the C2− stream in a hydrogenation zone to remove a portion of the acetylene to produce the dilute ethylene stream and routing the C3+ stream to storage or other process unit. Another process comprises separating a cracked gas stream in a depropanizer zone to form a C3− stream and a C4+ stream; separating the C3− stream in a deethanizer zone to form a C2− and a C3 stream; hydrogenating a portion of the acetylene in the C2− stream in a hydrogenation zone to produce a dilute ethylene stream; and routing the C3 stream to storage or other process unit.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LPInventors: Rodney L. Porter, Anne M. Balinsky, Eric P. Weber
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Patent number: 6790343Abstract: The present invention relates to a sulfur transfer additive for catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons and a catalytic cracking process of hydrocarbons using the sulfur transfer additive, said additive is a uniform liquid comprising at least two metal elements selected from the following three classes: a). alkaline earth metals, b). transition metals and P zone metals, and c). rare earth metals, and wherein there are at least two metal elements from the different classes. The present sulfur transfer additive can reduce the SOx content in the regenerator flue gas and the sulfur content in the light oil products at the same time, and has no negative effect on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst in the FCC system.Type: GrantFiled: November 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignees: China Petro-chemical Corporation, Luoyang Petro-chemical Engineering Corporation, SinopecInventors: Longyan Wang, Haiqing Guo, Wenyi Qi, Shuqin Su, Xianliang Deng, Jinlong Liu, Shufang Liu
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Patent number: 6790344Abstract: Disclosed is a liquid phase adsorption process for removing and concentrating heteroatom compounds in hydrocarbons (HCH), comprising the steps of adsorption, copurging and regeneration. In the adsorption step, a liquid hydrocarbon stream is fed to an adsorber, which adsorbs HCH and returns adsorption effluent. In the copurging step, HCH, which are extracted from the previous regeneration, are applied to the adsorber, displacing the copurging effluent. In the regeneration step, a polar solvent is flowed through the adsorber, purging HCH. Most of the HCH are then set aside for use in the next copuring step, while a small amount of the HCH are taken out from the process as HCH product. The present invention is economically advantageous in effectively removing HCH from hydrocarbon streams and increasing the concentration of HCH within an HCH product.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: SK CorporationInventors: Wha-Sik Min, Sin-Young Khang, Dong-Soon Min, Jae-Wook Ryu, Kwan-Sik Yoo, Jyu-Hwan Kim
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Patent number: 6790345Abstract: An underwater filtration operator which can be suspended in a river, lake, pond or other water body to filter water from the water body. The underwater filtration operator may be electrically charged to discharge impurities in the water body and increase filtering efficiency and the operator includes a housing having a selected configuration and divided into one or more filtration units, each of which includes a filter medium for filtering water from the water body. A pump is provided in the housing for receiving the filtered water from the filtration units and pumping the filtered water to a collection tank or dispenser or directly to an end user or to a reverse-osmosis water filtration unit for further filtration.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventor: Ronney L. Broussard
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Patent number: 6790346Abstract: Cyclone separator with flow rate regulation for separating solid particles from a fluid, comprises a recipient having a fluid inlet and an upper outlet for clarified fluid. The separator also comprises a recycling conduit which places an outlet conduit in communication with the inlet, a three-way valve to an inlet of which the outlet conduit is connected, and to outlets of which the recycling conduit and the outlet are connected. The three-way valve has an obturator which can block the connection between the outlet conduit and the recycling conduit, a one-way valve which has an obturator and is located at the outlet downstream of the three-way valve. The one-way valve is normally closed and can connect the outlet conduit with the outlet. The three-way valve and the one-way valve are brought into action when the fluid pressure in outlet from the separator reaches first and second predetermined values.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Cattani S.p.A.Inventor: Ideo Caleffi
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Patent number: 6790347Abstract: Provided is a wastewater treatment apparatus including a bottom portion and a plate formed above and spaced apart from the bottom portion to form a lower chamber with the bottom portion, an outlet installed on the bottom portion for drawing off water and sludge in the lower chamber before backwashing, a filter medium layer supported to the upper portion of the plate by the plate, the upper layer of which forms a bottom portion of an upper chamber, a wastewater introducing means connected to the lower chamber, for introducing wastewater to be treated into the lower chamber, a process air introducing means for supplying process air to the filter medium layer formed over the plate, a plurality of aerators formed over and spaced apart a predetermined distance from the plate, and mounted in a plurality of air flow pipes led to the process air introducing means, a backwash air introducing means for supplying backwash air to the lower chamber during backwashing, a backwash water introducing means for supplying backwType: GrantFiled: October 23, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Samsung Engineering Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yong-Dae Jeong, Jae-Jin Lee, Gyung-Hae Aohh, Jong-Bok Park
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Patent number: 6790348Abstract: This invention provides an external lubricant filter system for automatic transmissions comprising a modified transmission lubricant pan assembly and an external spin on/off lubricant filter canister that is removably and sealably connected to the modified pan. The transmission pan is modified to include a filter adapter, a pick-up assembly, a discharge tube and inlet and outlet chambers. The filter adapter includes an externally threaded pipe nipple for removably receiving the filter canister, lubricant entry port and a lubricant inlet plenum for distributing the potentially contaminated lubricant to the inlet orifices of the filter canister, and a filter sealing surface. The lubricant pick up assembly delivers contaminated lubricant from the pan to the filter canister via the inlet chamber, and the entry port and plenum of the filter adapter.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventor: Walter A. Orborn
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Patent number: 6790349Abstract: A waste treatment apparatus for the treatment and processing of wet material is provided. The apparatus comprises an inlet hopper adapted for receipt of the wet material. A pre-conditioning unit is provided having an input and an output end wherein the wet material is received from the inlet hopper at the input end and is conveyed to the output end wherein the wet material is processed to reduce moisture and pathogen content. A blower is provided for providing a forced air stream to direct the flow of the wet material and for directing the flow from the output end of the pre-conditioning unit. A pre-separation cyclone is provided and is operatively positioned for receiving the wet material from the output end of the pre-conditioning unit via the air stream powered by the blower, wherein the wet material is processed under the influence of cyclonic forces that further reduce the moisture content, pathogen content, and reduce the particle size of the wet material.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Global Resource Recovery Organization, Inc.Inventor: Bud Sawyer
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Patent number: 6790350Abstract: Apparatus for separating fluid mixtures includes plural tubular membranes parallel to each other. Each of the membranes has an inner lumen and the flow direction is from the exterior of the membrane to the inner lumen. Each tube is surrounded by a larger diameter feed tube and a gap is formed between the outside service of the tubular membrane and the inside service of the feed tube. This annulus provides a feed flow channel for the fluid mixture along the outer surface of the tubular membrane. The annulus has first and second ends connected to entrance and discharge ports respectively of the feed flow. The inner lumen of the tubular membranes are sealed from the annular gap and provided with a connection for the discharge of the permeate flow.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Stichting Energieonderzoek Centrum NederlandInventors: Petrus Paulus Antonius Catharina Pex, Hartmut Ernst Arthur BrĂĽschke, Yvonne Christine Van Delft, Nicholas Patrick Wynn, Henk Martin Van Veen, Frank-Klaus Marggraff
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Patent number: 6790351Abstract: A liquid filtering apparatus is placed in a vessel having a bed of filtration material and an intake for introducing unfiltered liquid, that includes a washbox, an airlifting tube extending from the washbox and including an intake end and means for introducing a primary gas to the airlifting tube, the airlifting tube passing through a central pipe, which extends from just below the washbox to a position just above the intake end. At least one screen cartridge is oriented in a generally angular downward direction in the bed and is in communication with an effluent chamber defined in part by the outer surface of the central pipe. A reject line extends from the washbox, and an effluent collector extends from the effluent chamber. A method of filtering and cleaning the filtration material is also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Ashbrook CorporationInventors: Yongming Xia, James E. Thompson, Jeffrey S. Devine
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Patent number: 6790352Abstract: An apparatus for treating water contaminated with metal sulfates and sulfuric acid such as acid mine drainage (AMD) which in part recycles high pH effluent from later steps in the process back to the earlier steps of the process. The recycled high pH effluent added with magnesium hydroxide to the entering AMD generates precipitates separable from the stream to leave sulfate ladened water. A tangential filtering process is used to separate the sulfate ladened water into one stream of pure water and a second stream containing sulfate. One portion of the second stream is treated with ammonia to yield a cake of ammonia sulfate and aqueous ammonia. Ca(OH)2 is added to another portion of the second stream to produce calcium sulfate cake and the high pH effluent that is recycled back to the first step in the cycle.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventors: Stephen Ray Wurzburger, J. Michael Overton
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Patent number: 6790353Abstract: The present invention provides several embodiments of a device for automatically feeding soluble fluid treating agents in both tablet and granular form into a fluid body such as a swimming pool, spa or toilet bowl tank. Each embodiment includes a holding member for holding the soluble fluid treating agents which is selectively moveable along at least a portion of the length of a shaft member so as to adjustably position the soluble fluid treating agents relative to the fluid body. The shaft member is removably attachable to a base member that holds the device in operative position. The holding member can be selectively positioned such that any portion of the soluble fluid treating agents can be immersed within the fluid body. When a plurality of tablets are utilized, the holding member includes an elongate portion and each tablet preferably includes an opening extending therethrough adaptable for receiving the elongate portion.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Solutia, Inc.Inventor: Thomas V. Connelly, Jr.
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Patent number: 6790354Abstract: An electrospray device, a liquid chromatography device and an electrospray-liquid chromatography system are disclosed. The electrospray device comprises a substrate defining a channel between an entrance orifice on an injection surface and an exit orifice on an ejection surface, a nozzle defined by a portion recessed from the ejection surface surrounding the exit orifice, and an electrode for application of an electric potential to the substrate to optimize and generate an electrospray; and, optionally, additional electrode(s) to further modify the electrospray.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2000Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignees: Advion BioSciences, Inc., Kionix, Inc.Inventors: James E. Moon, Timothy J. Davis, Gregory J. Galvin, Gary A. Schultz, Thomas N. Corso, Stephen Lowes
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Patent number: 6790355Abstract: The invention is directed to an apparatus for delivering activated microorganisms to an environment to be treated. The apparatus has a bioreactor containing microorganisms, a supply of organic and inorganic nutrients and a controller. The controller maintains the conditions of the bioreactor so as to maintain the microorganisms in the exponential phase of growth. Although the apparatus is continuous, the controller also doses a portion of the fluid in the bioreactor to the environment to be treated. The invention also provides a method for the biological treatment of wastes and an organic and inorganic nutrient composition used to feed the microorganisms in the bioreactor.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventors: Jon Shaffer, Jack Fernandes, John Lucido
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Patent number: 6790356Abstract: An oil filter assembly comprising: an oil filter housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element, the oil filter housing also defining a port; and a valve assembly received within the port, the valve assembly having a closed position and an open position for draining the chamber of oil associated with the oil filter element, the valve assembly comprising a spring, a valve and a casing disposed about the spring and the plunger. The casing may include a substantially annular lip retaining the valve in engagement with the casing. The casing defines a casing chamber and the lip retaining a collar of the valve within the casing chamber. The lip also may define a hole for receiving the stem or, in accordance with an alternative embodiment, for receiving a post or the like associated with the oil filter element. A method is also provided of producing an oil filter assembly having a housing defining an oil filter chamber adapted to receive an oil filter element.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Arvin Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Allen B. Wright, Timothy Alan Byrd, L. Steven Cline
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Patent number: 6790357Abstract: A media bed support grid for use with a vessel having an inner surface. The media bed support grid comprises a plurality of filter panels, each filter panel having a plurality of parallel and spaced-apart filter wires, the plurality of filter wires forming a filtering surface. The media bed support grid also comprises a plurality of channels underlying and positioned substantially perpendicular to the filter wires. The media bed support grid further comprises a plurality of manifolds, each manifold being coupled to and in fluid communication with the channels.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.Inventor: Robert G. Norell
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Patent number: 6790358Abstract: Trace impurities such as organic compounds in an inert, non-reactive or reactive liquid such as ammonia, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, and chlorine are reduced by at least a factor of 5 using liquid purifying systems that contain an ultra-low emission (ULE) carbon. The moisture level of the purified reactive liquid is only slightly higher than that of the contaminated liquid.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Matheson Tri-Gas, Inc.Inventors: Hans H. Funke, Robert Torres, Jr., Carrie L. Wyse
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Patent number: 6790359Abstract: Method and process for dramatically increasing mixing, energy and operating efficiency of wastewater treatment plants at reduced capital and operating cost per unit volume.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Inventor: Herman P. Miller, III
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Patent number: 6790360Abstract: A filtering element has ultrafiltration or microfiltration hollow fiber membranes extending horizontally between a pair of opposed horizontally spaced, vertically extending headers. Side plates extending between the pair of vertically extending headers define a vertical flow channel through the element. Modules are created by placing the elements in place without obstructing the vertical flow channels. Each element may be released from the frame, however, and removed by sliding it in a direction substantially normal to its headers without disassembling the remainder of the module. The elements have associated releasable water tight fittings between the elements and a permeate collector, the releasable water tight fittings being releasable by removing an element from the frame. An aerator below the module has a plurality of air holes located to provide a line of air holes below each element or below a side plate between each pair of elements.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Zenon Environmental Inc.Inventors: Steven Pedersen, Pierre Cote
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Patent number: 6790361Abstract: A method and device for increasing the loading capacity of a chromatography column through dilution of a mobile phase at the head of the column. A strong mobile phase is provided for dissolving a sample. A sample is injected into the strong mobile phase, and subsequently diluted with a weak mobile phase. The resulting sample-containing weak mobile phase is passed through a chromatography column for retention and separation of the components of the sample.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2003Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Waters CorporationInventors: Thomas E. Wheat, Charles H. Phoebe, Mark K. Baynham, Uwe Dieter Neue, Raymond P. Fisk, Richard C. Turner
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Patent number: 6790362Abstract: The present invention provides a controller for a water softener having an ion exchange resin capable of receiving hard water ions from hard water during a softening step and releasing the hard water ions during a regeneration step. The controller includes a processor programmed to cause termination of the softening step and initiate the regeneration step when both a first and a second condition are met. The first condition is met when the resin is saturated with hard water ions, and the second condition is met when current demand for soft water is at or below a prescribed flow rate.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2002Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: Culligan International CompanyInventors: Lance FitzGerald, John N. VanNewenhizen