Patents Issued in July 29, 2008
  • Patent number: 7404852
    Abstract: An inkjet ink is provided, which includes a solvent and a pigment having an average particle diameter of not larger than 250 nm. The number of flocculates of pigment particles having a diameter of 1 ?m or more is 1.6×108/cm3 or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Mitsuru Ishibashi, Toru Ushirogochi, Kazuhiko Ohtsu, Ryozo Akiyama, Masashi Hiroki
  • Patent number: 7404853
    Abstract: The invention relates to thermally conductive greases that may contain carrier oil(s), dispersant(s), and thermally conductive particles, wherein the thermally conductive particles are a mixture of at least three distributions of thermally conductive particles, each of the at least three distributions of thermally conductive particles having an average (D50) particle size which differs from the other average particle sizes by at least a factor of 5
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Philip E. Kendall
  • Patent number: 7404854
    Abstract: A process for warpage-free pigmentation of a plastic pigmented by a phthalocyanine pigment which was heated to not less than 80° C. as a suspension in a organic solvent in the presence of a carboxylic acid containing 2, 3 or 4 carboxyl groups or a salt of such a carboxylic acid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH
    Inventors: Matthias Ganschow, Carsten Plueg, Hans Joachim Metz
  • Patent number: 7404855
    Abstract: Resilient cement compositions and methods of cementing using the compositions are disclosed. A resilient cement composition of the invention comprises hydraulic cement, an aqueous rubber latex and a rubber latex stabilizing surfactant comprising an iso-dodecyl alcohol ether sulfonate ethoxylated with from about 10 to about 20 moles of ethylene oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Jiten Chatterji, D. Chad Brenneis, Roger S. Cromwell, Bobby J. King
  • Patent number: 7404856
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for forming single crystal silicon ingots or wafers that contain an axially symmetric region in which vacancies are the predominant intrinsic point defect, that are substantially free of oxidation induced stacking faults, and are nitrogen doped to stabilize oxygen precipitation nuclei therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: MEMC Electronic Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroyo Haga, Takaaki Aoshima, Mohsen Banan
  • Patent number: 7404857
    Abstract: An improved method for synthesizing superabrasive particles provides high quality industrial superabrasive particles with high yield and a narrow size distribution. The synthesis method includes forming a substantially homogeneous mixture of raw material and catalyst material or layers of raw material and metal catalyst. A plurality of crystalline seeds is placed in a predetermined pattern in the mixture or one of the layers to form a growth precursor. The growth precursor is maintained at a temperature and pressure at which the superabrasive crystal is thermodynamically stable for a time sufficient for a desired degree of growth. Advantageously, the patterned placement of crystalline seeds and disclosed processes allow for production of various morphologies of synthetic diamonds, including octahedral and cubic diamonds, and improved growth conditions generally. As a result, the grown superabrasive particles typically have a high yield of high quality particles and a narrow distribution of particle sizes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Chien-Min Sung
  • Patent number: 7404858
    Abstract: A method for epitaxial growth of silicon carbide using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) is provided. This method utilizes halogenated carbon precursors and control of the gas-phase interaction of halogen-containing intermediate chemical products involving silicon and carbon, which ensures quality and homogeneity across the silicon carbide crystals. It also ensures a possibility to achieve device-quality epitaxial layers at lower growth temperatures as well as on on-axis or low off-angle substrate surfaces. The growth method can be applied to forming SiC device regions of desirable shape and dimensions by restricting the growth into windows formed in non-silicon carbide region on the top of SiC substrate. Application of the methods described herein will greatly benefit the production of high quality silicon carbide materials and devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mississippi State University
    Inventor: Yaroslav Koshka
  • Patent number: 7404859
    Abstract: The invention relates to an installation for coating objects, said installation having, in a manner known per se, a coating chamber which is arranged upstream from a drying chamber. The objects to be coated are carried by skids which are guided through the coating chamber and the drying chamber by means of a skid transport system. Each skid comprises two skid runners, extending parallel to the direction of displacement, and is embodied in such a way that adjacent skids can travel inside each other such that they partially overlap in the direction of displacement. In this way, the objects carried by successive skids can be separated from each other in the coating chamber such that all of the surfaces of the objects to be coated can be easily reached by the application devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Eisenmann Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gernot Herwig, Martin Doll
  • Patent number: 7404860
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device and method for controlling the operation of a thermal spray torch (12). The inventive device and method are characterized in that an on-board camera (54) and pyrometer (70) are used to measure the properties of the jet (16) and the temperature of the deposit (24) on the part (22) and in that the correction to be made to supply parameters of the torch (12) is deduced. Furthermore, the invention is characterized in that the corrected parameters are sent to the cabinet (30) that controls the torch (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Snecma Services
    Inventors: Michel Vardelle, Thierry Renault, Cédric Bossoutrot, Frédéric Braillard, Hakim Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 7404861
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to systems and methods for dispensing materials onto a substrate. In one aspect, a dispensing system includes a dispenser having a dispensing outlet positionable over a top surface of the substrate, the dispenser having a substantially vertical dispensing axis along which material from the dispenser is dispensed, and a vision system, coupled to the dispenser, the vision system being positionable to obtain images of the top surface of the substrate along an optical axis, wherein the vision system is constructed and arranged such that the optical axis intersects the dispensing axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Speedline Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Prentice, David P. Prince
  • Patent number: 7404862
    Abstract: A device and a method for facilitating the deposition and patterning of organic materials onto substrates utilizing the vapor transport mechanisms of organic vapor phase deposition is provided. The device includes one or more nozzles, and an apparatus integrally connected to the one or more nozzles, wherein the apparatus includes one or more source cells, a carrier gas inlet, a carrier gas outlet, and a first valve capable of controlling the flow of a carrier gas through the one or more source cells. The method includes moving a substrate relative to an apparatus, and controlling the composition of the organic material and/or the rate of the organic material ejected by the one or more nozzles while moving the substrate relative to the apparatus, such that a patterned organic layer is deposited over the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Max Shtein, Stephen R. Forrest, Jay B. Benzinger
  • Patent number: 7404863
    Abstract: A method of thinning a silicon wafer in a controllable cost-effective manner with minimal chemical consumption. The wafer is placed into a process chamber, after which ozone gas and HF vapor are delivered into the process chamber to react with a silicon surface of the wafer. The ozone and HF vapor may be delivered sequentially, or may be mixed with one another before entering the process chamber. The ozone oxidizes the silicon surface of the wafer, while the HF vapor etches the oxidized silicon away from the wafer. The etched oxidized silicon is then removed from the process chamber. As a result, the wafer is thinned, which aids in preventing heat build-up in the wafer, and also makes the wafer easier to handle and cheaper to package. In alternative embodiments, HF may be delivered into the process chamber as an anhydrous gas or in aqueous form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventor: Eric J. Bergman
  • Patent number: 7404864
    Abstract: A dishwasher includes a pump assembly having a multi-stage filtering arrangement which functions to trap soil particles contained in a washing fluid to reduce the number of fresh water fills required to perform a washing operation. All of the washing fluid is initially directed over a filter plate. A first portion of the washing fluid passes the filter plate into a pumping chamber, while a second, soil laden portion, enters a first filter chamber. The second portion is then directed through a medium filter into the intake chamber. The filtered washing fluid is pumped through a conduit to wash arms that spray the washing fluid onto kitchenware. The conduit includes a sampling port which directs a portion of the washing fluid to a second filtering compartment having a fine mesh screen. At the end of the washing operation, the washing water, along with the soil is expelled from the dishwasher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Rodney M. Welch
  • Patent number: 7404865
    Abstract: A high-strength steel wire for heat-resistant springs has both excellent high-temperature tensile strength and excellent high-temperature sag resistance at a temperature as high as 350 to 500° C., particularly at 400° C. or so (these properties are needed for spring materials). The steel wire contains (a) 0.01 to 0.08 wt % C, 0.18 to 0.25 wt % N, 0.5 to 4.0 wt % Mn, 16 to 20 wt % Cr, and 8.0 to 10.5 wt % Ni, (b) at least one constituent selected from the group consisting of 0.1 to 3.0 wt % Mo, 0.1 to 2.0 wt % Nb, 0.1 to 2.0 wt % Ti and 0.3 to 2.0 wt % Si, and (c) mainly Fe and unavoidable impurities both of which constitute the remainder. The steel wire has (a) a tensile strength of at least 1,300 N/mm2 and less than 2,000 N/mm2 before being treated with low-temperature annealing, and (b) a maximum crystal-grain diameter of less than 12 ?m in the ? phase (austenite) in a transverse cross section of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiromu Izumida, Nozomu Kawabe, Teruyuki Murai
  • Patent number: 7404866
    Abstract: A sliding member includes a superficial portion forming a sliding surface. The superficial portion includes an oxygen-containing alloy containing at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of molybdenum and tungsten in an amount of from 2 to 80% by weight; and oxygen in an amount of from 0.5 to 15% by weight. The sliding member sustains lubricating characteristics given to the sliding surface over a long period of time to maintain a low friction coefficient and durability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Nakanishi, Hideo Tachikawa, Hiroyuki Mori, Tadashi Oshima
  • Patent number: 7404867
    Abstract: An infrared decoy flare composition for generating infrared radiation, including a fuel, an oxidizing agent and a binder, wherein the decoy flare composition contains no metals or metal-containing compounds and no halogens or halogen-containing compounds. Such an infrared decoy flare composition can be particularly advantageously used in aerial infrared decoy flares for civil aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Diehl BGT Defence GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventor: Ernst-Christian Koch
  • Patent number: 7404868
    Abstract: A tape placement head for applying thermoplastic tape to an object includes a heated feeder which guides the tape/tow to a heated zone. The heated zone has a line compactor having a single row of at least one movable heated member. An area compactor is located in the heated zone downstream from the line compactor. The area compactor includes a plurality of rows of movable feet which are extendable toward the tape/tow different distances with respect to each other to conform to the shape of the object. A shim is located between the heated compactors and the tape/tow. A chilled compactor is in a chilled zone downstream from the heated zone. The chilled zone includes a line chilled compactor and an area chilled compactor. A chilled shim is mounted between the chilled compactor and the tape/tow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Accudyne Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ralph D. Cope, Steve B. Funck, Mark B. Gruber, Mark A. Lamontia, Anthony D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7404869
    Abstract: A method for producing a laminated material, which comprises providing a raw material roll containing a support layer, drawing out a support layer in a web form from the raw material roll, transferring a silver-based thin film layer on an inner face of the inside of the support layer including a zone to be heat-sealed by the high frequency induction heating for the formation of a container, prior to or after the transferring step, laminating a heat-sealable inner layer on the inside of the support layer, printing the design of the container on the outside of the support layer in a long web form, and forming one or more thermoplastic layers of the same type or different types, at the same time or sequentially, on the outside and the inside of the printed support layer in a web form. The method allows a sealing zone to be formed so as to have an antibacterial atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance S.A.
    Inventor: Peter Frisk
  • Patent number: 7404870
    Abstract: Methods for transferring of a useful layer from a support are described. In an embodiment, the method includes for facilitating transfer of a useful layer from a support by providing an interface in a first support to define a useful layer; and forming a peripheral recess on the first support below the interface so that the periphery of the interface is exposed to facilitate removal and transfer of the useful layer. An epitaxial layer can be formed on the useful layer after forming the recess, with the width and depth of the recess being sufficient to accommodate the volume of residual material resulting from formation of the epitaxial layer without covering the periphery of the interface. Alternatively, an epitaxial layer can be formed on the useful layer after forming the recess, wherein the peripheral recess is configured for receiving sufficient residual material from the epitaxial layer to prevent bonding between the residual material and the useful layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: S.O.I.Tec Silicon on Insulator Technologies
    Inventors: Fabrice Letertre, Olivier Rayssac
  • Patent number: 7404871
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and device for hot—gluing a bundle (2), particularly in a device that includes a glue reservoir (7) for storing a glue that has been made fluid, a glue-spreading roller (6) for spreading the glue onto the spine surface of the bundle (2), press devices, (3,4,5,2 1, 21?) for holding the bundle (2), and possible side-nip devices (16, 19, 20) for finishing the shape of the book. The bundle (2), which is held between two symmetrically positioned press plates (21, 21?), is pressed with the glue-spreading roller (6) to bend or fan out the edge of the bundle (2) and to open a gap between the cover sheet (11) and the outermost sheet of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventors: Henri Huotari, Iisakki Huotari, Jaakko Huotari, Tari Lauri, Markku Siikamaki
  • Patent number: 7404872
    Abstract: A seismic coupling is provided for coupling a first longitudinal section of plain end plastic pipe to a second longitudinal section of plastic pipe. The coupling is provided in two halves with a left half being initially installed on the plain end of the first section of pipe. An internal shoulder is fused onto the first section of pipe and a right half of the coupling is then fused onto the left half to capture the first end of pipe within the coupling. The second pipe end is then installed within an end opening of the coupling and held in position by a connector installed between the right half of the coupling and the second pipe end. Internal seals are provided for sealing the first and second pipe ends within the interior of the coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: S & B Technical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Craig Fisher
  • Patent number: 7404873
    Abstract: A method is provided for attaching a membrane to a substrate by heat-bonding the membrane to the substrate. The substrate includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a receptacle therethrough. The membrane can be a porous support structure combined with a polymeric gel. The method includes the steps of inserting a mandrel into the receptacle, placing the membrane on the substrate across the receptacle, heating the membrane and substrate, and allowing the substrate to cool to provide heat-bonded interlock between the substrate and the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Becton, Dickinson and Company
    Inventors: Michael Heath, Mark Perreault
  • Patent number: 7404874
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating an edge region of a wafer. A toroidal shaped plasma cavity has an inner diameter which is slightly less than the diameter of the wafer being treated so that only the edge region of the wafer extends into the toroidal plasma cavity. An inert gas is flowed across a front and back side of the wafer into the plasma cavity. A reactive gas is flowed directly into the plasma cavity. The gases exit the plasma cavity without flowing over the surface of the wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William George America, Steven Hilton Johnston
  • Patent number: 7404875
    Abstract: A modified creping adhesive composition, comprising an adhesive component and at least one terpene modifier, and its use in the production of creped paper products by a process which includes the steps of adhering a paper web to the surface of a drying cylinder and separating the paper web from the drying cylinder with a creping blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Nancy Clungeon, Jeffrey J. Boettcher
  • Patent number: 7404876
    Abstract: Coat a starch-based surface-paper-strengthening agent on a base paper made from a paper material that contains at least chemically processed hardwood mechanical pulp and bulk-increasing agent; where it is desirable that the hardwood mechanical pulp with a single fiber density index of 0.20 or more be blended by 10 to 60 weight-% of the total weight of pulp, with the adding amount of bulk-increasing agent adjusted to 0.1 to 1.2 weight-% and the coating amount of starch-based surface-paper-strengthening agent, to 0.3 to 3.0 g/m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ono, Masayuki Watanabe, Fuminari Nonomura, Yasunori Nanri
  • Patent number: 7404877
    Abstract: Formation of a zirconia based thermal barrier layer is described. In accordance with the present invention, a thermal barrier layer composed of zirconia or an allow of zirconia is presented. An advantageous layer might be composed of zirconia or an alloy of zirconia with silica having improved properties. In some embodiments, such a zirconia layer might be deposited with a fraction of it's zirconia in a metallic state. Such a fraction, particularly if it were very low, would act to nucleate crystalline grains of silicon during the recrystallization phase of excimer laser melting due to the formation of point defects of zirconium silicide or other nucleating compound or formation. Heat treating the Zirconia layer anneals the Zirconia layer so that it can act as a gate oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: SpringWorks, LLC
    Inventors: Richard E. Demaray, Vassiliki Milonopoulou
  • Patent number: 7404878
    Abstract: In a gas diffusion electrode assembly, and in an electrolyzer using the same, a bonding piece having on at least one surface a perfluorosulfonic acid layer, a perfluorosulfonyl fluoride layer or an alkyl ester of perfluorocarboxylic acid layer is positioned at its perfluoro compound layer surface with respect to the gas diffusion electrode assembly. Adjacent gas diffusion electrodes are heat fusion bonded together, or heat fusion bonding is carried out using the bonding piece in a frame form. Adjacent gas diffusion electrodes are sealed up by heat fusion bonding, using a material that is similar to the material that forms the gas diffusion electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Chlorine Engineers Corp., Ltd., Tosoh Corporation, Mitsui Chemicals, Inc., Toagosei Co., Ltd., Kaneka Corporation, Asahi Glass Company, Limited, Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, Daiso Co., Ltd., Tokuyama Corporation
    Inventors: Shinji Katayama, Kiyohito Asaumi, Hiroaki Aikawa, Tsugiyoshi Osakabe, Mitsuharu Hamamori, Tatsuhito Kimura, Koji Saiki, Kenji Nonomura, Naoya Okada, Osamu Ichinose
  • Patent number: 7404879
    Abstract: Provided is an ionized physical vapor deposition (IPVD) apparatus having a helical self-resonant coil. The IPVD apparatus comprises a process chamber having a substrate holder that supports a substrate to be processed, a deposition material source that supplies a material to be deposited on the substrate into the process chamber, facing the substrate holder, a gas injection unit to inject a process gas into the process chamber, a bias power source that applies a bias potential to the substrate holder, a helical self-resonant coil that produces plasma for ionization of the deposition material in the process chamber, one end of the helical self-resonant coil being grounded and the other end being electrically open, and an RF generator to supply an RF power to the helical self-resonant coil. The use of a helical self-resonant coil enables the IPVD apparatus to ignite and operate at very low chamber pressure such as approximately 0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuri Nikolaevich Tolmachev, Dong-joon Ma, Sergiy Yakovlevich Navala, Dae-il Kim
  • Patent number: 7404880
    Abstract: A layered sensor element used in a gas measuring sensor for measuring a physical property of a measuring gas, preferably for determining the temperature of the measuring gas or the concentration of a component of the measuring gas. The sensor element contains a wave-form heater, which is embedded in a porous heater insulation. At least one separating element having a lower porosity than the porous heater insulation is provided between two adjacent sections of the wave-form heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Kanters, Lothar Diehl, Stefan Rodewald
  • Patent number: 7404881
    Abstract: A gas sensor is described for detecting a physical property of a measuring gas, including detecting the oxygen concentration in the measuring gas. The gas sensor includes a sensor element having a diffusion barrier, which is arranged between a first solid electrolyte layer and a second solid electrolyte layer. The diffusion barrier has a necked-down portion, i.e., a concave profile, between the first and the second solid electrolyte layer. Accordingly, a first area, which the diffusion barrier occupies in a plane which lies between the side of the first solid electrolyte layer (facing the diffusion barrier) and the side of the second solid electrolyte layer (facing the diffusion barrier), is smaller than a second area on which the diffusion barrier covers the first or the second solid electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Johannes Kanters, Johann Riegel, Lothar Diehl, Thomas Moser
  • Patent number: 7404882
    Abstract: A miniaturized gas sensor including film type electrodes, and a solid ionomer electrolyte, for the detection of toxic gases, i.e., carbon monoxide, and other oxidizable or reducible gases and vapors is described. The all-solid planar sensor cell has two or more film type electrodes arranged on a non-conductive planar surface of a supportive material. The electrodes are discrete and in intimate contact with the same solid polymer ionomer membrane. The sensor cell contains no liquid electrolyte and is operated in a potentiostatic or potentiodynamic mode. The unique feature of the sensor cell is that high sensitivity to a select gas or vapor is achieved by a novel three-phase contact area design for a sensing electrode which is easily accessible to the gas sample via small diffusion openings or holes that penetrate through the solid polymer ionomer membrane layer above the sensing electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: PerkinElmer LAS, Inc.
    Inventors: Otto J. Prohaska, Anthony B. LaConti, Jose D. Giner, Mourad Manoukian
  • Patent number: 7404883
    Abstract: An insulation bushing assembly for use with an exhaust gas sensor. The insulation bushing assembly includes an insulation bushing having a passageway defining a surface, and a contact plate assembly having a contact plate coupled with the insulation bushing. A resilient member extends from the contact plate and into the passageway. The resilient member is engageable with the surface of the passageway such that the member is deflected by the surface from an undeflected position with respect to the contact plate to a deflected position with respect to the contact plate to retain the contact plate assembly in engagement with the bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norman Hahn, Grady Prewitt, Craig Magera
  • Patent number: 7404884
    Abstract: Injection bonded articles comprised of a rigid core and secured together with an elastomeric material network which also forms seals and encapsulates at least a portion of the rigid core. The elastomeric material is selected to be compatible with the material comprising the rigid core to create a chemical and mechanical bond therebetween. Injection bonding and over-molding techniques are used to fabricate an electrodeionization apparatus spacer comprised of mated rigid segments secured by a unitary elastomeric material network that also forms internal and external seals that fluidly isolate one or more of inlet ports, resin cavities, and outlet ports as well as throughports. Injection bonding and over-molding techniques can also be used to fabricate other articles comprised of multiple segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Holding Corp.
    Inventors: Emile O. Montminy, Li-Shiang Liang
  • Patent number: 7404885
    Abstract: A plating method includes the steps of (a) forming a roughened area in a predetermined area of a substrate, (b) forming a surface-active agent layer above at least the roughened area, (c) forming, above the roughened area, a catalyst layer above the surface-active agent layer, and (d) precipitating a metal layer above the catalyst layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidemichi Furihata, Satoshi Kimura
  • Patent number: 7404886
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for plating a conductive material on a substrate surface in a highly desirable manner. The invention removes at least one additive adsorbed on the top portion of the workpiece more than at least one additive disposed on a cavity portion, thereby allowing plating of the conductive material take place before the additive fully re-adsorbs onto the top portion and causing greater plating of the cavity portion relative to the top portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Bulent Basol
  • Patent number: 7404887
    Abstract: In an anodized electrode which comprises a substrate, a vacuum deposited porous coating thereon comprising at least one substance selected from valve metals, valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, and at least one ectrolytically produced anodized layer selected from valve metal oxides and mixtures thereof, the effective surface area is increased prior to deposition of the at least one anodized layer, e.g. by oxidizing the surface of the porous layer and removing thus formed oxide, and/or by roughening the surface of substrate mechanically, chemically and/or electrochemically, prior to vapor deposition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: ACKTAR, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dina Katsir, Uri Zarnitsky
  • Patent number: 7404888
    Abstract: A process for reducing the metal corrosion of a hydrocarbonaceous liquid which causes corrosion as measured by NACE Standard TM0172-2001, said process comprising blending with the hydrocarbonaceous liquid at least 0.1 weight percent of an acidic Fischer-Tropsch product in sufficient proportion to produce a hydrocarbonaceous blend displaying reduced metal corrosion as measured by NACE Standard TM0172-2001 when compared to the hydrocarbonaceous liquid and a hydrocarbonaceous blend prepared by the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis J. O'Rear, Greg Hemighaus, Gunther H. Dieckmann
  • Patent number: 7404889
    Abstract: A method for thermally cracking a hydrocarbonaceous feed wherein the feed is first processed in an atmospheric thermal distillation step to form a light gasoline and atmospheric residuum mixture. The light gasoline/residuum combination is gasified at least in part in a vaporization step, and the gasified product of the vaporization step is thermally cracked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Equistar Chemicals, LP
    Inventor: Donald H. Powers
  • Patent number: 7404890
    Abstract: The invention concerns a process and apparatus wherein the paraffin effluent from the Fischer-Tropsch process is separated into a heavy fraction with an initial boiling point of 120-200° C., said heavy fraction then optionally being hydrotreated then brought into contact with an amorphous hydroisomerization/hydrocracking catalyst that converts at least 80% by weight of the 370° C.+ products into products with a boiling point of less than 370° C. After distilling the hydrocracked fraction obtained to separate middle distillates, the residual heavy fraction is recycled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Agip Petroli S.p.A., Eni S.p.A, Lini Technologie S.p.A.
    Inventors: Eric Benazzi, Christophe Gueret
  • Patent number: 7404891
    Abstract: A technique for recovering heat from a high temperature effluent stream from catalyst regeneration or the like, comprising processes and means for: (a) passing the effluent stream in heat exchange relationship in a steam generator with boiler feed water to produce high pressure steam and partially cool the effluent stream; (b) passing the partially cooled effluent stream from the steam regenerator in heat exchange relationship to preheat high pressure boiler feed water and further cool the effluent stream; and (c) passing the preheated boiler feed water to the steam generator. The apparatus and processes for thermal energy recovery may be used to treat hot regenerator effluent from FCC or OTO-type processes, thereby producing a cooled flue gas stream to discharge to ambient atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
    Inventors: Cor F. van Egmond, James H. Beech, Jr., Hans A. Klemm, Kyle Castaldy
  • Patent number: 7404892
    Abstract: A combination filtration and anti-microbial catch basin filter disposed in a catch basin of a storm water system such that, in addition to removing particulate matter and other contaminants, the concentration of bacteria in storm water that remains resident in the sump of a catch basin after a storm event is severely reduced or eradicated. The catch basin filter comprises a filtration bag depending from the opening such that water must pass through the bag and a plurality of strips or similar members depending from the filtration bag, the length of the strips being such that they remain in contact with water resident in the bottom of the catch basin. In an alternative embodiment, the device comprises a floatation member with filtering means and anti-microbial strips depending therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Ultra Tech International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark D. Shaw, J. Tad Heyman, Laurence M. Bierce
  • Patent number: 7404893
    Abstract: A chromatography cartridge. In some embodiments, the chromatography cartridge can include a tubular housing defining a longitudinal axis and including a relatively non-laser-writable first portion, and a relatively laser-writable second portion. The relatively laser-writable second portion can be positioned substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis and can define at least a portion of an outer surface of the tubular housing to allow data to be printed on the outer surface of the tubular housing with a laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Varian, Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas DeMarco
  • Patent number: 7404894
    Abstract: A carrying case (1) of a portable water cleaner includes a case main body (2) having an opening portion (2a) and forming a container (2b) that contains water, and a lid member (3) that opens/closes the opening portion (2a), and a filtration device (10) which purifies uncleaned water into drinking water is detachably and replaceably housed in the lid member. Further, a pump unit (25) which suctions the uncleaned water contained in the container (2b) and supplies the uncleaned water to the filtration device (10) is provided in the case main body (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Toyoda Products Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masao Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7404895
    Abstract: A filter apparatus for separating particles from a liquid having a tank with a feed inlet, a gravitational settling zone and a filtration zone arranged downstream of the settling zone. Inside the tank are two transversely spaced-apart endless chains with transversely extending drivers fixed between the chains, the drivers and chains together forming a conveying apparatus driven by gear wheels and a drive motor. The filtration zone includes a vacuum chamber, which is formed partly by the tank and is arranged underneath the solid particle filtration apparatus. Between the unfiltered liquid region and the filtered liquid region is a filter media strip, which is pulled through the tank along a path which changes direction by the chains and drivers. Each chain has flexible metal strips that extend along the chain and over a plurality of chain links. The metal strips are fixed at one end and partially overlap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventor: Luc Reynders
  • Patent number: 7404896
    Abstract: A porous polymeric membrane formed from a blend of a polymeric membrane forming material, such as polyvinylidene fluoride or polysulfone and a polymeric reactivity modifying agent adapted to modify the surface active properties of the porous polymeric membrane. The reactivity modifying agent is preferably a linear polymeric anhydride, such as poly(alkyl vinyl ether/maleic anhydride). The surface activity modifications include modification of the hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity balance of the membrane, or hydrolysis followed by reaction with a polyamine to form a crosslinked polyamide layer. Such modified membranes have use as reverse osmosis membranes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Water Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Heinz-Joachim Muller
  • Patent number: 7404897
    Abstract: An efficient system and process for removing nitrogen from wastewater while enriching seed sludge in the mainstream treatment process. Bioaugmentation of seed autotrophic organisms facilitate the nitrification reactions by enhancing the rates of reaction advantageously within a smaller volume or within a shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Likewise, bioaugmentation of seed denitrification organisms will also enhance rate of reaction within a smaller volume or shorter activated sludge solids retention time. Separate treatment of high ammonia digester reject water is an efficient method to treat nitrogen in recycle streams as well as to enrich the seed nitrifying and denitrifying cultures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: D.C. Water & Sewer Authority
    Inventors: Walter F. Bailey, Jr., Sudhir N. Murthy, Leonard Benson, Timothy Constantine, Glen T. Daigger, Thomas E. Sadick, Dimitrios Katehis
  • Patent number: 7404898
    Abstract: A method of producing lime water comprising deionising dilution water by membrane filtration, distillation or an ion exchange resin and adding silicate ions to the deionised water. Thereafter, the deionised water treated with the silicate ions is mixed with milk of lime to form lime water. In one embodiment, the milk of lime and dilution water are mixed in a saturator where the silicate ions are introduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: OTV SA
    Inventors: Franck Clausse, Philippe Marteil, Germain LeBouc, Frederic LeFort
  • Patent number: 7404899
    Abstract: The process for irrigation of a man-made landscaped area, such as a golf course, playing field or agricultural area, involves monitoring a sample of reclaimed water, a sample of soil containing reclaimed water, or both from a supply of reclaimed water, and treating it when necessary to avoid harmful effects to plantlife, and irrigating with the treated water via a subterranean distribution system. The sample is tested with monitors for water quality characteristics, including: total organic carbon compounds; pH; residual chlorine; chlorides; and, sodium. These results are inputted to a computerized data handling system for data collection, storage and analysis for comparison to predetermined acceptable ranges to show deviation from acceptable ranges. Either alarms are set off or treatment occurs or both, when deviations are observed. Treatment may include a dechlorination system, an oxidation system, reverse osmosis system. Other monitors may be for hardness; turbidity; alkalinity; conductivity and nitrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Turf Sentry, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter L. Rosen, Robert D. Hodges
  • Patent number: 7404900
    Abstract: An ammonium removal system includes an ion-exchange medium, a brine source, and an electrophysical separation system. The ion-exchange medium may be used to remove ammonium from a waste stream. A brine may be flushed through the ion-exchange medium to remove the ammonium from the ion-exchange medium. The ammonium containing brine may be treated using an electrophysical separation system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: New Earth Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Kirk D. Bradley
  • Patent number: 7404901
    Abstract: A method for the removal of arsenic ions from water with a porous silica composition with an organofunctional moiety comprising a thio which binds the arsenic ion and is then removed from the water. The method comprises the quality of the water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of Michigan State University
    Inventors: Thomas J. Pinnavaia, Joel I. Dulebohn, Emily J. McKimmy