Patents Issued in September 25, 2007
  • Patent number: 7273516
    Abstract: A plate heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a first air stream and a second air stream includes a plurality of plates limiting first and second exchange chambers which are serially arranged in a transversal direction with respect to the plates. A first air stream of outside air passes through the first exchange chambers, a second air stream originating from ventilated rooms passes through the second exchange chambers. The heat exchanger further includes an ionization device for ionizing particles entrained in the first air stream so that the particles deposit at conductive plates of the first exchange spaces, a water distribution system for periodically discharging water into the first exchange spaces for cleaning the plates of the heat exchanger from deposited particles, and a water collection device for discharging collected water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Mentus Holding AG
    Inventor: Urs A. Weidmann
  • Patent number: 7273517
    Abstract: A non-planar microfabricated gas chromatography column comprises a planar substrate having a plurality of through holes, a top lid and a bottom lid bonded to opposite surfaces of the planar substrate, and inlet and outlet ports for injection of a sample gas and elution of separated analytes. A plurality of such planar substrates can be aligned and stacked to provide a longer column length having a small footprint. Furthermore, two or more separate channels can enable multi-channel or multi-dimensional gas chromatography. The through holes preferably have a circular cross section and can be coated with a stationary phase material or packed with a porous packing material. Importantly, uniform stationary phase coatings can be obtained and band broadening can be minimized with the circular channels. A heating or cooling element can be disposed on at least one of the lids to enable temperature programming of the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick R. Lewis, David R. Wheeler
  • Patent number: 7273518
    Abstract: An inlet includes a bottom assembly and a top assembly. The bottom assembly includes at least one male unit, and the top assembly has at least one beveled surface and includes at least one female unit and a lateral driving unit. The top assembly is placed inside the bottom assembly by aligning the female unit of the top assembly with the male unit of the bottom assembly. The lateral driving unit laterally drives the top assembly and causes the beveled surface of the top assembly to rise against the male unit of the bottom assembly, allowing the top assembly to seal with the bottom assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Wei-Liang Song, Lee Xu, Guo-Chen He
  • Patent number: 7273519
    Abstract: An ink set where constituent inks all are an ink containing at least one dye having an oxidation potential more positive than 1.0 V (vs SCE), particularly where the ratio k1/k2 of the fading rate constant (k1) of an image drawn by using the ink alone to the fading rate constant (k2) of a mixed color image drawn by using all constituent inks constituting the ink set in equivalent amounts with the same density measurement light as in the measurement of k1 is 0.7 to 1.3 in all inks. According the present invention, an inkjet ink set capable of giving an image having good image quality and excellent image fastness regardless of the color of image, such as aging stability, light fastness and water resistance, and an inkjet image recording method using the ink set are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiki Taguchi, Manabu Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7273520
    Abstract: Ink set for ink jet printing comprised of at least one yellow ink, one magenta ink, one cyan ink and one black ink, wherein the yellow ink contains a mixture of at least one yellow dye with reddish hue of formula (I), wherein R, M, R17, R18, p4, n and m are as defined in the specification and at least one yellow dye with greenish hue of formula (II), wherein R, M, R6, R7, R8, n and m are as defined in the specification.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ILFORD Imaging Switzerland GmbH
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Gremaud, Arnd Kriebel
  • Patent number: 7273521
    Abstract: A new and useful method of simultaneously producing and granulating composite materials for simultaneous internal delivery of high amounts of calcium and phosphate to a subject (person or animal) is provided. Such a method entails the dropwise addition of concentrated phosphoric acid within a specified amount of water into a vessel containing a powdered material of lime and/or calcium carbonate, with the lime and/or calcium carbonate present in an excessive amount of the phosphoric acid, with subsequent, mixing, drying, milling, and sieving to provide the correct target particle size range for the resultant granulated materials. Such specifically produced granulated calcium carbonate/dicalcium phosphate materials exhibit very high available calcium levels, very high available phosphate levels, excellent flow characteristics, and very high capability for compression into tablets. Products including such particularly produced composite materials are also encompassed within this invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: J.M. Huber Corporation
    Inventor: Sung-Tsuen Liu
  • Patent number: 7273522
    Abstract: The present invention relates to plane-parallel structures of silicon/silicon oxide (silicon/silicon oxide flakes), obtainable by heating plane-parallel structures of SiOy in an oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature above 400° C., wherein 0.70?y?1.8, or plane-parallel structures of silicon/silicon oxide, obtainable by heating plane-parallel structures of SiOx in an oxygen-free atmosphere at a temperature above 400° C., wherein 0.03?x?0.95, a process for their production and their use for the production of interference pigments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ciba Specialty Chemicals Corporation
    Inventors: Patrice Bujard, Holger Leybach, Hilmar Weinert
  • Patent number: 7273523
    Abstract: Calcium-strontium-hydroxyphosphate (strontium-apatite-) cement preparations are described, comprising a powder mixture, which contains molar quantities of the components calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr) and phosphate (P) in the mixture in the ranges 1.00<Ca/P?1.50 and 0<Sr/P<1.5, together with an alkali salt or an ammonium salt of phosphoric acid, and with water and/or an aqueous solution. The powder mixture particularly contains, as the Ca-component, Ca3(PO4)2 (TCP), and as the Sr-component SrHPO4 and/or Sr3(PO4)2 and optionally additional SrCO3. As the aqueous mixing solution for the formation of the strontium-apatite cement, an aqueous solution of an alkali salt or an ammonium salt of the phosphoric acid is suitable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kyphon Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Wenz
  • Patent number: 7273524
    Abstract: The objective of the present invention is to provide a concrete composition in which the amount of air entrained can be maintained stably and which is excellent in strength and durability, a concrete composition which is excellent in freeze-thaw durability owing to the good quality of foams and is excellent in air content stability with time and which can form curing products excellent in strength and durability, a method of producing such concrete composition, and a cement admixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Tomita, Hirokatsu Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7273525
    Abstract: A method of forming a phosphorus- and/or boron-containing silica layer, such as a PSG, BSG, or BPSG layer, on a substrate, such as a semiconductor substrate or substrate assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian A Vaartstra
  • Patent number: 7273526
    Abstract: A gas-feeding apparatus configured to be connected to an evacuatable reaction chamber includes a gas-distribution head for introducing gases into the chamber through a head surface. The gas-feeding head includes a first section for discharging a gas through the head surface toward a susceptor and a second section for discharging a gas through the head surface toward the susceptor. The first and the second sections are isolated from each other in the gas-distribution head, at least one of which section is coupled to an exhaust system for purging therefrom a gas present in the corresponding section without passing through the head surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ASM Japan K.K.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Shinriki, Junichi Arami
  • Patent number: 7273527
    Abstract: The present invention provides a production method for a powdered core, including steps of preparing a mixture including a soft magnetic powder and a resin powder to obtain a mixture, compacting the mixture into a predetermined shape to obtain a green compact and heating the green compact, and wherein the resin powder has a median size of not more than 50 ?m, and the resin powder amount is 0.01 to 5 vol %. The method reduces production cost, and decreases eddy-current loss We and hysteresis loss Wh, whereby a powdered core in which a durability is improved and the technical advantages are expanded can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Hitachi Powdered Metals Co., Ltd., Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Chio Ishihara, Kazuo Asaka, Kei Ishii, Tamio Takada, Tsuyoshi Akao, Isao Makino
  • Patent number: 7273528
    Abstract: Device for applying adhesive tape to a position in the width direction on an adherend surface linked to a neighboring surface via a folding line. The device comprises a pressing member with a surface attached pressingly to a surface of an adherend member, and at the same time, an edge between a sloping surface and an upper surface makes line contact with the neighboring surface near the folding line, thereby defining the position of the pressing member in the width direction relative to the adherend surface. The position of an adhesive tape relative to the pressing member is defined by an upper surface of a tape guide attaching member and a lower surface of a guide bar flange. Unapplied tape is guided by the guide bar and an unapplied tape guide, and a liner separated from the adhesive tape is guided by the guide bar and a liner guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Masayuki Kubota
  • Patent number: 7273529
    Abstract: In a method for making a window covering the user selects a first segment of cellular material in which there is a top cell having a top surface, at least one glue line on the top surface and a strip of fabric on the at least one glue line. The strip of fabric and at least a portion of the glue line are removed from the top surface of the top cell and a second glue line is applied to that top surface. A second segment of cellular material is place over the second glue line on the top surface of the top cell of the first segment. The glue line cures and bonds the second segment of cellular material to the first segment of cellular material. If the cellular material has tabbed cells the processes can be used to join the tabs of the two segments together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventors: Ren Judkins, John D. Rupel
  • Patent number: 7273530
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of decorative coatings, comprising the following steps: A) providing a substrate to be coated and a backing film coated on one side with an uncured or only partially cured coating of a coating composition curable by means of high-energy radiation, B) forming zones on the backing film which are opaque to high-energy radiation and correspond to the negative image of a desired pattern or decoration, C) applying the coated side of the backing film having the uncured or only partially cured coating of a coating composition curable by means of high-energy radiation with the coated side thereof onto a substrate surface, D) curing the coating applied by the backing film by irradiation with high-energy radiation through the backing film, E) removing the backing film from the coating which remains on the substrate, and F) removing the un-irradiated and thus uncured parts of the coating remaining on the substrate to obtain the desired pattern or decoration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Company
    Inventors: Carmen Flosbach, Peter Frese, Phu Qui Nguyen, Martin Wulf
  • Patent number: 7273531
    Abstract: Fluoropolymeric substrates are modified by a photochemical process that includes at least one species having the formula wherein: R represents hydrogen or an alkyl or cycloalkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms or an aryl, alkaryl, or aralkyl group having from 6 to 18 carbon atoms; X represents O or NH; and each of R1, R2, R3, and R4 independently represents H, an alkyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group having from 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an aryl group having from 6 to 10 carbon atoms, or any two of R, R1, R2, R3, and R4 taken together represent an alkylene group having from 2 to 6 carbon atoms, with the proviso that at least one of R1 and R2 or at least one of R3 and R4 is not H.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Naiyong Jing, Yifan Zhang, William J. Schultz
  • Patent number: 7273532
    Abstract: An assembly element to be inserted into a bore, with two compensating elements fitting one into the other and having eccentric bores. The assembly element is provided for transmission of forces to the inner surface of the hole of the bore and for positioning the longitudinal axes of a fastening element within the through-bore, and is produced with a smaller radial dimension with respect to at least one exit of the bore in the outer face of the plate for forming a slot and can be fastened in the bore by a sealing agent filling the slot. An assembly element for a laminated pane, which includes at least three individual panes and has at least one hole passing through all the individual panes for installing or accommodating a rod-shaped fastening element, includes an attached element with a through-bore to be fastened to the outer panes, and a mechanism for aligning deviations of the hole centers of the two through-bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Christian Eckelt, Roland Leopoldseder, Ulrich Hermens, Matthias Meissner
  • Patent number: 7273533
    Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma source is provided with a peripheral ionization source for producing a high-density plasma in a vacuum chamber for semiconductor wafer coating or etching. The source includes a segmented configuration having high and low radiation segments and produces a generally ring-shaped array of energy concentrations in the plasma around the periphery of the chamber. Energy is coupled from a segmented low inductance antenna through a dielectric window or array of windows and through a segmented shield or baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Jozef Brcka, Rodney Lee Robison
  • Patent number: 7273534
    Abstract: In an optical disk substrate film-formation apparatus which prepared an optical disk by forming a thin film on a substrate, the optical disk substrate is held by a holder section. A contact support surface is provided to the holder section which closely contacts at least a portion of the surface of the optical disk substrate rear to the surface where the think film is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Ito, Katsunari Hanaoka, Hiroshi Deguchi, Nobuaki Onagi, Hiroko Tashiro, Kiyoto Shibata, Yasutomo Aman, Hiroshi Miura, Wataru Ohtani, Hajime Yuzurihara, Masaru Shinkai
  • Patent number: 7273535
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for plating a metal onto a substrate. The apparatus includes a fluid basin configured to contain a plating solution, an anode fluid volume positioned in a lower portion of the fluid basin, a cathode fluid volume positioned in an upper portion of the fluid basin, an ionic membrane positioned to separate the anode fluid volume from the cathode fluid volume, a plating electrode centrally positioned in the anode fluid volume, and a deplating electrode positioned adjacent the plating electrode in the anode fluid volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicolay Y. Kovarsky, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Yevgeniy (Eugene) Rabinovich
  • Patent number: 7273536
    Abstract: A conductive diamond electrode including an electrode substrate comprising a material selected from the group consisting of a valve metal and an alloy based on the valve metal, at least a surface of the metal or alloy having been subjected to plasticization processing, or heat treatment in vacuum or inert atmosphere; and a conductive diamond film formed on the plasticization processed surface of the electrode substrate. When the electrode substrate is subjected to plasticization processing and heat treatment, peeling resistance of the conductive diamond film is improved, thereby an electrode life is prolonged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoyasu Shibata, Masashi Hosonuma, Tsuneto Furuta
  • Patent number: 7273537
    Abstract: A method of producing metal particles through electrolysis. A cathode having a plurality of active zones on a surface thereof is at least partially immersed in a reaction solution. The cathode is spaced from an anode also at least partially immersed in the reaction solution. A voltage potential is applied between the anode and cathode. Metal particles form on the active zones of the cathode. In order to promote the formation of good quality particles, a turbulent flow of the solution is maintained past one or more the active zones, and the current density in the active zones is maintained greater than about 5 kA/m2. The particles may be dislodged from the cathode after they have achieved a desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Teck Cominco Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Stuart I. Smedley, Martin De Tezanos Pinto, Stephen R. Des Jardins, Donald James Novkov, Ronald Gulino
  • Patent number: 7273538
    Abstract: A surface mountable laminated circuit protection device comprises a first metal layer including a first unit and a second unit, a first insulating layer disposed on the first metal layer, and a second metal layer disposed on the first insulated layer. There is also a composite electroplated layer containing carbon black disposed on the second metal layer, and a first conductive composite material having positive temperature coefficient (PTC) characteristics disposed on the composite electroplated layer containing carbon black. Above the first conductive composite material is a third metal layer. Furthermore, there is a first conducting mechanism for conducting the first metal layer and the second metal to each other; and a second conducting mechanism for conducting the third metal layer and the first metal layer to each other. The application of double-sided metal foil clad substrate simplifies the production process of the protection device and improves its structural strength and dimensional stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Protectronics Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Rei-Yian Chen, Chih-Yi Chang, Tung-Hsiang Liu
  • Patent number: 7273539
    Abstract: The invention relates to the regeneration of an electrolysis bath for the production of I-III-VI<SB>Y</SB> compounds in thin layers, where y is approaching 2 and VI is an element including selenium, whereby selenium is regenerated in the form Se(IV) and/or with addition of oxygenated water to reoxidise the selenium in the bath to give the form Se(IV).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignees: Electricite de France, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Stéphane Taunier, Denis Guimard, Daniel Lincot, Jean-François Guillemoles, Pierre-Philippe Grand
  • Patent number: 7273540
    Abstract: An electrolytic plating method, including: preparing a plating solution including water which is a primary medium, a sulfonic acid, and tin, copper, and silver ions, and a complexing agent, concentrations of the sulfonic acid, and tin, copper, and silver ions being 0.5 to 5 mol/L, 0.21 to 2 mol/L, 0.002 to 0.02 mol/L, and 0.01 to 0.1 mol/L, respectively, a mole ratio of the silver-ion concentration to the copper-ion concentration being in a range of 4.5 to 5.58; and separating a solution around a soluble anode containing 90 percent or more of tin from the plating solution on a cathode side by a non-ionic micro-porous membrane having a pore diameter of 0.01 to 0.05 ?m and a thickness of 5 to 100 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Shinryo Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromi Sonoda, Katsuji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 7273541
    Abstract: A method of electrolytic synthesis comprises applying a potential between a first electrode and a second electrode. The first electrode is in contact with a first fluid stream in a channel, the second electrode is in contact with a second fluid stream in the channel, and the first steam and the second stream are in parallel laminar flow in the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventors: Eric R. Choban, Piotr Waszczuk, Paul J. A. Kenis, Theodore Tzedakis, Seong Kee Yoon, Cheikhou Kane
  • Patent number: 7273542
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for recovering product from reactor effluent of a reactor for a hydrocarbon feedstream. An indigenous C4 stream is used as lean oil in a demethanizer, which facilitates significant cost and operational savings. C4 bottoms from a downstream depropanizer is used as lean oil recycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Duhon, John E. Asplin
  • Patent number: 7273543
    Abstract: A process and an apparatus for catalytic cracking a hydrocarbon feed to lighter hydrocarbon employing a catalyst cooler in flow communication with a catalyst stripper is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Stone & Webster Process Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren Letzsch
  • Patent number: 7273544
    Abstract: A sludge extractor with a receiving tank, on which a suction connection for a suction element, which draws in a sludge-containing liquid, and a discharge connection for discharge element, which discharges the sludge-containing liquid, are mounted, and with a motor for driving a suction device in such a way that a negative pressure is created in the receiving tank, which negative pressure keeps a vacuum valve on the discharge element closed, is characterized in that the negative pressure acting on the vacuum valve is lower than the pressure which acts on the vacuum valve as a result of the sludge-containing liquid when a predetermined fill level is reached by the sludge-containing liquid in the receiving tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Oase Wübker GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Dieter Hoffmeier
  • Patent number: 7273545
    Abstract: A water intake open cavity drum for ponds, which includes a drum body with a lower portion defining a cavity and an upper portion defining a cavity in fluid communication with the lower portion cavity but having less volume than that of the lower portion. The drum includes a plurality of stabilizing feet, at least one water inlet disposed in the lower portion, a water outlet disposed from the upper portion, and a venturi interposed between the water inlet and water outlet. Filtering media is disposed in the cavity, and when a pump is applied to the water outlet, a vortex is formed in the drum body interior which rapidly circulates water throughout the filtering media before it passes out the water outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Bruce S. Lloyd
  • Patent number: 7273546
    Abstract: An improved disposable filter bag for use with a pool cleaner of the type disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,863,425; 4,558,479; and 3,822,754. The filter bag is formed from a porous filter material having marginal seams formed by direct welding to form a reinforced cuff defining an open bag mouth leading to a hollow bag interior. The cuff is configured for removable mounting on a pool cleaner suction mast, as by removable connection to a mounting collar as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,863,425; D409,341; and D468,067. A divider seam defined by a spaced-apart array of welds subdivides the bag interior into a primary flow chamber for receiving flow of water and water-entrained debris from the pool cleaner, and a secondary collection chamber for trapping and collecting the water-entrained debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael A. Meritt-Powell
  • Patent number: 7273547
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a filtering apparatus including a filter device externally hitched on a wall surface of an aquarium. A water pump pumps water stored in the aquarium into the filter device. The filter device is formed so that the water pumped from the water pump is divided into a first flow which is returned into the aquarium unfiltered, and a second flow which is filtered through a filter element and then returned into the aquarium in dependence on a siphon effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Suisaku Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Soichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 7273548
    Abstract: A fluid filter, which is adapted for separating a less dense fluid floating on a high dense fluid, includes at least a fluid filtering arrangement including a floating wing adapted for floating on the less dense fluid and at least a fluid outlet formed on the floating wing, and a container body, which is extended from the floating wing, having a fluid collecting cavity communicating with the fluid outlet, wherein the fluid outlet is formed at a position above the fluid collecting cavity. Therefore, when a downward force is applied on the floating wing until the fluid outlet is slightly positioned below a surface level of the less dense fluid, the less dense fluid is allowed to flow into the fluid collecting cavity through the fluid outlet by gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Inventor: Charles N. Chiang
  • Patent number: 7273549
    Abstract: An apparatus including a first hollow fiber membrane module, baffle assembly, and fluid source. The module includes a plurality of elongated hollow fiber membranes located generally in adjacent, parallel relationship to each other. Each of the membranes includes a generally cylindrical wall having a first end and a second end. The module also includes a module housing that supports the membranes. The module is configured to be positionable within the conduit and further to be matable with a similarly configured module. The baffle assembly is located within the conduit and configured to direct the flow of a first fluid through the module. The fluid source directs a second fluid to flow through the membranes from the first end to the second end. A predetermined substance is transmitted through the membranes' walls, to modify the concentration of the predetermined substance in the first fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Geoscience Support Services Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Williams, Mark Williams
  • Patent number: 7273550
    Abstract: A filter assembly may include a valve which includes a valve member. The valve member moves between a first position and a second position and the valve is opened and closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Pall Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Guy Gutman, Roger Alexander Buttery, Kenneth Roy Weight
  • Patent number: 7273551
    Abstract: In a polyimide molded body, in particular a polyimide membrane which is functionalized with a chemical group and a method for production thereof, a molded body or membrane is obtained, whereby a pre-prepared polyimide body, as starting material, is brought into contact with an aqueous modifier solution for a period of 1 second to 1 hour. The modifier solution contains at least one modifier substance at least partially dissolved therein, which comprises a primary or secondary amino group, or a similar amino group and additionally at least one further functional group per molecule. The polyimide molded body is brought to an elevated temperature, either during the contact period with the modifier solution or thereafter and then purified and dried. The membrane obtained according to the invention may be functionalized in a targeted adjustable manner and has a high functionalization degree. The functionalization may be achieved simply and economically in an aqueous medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: GKSS-Forschungszentrum Geesthacht GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Albrecht, Lars-Ingemar Dahms, Karola Lützow, Thomas Weigel, Roland Hilke, Dieter Paul
  • Patent number: 7273552
    Abstract: Bioremediatory fungi, such as Trichoderma harzianum, which have been found to catabolise cyanide, are capable of detoxifying contaminated environmental areas in association with a suitable rhizosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Forestry Commission
    Inventor: James Michael Lynch
  • Patent number: 7273553
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the treatment of waste water comprising an organic nutrient. According to the invention, the waste water is in a first step fed to sludge granules, after the supply of the waste water to be treated the sludge granules are fluidised in the presence of an oxygen-comprising gas, and in a third step, the sludge granules are allowed to settle in a settling step. This makes it possible to effectively remove not only organic nutrients but optionally also nitrogen compounds and phosphate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: DHV Water BV
    Inventors: Marinus C. Van Loosdrecht, Merle K. De Kreuk
  • Patent number: 7273554
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crossflow-filtration method for beverages, in particular beer, which comprises the following steps: a) the feed liquid is introduced into a filter module by means of a tangential flow through a filter membrane (6) in a first direction, whereby the filtrate flow on the filtrate side (19) of the filter module is maintained within predetermined threshold values; b) the entry pressure is reduced and the filter is backflushed by surges of filtrate initiated by a reversal of the flow direction transversally to the membrane; c) the feed liquid is optionally introduced in an inverse flow direction to that of step a) and the concentrate is evacuated on the non-filtrate (7) side of the module; d) the entry pressure is reduced and the filter is backflushed by surges of filtrate initiated by a reversal of the flow direction transversally to the membrane; e) steps a) to d) are repeated until the filtrate flow lies below the lower predetermined threshold value; f) to k) the filter is emptied by a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Sartorius Biotech GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Rodenberg, Bernhard Diel, Matthias Grabosch, Dieter Armgart
  • Patent number: 7273555
    Abstract: A process for continuous countercurrent ion exchange comprises piping a contaminated feed stream into a closed loop ion exchange contactor. The contactor is an ion exchange bed that has three or more reaction segments. The segments are comprised of at least an adsorption segment for treating the contaminated feed stream, a regeneration segment for stripping the contaminant ions from the resin bed, and a pulse segment for advancing the resin bed. Simultaneously, the feed stream is moved through the contactor in the same direction as the regeneration stream. Measuring the quality of this treated feed stream after it exits the contactor monitors the treatment capacity of the resin bed. In response to this quality measurement, the regenerated resin bed is advanced in the pulse segment of the contactor. The spent brine is recycled back to the contactor until the final effluent brine is highly concentrated. After the resin stops advancing, the feed stream and regeneration stream resume flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Severn Trent Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Dennis
  • Patent number: 7273556
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for treating water for human consumption, so as to eliminate manganese and possibly other metals comprising steps which consist in: causing said water to pass at least over a bed of filtering material (3) consisting at least partly of manganese dioxide granules, said granules having a real density ranging between 3.5 and 4.5 and a hardness higher than 6 on the Mosh scale; regenerating, if necessary, said manganese dioxide, said regeneration being carried out mechanically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: OTV S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Lefort
  • Patent number: 7273557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the development of an improved methodology for adsorption and subsequent reduction of hexavalent chromium aimed at the total removal of hexavalent chromium in water, which comprises, reacting dichromate solutions with natural ferrous-saponite clays at temperature 50 to 200° C. for the period of 1 to 3.0 hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Council of Scientific and Industrial Research
    Inventors: Gopalakrishnarao Parthasarathy, Bojja Sreedhar, Boyapati Manoranjan Choudhary
  • Patent number: 7273558
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for reducing scale formation and/or corrosion in systems which conduct liquids or are in contact with liquids. According to the invention, this is achieved without reducing the quantity of hardness constituents contained in the liquid overall, without exchanging the hardness constituents in the liquid for other cations such as e.g. hydronium, sodium or potassium and without adding chemicals such as e.g. phosphates which inhibit scale formation to the liquid. Instead, scale formation is reduced by specifically shifting the molar distribution of the hardness constituents, especially the distribution proportions of the individual hardness constituents magnesium and calcium strontium and barium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell Technologies SARL
    Inventor: Bert Miecznik
  • Patent number: 7273559
    Abstract: A process is disclosed that relates to the removal of impurities and the recovery of a mother liquor and wash filtrate from an oxidizer purge stream produced in the synthesis of carboxylic acid, typically terephthalic. More particularly, the process involves the removal of impurities and the recovery of a mother liquor and wash filtrate from an oxidizer purge stream and then routing the mother liquor and or wash filtrate to an oxidation zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Eastman Chemical Company
    Inventors: Philip Edward Gibson, Kenny Randolph Parker, Howard Wood Jenkins, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7273560
    Abstract: An apparatus for recycling the stripper solutions with higher recycling rate is disclosed. The apparatus includes a stripper condenser; a first buffer tank; a second buffer tank connecting to said stripper condenser by a first pipe and connecting to said first buffer tank by a second pipe; a recycling device connecting to said first buffer tank by a fourth pipe; a first pump mounted on said first pipe; a second pump mounted on said second pipe; a concentration detector mounted in said stripper condenser; and a controller electrically connected to said concentration detector, said flow meter, and said liquid level sensor for receiving the signals therefrom, and electrically connected to said first pump and said second pump for sending on-off messages to said second pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Ta Sen Su, Chien Chou, Ji Luen Chen
  • Patent number: 7273561
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of determining chemical dosage required to reduce sulfides in wastewater includes providing a headspace apart from the wastewater. The temperature of the wastewater and the concentration of sulfide gas in the headspace are measured. Dissolved hydrogen sulfide gas concentrations in the wastewater are calculated from the temperature of the wastewater and the concentration of sulfide gas in said headspace. When pH is monitored, dissolved sulfide concentrations can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Waitaki Research Corporation
    Inventor: David G Palmer
  • Patent number: 7273562
    Abstract: A target biokill of species for water to be discharged from a ballast tank of a sea faring vessel is determined. A diverted portion of sea water is regulated prior to charging the water into the ballast tank. Regulation of the diverted portion of water and a rate of injection of the ozone into the portion are adjusted to attain the target biokill. Then ozone at the determined rate into the regulated diverted portion to attain the target biokill when the portion is recombined into the water for charging to the ballast tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Nutech 03, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack H. Robinson, Michael D. Jennings, Richard A. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7273563
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a magnetic recording medium is provided, which can efficiently manufacture a magnetic recording medium that includes a recording layer formed in a concavo-convex pattern and has good recording and reproduction characteristics. The method includes: a non-magnetic material filling step of depositing a non-magnetic material over a recording layer formed in a predetermined concavo-convex pattern over a substrate so as to fill a concave portion of the concavo-convex pattern with the non-magnetic material; and a flattening step of removing the excess part of the non-magnetic material above the recording layer by dry etching so as to flatten the surfaces of the non-magnetic material and the recording layer. The flattening step includes a former flattening step and a latter flattening step for finishing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Hattori, Shuichi Okawa, Takahiro Suwa, Mikiharu Hibi
  • Patent number: 7273564
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a flat panel display device including: coating an etch-resist on a thin film; forming a soft mold having a groove and a protrusion for patterning the thin film; treating an end surface of the protrusion; applying the soft mold to the etch-resist to form an etch-resist pattern; separating the soft mold from the etch-resist pattern; and etching the thin film by using the etch-resist pattern to form a thin film pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: LG.Philips LCD Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jin Wuk Kim
  • Patent number: 7273565
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a photonic device having a first set of layers (22) including at least a first waveguide layer (3) arranged in a waveguide mesa (61). A cladding layer (7) is arranged on top of the waveguide mesa (61) and surrounding semiconductor material (1). A contact layer (8) is arranged on top of the cladding layer (7), and a metal contact (9, 80) is arranged on top of the contact layer (8). The cladding (7) and contact (8) layer are shaped in an etching process to have a mesa structure at least above the waveguide mesa (61). An insulating material (25, 82) is also applied around the mesa structure. Optionally a second photonic device having a second set or layers (31) including at least a second waveguide layer (33), may be coupled to the first photonic device in a light transmission direction thereof. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing, the photonic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Bj{hacek over (o)}rn Stoltz, Eskil Bendz