Plural Tanks Or Compartments Connected For Serial Flow Patents (Class 137/571)
  • Patent number: 8459300
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for feeding a liquid additive from a receptacle into a fuel line or into an exhaust line of an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle by way of a blockable feed line leading into at least one of the above-mentioned line and by way of a pump which at least temporarily generates a feed pressure in the feed line. The receptacle can be filled with additive from a larger storage tank also accommodated in the motor vehicle by way of a connection line that can be blocked. The feed line branches off the connection line between the receptacle and the storage tank. The pump is installed in the receptacle or between the receptacle and the branching-off of the feed line into the connection line. The connection line can be shut-off in the storage tank or between the storage tank and the branching-off of the feed line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Bruhn, Jonas Wachter, Udo Strathoff, Guenther Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130095225
    Abstract: A system for treating edible fluids under high pressure to reduce microorganisms. The system comprises a high pressure housing having an interior chamber containing two parallel flexible bladders adapted to hold the fluid to be treated under high pressure within the confines of the chamber. A pressurizing fluid fills the interior chamber outside the bladders. When one bladder is filled the other bladder is collapsed. In operation pressure is exerted throughout the interior chamber by means of the pressurizing fluid for a period sufficient to reduce microorganisms in the fluid within the filled bladder. Pressure will be released and the collapsed bladder will then be filled with an edible fluid causing treated fluid to be removed from the first bladder due to expansion caused by the filling of the second bladder such that the first bladder is collapsed. The process can then be repeated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventor: Elend S. LeBaron
  • Patent number: 8408236
    Abstract: A drain treatment system capable of achieving balance of pressure between a facility apparatus and a drain treatment apparatus with a simple structure is provided. A bottom part of a heat, exchanger 2 is connected with a top part of a drain tank 3 by a drain discharge pipe 4. The drain discharge pipe 4 has a balance pipe-connecting tube 5. The balance pipe-connecting tube 5 comprises: a balance pipe-connecting part 6; a communicating tube-connecting part 7; and a communicating passage 8 which connects both the parts therein. The top part of the drain tank 3 is connected with the balance pipe-connecting part 6 by a balance pipe 9. Further, the communicating tube-connecting part 7 is connected with a lower part of the heat exchanger 2 by a communicating tube 10 which passes through the drain discharge pipe 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: TLV Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Yumoto
  • Publication number: 20130019971
    Abstract: The power plant disclosed is an engine that derives is usefulness in the pursuit of energy generation by utilizing natural pressure differentials found in various liquids and gases, such as but not limited to water and air. It is generally a two-stroke piston cycle engine, wherein the actions of the pistons perform work, which can be utilized to generate power, pump fluids, or perform work, for example.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Mark R. Anteau
  • Patent number: 8356618
    Abstract: A portable fuel tank includes a recess formed in a top wall that accommodates a fuel/water separator canister. The canister includes an inlet in fluid communication with liquid fuel in the enclosure and an outlet in fluid communication with a motor. The canister retains water separated from the fuel. A fuel intake tube is disposed within the tank and a fuel inlet conduit is disposed externally of the tank. The fuel inlet conduit has a first end in fluid communication with the fuel intake tube and a second end in fluid communication with an inlet of the canister. A manifold includes a first branch providing fluid communication between the fuel inlet conduit and the canister inlet and a second branch providing fluid communication between the canister outlet and a fuel outlet conduit that supplies water-free fuel to a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Inventor: Todd C. Werner
  • Patent number: 8347913
    Abstract: A combustible fuel supply system includes a fuel tank, a carburetor and a combustible fuel piping system. The combustible fuel piping system includes a fuel-feeding pipe, a fuel-drawing pipe, a vent pipe, and a switch valve. The fuel-feeding pipe interconnects the carburetor and a lower space of the fuel tank that stores combustible fuel. The fuel-drawing pipe interconnects the carburetor and an upper space of the fuel tank that accommodates air when the lower space stores the combustible fuel. The vent pipe is for fluid communication between the upper space and the exterior of the fuel tank. The switch valve is operable to obstruct fluid flow through at least one of the fuel-feeding pipe, the fuel-drawing pipe and the vent pipe, and is operable to switch between a fuel-feeding state and a fuel-drawing state for obstructing and permitting fluid flow through at least one of the pipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Yimin Zhu
  • Patent number: 8336507
    Abstract: A heat transfer oil boiler system to minimize heat loss and prevent heat transfer oil from deterioration due to temperature fluctuations includes a high-level tank disposed with a vent, a transfer oil buffer, and an oil-gas separator; the heat transfer buffer includes one or more oil storage unit containing a chamber within; the heat transfer buffer is disposed between the high-level tank and the oil-gas separator; an oil inlet pipe and an oil outlet pipe for directing oil to and from the oil storage unit, respectively, is disposed in the upper and the lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Inventors: Guan-Ming Lao, Yan-Feng Wang, Guo-Sheng Shi, Duo-Fu Hu, Jin-Chang Wang, Rui-Hong Fu
  • Publication number: 20120285553
    Abstract: A self-weighted water tank device for a solar energy system includes a plurality of water tanks to construct a water tank module for securing the whole system. A passage is configured between the water tanks of the module. The passage is at a certain highness of the tanks such that the water collected in the tanks can be maintained at a certain level. The water in the tank module can provide as a water supply source to provide water to satisfy the water demand of the demand side.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: CHI JOE KAO, Kuei-Kuang Chen
  • Publication number: 20120255637
    Abstract: A hydrogen source comprises a first hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a first form and a second hydrogen reservoir for containing hydrogen in a second form different from the first form. The hydrogen source comprises a means for converting hydrogen from the first form to hydrogen gas and transferring the hydrogen gas from the first hydrogen reservoir to the second hydrogen reservoir. An interface is provided for transferring hydrogen from the second hydrogen reservoir to a hydrogen reservoir in a portable device. The interface comprises a fluidic coupling. The hydrogen source may be used to provide hydrogen fuel to a wide range of portable devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: Societe BIC
    Inventors: Gerard Francis McLean, Joerg Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 8277747
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a chamber where a base concentrate common to at least a first flavored food product and a second flavored food product is formed, the first flavored food product having different flavoring than the second flavored food product, the base concentrate having a first temperature. The apparatus also comprises a process line that receives the base concentrate from the chamber, heated liquid from a heated liquid source, and flavoring from either a first flavor source or a second flavor source to form a mixture of base concentrate, heated liquid and flavoring. The mixture has a has second temperature sufficient to achieve a change in the mixture selected from the group consisting of microbial change, chemical change, biochemical change, and enzymatic change, and combinations thereof. A method is also disclosed for change over from forming a first flavored food product to forming a second flavored food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Stokley-Van Camp, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok S. Dhruv, Rei-Young Amos Wu, Michael J. Mastio
  • Patent number: 8273293
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a chamber where a base concentrate common to at least a first flavored food product and a second flavored food product is formed, the first flavored food product having different flavoring than the second flavored food product, the base concentrate having a first temperature. The apparatus also comprises a process line that receives the base concentrate from the chamber, heated liquid from a heated liquid source, and flavoring from either a first flavor source or a second flavor source to form a mixture of base concentrate, heated liquid and flavoring. The mixture has a has second temperature sufficient to achieve a change in the mixture selected from the group consisting of microbial change, chemical change, biochemical change, and enzymatic change, and combinations thereof. A method is also disclosed for change over from forming a first flavored food product to forming a second flavored food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Stokley-Van Camp, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok S. Dhruv, Rei-Young Amos Wu, Michael J. Mastio
  • Publication number: 20120199224
    Abstract: An arrangement for transferring fuel from one or more secondary tanks (12) to a main tank (11), including: a main tank (11), one or more secondary tanks (12), a venturi tube (20) situated close to the main tank (11) and each of the secondary tanks (12). A return line (17) leads surplus fuel back from the fuel-consuming unit (14) to the main tank (11). The return line (17) is divided into as many secondary return lines (18) as the total number of tanks including secondary tanks (12) and the main tank (11). Transfer of fuel from the respective secondary tanks (12) and the main tank (11) to the ancillary space (13) takes place by means of venturi tubes (20) arranged along the secondary lines (18).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2010
    Publication date: August 9, 2012
    Inventor: Henrik Fagerhof
  • Publication number: 20120192974
    Abstract: An assembly for holding a fluid includes an auxiliary reservoir inside a main reservoir. The auxiliary reservoir includes an auxiliary reservoir shell with a fill passage at or near its bottom. The auxiliary reservoir shell also has a vent passage at or near its top. The fill passage and the vent passage fluidically connect the auxiliary reservoir to the main reservoir. A fluid inlet is located inside the main reservoir and outside of the auxiliary reservoir. A fluid outlet located inside the auxiliary reservoir between the fill passage and the vent passage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert D. Szolomayer, David L. Motto
  • Patent number: 8220663
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system featuring a dispenser for providing fluid from multiple reservoirs to an appliance or other suitable device; and a multiple tubing arrangement coupled between the dispenser and the multiple reservoirs of fluid, the multiple tubing arrangement being responsive to a vacuum provided from the dispenser, for drawing the fluid from the multiple reservoirs so as to deplete the multiple reservoirs at relatively equal amounts based on the Venturi effect. The multiple tubing arrangement comprises a primary inlet tube for arranging in a primary reservoir, an auxiliary inlet tube for arranging in an auxiliary reservoir, and a feed connector tube arranged between the primary inlet tube and auxiliary inlet tube. The primary inlet tube is coupled to the auxiliary inlet tube so as to provide a proportional vacuum and siphoning effect. The multiple tubing arrangement siphons and depletes the fluid from the primary reservoir and the auxiliary reservoir based on the Venturi effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Xylem IP Holdings LLC
    Inventors: David L. Phillips, Gerard Caldwell, Nikhil Jitendra Gandhi
  • Patent number: 8201577
    Abstract: An arrangement is provided for feeding a liquid additive from a receptacle into a fuel pipe or into an exhaust line of an internal-combustion engine of a motor vehicle. The receptacle is fillable with additive from a larger storage tank that is also accommodated in the motor vehicle by way of a connection line that can be blocked by a shut-off element. A pump is installed in the receptacle or in the connection line. A heating device for heating at least a partial volume of the additive is present in the receptacle. A blockable return line branches off into the receptacle from the connection line between the pump and the shut-off element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Andreas Bruhn, Jonas Wachter, Udo Strathoff, Guenther Schneider
  • Publication number: 20120139225
    Abstract: A tank arrangement for a vehicle, particularly a truck, includes at least a first fuel tank and a second fuel tank which are connected by a balancing pipe, a suction pipe for feeding fuel to an engine and a return pipe for feeding fuel from the engine to at least one of the fuel tanks. The balancing pipe is provided with a first end to supply fuel to the first tank and a second end to suck fuel from the second tank, wherein a check valve is arranged upstream of the return pipe in the balancing pipe between the at least two tanks allowing a flow direction from the second tank to the first tank and blocking a flow in the reverse direction. Suction of fuel to the engine is from the first tank only. The check valve provides an automatic purging of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Applicant: Volvo Lastvagnar AB
    Inventors: Sigurd Sonderegger, Anders Ivarsson
  • Patent number: 8192616
    Abstract: A pressurized wastewater effluent chlorination system including a treatment tank defining a contact chamber and an aeration chamber. The treatment tank receives wastewater effluent. The system includes a pressure vessel within a liquid chlorine storage container positioned in or near the treatment tank. Preferably, the pressure vessel is a floating vessel having a check valve at its bottom, enabling the vessel to fill with a predetermined amount or measured charge of chlorine depending on the position of a float on the vessel. In response to a timer control or float switch, a valve operates to communicate air pressure from a compressor to the vessel to displace the measured charge of liquid chlorine into the wastewater effluent in the contact chamber. Effluent flow and air discharge into the contact chamber enhances mixing of the chlorine and the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Mark N. Chaffin
  • Patent number: 8175787
    Abstract: An engine control system having primary and secondary fuel tanks comprises a fuel monitoring module and a transfer pump (TP) diagnostic module. The fuel monitoring module determines a measured fuel level of the secondary fuel tank based on a fuel level signal received from a fuel level sensor when a fuel TP is on for greater than a predetermined time period required for the fuel TP to reduce the measured fuel level from a predetermined fuel level to below the predetermined fuel level. The TP diagnostic module diagnoses a condition of the fuel TP based on the measured fuel level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Inventors: Gary L. Rogers, Zhong Wang, Michael A. Turley, Scott A. Kegebein
  • Patent number: 8158076
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a chamber where a base concentrate common to at least a first flavored food product and a second flavored food product is formed, the first flavored food product having different flavoring than the second flavored food product, the base concentrate having a first temperature. The apparatus also comprises a process line that receives the base concentrate from the chamber, heated liquid from a heated liquid source, and flavoring from either a first flavor source or a second flavor source to form a mixture of base concentrate, heated liquid and flavoring. The mixture has a has second temperature sufficient to achieve a change in the mixture selected from the group consisting of microbial change, chemical change, biochemical change, and enzymatic change, and combinations thereof. A method is also disclosed for change over from forming a first flavored food product to forming a second flavored food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Stokely-Van Camp, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok S. Dhruv, Rei-Young Amos Wu, Michael J. Mastio
  • Patent number: 8151818
    Abstract: The invention concerns a system for supplying hydraulic fluid to a hydraulic system, with an operating reservoir that accepts the hydraulic fluid provided for the operation of the hydraulic system and an auxiliary reservoir connected to the operating reservoir over a hydraulic line for intermediate storage of hydraulic fluid withdrawn from the operating reservoir. According to the invention, an air pump is available that is connected on the one hand on its low pressure side to a suction line that ends in a fluid free area of the auxiliary reservoir, so that a negative pressure can be built up in the auxiliary reservoir as against the external atmospheric pressure, and that is connected, on the other hand, to a control line that is provided with a control opening that is covered by the hydraulic fluid in the operating reservoir at least before the air pump is put into operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Scott R. Wiens, Helmut Schaefer, Christian Brueser, Harm-Hendrik Lange
  • Patent number: 8141584
    Abstract: A water collection, storage, and distribution system includes one or more individual water storage tanks. Each water storage tank has its own microprocessor that controls the operation of the storage tank so that each storage tank can operate either as a stand-alone storage tank or can be integrated into a series or a daisy chain of storage tanks. Each individual storage tank monitors its water level, its temperature, and its flow rate. When a risk of freezing exists, based on time and temperature, the storage tank can dump water. When the water in the storage tank is approaching stagnation, based on flow rate and time, the storage tank can dump water. When a storage tank is part of a daisy chain of storage tanks, each individual tank monitors not only its own water level but also the water level of the next downstream storage tank and pumps water to the downstream storage tank as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: East West Manufacturing LLC
    Inventors: Scott Ellyson, Jeff Sweeney
  • Patent number: 8113237
    Abstract: A system for controlling the level of hydraulic fluid between a first and second sump in a transmission includes a valve assembly located within the first sump. The valve assembly includes a valve that is moveable between two positions. The valve assembly includes first and second inlet ports that communicate with the first sump and an outlet port that communicates with the second sump. The second inlet port has an opening that is located higher than an opening to the first inlet port. Hydraulic fluid within the first sump communicates through the first inlet port to the outlet port when the valve is in the first position, and hydraulic fluid within the first sump communicates through the second inlet port to the outlet port when the valve is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Charles Alan Barker, Walter Eric Palmer
  • Patent number: 8096112
    Abstract: An exhaust after-treatment system having a main tank configured to retain and supply a reductant is disclosed. The exhaust after-treatment system includes a main heat source disposed in the main tank and configured to thaw the reductant. The exhaust after-treatment system also includes a secondary tank configured to retain a supply of reductant and a pump configured to pass reductant from the secondary tank to the main tank. The exhaust after-treatment system further includes a secondary heat source configured to thaw the reductant within the secondary tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Dale Arnold Dalton
  • Publication number: 20110315255
    Abstract: In various embodiments, dead space and associated coupling losses are reduced in energy storage and recovery systems employing compressed air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Troy O. McBride, Benjamin Bollinger, John McCormick, Benjamin Cameron, Alexander Bell, David Chmiel, Michael Neil Scott
  • Patent number: 8074819
    Abstract: A multi-chamber reservoir includes an upper and a lower body welded into unitary reservoir. A pressure relief device is interposed between a pressure chamber and the overflow chamber of the reservoir. A snap-in siphon tube is mounted into the reservoir and includes an orientation feature enforcing a desired alignment. A snap lock feature retentively mounts the siphon tube in alignment during reservoir welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: David J. Dexter, David Hewkin
  • Patent number: 8074932
    Abstract: A method for creating ullage in a fuel tank includes the steps of porting NEA into a mixing chamber during descent, exposing the mixing chamber to ambient air and communicating a mixture of NEA and ambient air into the fuel tank. A complementary apparatus to the method includes a mixing chamber for receiving NEA during descent, a port for communicating ambient air with the mixing chamber during descent and a port for communicating a mixture of the NEA and the ambient to the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Eric Surawski
  • Publication number: 20110290793
    Abstract: A fuel introducing member is connected to an opening end of a siphon pipe forming a fuel tank. The fuel introducing member has an opening for introducing fuel within the tank, and the opening is formed in the upper surface of a cover section. A lid body is pivotably mounted to the upper surface. When the opening is above the level of fuel, the lid body closes the opening by the weight of the lid body, and when the opening is below the level of the fuel, the lid body floats in the fuel to open the opening. The opening is located below the upper end of the inner diameter of the opening end of the siphon pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Murabayashi, Takeaki Nakajima, Kiyofumi Shida, Hiroaki Watanabe, Yutaka Utsumi, Kengo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110290341
    Abstract: According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a container (10) for temporarily holding water on the roof of a building, including a bottom (11), a side wall (12) surrounding the bottom (11) and an overflow opening (14) for draining surplus water when the volume of water collected in the container (10) exceeds a buffer volume, characterised in that the container (10) includes a water-draining means configured to force water with a temporary storage volume which is lower than the buffer volume to flow according to a regulated leakage rate (13), and in that the dimensions of the bottom are smaller than the dimensions of a sloping roof on which the container (10) can be placed so that the water load is distributed evenly on the surface of the roof when a plurality of containers (10) of the same size cover the surface of the roof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Raphaël Lame, Tanegmart Redjala-Ounnas
  • Patent number: 8037898
    Abstract: A reservoir tank for a vehicle brake system has a tank body including upper and lower shells joined together along mating surfaces. A float and a fluid level sensor are mounted in a fluid level detecting chamber defined in the tank body. The float is fitted on a shaft of the fluid level sensor. A partition plate is fitted in the lower shell to restrict a flow of hydraulic fluid into and out of the fluid level detecting chamber. The partition plate is disposed near the top end of the shaft of the fluid level sensor to restrict the distance by which the float can move vertically. A filter, the fluid level sensor and the partition plate are all set in the lower shell. The filter and the partition plate having their top ends pressed against the bottom ends of partitioning walls of the upper shell. Thus, the filter and the partition wall are held in position in the tank body between the upper and lower shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Advics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuharu Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7927482
    Abstract: A dental waste containment and removal system and method for containing and removing dental waste produced at a dental services facility involves transferring dental waste containing a contaminant such as mercury from a patient's mouth into a dental waste container under a vacuum pressure such that the dental waste is temporarily retained within the dental waste container. The dental waste may then be removed from the dental waste container from a remote location, such as from the exterior of the dental facility, by pumping or suctioning the dental waste, and transported to a treatment facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: G & S Mercury Recovery Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen A Luke, Grayle D Woodruff
  • Patent number: 7892422
    Abstract: A pressurized wastewater effluent chlorination system including a treatment tank defining a contact chamber and an aeration chamber. The treatment tank receives wastewater effluent. The system includes a pressure vessel within a liquid chlorine storage container positioned in or near the treatment tank. Preferably, the pressure vessel is a floating vessel having a check valve at its bottom, enabling the vessel to fill with a predetermined amount or measured charge of chlorine depending on the position of a float on the vessel. In response to a timer control or float switch, a valve operates to communicate air pressure from a compressor to the vessel to displace the measured charge of liquid chlorine into the wastewater effluent in the contact chamber. Effluent flow and air discharge into the contact chamber enhances mixing of the chlorine and the effluent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Mark N. Chaffin
  • Patent number: 7882897
    Abstract: The device of the present invention is located in a closed containment enclosure surrounding a storage bin and comprises a closed tank (28) positioned on the storage bin containing a liquid (26) and having a fireproof shield enclosing the tank and a liquid level control system for controlling the level of liquid in the tank with the tank (28) comprising at least one opening in communication with the closed container enclosure, and at least one internal chamber in direct communication with the storage bin via a flue pipe and at least one external chamber in direct communication with the containment enclosure via said at least one opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'energie atomique etaux energies alternatives
    Inventors: Mathieu Neumann, Thierry Delaforge, Dominique Bois
  • Patent number: 7854598
    Abstract: An apparatus (20) may comprise a fuel tank (10), a cover (22), a fuel discharging unit (30), a control unit (26), and a heat sink (28). The cover (22) closes an opening (12) in an upper portion of the fuel tank (10). The fuel discharging unit (30) is disposed within the fuel tank (10), and the fuel discharging unit (30) draws fuel into the fuel tank and discharges the drawn fuel outside the fuel tank. A biasing member (25) may be disposed between the fuel discharging unit (30) and the cover (22), and bias the fuel discharging unit (30) toward the bottom surface of the fuel tank (10). The control unit (26) controls the fuel discharging unit (30). The heat sink (28) is thermally connected to the control unit (26), and dissipates heat from the control unit (26). The heat sink (28) may include an extended portion (28b) extending in an up-down direction in the fuel tank (10). The fuel discharging unit (30) may be slidably supported by the extended portion (28b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuo Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20100275637
    Abstract: The water tank for a refrigerator, and refrigerator having the same, is capable of reducing a material loss, being easily manufactured, withstanding a high water pressure and easily adjusting a storage capacity according to demands by changing installation conditions. The water tank for a refrigerator includes a plurality of reservoir containers each having an inlet and an outlet, and at least one connecting pipe which is bendable to connect the reservoir containers in series.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Min Park
  • Publication number: 20100263752
    Abstract: A pumpbox, the pumpbox being in fluid communication with one or more vessels, wherein the pumpbox comprises a classification portion and level control means adapted to control the level of fluid within the one or more vessels.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: XSTRATA TECHNOLOGY PTY. LTD.
    Inventor: Michael Francis Young
  • Publication number: 20100243063
    Abstract: A delivery system (10) for delivering species to a processing chamber (14) for imparting a desired surface property to one or more large items—such as shoes—comprises: a first container (16) for filling with liquid species; a second container (18) for receiving liquid species from the first container (16); a first flow control means (20) for controlling a volume of liquid species which is allowed to flow from the first container to the second container (18); evaporation means (30) for evaporating liquid species in the second container; and a second flow control means (38) for controlling flow of evaporated species from the second container (18) to a processing chamber (14).
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Malcom Woodcock
  • Publication number: 20100132799
    Abstract: A device for limiting sample evaporation. The device has a vessel body having a body exterior surface and at least one body interior surface. The at least one body interior surface has one or more walls defining a first chamber, a second chamber and a conduit means. The first chamber has a first chamber opening for receiving at least one of the groups selected from a sample and a sample dispensing device. The first chamber opening defines the border of the body exterior surface and the body interior surface. The conduit means is in communication with the first chamber and the second chamber for receiving at least one of the group consisting of sample from said first chamber, a sample from a sample dispensing device and a sample dispensing device passing through or into the conduit means for placing the sample in the conduit means or into the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Martin Gilar, Christopher C. Benevides, Jennifer Fournier
  • Publication number: 20100132820
    Abstract: A substrate including a channel part having a chamber in which a liquid can be fed stepwise from a chamber to another chamber at the channel part formed in the substrate, depending on the rotational speed of the substrate. A first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, and a channel interconnecting them are formed at the channel part formed in the substrate. Furthermore, the width and/or the depth of the first chamber is set smaller than the width and/or the depth of the second chamber. Consequently, the volume of solution subjected to centrifugal force in the first chamber is larger than the volume of solution subjected to centrifugal force in the second chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nobuhiko Ozaki, Airi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7727465
    Abstract: A system and method for extracting active elemental iodine from the contact of water with stored crystal iodine and for introducing the extracted elemental iodine into a water supply line and/or otherwise making the extracted elemental iodine available for an intended use. The system operates by allowing a portion of the water entering from a water supply line to be redirected to a first housing where it makes contact with stored crystal iodine causing to extract active elemental iodine. The iodinized water leaves the first housing and enters a second housing where it makes contact additional stored crystal iodine to help stabilize the elemental iodine concentration. The system can be designed to provide the elemental iodine in more than one potency concentration through the use of a metering valve and different travel routes for the elemental iodine out of the second housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Spyros J. Papageorge
  • Publication number: 20100037967
    Abstract: A feeding device for liquid raw materials includes a storage tank and a hydraulic cylinder. The storage tank includes an outer tube, an inner tube, a receiving space, a front cap and a rear cap. The inner tube is mounted coaxially in the outer tube. The receiving space is defined between the inner and outer tubes. The front cap is mounted on the inner and outer tubes and has a feeding inlet communicating with the inner tube and a front outlet communicating with the receiving space. The rear cap is mounted on the inner and outer tubes and has a rear inlet communicating with the receiving space. The hydraulic cylinder has a piston rod and a piston connected to the piston rod and mounted movably in the inner tube. Thus, the feeding device is simplified and quiet and can be used to transport materials of different viscosities.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventor: Shun-Tsung LU
  • Patent number: 7640946
    Abstract: A vacuum treating device, comprising a treatment container having a container body (111) and a lid (112) and allowing an internal pressure to be reduced and a lid support mechanism (130), wherein an upper opening (111a) formed in the container body can be closed airtight by the lid (112). The lid support mechanism (130) opens and closes the upper opening (111a) of the container body by moving the lid (112) so as to be translatingly moved in the vertical direction and, when the lid (112) is moved upward from the container body (111), supports the lid (112) so as to be rotated around a vertical axis disposed around the lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuya Saito
  • Patent number: 7631659
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid tank (20) comprising a base section (26) that is delimited by a tank base (22), an intermediate plane (24), which is situated at a distance above the tank base (22) and a domed section (28), which is situated above the intermediate plane (24) and communicates with the base section (26). In order to assemble the fluid tank even in an environment with a complex construction for example on the chassis of a mobile concrete pump, the inventive base section (26) and the domed section (28) are configured as separate hollow parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Putzmeister Concrete Pumps GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Schneider, Guido Thiele
  • Patent number: 7631658
    Abstract: A water supply system (1) having at least one pressure pump (9), at least one pressure tank (3) and a plurality of water tanks (2) and (36). A submersible pump (37) is connected to a well (38) and a main water tank (36), which is connected to the other water tanks (2) via hoses (4), is connected to the pressure pump (9). The pressure pump (9), in turn, is connected to the pressure tank (3). Finally, the pressure tank (3) is connected to a plurality of water supply pipes (5) which supply water to varying areas of a plant. The main water tank (36) contains a plurality of float switches (28) at varying levels so as to indicate when the water supply needs to be activated, when the water tanks (2) and (36) are getting low and when the water tanks (2) and (36) are extremely low and the pressure pump (9) needs to be deactivated. When the pressure pump (9) is deactivated, the water is pumped from a submersible pump (37) to fill the water tanks (2) and (36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Inventor: Theodore H. Graeve, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7628529
    Abstract: A tank apparatus for mixing paint including a mix compartment, a circulation compartment, a partition between the mix compartment and the circulation compartment, and a transfer assembly in fluid communication with the mix compartment and the circulation compartment, whereby the transfer assembly has an opening to selectively transfer mix paint from the mix compartment to the circulation compartment of the tank apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Shoemaker, Jason Jacob, Rick Morgan, Scott Blatter, Phil Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7568660
    Abstract: Auxiliary fuel tank systems for aircraft and methods for their manufacture and use. In one embodiment, an aircraft can include a fuselage, at least one engine, and a fuel system configured to distribute fuel to at least one of the engine and an aerial refueling manifold. The aircraft can further include an auxiliary fuel tank system operably coupled to the fuel system. The auxiliary fuel tank system can include a master tank assembly and at least one slave tank assembly. The master tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage, and can include a master tank body configured to hold fuel. The master tank body can be configured to pass through a door in the fuselage without disassembly. The slave tank assembly can be removably installed in the fuselage at least proximate to the master tank assembly, and can include a slave tank body configured to hold fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Mark E. Howe
  • Publication number: 20090114290
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a CO2 supply system. A condensing container is used to transform gas state CO2 from a gas state CO2 supply source into liquid CO2. Therefore, a liquid CO2 with stable pressure and stable flow rate could be provided (for example, supplied to a nozzle module to produce a great quantity of solid state CO2 and gas state CO2). Whereby, the usage of CO2 can be reduced, so that the greenhouse effect can be alleviated and the manufacturing cost can be decreased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: METAL INDUSTRIES RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    Inventors: Sheng-Chung YANG, Kuo-Cheng LEE, Ya-Shun CHENG, Juan-Hong HONG
  • Patent number: 7484370
    Abstract: A refrigerant gas recycling apparatus for cryogenic cooling device has a first gas storage unit for temporarily storing refrigerant gas discharged from the cryogenic cooling device, a compressor for compressing refrigerant gas stored in the first storage unit, and a second gas storage unit for storing therein refrigerant gas compressed by the compressor and selectively re-supplying compressed refrigerant gas to the cryogenic cooling device using a pressure difference between compressed refrigerant gas and inside of the cooling device. Refrigerant gas discharged from the cryogenic cooling device is compressed and stored in reduced volume, and stored refrigerant gas is re-supplied to the cryogenic cooling device without a separate driving source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woon-Sik Kwon, Yeong-Chun Kim, Tae-Sun Moon, Heui-Joo Park
  • Publication number: 20080314461
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a plant for the transport of granular material comprising at least one container (100) for at least one granular material (1a) to be transported, at least one receiver-meter group (RD1, RD2, . . . , RDn) designed to receive granular material from said at least one container (100), at least one conveyance duct (L1, L2, . . . , Ln) of said granular material from said at least one container (100) to said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1, RD2, . . . , RDn), depressurization-pressurization means (11, 11a) arranged to suction/inject a gaseous medium from/into said at least one container (100), and at least one vacuum duct (LV; LV1, LV2, . . . , LVn) between said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1, RD2, . . . , RDn) and said depressurization-pressurization means (11, 11a), thereby creating a flow of said granular material and said gaseous medium in said at least one conveyance duct or line (L1, L2, . . . , Ln) directed to said at least one receiver-meter group (RD1, RD2, .
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2008
    Publication date: December 25, 2008
    Applicant: MORETTO SPA
    Inventor: Renato Moretto
  • Patent number: 7455782
    Abstract: A grit removal system for a hollow, completely enclosed emergency water reservoir tank employs a mobile suction head located within the enclosed tank, a flexible suction line coupled between the mobile suction head and the tank outlet, and a particle filtration unit located externally of the tank. The tank has an inlet from a municipal water supply system and an outlet leading to a local water distribution line. The tank is pressurized and maintained at an elevated pressure of preferably sixty to one hundred twenty psi relative to atmospheric ambient pressure. When the local water distribution line is opened, the pressure differential created due to the elevated pressure within the tank drives the mobile suction head so as to move it about the interior surface of the lower portion of the tank. The pressure differential between the interior of the tank and the local water distribution line forces water up through the suction head carrying entrained grit and sand with it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Inventor: Kenneth Benscoter
  • Patent number: RE42771
    Abstract: A method for operating a converter for the energy conversion of fuel from at least one main fuel supply, and from at least one auxiliary fuel supply for operating the converter directly and/or by operating an auxiliary unit, comprises: detecting the amount of fuel in the main fuel supply; detecting the amount of fuel in the auxiliary fuel supply, at least with respect to a predetermined minimum amount; in response to the minimum amount being reached, generating a signal that blocks at least one of a) filling of the main fuel supply, and b) startup of the converter via a control unit; and deactivating the blocking in response to the auxiliary fuel supply being replenished.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: FEV Motorentechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Gerhard Lepperhoff, Helmut Pleimling