Patents Issued in March 12, 2013
  • Patent number: 8394228
    Abstract: A method of removing materials, and preferably photoresist, from a substrate comprises dispensing a liquid sulfuric acid composition comprising sulfuric acid and/or its desiccating species and precursors and having a water/sulfuric acid molar ratio of no greater than 5:1 onto an material coated substrate in an amount effective to substantially uniformly coat the material coated substrate. The substrate is preferably heated to a temperature of at least about 90° C., either before, during or after dispensing of the liquid sulfuric acid composition. After the substrate is at a temperature of at least about 90° C., the liquid sulfuric acid composition is exposed to water vapor in an amount effective to increase the temperature of the liquid sulfuric acid composition above the temperature of the liquid sulfuric acid composition prior to exposure to the water vapor. The substrate is then preferably rinsed to remove the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: TEL FSI, Inc.
    Inventors: Kurt Karl Christenson, Ronald J. Hanestad, Patricia Ann Ruether, Thomas J. Wagener
  • Patent number: 8394229
    Abstract: A one-piece susceptor ring for housing at least one temperature measuring device is provided. The susceptor ring includes a plate having an aperture formed therethrough and a pair of side ribs integrally connected to a lower surface of the plate. The side ribs are located on opposing sides of the aperture. The susceptor ring further includes a bore formed in each of the pair of side ribs. Each bore is configured to receive a temperature measuring device therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ASM America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ravinder Aggarwal, Bob Haro
  • Patent number: 8394230
    Abstract: A plasma processing apparatus is provided with a replacement time detecting unit, which detects the status of residual charges which attract a semiconductor wafer and detects a time when an electrostatic chuck is to be replaced, at a time when a direct voltage application from a direct current source is stopped and the semiconductor wafer is brought up from the electrostatic chuck.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Kazuyuki Tezuka
  • Patent number: 8394231
    Abstract: That surface of an electrode plate 20 which is opposite to a susceptor 10 has a projection shape. The electrode plate 20 is fitted in an opening 26a of shield ring 26 at a projection 20a. At this time, the thickness of the projection 20a is approximately the same as the thickness of the shield ring 26. Accordingly, the electrode plate 20 and the shield ring 26 form substantially the same plane. The major surface of the projection 20a has a diameter 1.2 to 1.5 times the diameter of a wafer W. The electrode plate 20 is formed of, for example, SiC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Koichi Takatsuki, Hikaru Yoshitaka, Shigeo Ashigaki, Yoichi Inoue, Takashi Akahori, Shuuichi Ishizuka, Syoichi Abe, Takashi Suzuki, Kohei Kawamura, Hidenori Miyoshi, Gishi Chung, Yasuhiro Oshima, Hiroyuki Takahashi
  • Patent number: 8394232
    Abstract: The plasma processing including an antenna which is substantially straight in a plan view of the antenna is provided. The antenna includes two rectangular conductor plates disposed on a same plane along a surface of a substrate in a manner that the two rectangular conductor plates are parallel to each other with an interval therebetween. An end of a side in a longitudinal direction of each of the two rectangular conductor plates is connected through a conductor so as to form a go-and-return conductor, wherein the high frequency current flows in the two rectangular conductor plates in opposite directions. Notches are formed at the sides of the two rectangular conductor plates adjacent to the interval and the notches facing each other define an opening. The notches form the openings. The openings are separately arranged in the longitudinal direction of the antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Nissin Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasunori Ando
  • Patent number: 8394233
    Abstract: A mechanism for adjusting an orientation of an electrode in a plasma processing chamber is disclosed. The plasma processing chamber may be utilized to process at least a substrate, which may be inserted into the plasma processing chamber in an insertion direction. The mechanism may include a support plate disposed outside a chamber wall of the plasma processing chamber and pivoted relative to the chamber wall. The support plate may have a first thread. The mechanism may also include an adjustment screw having a second thread that engages the first thread. Turning the adjustment screw may cause translation of a portion of the support plate relative to the adjustment screw. The translation of the portion of the support plate may cause rotation of the support plate relative to the chamber wall, thereby rotating the electrode with respect to an axis that is orthogonal to the insertion direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lam Research Corporation
    Inventor: James E. Tappan
  • Patent number: 8394234
    Abstract: Provided is a spin head. Chuck pins, installed at a support plate to support the lateral surface of a substrate, are moved along the perpendicular direction to the radial direction of the support plate. The effect of centrifugal force applied to the chuck pins during the rotation of the support plate is minimized to support a substrate stably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Semes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Taek Youb Lee
  • Patent number: 8394235
    Abstract: A process for the pretreatment of lignocellulosic biomass, in particular during the production of ethanol from biomass. The process including a cooking step where the biomass is exposed to steam at elevated temperatures and pressures for a preselected period of time in a treatment vessel. During the process, volatile and liquid compounds are purged from the treatment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: GreenField Ethanol Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Bruce Bradt, Richard Romeo Lehoux
  • Patent number: 8394236
    Abstract: An absorbent sheet of cellulosic fibers includes a mixture of hardwood fibers and softwood fibers arranged in a reticulum having (i) a plurality of pileated fiber enriched regions of a relatively high local basis weight each extending a distance in the cross-machine direction (CD) of the sheet and interconnected by way of (ii) a plurality of lower local basis weight linking regions that each extend a distance in the machine direction (MD) of the sheet and whose fiber orientation is biased along the direction between pileated regions interconnected thereby. The relative basis weight, degree of pileation, hardwood to softwood ratio, fiber length distribution, fiber orientation, and geometry of the reticulum are controlled such that the sheet exhibits a percent CD stretch that is at least about 2.75 times the machine direction to cross-machine direction (MD/CD) dry tensile ratio of the sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products LP
    Inventors: Steven L. Edwards, Guy H. Super, Stephen J. McCullough, Ronald R. Reeb, Hung Liang Chou, Kang Chang Yeh, John H. Dwiggins, Frank D. Harper
  • Patent number: 8394237
    Abstract: A process for the production of paper, board and cardboard by draining a paper stock on a wire in the presence of at least one cationic polymeric retention aid and/or retention aid system with sheet formation and drying of the sheets, wherein an endo-?-1,4-glucanase is metered in an amount of from 0.00001 to 0.01% by weight, based on the dry paper stock, into the paper stock before the addition of the at least one cationic polymeric retention aid and/or retention aid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: BASF SE Ludwigshafen
    Inventors: Torsten Klein, Christian Jehn-Rendu, Hans-Georg Lemaire, Oliver Koch
  • Patent number: 8394238
    Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing security paper, comprising at least one main forming roller, which is provided with a lower portion or forming portion, which is arranged inside a forming box that contains a paper paste, an upper portion or deposition portion, which is arranged below a collecting wire that can move along an advancement direction and is designed to receive, at a collecting face, the sheet formed on the forming roller, and a device for depositing security elements that is arranged upstream of the main forming roller along the advancement direction of the collecting wire and is adapted to deposit the security elements at the collecting face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cartiere Fedrigoni E C. S.p.A.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Evangelisti
  • Patent number: 8394239
    Abstract: An industrial fabric, belt or sleeve and a method of making the fabric, belt or sleeve are disclosed. The industrial fabric, belt or sleeve is produced by spirally winding strips of polymeric material, such as an industrial strapping or ribbon material, and joining the adjoining sides of the strips of material using ultrasonic welding or laser welding techniques. The fabric, belt or sleeve may then be perforated using a suitable technique to make it permeable to air and/or water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Albany International Corp.
    Inventors: Dana Eagles, Jonas Karlsson, Bruce Stowe, Joseph Botelho, Sabri Mourad, Jerry O'Connor, Jon Montcrieff, Robert Hansen
  • Patent number: 8394240
    Abstract: A process for treating bituminous coal includes providing dried, pulverized coal, and treating the pulverized coal in a vessel with a gas stream having an oxygen content sufficient to form oxides on surface of coal particles. The treated coal is transferred into a pyrolyzing chamber and passed into contact with an oxygen deficient sweep gas, the sweep gas being at a higher temperature than the temperature of the coal so that heat is supplied to the coal. The process further includes providing additional heat to the coal indirectly by heating the chamber, wherein the heating of coal by the sweep gas and by the indirect heating from the chamber causes condensable volatile components to be released into the sweep gas. Some of the oxides are converted into paramagnetic mineral components, which are removed from coal to form a coal char having reduced ash and sulfur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: C2O Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Franklin G. Rinker
  • Patent number: 8394241
    Abstract: A distillation-type drinking fountain includes a liquid providing unit having a liquid entry; a heat-exchanging tube having a liquid-incoming end, a liquid-outgoing end and a heat-exchanging room; a hot water tank having a body and a heating unit. The body has a heating room communicating with the liquid-outgoing end. A steam pipe has a first end and a second end, with the first end communicating with the heating room. A condensing unit has a condenser tube having one end communicating with the second end. A water-collecting container has a water-storing room communicating with another end of the condenser tube. An energy-saving heating unit includes an energy-saving heat-exchanging tube and a heating device. The energy-saving heat-exchanging tube includes a water-incoming end, a water-outgoing end and an energy-saving heat-exchanging room. An outlet valve communicates with the water-outgoing end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shanghai Ariba Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Long-Ming Wang
  • Patent number: 8394242
    Abstract: A wet quenching tower for quenching coke is disclosed. A lower housing portion defines a lower interior and a portal sized to allow ingress and egress of a coke laden receptacle. A plurality of quenching sprayers for directing water onto the lower interior of the lower housing portion are supported above the lower interior. An upper housing portion is removably secured to an upper edge of the lower housing portion and supports a plurality of baffles. The upper housing portion defines an open upper end and cooperates with the lower housing portion to allow steam to rise from the lower interior upward through the housing portions. Each baffle defines a surface for allowing condensation of the portion of the steam. A plurality of washing sprayers are supported above the baffles for washing the baffles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Westbrook Thermal Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Richard Westbrook
  • Patent number: 8394243
    Abstract: Method of incorporating atomic oxygen into a magnetic recording layer by sputtering a target containing an oxide of cobalt. The oxide of cobalt may be sputtered to provide a readily dissociable source of oxygen which may increase the concentration of free cobalt atoms (Co) in the magnetic recording layer and also increase oxide content in the magnetic recording layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: WD Media, Inc.
    Inventors: Hong-Sik Jung, Donald Stafford, B. Ramamurthy Acharya, Sudhir S. Malhotra, Gerardo A. Bertero
  • Patent number: 8394244
    Abstract: A method is provided for laser patterning an integrated circuit (IC) etching mask. The method provides an IC packaged die with a first region underlying a backside surface of a bulk silicon (Si) layer. An etch-resistant film is formed overlying the backside surface. Alternately, the entire IC die package is conformally coated. A semi-transparent film is formed overlying the etch-resistant film, semi-transparent to light having a first wavelength. In response to irradiating the semi-transparent film with light having a first power density, an IC die first region is located. In response to irradiating the semi-transparent film with a laser light having a second power density, greater than the first power density, an area of etch-resistant film overlying the first region is decomposed. More explicitly, an area of semi-transparent film overlying the first region is ablated, and the etch-resistant film underlying the ablated semi-transparent film is heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Micro Circuits Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Martin Patterson
  • Patent number: 8394245
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like that can reduce thickness fluctuation of electro-deposited metal foil. To achieve the object, a production apparatus for electro-deposited metal foil or the like in which a cathode and an insoluble anode apart from each other, supplying an electrolytic solution through a gap between the cathode and the anode, making the cathode move along to the insoluble anode, electrodepositing a metal component on an electro-deposition surface of the moving cathode is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Permelec Electrode Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Ozaki, Akira Kunimatsu
  • Patent number: 8394246
    Abstract: A remote measurement system measures the concentrations of analytes in fluid samples. The system includes a metering device that can receive signals from a test strip or alternatively interrogate the test strip to obtain information. The test strip includes an area for receiving a fluid sample and electrochemically producing a current response that is sensed within the fluid sample. The test strip also includes an antenna and a radio frequency signal circuit for transmitting a signal indicative of the current response of a fluid sample to be analyzed. The metering device receives the signal and can convert it into a readable display in some embodiments. Remote electrochemical analysis of a fluid sample is thereby obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Roche Diagnostics Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Celentano, P. Douglas Walling
  • Patent number: 8394247
    Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify the structure and a fabrication method of an ion-selective electrode in an ion concentration measuring device that measures an anion, particularly a chloride ion, in a biological component. To this end, in a potential difference measuring unit, a quaternary ammonium salt derivative serving as a ligand for an anion is immobilized to the surface of a gold electrode by using as a linker an insulative molecule forming a self-assembled monolayer. The potential difference measuring unit measures an electromotive force generated with anion binding, as an interface potential change on the surface of the gold electrode. In order to reduce the influence of adsorption of impurities on the electrode surface, a high-molecular weight polymer is physically adsorbed on the gold electrode and thus used when a biological component is measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Masao Kamahori, Yu Ishige, Kotaro Yamashita, Yasuhisa Shibata, Masafumi Miyake, Kuniaki Nagamine
  • Patent number: 8394248
    Abstract: There is provided a control device for a gas sensor. The gas sensor is formed with first and second oxygen pumping cells to define first and second measurement chambers. Under the control of the sensor control device, the first and second oxygen pumping cells effect oxygen pumping actions against the first and second measurement chambers, respectively. The sensor control device is configured to detect currents through the first and second oxygen pumping cells, calculate a correction coefficient by comparison of a detection value of the first oxygen pumping cell current at a known oxygen concentration period with a previously stored reference value, correct the first oxygen pumping cell current by the correction coefficient and determine the concentration of nitrogen oxide in the gas under measurement based on the corrected first oxygen pumping cell current and the detected second oxygen pumping cell current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akihiro Kobayashi, Takayuki Sumi, Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Satoru Abe
  • Patent number: 8394249
    Abstract: Methods are provided for manipulating droplets. The methods include providing the droplet on a surface comprising an array of electrodes and a substantially co-planer array of reference elements, wherein the droplet is disposed on a first one of the electrodes, and the droplet at least partially overlaps a second one of the electrodes and an intervening one of the reference elements disposed between the first and second electrodes. The methods further include activating the first and second electrodes to spread at least a portion of the droplet across the second electrode and deactivating the first electrode to move the droplet from the first electrode to the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Duke University
    Inventors: Michael G. Pollack, Vamsee K. Pamula, Richard B. Fair
  • Patent number: 8394250
    Abstract: The invention provides a dry electroblotting system for dry blotting gels, in which the system includes an electroblotting transfer stack that comprises an analysis gel and a blotting membrane, an anode, a body of anodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the anode between the anode and the transfer stack, a cathode, and a body of cathodic gel matrix juxtaposed with the cathode between the cathode and the transfer stack, in which the anodic gel matrix and the cathodic gel matrix each comprise an ion source for electrophoretic transfer. The dry electroblotting system does not use any liquid buffers that are added to the system just before electroblotting (such as when the transfer stack is being assembled). The anode, the cathode, or both can be separate from a power supply and provided as part of a disposable electrode assembly that also includes a body of gel matrix that includes ions for electrophoretic transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Life Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Ilana Margalit, Uri Yogev, Itay Sela, Yuri Katz, Adam Sartiel
  • Patent number: 8394251
    Abstract: Isotachophoresis (ITP) is exploited to control various aspects of chemical reactions. In a first aspect, at least one of the reactants of a chemical reaction is confined to an ITP zone, but the resulting product of the chemical reaction is separated from this ITP zone by the ITP process. In a second aspect, one or more reactants of a chemical reaction are confined to an ITP zone, and one or more other reactants of the chemical reaction are not confined to this ITP zone. In a third aspect, ITP is employed to confine at least one reactant of a chemical reaction to an ITP zone, and at least one reactant of the chemical reaction is delivered to the ITP zone in two or more discrete doses. These aspects are especially relevant to performing polymerase chain reactions using chemical denaturants as opposed to thermal cycling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Juan G. Santiago, Alexandre Persat
  • Patent number: 8394252
    Abstract: Provided is a fuel cell or a fuel cell stack, wherein a means for reducing the concentration of unreacted alcohol is disposed on the cathode exhaust gas side. This means comprises in particular an additional electrochemical cell, to which a voltage is applied and which at least partially converts the unreacted alcohol into CO2 and hydrogen or water by way of an electrochemical reduction reaction. Since the concentration of unreacted alcohol is generally low, the loss of power required for the additional reduction reaction does not result in any notable impairment of the efficiency of the fuel cell stack. The invention is thus not limited to direct-methanol fuel cells, but may also be similarly applied to high-temperature fuel cells, and particularly to high-temperature PEM fuel cells, in which the additional electrochemical cell disposed on the cathode exhaust gas side is advantageously able to convert the residual CO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Staehler, Martin Mueller
  • Patent number: 8394253
    Abstract: A method for electrolytically generating a biocide having an electron deficient carrier fluid and chlorine dioxide, including providing a carrier fluid; providing a pair of electrodes interposed by a semi-permeable membrane within a vessel for creating a first passageway and a second passageway, an anode electrode of the pair of electrodes disposed in the first passageway, cathode electrode of the pair of electrodes disposed in the second passageway; flowing the carrier fluid through the vessel; applying an electric potential to the pair of electrodes to produce an oxidative acidic fluid, a reductive alkaline fluid, and anodic gases in the container; removing the fluids and gases from the vessel; mixing a portion of the anodic gases with the reductive alkaline fluid to produce a hypochlorite solution; and mixing a chlorite brine with the hypochlorite solution, followed by the introduction of additional oxidative acidic fluid to release the biocide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Strategic Resource Optimization, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Peters, John D. Breedlove, David D. Faulder, Seth R. Mayer
  • Patent number: 8394254
    Abstract: A crude product composition is provided. The crude product composition contains from 0.001 wt. % to 5 wt. % residue. The crude product composition contains hydrocarbons having a boiling point in the ranges of at most 204° C., from 204° C. to 300° C., from 300° C. to 400° C., and from 400° C. to 538° C. The hydrocarbons boiling in a range of at most 204° C. comprise paraffins, where the paraffins comprise iso-paraffins and n-paraffins, and the weight ratio of iso-paraffins to n-paraffins is at most 1.4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventors: Scott Lee Wellington, Stanley Nemec Milam
  • Patent number: 8394255
    Abstract: An integrated process for producing naphtha fuel, diesel fuel and/or lubricant base oils from feedstocks under sour conditions is provided. The ability to process feedstocks under higher sulfur and/or nitrogen conditions allows for reduced cost processing and increases the flexibility in selecting a suitable feedstock. The sour feed can be delivered to a catalytic dewaxing step without any separation of sulfur and nitrogen contaminants, or a high pressure separation can be used to partially eliminate contaminants. The integrated process includes an initial hydrotreatment, hydrocracking, catalytic dewaxing of the hydrocracking effluent, and an option final hydrotreatment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Stephen J. McCarthy, Gary Paul Schleicher, Krista Marie Prentice, Michel Daage, Christopher Gordon Oliveri, Thomas Francis Degnan, José Guadalupe Santiesteban, Ajit Bhaskar Dandekar, William Joseph Novak, Wenyih F. Lai
  • Patent number: 8394256
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for removing waxy haze from and improving the filterability of base stocks including heavy mineral oil base stocks, gas-to-liquids (GTL) and hydrodewaxed or hydroisomerized waxy feed basestocks by filtering the waxy haze causing particles out of the base stock employing a filter characterized by a high surface area of pores accessible to the haze wax particles which have particles dimensions of no more than about 5 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Exxonmobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: James W. Gleeson, Eric B. Sirota, Charles L. Baker, Dennis A. Gaal, David Mentzer, John E. Gallagher, Jr., Min Chang, Norman G. Cathcart, Stephen A. Geibel, Mark F. Hurwitz, Tore H. Lindstrom, Michael B. Whitlock
  • Patent number: 8394257
    Abstract: A reactor process added to a coking process to modify the quantity or yield of a coking process product and/or modify certain characteristics or properties of coking process products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Roger G. Etter
  • Patent number: 8394258
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a new type of high-quality hydrocarbon base oil of biological origin. The process of the invention comprises ketonization, hydrodeoxygenation, and isomerization steps. Fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters based on a biological raw material are preferably used as the feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Neste Oil Oyj
    Inventors: Eija Koivusalmi, Johan-Fredrik Selin, Juha Moilanen
  • Patent number: 8394259
    Abstract: One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking unit. The fluid catalytic cracking unit can include a first riser, a second riser, and a disengagement zone. The first riser can be adapted to receive a first feed terminating at a first reaction vessel having a first volume. The second riser may be adapted to receive a second feed terminating at a second reaction vessel having a second volume. Generally, the first volume is greater than the second volume. What is more, the disengagement zone can be for receiving a first mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the first reaction vessel, and a second mixture including at least one catalyst and one or more products from the second reaction vessel. Typically, the first mixture is isolated from the second mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Paolo Palmas, Robert L. Mehlberg
  • Patent number: 8394260
    Abstract: A process for upgrading a heavy oil stream by completely mixing the heavy oil stream with a water stream prior to the introduction of an oxidant stream. A mixture of the heavy oil stream and the water stream are subjected to operating conditions, in the presence of the oxidant stream, that are at or exceed the supercritical temperature and pressure of water. The resulting product stream is a higher value oil having low sulfur, low nitrogen, and low metallic impurities as compared to the heavy oil stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Ki-Hyouk Choi
  • Patent number: 8394261
    Abstract: Catalysts amenable to oxidizing sulfur compounds and systems and methods of using these catalysts to effect the removal of sulfur from crude oil and crude oil distillates are disclosed. The catalyst is disposed with a titanyl moiety which serves to selectively coordinate sulfur compounds and affect their oxidation. The titanyl may be bound within a polymer or on the surface of a polymer or on the surface or in the pores of an inorganic support. The resulting oxidized sulfur compounds are readily separated from the initial crude oil or crude oil distillate streams by traditional separation techniques arrayed as described in the systems and methods disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Auterra, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle E. Litz, Tracey M. Jordan, Mark N. Rossetti, Anthony J. Loughran, Jennifer L. Vreeland
  • Patent number: 8394262
    Abstract: The invention describes a catalyst comprising at least one metal from group VIB, at least two metals from group VIII termed the major promoter VIII-1 and co-promoters VIII-i, where i is in the range 2 to 5, and at least one support constituted by a porous refractory oxide, in which the elements from group VIII are present in proportions defined by the atomic ratio [VIII-1/(VIII-1+ . . . +VIII-i)], said ratio being in the range 0.5 to 0.85, as well as a process for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbon feeds, comprising at least one hydrodemetallization step and at least one hydrodesulphurization step, and employing a catalyst in accordance with the invention with an identical atomic ratio in each of the hydrodemetallization and hydrodesulphurization steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: IFP Energies Nouvelles
    Inventors: Bertrand Guichard, Denis Guillaume
  • Patent number: 8394263
    Abstract: The invention relates to a bulk catalyst having improved activity in hydrodesulphurization, in particular in relatively low Group VIII over Group VIB metal molar ratios. The bulk catalyst comprises metal oxidic particles comprising one or more Group VIB metals and one or more-Group VIII metals which metal oxidic particles are obtainable by a process comprising the steps of reacting the compounds comprising one or more Group VIB metals and compounds comprising one or more Group VIII metals in hydrothermal conditions at a reaction temperature above the boiling temperature of the protic liquid, preferably in an autoclave at a reaction pressure above atmospheric pressure and. The invention also relates to the corresponding sulphided catalyst, to a process for the manufacture of said bulk catalyst and to the use of said catalyst for the hydrotreatment, in particular the hydrodesulphurization and hydrodenitrogenation of hydrocarbon feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Albemarle Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Sona Eijsbouts-Spickova, Robertus Gerardus Leliveld, Stuart Leon Soled, Sabato Miseo
  • Patent number: 8394264
    Abstract: In order to keep diesel or heating oil obtained by fractional distillation, in particular after depolymerization of residues, or pyrolysis oil that was obtained by pyrolysis of rubber or organic substances, permanently clear and light, first, the process of discoloration (darkening) is allowed and then a second distillation is carried out, through which a permanently clear and light heating, diesel or heavy oil is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventors: Manfred Sappok, Dieter Wagels
  • Patent number: 8394265
    Abstract: A visual bilgewater quality indicator for use in a bilgewater filtration system which includes a filtration stage for removing oily contaminants. The quality indicator utilizes one or more filtration status chambers which are provided with a fluorescent or phosphorescent dye or pigment treated filtration media. The status chamber has a transparent outer wall. Flow through the status chamber is from the outer lateral wall toward its central axis, whereby oily contaminants in the flow collect selectively at the outer portions of the filtration media which are highly visible to an observer. Oil droplets as small as one micron, are captured and immobilized by the primary filter and are instantly visible against the background of the exemplary dye. If two status chambers are used in series, the second chamber is always kept transparent until complete loading and supersaturating breakthrough at the primary chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Mycelx Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Hal Alper
  • Patent number: 8394266
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rolling cleaner apparatus for a submerged surface, comprising rolling drive members, at least one motor (20a, 20b) for driving at least one rolling drive member, a filtration chamber formed in the hollow body and having a liquid inlet into the hollow body, a liquid outlet from the hollow body, a hydraulic circuit for circulating liquid between the liquid inlet and the liquid outlet through a filtering device, a motorized pumping device (12) designed to generate a flow of liquid between each liquid inlet and each liquid outlet, characterized in that it comprises a control unit (90) designed to modulate the flow of liquid circulating between each liquid inlet and each liquid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Zodiac Pool Care Europe
    Inventors: Philippe Pichon, Emmanuel Mastio
  • Patent number: 8394267
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, in order to eliminate impurities, and the like, water to be treated is passed through each of reactor vessels, phosphorus contained in the water to be treated is removed by using an adsorbent, and thereafter the liquid held in each of the reactor vessels is discharged through each of first to third treated water discharge paths, thereby eliminating the impurities, and the like derived from the water to be treated. It is possible to eliminate the influence of the impurities in the water to be treated on the discharged desorption agent liquid containing phosphorus from the phosphorus adsorbent can be eliminated, and hence it is possible to obtain a phosphorus-containing liquid containing no substance other than the recovered phosphoric matter material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shinobu Moniwa, Hidetake Shiire, Satomi Ebihara, Masahiko Tsutsumi, Nobuyuki Ashikaga, Satoshi Haraguchi, Akiko Suzuki, Hideyuki Tsuji, Tatsuoki Kohno, Kazuhiko Noda, Katsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8394268
    Abstract: A portable device for filtering and purifying water comprised of an outer chamber and an inner chamber that is slidable within a section of the outer chamber, and a small pore size pre-filter, whereby water is drawn through the pre-filter into the first container section of the outer chamber where it is isolated and treated with a disinfectant agent, then is drawn out of the first container section and into the second container section, and then into the inner chamber, where it is passed across another filtering material such as an activated carbon bed, removing any remaining contaminants before the potable water exits through a mouthpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Miracle Straw Corporation, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul W. O'Brien, Mogens Engel
  • Patent number: 8394269
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a water filter device having a filter head with filter head components, a replaceable filter candle with filter candle components, and an encoding structure which is formed between a filter head component and a filter candle component. The water filter device is distinguished, in a first embodiment, in that an encoding structure is formed with axial orientation on an end face of the filter candle and/or on an element which is associated with such an end face of the filter candle. In a second embodiment, said water filter device is distinguished in that an encoding structure is formed separately from a fixing structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Aquis Wasser-Luft-Systeme GmbH, Lindau Zweigniederlassung Rebstein
    Inventors: Andreas Wawrla, Roland Scholz
  • Patent number: 8394270
    Abstract: A system and method for the treatment of a fluid comprising at least two of the fractions solid particles, liquid and/or gas is described having at least one inlet portion and two or more outlet portions, and being arranged to separate solid particles over a predetermined size from the liquid by at least one screening apparatus and then carrying the fractions out of the system. The system (1) being substantially fluid-tight between the at least one inlet and outlet inlet portions and being provided with at least one underpressure-generating device arranged to provide an underpressure in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Cubility AS
    Inventors: Jan Kristian Vasshus, Trond Melhus
  • Patent number: 8394271
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the anaerobic digestion of high-solids waste material. The apparatus includes a closed container having a relatively circular outer wall. The closed container has a first passage having an inlet in which the waste material flows in a first direction, a second passage in which the waste material flows in a second direction, and a divider having an end. The divider separates the first passage from the second passage, such that the waste material flows around the end of the divider when flowing from the first passage to the second passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: DVO, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen W. Dvorak
  • Patent number: 8394272
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method that uses heterothrophic ammonia oxidation bacteria (HAOB) to remove carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater. The method includes the cultivation of the heterotropic bacteria in an activated sludge environment and the removal of carbon and nitrogen from the wastewater. According to the physiological characteristics of HAOB and the principles of combined oxidation of carbon and nitrogen, the method is able to achieve simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen under the condition that the cells do not grow. The process is able to be carried out in the temperature range of 6-40° C. No excess sludge is produced in the process. The invention is able to control the process and product composition of anaerobic ammonia oxidation through the control of organic carbon source, and is able to realize zero-accumulation of NO3?N in the nitrification process. The invention can fully utilize existing activated sludge systems to remove carbon and nitrogen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Guanghao Peng
  • Patent number: 8394273
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and system for removing contaminants from a body of surface water. The method and apparatus may include tubular members such as hollow-fiber components. The tubular members have a reactive gas diffused through wall of the member. Contaminants in the water can be removed when the reactive gas reacts with bacteria on the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Inventor: Bruce E. Rittmann
  • Patent number: 8394274
    Abstract: Method and system for treating a waste stream. The waste is presented in containers, such as chamber pots and other containers for liquid and other kinds of waste. such waste can be supplied at different locations and is immediately comminuted. In a separating stage, the waste stream is separated into container material and actual waste. Actual waste is fed to a bioreactor where the water is purified so that it may be re-used, if desired. If biodegradable, the container material may be subjected to a fermentation step. Heat and gases released in the process may be used for heating the fermenter and/or generating power. It is also possible to feed kitchen waste, which may optionally have been comminuted, to the fermentation. The stream leaving the fermentation may be separated into hard components which are filtered off and composted and into softer components which can be fed to the purification installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Pharmafilter B.V.
    Inventor: Eduardo-Alexander Van Den Berg
  • Patent number: 8394275
    Abstract: A method for making a liquid-chromatography apparatus includes inserting two inner conduits into an intermediate tube, inserting the intermediate tube into an outer tube, forming a proximal seal between the intermediate tube and at least one of the inner conduits, and forming a distal seal between the intermediate tube and at least one of the inner conduits. A liquid-chromatography apparatus includes an outer tube, an intermediate tube disposed in the outer tube, two inner conduits disposed in the intermediate tube, a proximal seal between the intermediate tube and at least one of the inner conduits, and a distal seal between the intermediate tube and at least one of the inner conduits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher C. Benevides, Keith Fadgen, Michael Lavallee, Anthony Jeannotte
  • Patent number: 8394276
    Abstract: A chromatography column and method of maintenance is described which does not require the use of a hoist or crane for disassembly. The method provides improved operator safety by reducing the need for the operator to work below a suspended or supported load within the column. Furthermore, the removal or replacement of column components is facilitated by providing access to the interior of the column and by the provision of a handling device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB
    Inventor: Stefan K. Eriksson
  • Patent number: 8394277
    Abstract: It is disclosed a process for removing at least a portion of the furfural and acetic acid in a first stream comprised of water, at least one compound selected from the group consisting of furfural and acetic acid, C5's and C6's. Such process comprises the steps of contacting the stream with an adsorption media which has been previously contacted with a second stream comprised of the same components and the adsorption media has been regenerated by exposing it to conditions, without being in contact with the second stream, such that at least 70% of the adsorbed furfural and acetic acid have each been desorbed and at least 60% of the C5's and C6's remain adsorbed on the media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Beta Renewables, S.p.A.
    Inventors: Andrea Bonanni, Mariella Mule′