Patents Issued in January 2, 2018
  • Patent number: 9856572
    Abstract: An additive for reducing voids after annealing of copper plating with through silicon via. The additive contains by weight percent: 0.05-1% of one or more of quaternized polyethylene imine and derivatives thereof having different molecular weights, and 1-10% of polyethylene glycol with an average molecular weight of 200-20000. The additive is used in combination with an electroplating solution of a copper methyl sulfonate system. The electroplating solution of a copper methyl sulfonate system contains 1-5 ml/L of the additive by volume ratio. The electroplating solution of a copper methyl sulfonate system contains by mass volume ratio: 50-110 g/L of copper ions, 5-50 g/L of methanesulfonic acid and 20-80 mg/L of chlorine ions. The electroplating solution also contains by volume ratio: 0.5-5 ml/L of accelerator, 5-20 ml/L of inhibitor and 5-10 ml/L of levelling agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventors: Su Wang, Xianxian Yu, Li Ma, Yanyan Li
  • Patent number: 9856573
    Abstract: The planchet holder for electrodeposition of materials includes a container cover configured to securely fit over the mouth of a beaker. An elongate suspension post passes through a through-hole in the cover a predetermined distance, and a holder assembly is coupled to the suspension post to be suspended within the beaker at a select height from the bottom of the beaker. A planchet receptacle extends axially from a body of the holder assembly, and a substrate recess is formed at a distal end of the planchet receptacle for selective placement of a planchet. An endcap is secured onto the planchet receptacle to securely capture the planchet, and a port in the endcap exposes one face of the planchet for electrodeposition of a material. The planchet holder holds the planchet stationary within the beaker and exposes only one face for electrodeposition and subsequent analysis, thereby reducing time and costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: KUWAIT INSTITUTE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
    Inventors: Saif Uddin, Montaha H. A. Behbehani
  • Patent number: 9856574
    Abstract: Provided herein are methods and apparatus for determining leveler concentration in an electroplating solution. The approach allows the concentration of leveler to be detected and measured, even at very low leveler concentrations. According to the various embodiments, the methods involve providing an electrode with a metal surface, exposing the electrode to a pre-acceleration solution with at least one accelerator, allowing the surface of the electrode to become saturated with accelerator, measuring an electrochemical response while plating the electrode in a solution, and determining the concentration of leveler in the solution by comparing the measured electrochemical response to a model relating leveler concentration to known electrochemical responses. According to other embodiments, the apparatus includes an electrode, a measuring apparatus or an electrochemical cell configured to measure an electrochemical response, and a controller designed to carry out the method outlined above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Novellus Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven T. Mayer
  • Patent number: 9856575
    Abstract: A crystal growth apparatus comprises a reaction vessel holding a melt mixture containing an alkali metal and a group III metal, a gas supplying apparatus supplying a nitrogen source gas to a vessel space exposed to the melt mixture inside the reaction vessel, a heating unit heating the melt mixture to a crystal growth temperature, and a support unit supporting a seed crystal of a group III nitride crystal inside the melt mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Seiji Sarayama, Hirokazu Iwata, Akihiro Fuse
  • Patent number: 9856576
    Abstract: In a known method for pulling a semiconductor single crystal according to the Czochralski method, a semiconductor melt is produced in a silica glass crucible and the semiconductor single crystal is pulled from said melt. The inner wall of the silica glass crucible and the exposed melt surface are in contact with one another and with a respective melt atmosphere in the region of a contact zone running radially around the crucible inner wall, and primary oscillations of the melt are triggered in said contact zone. On this basis, in order to provide a method characterized by reduced melt vibrations and in particular by a simple, short accretion process, according to the invention primary oscillations are triggered which differ from one another in their frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Hünermann, Thomas Kayser, Walter Lehmann
  • Patent number: 9856577
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for growing group III-V nitride crystals. In particular the systems and methods include diffusing constituent species of the crystals through a porous body composed of the constituent species, where the species freely nucleate to grow large nitride crystals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Nitride Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Schmitt, Peng Lu, Jeremy Jones
  • Patent number: 9856578
    Abstract: Highly textured [111] oriented films such as MgO crystalline films are deposited by e-beam evaporation on ordinary soda-lime glass. Semiconductor films such as silicon can be deposited on these MgO films using eutectics at temperatures below the softening point of ordinary glass and having extremely high textured and strong [111] orientation. The invention may be used for efficient and cost effective solar cells, displays, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Solar-Tectic, LLC, Blue WAVE SEMI-Conductors, Inc.
    Inventors: Ratnakar D. Vispute, Andrew Seiser
  • Patent number: 9856579
    Abstract: A semiconductor compound material, preferably a III-N-bulk crystal or a III-N-layer, is manufactured in a reactor by means of hydride vapor phase epitaxy (HVPE), wherein in a mixture of carrier gases a flow profile represented by local mass flow rates is formed in the reactor. The mixture can carry one or more reaction gases towards a substrate. Thereby, a concentration of hydrogen important for the reaction and deposition of reaction gases is adjusted at the substrate surface independently from the flow profile simultaneously formed in the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FREIBERGER COMPOUND MATERIALS GMBH
    Inventors: Gunnar Leibiger, Frank Habel, Stefan Eichler
  • Patent number: 9856580
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure relate to an apparatus for processing a semiconductor substrate. The apparatus includes a process chamber having a substrate support for supporting a substrate, a lower dome and an upper dome opposing the lower dome, a plurality of gas injects disposed within a sidewall of the process chamber. The apparatus includes a gas delivery system coupled to the process chamber via the plurality of gas injects, the gas delivery system includes a gas conduit providing one or more chemical species to the plurality of gas injects via a first fluid line, a dopant source providing one or more dopants to the plurality of gas injects via a second fluid line, and a fast switching valve disposed between the second fluid line and the process chamber, wherein the fast switching valve switches flowing of the one or more dopants between the process chamber and an exhaust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Errol Antonio C. Sanchez, Swaminathan T. Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 9856581
    Abstract: Preparation of semiconductor nanocrystals and their dispersions in solvents and other media is described. The nanocrystals described herein have small (1-10 nm) particle size with minimal aggregation and can be synthesized with high yield. The capping agents on the as-synthesized nanocrystals as well as nanocrystals which have undergone cap exchange reactions result in the formation of stable suspensions in polar and nonpolar solvents which may then result in the formation of high quality nanocomposite films.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: PIXELLIGENT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Zehra Serpil Gonen Williams, Yijun Wang, Robert J. Wiacek, Xia Bai, Linfeng Gou, Selina I. Thomas, Wei Xu, Jun Xu, Rakesh Patel
  • Patent number: 9856582
    Abstract: A method is disclosed with provides stable growth of SiC single crystals, particularly 4H—SiC single crystals, with an effective crystal growth rate for a prolonged time even at a low temperature range of 2000° C. or lower. A raw material containing Si, Ti and Ni is charged into a crucible made of graphite and heat-melted to obtain a solvent. At the same time, C is dissolved out from the crucible into the solvent to obtain a melt. A SiC seed crystal substrate is then brought into contact with the melt such that SiC is supersaturated in the melt in the vicinity of the surface of the SiC seed crystal substrate, thereby allowing growth and production of an SiC single crystal on the SiC seed crystal substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Mina Ryo, Yoshiyuki Yonezawa, Takeshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 9856583
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a silicon carbide single crystal includes steps of preparing a crucible, a source material disposed toward a bottom surface in the crucible, a seed crystal disposed to face the source material toward a top surface in the crucible, a resistive heater, and a heat insulator configured to be able to accommodate the crucible therein, measuring a mass of at least a portion of the heat insulator, comparing a measured value of the mass obtained in the measuring step with a threshold value, and growing a silicon carbide single crystal on the seed crystal by sublimation of the source material by heating the crucible placed in the heat insulator with the resistive heater. When the measured value of the mass is lower than the threshold value in the comparing step, the step of growing a silicon carbide single crystal is performed at least one or more times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shin Harada, Tsutomu Hori
  • Patent number: 9856584
    Abstract: Methods for making yarns are provided which include the steps of supplying continuous polymer filaments, detaching from at least a part of the continuous polymer filaments, and at least one continuous reinforcement filament, a plurality of discontinuous polymer fibers and of discontinuous reinforcement fibers to obtain a composite sliver, and twisting the composite sliver to obtain a roving from which yarn may be obtained. Yarns produced by such methods as well as textiles, fabrics and garments which include such yarns are also provided. Such yarns may be particularly useful in the production of, for example, protective gloves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FILTES INTERNATIONAL S.R.L. CON SOCIO UNICO
    Inventors: Sergio Carrara, Giuliano Gandossi
  • Patent number: 9856585
    Abstract: A rotatable loom with a mannequin such that the loom can be used to produce a hand-made single piece of cloth or cloth product in a three dimension with a thread of choice. The loom has two or more frames with graded rings such that the rings help in achieving a cylindrical or cubic shape cloth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Umm-Al-Qura University
    Inventor: Rabah Sejiny
  • Patent number: 9856586
    Abstract: A thread inserting device includes a guide pin having a thread capture portion at its tip for capturing a thread; a holder that fixedly holds the guide pin; a main body (first and second main bodies) slidably mounting the holder; and a thread cutting portion provided to the main body for cutting the thread to a length equal to or smaller than the protrusion of the thread capture portion from a thread captured position on a thread tip 6a side after the thread is captured by the thread capture portion. By shifting the holder, the thread capture portion is protruded to a predetermined length from the main body, and the thread cut to a predetermined length by the thread cutting portion is inserted into the thread inserting hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Janome Sewing Machine Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eiichi Shomura, Ushio Yokoyama
  • Patent number: 9856587
    Abstract: Provided is an elastic circular knitted fabric which exhibits good wear comfort and excellent movement follow-up ability and can contribute to improvement in motor functions, which exhibits little tightness or a reduced shift during an action, which is not limited in application by stretching force, which is useful as a clothing material that is not susceptible to loosing shape due to wearing, and which has both excellent elongation and excellent elongation recovery of elongation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ASAHI KASEI KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shoichi Akita
  • Patent number: 9856588
    Abstract: An improved process for forming a PTFE mat is described. The process includes providing a dispersion with PTFE, a fiberizing polymer and a solvent wherein said dispersion has a viscosity of at least 50,000 cP. An apparatus is provided which comprises a charge source and a target a distance from the charge source. A voltage source is provided which creates a first charge at the charge source and an opposing charge at the target. The dispersion is electrostatically charged by contact with the charge source. The electrostatically charged dispersion is collected on the target to form a mat precursor which is heated to remove the solvent and the fiberizing polymer thereby forming the PTFE mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Zeus Industrial Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce L. Anneaux, Robert L. Ballard, David P. Garner
  • Patent number: 9856589
    Abstract: A hydroformed expanded spun bonded nonwoven web has a first substantially planar surface on one side thereof and a second surface on an opposite side thereof. The second surface includes a plurality of protuberances in a pattern. The hydroformed expanded spun bonded web has an average loft of at least about 1.3 times greater than an original average loft of an original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web from which the hydroformed expanded spun bonded nonwoven web was created, and an air permeability of at least about 1.2 times greater than an original air permeability of the original unexpanded spun bonded nonwoven web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: TREDEGAR FILM PRODUCTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Andrew D. Maschino, Michael Estel Fisher, John Richard Renner, Todd R. Skochdopole
  • Patent number: 9856590
    Abstract: A spunbond nonwoven from thermoplastic filaments is made by spinning the filaments from at least one spinner, cooling and stretching the spun filaments, depositing the cooled and stretched filaments on a surface to form a nonwoven fleece web, and moving the fleece web in a travel direction. A liquid medium is introduced into the moving fleece web and it is then mechanically needled. The mechanically needled web is then subject to a hydraulic or hydrodynamic final consolidation by hydroentanglement to a basis weight of more than 80 g/m2 from a top side as well as from a lower side of the nonwoven fleece web by high-pressure water-jet bars above and below the nonwoven fleece web. O of the bars is upstream of the other bar and has a hpi density that is smaller than that of the other bar and that is equal to at most 40.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: REIFENHAEUSER GMBH & CO. KG MASCHINENFABRIK
    Inventor: Sebastian Sommer
  • Patent number: 9856591
    Abstract: There is provided a nonwoven fabric excellent in the balance among fuzz resistance, softness and tensile strength. The nonwoven fabric comprises an embossed portion and a non-embossed portion; the embossed portion comprising an emboss pattern that comprises unit patterns each delimited by emboss lines; the emboss lines each comprising a plurality of emboss element parts that are continuously arranged with a predetermined interval; wherein in the direction in which the distance from any arbitrarily-defined point in the non-embossed portion within the unit pattern toward the outside of the emboss lines that delimit the non-embossed portion is shortest, at least one of the plurality of emboss element parts is disposed so as to block the direction in which the distance from the arbitrarily-defined point toward the outside of the emboss lines that delimit the non-embossed portion is shortest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: MITSUI CHEMICALS, INC.
    Inventors: Taro Ichikawa, Yoshihisa Kawakami
  • Patent number: 9856592
    Abstract: Systems and methods for forming a fibrous preform are disclosed. The method may comprise providing a plurality of needles comprising a barbed needle and a barbless needle and penetrating the fibrous preform with the plurality of needles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GOODRICH CORPORATION
    Inventors: Philip Sheehan, Modesto Martinez, III, Sundararaman Vaidyaraman
  • Patent number: 9856593
    Abstract: Disclosed is a washing machine having an improved structure of enabling laundry to be put into the washing machine without restraint, the washing machine including a cabinet forming an external appearance of the washing machine, and provided at a front side thereof with an inlet port, a tub provided in the cabinet and accommodating wash water, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, and a door installed at the cabinet to open and close the inlet port, wherein the door is provided with a subsidiary door that is freely open and closed independent of the door during a washing cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Adam Andrew Wishney, Seong-Min Oak, Se Gi Chon
  • Patent number: 9856594
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and suspension assemblies for suspending tubs in washing machine appliances are provided. A suspension assembly includes a first pliable mount and a second pliable mount, the first pliable mount and second pliable mount spaced apart from each other along a lateral direction. The first and second pliable mounts each include a hollow body and a head, the head integral with the hollow body. The suspension assembly further includes a rocker arm engaging the head of the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount. The rocker arm extends between the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount along the lateral direction. The suspension assembly further includes a rod connected to the rocker arm and disposed between the first pliable mount and the second pliable mount along the lateral direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haler US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Owen Davis
  • Patent number: 9856595
    Abstract: Washing machine appliances and methods for operating washing machine appliances are provided. A method includes calculating a hot water fill time and a cold water fill time based on an assumed hot water temperature, an assumed cold water temperature, an assumed hot water flow rate, an assumed cold water flow rate, and a desired wash water temperature. The method further includes actuating a hot water valve to flow hot water for the hot water fill time, and actuating a cold water valve to flow cold water for the cold water fill time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Ryan Ellis Leonard, Stephen Edward Hettinger
  • Patent number: 9856596
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a clothes treating apparatus having a hot air supply device and an operating method thereof, and according to an aspect of the present disclosure, a clothes treating apparatus may include a drum configured to accommodate an object to be dried; a linear valve configured to linearly adjust the amount of supplied gas; a burner configured to burn gas supplied by the linear valve; a hot air supply device configured to supply hot air heated by the burner into the drum; a temperature sensor configured to measure the temperature of air exhausted from the drum; and a control means configured to adjust the amount of gas supplied to the burner based on a temperature measured by the temperature sensor, wherein the control means partitions a drying process into a plurality of sections based on a temperature change of the exhaust air, and varies a gas supply amount for each section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jongryul Kim, Sungjun Kim, Youngsoo Kim, Geunhyung Lee, Jeonggeol Roh
  • Patent number: 9856597
    Abstract: A drying system embodying a method and glove dryer mountable to an outlet of an already-running furnace when in use so as to safely and efficiently dry out articles, and that dissembles into stackable elements when stored is provided. The glove dryer may include a base providing a plurality of detachable nozzles. The base may form a volumetric enclosure for both safely mounting the outlet of an already-running furnace as well as for storage purposes. The plurality of detachable nozzles may be stacked in a nest configuration when removed from the base for storing in the volumetric enclosure. When in use, the plurality of detachable nozzles each provide a plurality of holes through which heated air from the outlet reaches to tops of articles of clothing slidably received thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Karen Smoots
  • Patent number: 9856598
    Abstract: An ironing appliance including a steam distribution circuit having at least one filter designed to retain lime scale particles transported by the steam flow, wherein it includes a lime scale disposal orifice that communicates with a portion of the steam distribution circuit located upstream of the filter and that said filter is fixedly mounted in the appliance or is removable via an orifice separate from the lime scale disposal orifice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Frederic Collet
  • Patent number: 9856599
    Abstract: The present invention provides a coated yarn and a method for manufacturing a coated yarn having outstanding physical properties, the method comprising: collecting thermoplastic polyurethane in virgin form, or from scraps remaining after usage, for example, those used for airbag patterns in a shoe manufacturing process, or from scraps remaining after other thermoplastic polyurethane is processed; mixing the various kinds of thermoplastic polyurethane with various additives; compounding the resultant mixture using an extruder to prepare a thermoplastic polyurethane compound for a coated yarn; and coating the surface of a yarn made from polyester, nylon, spandex, etc. with the compound using an extruder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Heedae Park
  • Patent number: 9856600
    Abstract: Rope (4) having an eye (2). The rope (4) comprises a first rope portion (8) and a second rope portion (10). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are spliced into each other for forming a spliced connection for obtaining the eye (2). The first rope portion (8) and the second rope portion (10) are formed from an end portion of the rope (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Lankhorst Touwfabrieken B.V.
    Inventor: Adrianus Stout
  • Patent number: 9856601
    Abstract: A method for treating cellulosic biomass feed stock including: feeding the feed stock to an upper inlet of a vertical reactor vessel, wherein the feed stock is deposited on a pile of feed stock within the vertical reactor vessel; adding heat energy to heat the feed stock by injecting steam to an upper region of the vertical reactor vessel; propelling the feed stock through an outlet in a lower region of the vertical reactor vessel by injecting steam into the biomass at, near or after the bottom outlet of the vertical reactor vessel, and moving the propelled feed stock through an expansion device, such as a steam explosion device, to subject the feed stock to a steam explosion process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Andritz Inc.
    Inventor: Bertil Stromberg
  • Patent number: 9856602
    Abstract: A triple papermaking fabric, having at least one fabric repeat unit which comprises: a set of sixteen warp yarns or MD yarns, which extend in machine direction and are subdivided into eight top MD yarns eight bottom MD yarns; three top CMD yarns interwoven only with the top MD yarns form a top fabric layer; three bottom CMD yarns interwoven only with the bottom MD yarns to form a bottom fabric layer; three binding yarns interwoven with both the top MD yarns and the bottom MD yarns so as to bind the top layer to the bottom layer; the fabric has a ratio between weft yarns and warp yarns of 3:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Feltri Marone S.p.A.
    Inventor: Clara Rossetti
  • Patent number: 9856603
    Abstract: A method for producing a fibrous pulp web, in which a fibrous pulp suspension is dewatered in a Twin Wire Former to form a fibrous pulp web which is dried with a TAD dryer. A pre-dewatering device with a hood and suction roll is provided after the Twin Wire Former and before the TAD dryer. The fibrous pulp web is guided through the pre-dewatering device between exactly two machine cloths. The machine cloth between suction roll and the web is a porous felt, and the machine cloth between web and hood is a structured wire. A volume flux of hot drying fluid greater than 100 m3/(m2·min), preferably greater than 250 m3/(m2·min,) is drawn through the fibrous pulp web into the suction roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: ANDRITZ AG
    Inventors: Andreas Anzel, Klaus Gissing, Thomas Scherb, Wilhelm Mausser
  • Patent number: 9856604
    Abstract: The cylinder (1; 111) comprises: a shell (3; 113) and two heads (5, 7; 115, 117), defining an inner hollow space (9), inside which a heat-transfer fluid flows. Support and rotation journals (15, 17; 121, 123) are also provided, fixed to said heads; and a thermal insulation system (23, 25; 125, 125) for the heads (5, 7, 117, 119). The thermal insulation system comprises, for each head, a plurality of thermal insulation panels (27; 127), each of which comprises a closed space (10) defined in a shell, inside which there is housed a thermal insulating material (35).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: A. CELLI PAPER S.P.A.
    Inventors: Salvatore Sorrentino, Mauro Celli, Giuseppe Antonini
  • Patent number: 9856605
    Abstract: In some variations, a process is provided for producing a pulp product at a biorefinery site, comprising: converting a woody cellulosic material to a first pulp stream; converting a non-woody cellulosic material to a second pulp stream; blending the second pulp stream into the first pulp stream; and recovering or further processing the blended pulp stream as a pulp product. Biorefinery site infrastructure may be shared between the woody and non-woody lines. Also, the process may include process integration of mass and/or energy between the woody and non-woody lines. The process may be a retrofit addition to a pulp plant, or a greenfield biorefinery site. The non-woody line also can generate fermentable sugars, for fermentation to ethanol (or other products). Through allocation of carbon credits from the ethanol to the pulp, the final pulp product life-cycle profile can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: API Intellectual Property Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Theodora Retsina
  • Patent number: 9856606
    Abstract: Methods for reducing the effects of wetlapping, drying, and hornification of pulp fibers and consequently increasing the pulp drainage and strength properties in the final product (i.e., paper) are provided. The method which has been developed creates a “value-added” product by the wastepaper supplier or at the pulp and/or deinking (recycled paper) mill—a wastepaper load/bale, wet pulp stock or wet lap, or dried pulp treated with or impregnated with enzymes that enhance the quality of the pulp or paper product when it is repulped and processed at the paper mill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Enzymatic Deinking Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: James Tausche, Jianhua Ma, Paul Tausche
  • Patent number: 9856607
    Abstract: Cellulose nanofilaments from cellulose fibers, a method and a device to produce them are disclosed. The nanofilaments are fine filaments with widths in the sub-micron range and lengths up to a couple of millimeters. These nanofilaments are made from natural fibers from wood and other plants. The surface of the nanofilaments can be modified to carry anionic, cationic, polar, hydrophobic or other functional groups. Addition of these nanofilaments to papermaking furnishes substantially improves the wet-web strength and dry sheet strength much better than existing natural and synthetic polymers. The cellulose nanofilaments produced by the present invention are excellent additives for reinforcement of paper and paperboard products and composite materials, and can be used to produce superabsorbent materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: FPINNOVATIONS
    Inventors: Xujun Hua, Makhlouf Laleg, Thomas Owston
  • Patent number: 9856608
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing vacuum forming a produce container using a fiber-based slurry. The slurry includes a moisture barrier comprising alkylketene dimer in the range of about 4% by weight, and a cationic liquid starch component in the range of 1%-7% by weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Footprint International, LLC
    Inventors: Yoke Dou Chung, Brandon Michael Moore, Yiyun Zhang
  • Patent number: 9856609
    Abstract: In a method for restoring, renovating or rebuilding a railway, a substructure or part of a substructure is installed, a track bed is installed and a track grid is installed and/or an existing track grid is extended, an existing track bed is extended and an existing substructure or part of a substructure is extended. There is provision that the installation of the track grid, the installation of the track bed and the installation of the substructure or part of the substructure takes place in a single working process and/or in that the extension of the existing track grid, the extension of the existing track bed and/or the extension of the existing substructure or part of the substructure takes place in a single working process. Track bed material and/or substructure material is transported to the site and/or away from the site by rail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: K & K MASCHINENENTWICKLUNGS GHBM & CO. KG
    Inventor: Wolfram Peter Dehmel
  • Patent number: 9856610
    Abstract: A removable and serviceable paving apparatus including an access port for providing access to the interior of the slab. The access port is operable to improve access to components of the paving system prior to, during, and/or after installation. The paving apparatus further includes a removable fastener for improving removability and serviceability. The removable fastener attaches the paving apparatus to its neighboring structures to form a paving surface, may be disengaged from the neighboring structures for removal, repair and/or service of the paving apparatus, and may be re-engaged upon re-installation of the paving apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Integrated Roadways, LLC
    Inventor: Tim Sylvester
  • Patent number: 9856611
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing foamed bitumen for a road construction machine, comprising at least one mixing device having a reaction chamber, in which hot bitumen and at least one reaction fluid can be mixed together via an inlet device comprising at least one inlet nozzle and can be discharged from the mixing device via an outlet device, with at least one compressed-air device being provided, via which the inlet device and/or the outlet device can be subjected to a compressed-air stream for testing and/or cleaning purposes. The present invention further also relates to a method for maintaining such an apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventors: Juergen Heusinger, Andreas Nacke, Thorsten Jörig
  • Patent number: 9856612
    Abstract: A compactor for compacting a jobsite having a plurality of work areas has a frame, a compacting element coupled to the frame, and a control system. The control system receives a plurality of vibration measurements from a plurality of vibration sensors located at a plurality of measuring locations, determines a plurality of vibration distances where the plurality of vibration distances represent a distance and a direction for each vibration sensor to the compactor, and determines a projected compaction state for each of the plurality of work areas based on the plurality of vibration measurements and the plurality of vibration distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Caterpillar Paving Products Inc.
    Inventor: Nicholas A. Oetken
  • Patent number: 9856613
    Abstract: The road milling machine according to the invention comprises a cleaning device which has a cleaning unit arranged in front of the work roller in the working direction. The cleaning unit ensures that the surface of the terrain over which the wheels or running gears travel is clear of material. As a result, an optimum milling result is always achieved. The invention takes effect in particular when using small millers which have at least one rear wheel or running gear which can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame. In this preferred embodiment, the cleaning device comprises a pivot device which is designed in such a way that the cleaning unit can be moved into an inner working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame and into an outer working position in relation to a longitudinal side of the machine frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Wirtgen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Berning, Dieter Bungarten, Peter Busley, Marius Kloft
  • Patent number: 9856614
    Abstract: An aseismic composite pier includes one or more column limbs and waveform steel plates, wherein the adjacent column limbs are connected through a waveform steel plate to form a boxlike pier body. The wave direction of the waveform steel plate is along the longitudinal direction of the pier body. The column limbs sustain the longitudinal pressure and the bending moment, while the waveform steel plate sustain the horizontal shearing force. As a result, the flexural stability of the column limb, and the overall horizontal shearing resistance and the deformability of the pier are improved, and thus this kind of structure is suitable for piers with various heights; Moreover, the clear separation of the roles of the waveform steel plates and the column limbs improves the service efficiency of the materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignees: Shenzhen Municipal Design & Research Institute Co., Ltd., SHENZHEN WISE-TECH Engineering Consulting Co. LTD.
    Inventors: Ruijuan Jiang, Xiachun Chen, Yiyan Chen, Weiming Gai, Jucan Dong, Qiming Wu, Tianhua Xu
  • Patent number: 9856615
    Abstract: A wedge barrier system includes a frame to be disposed within a foundation, a wedge barrier having fingers with an asset end pivotally connected to the frame at an asset side and a blocking member extending perpendicular to the fingers and connected at threat ends of each of the fingers and a drive actuator to move the wedge barrier between a non-deployed position with the wedge barrier disposed inside the frame and a deployed position with the blocking member located above the top side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Neusch Innovations, LP
    Inventor: William H. Neusch
  • Patent number: 9856616
    Abstract: A self-restoring crash cushion including multiple diaphragms spaced along a length direction of the cushion, an elongated track adapted to be anchored to the ground that extends along the length direction under the cushion, the diaphragms being mounted to the track in a manner in which they can slide along the track when impacted by a moving vehicle or when the cushion is being restored, and means for dissipating energy of the moving vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: The UAB Research Foundation
    Inventors: Dean Sicking, David Littlefield, Kenneth Walls, Seth Cohen, Kevin Schrum
  • Patent number: 9856617
    Abstract: A lightweight snow groomer designed to be towed behind a snowmobile, ATV, or UTV with an adjustable v-plow. The snow groomer includes multiple links pivotably connected to its drawbar assembly and the plow that allow the plow to swing upwardly and rearwardly under the drawbars. The snow groomer preferably includes a front link adjacent to its coupler for leveling the plow/pan assembly and for vertical adjustment to accommodate different hitch heights. The snow groomer also ideally has a lift assembly with a threaded arm that screws up and down the lift assembly. The linkage may include a slotted link segment that pivotably connects to the plow and allows the plow to float on compacted snow or leave the desired amount of snow, depending on the adjustment, for compacting. The preferred v-plow can swing upwardly and rearwardly when striking obstacles during operation of the snow groomer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Richard L. Byer
  • Patent number: 9856618
    Abstract: A set of components that can be used to construct a structurally sound dock are disclosed. The components can be extruded and the components are shaped such that interconnected components provide support for the other components thereby alleviating weak points due to welded only joints. A fascia channel provides additional strength by including structures that improve the vertical and horizontal strength of the fascia channel. HDPE plastic inserts and sheaves provide sound dampening for metal to metal contact points. Other components include a corner connector, a post system and a hinge system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GDC Enterprises
    Inventors: Harold Hawkins, III, Tim Osby, Michael Lyle
  • Patent number: 9856619
    Abstract: A pipe assembly may have one or more pipe segments that are coupled together or coupled to a drive socket by a coupler. The bottom-most segment may have a body with a central axis, an exterior surface an upper end connectable to the pile assembly, a digging end, the digging end facilitating the creation of a borehole, and ports through which fluid is emittable. The bottom-most segment is designed to receive fluid introduced through the pipe assembly so that the fluid can facilitate the creation of a borehole and may be emitted through the ports during the driving of the pipe assembly into soil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: American Piledriving Equipment, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul W. Suver
  • Patent number: 9856620
    Abstract: A shoring system for controlling liquid on a site comprising a plurality of slide rails and a plurality of lateral plates. The plurality of slide rails comprise at least one liquid-controlling slide rail comprising a hollow body and lateral openings permeable to liquid when the at least one liquid-controlling slide rail is positioned into the ground. The openings are positioned on at least a portion of the liquid-controlling slide rail directed outside of the excavation. Each of the plurality of slide rails comprises at least two plate rails. Each of the plurality of lateral plates can be slid into the plate rails of two adjacent slide rails of the plurality of slide rails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Groupe Mammut Inc.
    Inventor: Pierre-Luc Bouchard
  • Patent number: 9856621
    Abstract: Method for construction of a wind turbine generator on a slip formed concrete on a construction/deployment dry dock barge and delivery of WTG and foundation to the installation site as a complete unit. A split hull hydraulic dump scow facilitates the slip form construction and deployment of the slip-formed gravity anchor(s). The barge is sunk as a dry dock to a draft that permits the WTG/WTG foundation to be floated off. The free floating WTG foundation is ballasted with sea water to its operating draft. The tension legs from the gravity anchors are attached to the WTG foundation. The sea water is then removed from the WTG foundation. The gravity anchor(s) is constructed from slip formed concrete on a split hull hydraulic dump scow and deployed to the installation site, with tension legs attached for deployment and attachment to the WTG platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DBD Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Fontain M. Johnson, Jr.