Electric Heater Patents (Class 261/142)
  • Patent number: 12161801
    Abstract: The respiratory blowing device is provided with a first unit including a first housing and a second unit including a rotating body and a second housing. The first housing includes a first outlet, the rotating body includes a first coupling port and a first coupling path, and the second housing includes a first inlet and a second outlet. The rotating body is configured to rotate between a first position and a second position. At the first position, the first outlet is coupled to the first coupling port in a state that the first housing and the second housing are separated from each other. At the second position, the first housing is attached to the second housing by the rotation of the first housing to approach the second housing in a state that the first outlet is coupled to the first coupling port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshitaka Hane
  • Patent number: 12115292
    Abstract: A scent dispenser includes an elongated main body having an outer wall and a fan body slidably engaged with the elongated main body. The fan body has a first retracted position and a first extended position relative to the elongated main body. A fan is disposed within the fan body. A power source is disposed within the fan body and is coupled to the fan. A scent body is slidably engaged with the elongated main body. The scent body has a second retracted position and a second extended position relative to the elongated main body. A scent holder is disposed in the scent body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Inventor: Michael J. Marx
  • Patent number: 12089640
    Abstract: The invention relates to an inhaler component for forming a vapor-air mixture and/or condensation aerosol by vaporizing a liquid material and optionally condensing the vapor formed, including: a heating element for vaporizing a portion of the liquid material; a wick for automatically supplying the liquid material to the heating element, wherein the wick comprises at least two end sections arranged apart from each other; a first capillary gap for automatically supplying the liquid material to the wick, wherein a first end section of the wick projects into the first capillary gap. In order that the heating element can be supplied more quickly and more reliably with the liquid material, a second capillary gap is provided, which receives therein the second end section of the wick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: Helmut Buchberger
  • Patent number: 12055289
    Abstract: Described herein are catalytic heating systems, comprising catalytic reactors and dual-mode fuel evaporators, and methods of operating such systems. A dual-mode fuel evaporator is thermally coupled to a catalytic reactor and comprises an electric heater used for preheating the evaporator to at least a fuel-flow threshold temperature. Upon reaching this threshold, the liquid fuel, such as ethanol or methanol, is flown into the evaporator and evaporates therein, forming vaporized fuel. The vaporized fuel is mixed with oxidant, and the mixture is flown into the catalytic reactor where the vaporized fuel undergoes catalytic exothermic oxidation. At least some heat, generated in the catalytic reactor, is transferred to the evaporator and used for the evaporation of additional fuel. When the evaporator reaches or exceeds its operating threshold, the electric heater can be turned off and all heat is supplied to the evaporator from the catalytic reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Proof Energy Inc.
    Inventors: Vlad Kalika, Michael Hoover
  • Patent number: 12037683
    Abstract: A film forming method for forming a film by heating a mist in a film-forming unit, the method including steps of: atomizing a raw-material solution in an atomizer to generate a mist; conveying the mist with a carrier gas from the atomizer to the film-forming unit through a conveyor that connects the atomizer and the film-forming unit; and heating the mist to form a film on a substrate in the film-forming unit. In this method, a flow rate of the carrier gas and a temperature of the carrier gas are controlled to satisfy 7<T+Q<67, where Q represents the flow rate (L/minute) of the carrier gas, and T represents the temperature (° C.) of the carrier gas. Thus, provided is a film forming method excellent in film forming speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SHIN-ETSU CHEMICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takenori Watabe, Hiroshi Hashigami
  • Patent number: 12024351
    Abstract: A fragrance infusing dice container and a method of infusing dice with a fragrance are disclosed herein. In particular, the container includes an enclosure defining an interior area within which a fragrance diffuser is disposed. A dice holder is also disposed within the enclosure with a plurality of dice retention openings sized to receive dice therein. The dice holder, and in particular, the dice retained thereby are fluidically arranged with the fragrance diffuser such that application of a scented oil to at least a portion of the fragrance diffuser causes the scented oil to at least partially diffuse and permeate within the enclosure and impart upon the dice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Inventor: Arthur Brent Critchfield
  • Patent number: 11998701
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating a respiratory disorder in a patient includes a blower configured to generate a supply of pressurized respiratory air to the patient via an air delivery tube leading to a patient interface; a dock with a heater plate; and a reservoir comprising a conductive portion configured to thermally engage the heater plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Andrew Roderick Bath, Justin John Formica, Matthew Rolf Harrington, Joseph Samuel Ormrod, Luke Andrew Stanislas, Hargopal Verma
  • Patent number: 11930843
    Abstract: A cartridge assembly may be utilized in combination with an electronic nicotine delivery system for the safe, efficient and cost-effective means for delivering a controlled dose of nicotine to a user on demand. The cartridge assembly includes a reservoir with a material for holding liquid nicotine or a liquid nicotine solution and is constructed from a material that is chemically resistant to nicotine or nicotine solution. The cartridge assembly includes an anti-counterfeit feature to prevent use of an unauthorized cartridge in the electronic nicotine delivery system. The cartridge assembly also includes an anti-reuse feature that precludes reuse of the cartridge assembly once removed from the electronic nicotine delivery system. Essentially, the cartridge assembly is designed for a single use only.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: McNeil AB
    Inventors: Corrado Tasselli, Cheng-Hsien Lu, Chun-Hao Hsu
  • Patent number: 11771853
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating and delivering an inhalable vapor or aerosol. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to generate and deliver a vapor or aerosol containing tobacco for use in, for example, traditional smoking or, for example, to deliver a smoking cessation therapy. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used for generating and delivering a vapor or aerosol comprising a medicament. For example, in some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to deliver an inhalable medicament to the lungs of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Inventor: Michael Edward Breede
  • Patent number: 11554925
    Abstract: To provide a method for quantitatively and stably feeding fine powder and a system for carrying out the method. The present invention is characterized in that a gas transfer type fine powder quantitative feeding method for quantitatively transferring and feeding fine powder filled in a gas transfer type fine powder quantitative feeder to a fine powder using device by a carrier gas, wherein when a mixed fluid of the fine powder and the carrier gas is transferred from the gas transfer type fine powder quantitative feeder to the fine powder using device, a water content in the carrier gas is adjusted to suppress an amount of static electricity that is generated in the mixed fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Kinboshi Inc.
    Inventors: So Kimura, Akira Sato
  • Patent number: 11519370
    Abstract: A system and a method of controlling the temperature of fuel injected into combustion engines, which provides a reduced amount of fuel injected into engines propelled with either pure gasoline or ethanol or any bi-fuel mixture by precisely controlling the amount of heat supplied to the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Robert Bosch Limitada
    Inventors: Fernando Lepsch, Marcello Francisco Brunocilla, Fernando de Oliveira Junior
  • Patent number: 11510521
    Abstract: Disposable foaming device (100) for foaming a fluid (1) comprising a container compartment (20) and a foaming compartment (10), the container compartment (20) being pressurized by primary incoming air (14?) so that the fluid (1) is driven into the foaming compartment (20), wherein the foaming compartment (20) is provided with secondary incoming air (15?) to be mixed with the fluid (1) coming from the container compartment (20), the foaming compartment (10) being designed in such a way that the mixture of air and fluid (1) is moved under certain level of shear stress calculated so that it allows the mixture of air and fluid (1) to be emulsified in the foaming compartment (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2022
    Assignee: Societe des Produits Nestle S.A.
    Inventors: Youcef Ait Bouziad, Fabien Ludovic Agon, Andre Noth, Gregory Savioz
  • Patent number: 11478565
    Abstract: A device for emanating materials in the environment, preferably by heat evaporation, including: a supply for materials; an emitter of materials, for emitting the materials from the supply to surrounding environment, by application of power from a power supply according to an operation mode; an operation mode adjusting mechanism for adjusting the operation mode of the emitter, by controlling the power delivered to the emitter according to a determined transfer function. The transfer function is modular, so that it can be changed or completely replaced while keeping at least partially the adjusting mechanism in the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA
    Inventor: Robert Ruiz Hernandez
  • Patent number: 11439788
    Abstract: A system for respiratory therapy may include a nebulizer, an adaptor, and a nasal cannula. The nebulizer is operable to generate an aerosolized medicament and pass the aerosolized medicament through a nebulizer outlet port. The adaptor has a nebulizer coupling port configured to be coupled to the nebulizer outlet port. The nasal cannula is configured to provide a flow of breathing gas from a breathing gas source to the patient. The nasal cannula includes at least one nasal prong and an attachment device positioned adjacent the at least one nasal prong. The attachment device is configured to secure the adaptor outlet port adjacent an outlet of the nasal prong. A method includes securing a nasal cannula to the patient, attaching an adaptor to the nasal cannula, generating an aerosolized medicament, transferring the aerosolized medicament into the adaptor, and providing a flow of breathing gas to the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Vapotherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Felino V. Cortez, Jr., William F. Niland, George McGarrity
  • Patent number: 11420599
    Abstract: There is provided a system and method of cleaning surfaces of an interior cabin space of a contamination comprising a microbial and viral load. The method includes the steps of sealing the interior cabin space and placing water, and a solid or gel pack, into a container and generating a vortex the container by rotating an impeller. The agitation causes the solid or gel pack to release a gaseous cleaning agent. An air-borne spray exiting from the container spreads throughout the interior cabin space to coat the surfaces to be cleaned within the interior cabin space. The cabin is maintained closed for an effective time period while the coating from the air-borne spray dwells on the surfaces to eliminate or substantially reduce the load of the contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: NuVinAir, LLC
    Inventors: Kyle Bailey, Ryan Wood
  • Patent number: 11339982
    Abstract: A portable humidifier and a method of using the same. The portable humidifier has a frame; a fluid droplet generator on the frame; and a fluid containment unit for a supply of fluid. The fluid droplet generator is operable to cause fluid droplets generated from fluid from the supply in the fluid containment unit to become entrained in environmental air in a space in which the portable humidifier is located. The fluid containment unit has a wall structure that is selectively reconfigurable to occupy different surrounding volumes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Inventor: Dirk Niedermann
  • Patent number: 11229765
    Abstract: A water reservoir for an apparatus for humidifying a flow of breathable gas includes a reservoir base including a cavity structured to hold a volume of liquid and a conductive portion provided to the base. The conductive portion is adapted to thermally engage with a heater plate to allow thermal transfer of heat from the heater plate to the volume of liquid. The conductive portion includes a thin film comprising a non-metallic material, and the thin film includes a wall thickness less than about 1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: ResMed Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Christian Bayer, Bernd Christoph Lang, Mark Bertinetti, Johann Sebastian Burz, Robert Eibl, Martin Kasparbauer, Andreas Kirchberger, Johannes Nickol, Jens Rothfuss
  • Patent number: 10967090
    Abstract: An electronic scented candle is described that includes a flame piece, a shell including an installation chamber, a fragrance container that is removably positioned inside the installation chamber, a scent chamber, and a liquid suction channel positioned within the fragrance container. One end of the liquid suction channel protrudes from the fragrance container into the scent chamber and anther end of the liquid suction channel is positioned within the fragrance container to draw a fragrance material from the fragrance container to the scent chamber. A scent outlet in communication with the scent chamber allows scent from the chamber to reach an external environment of the electronic scented candle, and an air inlet in communication with the scent chamber directs air from the external environment to the scent chamber. A heating device heats the content of the scent chamber to allow rapid dissemination of the scent chamber into an external environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: L&L Candle Company, LLC
    Inventor: Xiaofeng Li
  • Patent number: 10639446
    Abstract: A gas humidifier can have a gas channel comprising an inlet and an outlet. A portion of the gas channel can have a region having a reduction in cross-sectional area relative to the portions of the gas channel outside of the region. A water conduit can extend from the region to a water reservoir. A heating element can heat water entering the region from the water conduit. Water vaporized using the heating element can join the flow of gases passing through the gas channel in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Igor Olegovich Yatsevich, Andrew John Partington, Nordyn Alami
  • Patent number: 10596293
    Abstract: A scent air purifier contains a body, a fan, a filter element, a holder, a circuit control unit, a case removable from the body. The body includes an accommodation chamber, a receiving groove, and a first vent. The accommodation chamber is defined in the body, the receiving groove is located above the accommodation chamber, and the first vent communicates with the accommodation chamber and the receiving groove. The fan is accommodated in the accommodation chamber. The filter element is connected below the accommodation chamber and communicates with air from an external environment outside the body so that the fan delivers the air to flow through the first vent and the receiving groove, after drawing the air from the external environment. The holder is connected with the body, and the circuit control unit is housed in the holder and is electrically connected with a power source and the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: DONGGUAN YIH TEH ELECTRIC PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ming Jen Hsiao
  • Patent number: 10537699
    Abstract: An electrically conductive plastic (ECP) material can be used to heat water in a reservoir of a respiratory humidifier to encourage heating and/or humidification of gases passing through the respiratory humidifier. The electrically conductive plastic material can at least in part overmould the base and/or walls of the chamber and/or the reservoir of the respiratory humidifier. The reservoir can also partially or fully be formed from the electrically conductive plastic material. Furthermore, the humidification system can be configured to create substantially equal or differential heating of water in the reservoir.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Jeremy Livingston Miller, Nordyn Alami, Andrew John Partington
  • Patent number: 10440993
    Abstract: Described herein are systems, devices, and methods for generating and delivering an inhalable vapor or aerosol. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to generate and deliver a vapor or aerosol containing tobacco for use in, for example, traditional smoking or, for example, to deliver a smoking cessation therapy. In some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used for generating and delivering a vapor or aerosol comprising a medicament. For example, in some embodiments, the systems, devices, and methods described herein are used to deliver an inhalable medicament to the lungs of a patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: InnovoSciences LLC
    Inventors: Noah Mark Minskoff, Robert Stanford Magyar
  • Patent number: 10293134
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a water receiving chamber enclosed by a main body and a bottom plate, the water receiving chamber is divided into a gastight liquid reservoir chamber and a heating chamber communicated with exterior environment by a vertically disposed partition plate. A passage for communicating the liquid reservoir chamber and the heating chamber is disposed adjacent to the bottom plate. A baffle extending toward the bottom plate from a top wall of the main body is disposed in the heating chamber, there is a gap between the baffle and each of a circumferential sidewall of the heating chamber and a level of liquid in the heating chamber. A circumferential sidewall of the baffle, the partition plate and the top wall collectively form a backflow tank. When the humidifier and a respirator including the humidifier are tilted, the water inside the humidifier does not flow out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: BMI MEDICAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bo Wang, Zhi Zhuang
  • Patent number: 10287037
    Abstract: Clean condensate production may be produced from humidity in unfiltered air for an extended period of time using a membrane microgravity air conditioner which comprises an air box, comprising an inlet air flow path from a side face through an open top, and a filtering system disposed within the air box. The filtering system comprises one or more trash screens disposed in the inlet air flow path, one or more latent heat exchangers (LHX) disposed in the inlet air flow path, one or more particulate filters disposed in the inlet air flow path intermediate the trash screen and the LHX, one or more thermal control system (TCS) medium temperature loops, and one or more sensible heat exchangers (SHX) disposed in the inlet air flow path intermediate the particulate filter and the LHX.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Oceaneering International, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary Patrick Noyes
  • Patent number: 10222113
    Abstract: A solar adiabatic cooling vest. The cooling vest utilizes adiabatic evaporation to cool hot, dry air. Hot outside humid air is drawn by an exhaust fan through an air inlet over large particles of salt to lower the air humidity before passing through a wetted wick material. Heat in the air evaporates water in the wetted wick material, thus causing the air leaving the wick material to be saturated and at a lower temperature than the incoming air. The saturated air passes through a salt filter to lower the air's relative humidity. After exiting the salt filter, the cooled, drier air passes through an air filter to further lower its humidity and remove any salt particles from the air. The cooled air is then distributed through flexible outlet cooling tubes to a person's body, room, or enclosed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: Florida A&M University
    Inventor: Charles Magee
  • Patent number: 10178880
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device comprising a storage portion (113, 501) for storing aerosol-forming substrate (115, 505). The device comprises: a vaporizer (119, 509) for heating the aerosol-forming substrate (115, 505), a capillary material (117, 507) for conveying the liquid aerosol-forming substrate (115, 505) from the storage portion (113, 501) towards the vaporizer (119, 509) by capillary action, and a porous material (201, 301, 405, 511) between the capillary material (117, 507) and the vaporizer (119, 509).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 10130784
    Abstract: A gas humidifier can have a gas channel comprising an inlet and an outlet. A portion of the gas channel can have a region having a reduction in cross-sectional area relative to the portions of the gas channel outside of the region. A water conduit can extend from the region to a water reservoir. A heating element can heat water entering the region from the water conduit. Water vaporized using the heating element can join the flow of gases passing through the gas channel in use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Igor Olegovich Yatsevich, Andrew John Partington, Nordyn Alami
  • Patent number: 10004165
    Abstract: A humidification assembly includes an enclosure, for example, arranged around a component of a datacenter. A base extends through a wall of the enclosure. Inside the enclosure, the base includes a well. Outside the enclosure, the base receives a container having a total volume that includes water and air. Water may flow from the container through a passage in the base to the well, for example, until equilibrium is reached and a predetermined water level in the well is thereby maintained. Water from the well thus provides a replenishing source of water to be evaporated for humidifying the air within the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technnologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Bailey, Felipe Enrique Ortega Gutierrez, Mary Crys Calansingin, Darin Lee Frink, Peter George Ross
  • Patent number: 9994955
    Abstract: The present invention provides a raw material vaporization and supply device including a raw material receiving tank, a vaporizer for vaporizing liquid pressure-fed from the liquid receiving tank, a flow rate control device for adjusting a flow rate of raw material gas from the vaporizer, and a heating device for heating the vaporizer, the high-temperature pressure-type flow rate control device, and desired sections of flow passages connected to these devices, wherein Al2O3 passivation treatment, Cr2O3 passivation treatment, or FeF2 passivation treatment is applied to liquid contact parts or gas contact parts of metal surfaces of at least any of the raw material receiving tank, the vaporizer, the flow rate control device, the flow passages that links these component devices, or opening-and-closing valves that are disposed in the flow passages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKIN INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Atsushi Hidaka, Masaaki Nagase, Satoru Yamashita, Kouji Nishino, Nobukazu Ikeda
  • Patent number: 9933326
    Abstract: A universal leak detection method for detecting both small and large leaks. The method includes the steps of: injecting smoke and a detectable gas into a fluid system to pressurize the fluid system, the smoke and detectable gas both being capable of passing through a large leak in the fluid system, and the visual smoke particles being inhibited from passing through a small leak in the fluid system and the detectable gas being capable of passing through a small leak in the fluid system; and detecting a leak by detecting at least one of the smoke and the detectable gas, wherein detection of smoke is indicative of the fluid system having a large leak and detection of detectable gas without smoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: REDLINE DETECTION, LLC
    Inventors: Zachary Parker, Mark C. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 9855399
    Abstract: An air humidifier for generating humidified breathing air for a patient includes a boiling pot for receiving a defined water volume. The air humidifier has a partition, the partition having at least one perforation. The partition with perforation is designed to be arranged above a water surface of the defined water volume in the boiling pot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: DRÄGERWERK AG & CO. KGAA
    Inventor: Renè Caspary
  • Patent number: 9726390
    Abstract: The electrical connections of a chamber or enclosure for a water tub can be protected through the use of spill element sensors. The spill element sensors can help to disable the delivery of power to the heater of a water tub in the event that the electrical connections become wet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventor: Jeremy Livingston Miller
  • Patent number: 9707370
    Abstract: A humidifier includes a humidifier tub including an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet may have an exit port positioned in a plane disposed below the air inlet. A base plate is provided to the bottom of the humidifier tub. The base plate and humidifier tub define a water chamber adapted to receive a volume of water. The humidifier tub may include a guidance structure adapted to direct air entering the humidifier tub via the air inlet to swirl downwardly and around within the humidifier tub reaching the water surface before exiting the exit port. The tub may include a structure to prevent the inadvertent entry of water from the tub to the flow generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: ResMed Limited
    Inventors: Ian Malcolm Smith, William Bonilla, Richard Llewelyn Jones
  • Patent number: 9644285
    Abstract: Methods of depositing compound semiconductor materials on one or more substrates include metering and controlling a flow rate of a precursor liquid from a precursor liquid source into a vaporizer. The precursor liquid may comprise at least one of GaCl3, InCl3, and AlCl3 in a liquid state. The precursor liquid may be vaporized within the vaporizer to form a first precursor vapor. The first precursor vapor and a second precursor vapor may be caused to flow into a reaction chamber, and a compound semiconductor material may be deposited on a surface of a substrate within the reaction chamber from the precursor vapors. Deposition systems for performing such methods include devices for metering and/or controlling a flow of a precursor liquid from a liquid source to a vaporizer, while the precursor liquid remains in the liquid state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SOITEC
    Inventor: Ronald Thomas Bertram, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9370593
    Abstract: Solid fragrance carriers are received in a cavity in between a replaceable shell and a permeable screen of a base that is further housing a heating element, a vertical portion of a ventilation channel and a fan. The solid fragrance carriers are evenly directly aerated by a forced air stream that is evenly heated by passing through the screen positioned around and irradiated by the central heating element. A large storage capacity of the cavity provides for long operation time between refills. Design freedom of the replaceable shell provides for associative shell shapes adaptable to varying themes, characters or consumer goods. The screen and shell may be light permeable for a decorative illumination of the solid fragrance carriers, which may be also color coded for visual scent mixture identification. Conventional liquid fragrance carriers may also be contained in a chalice at the top of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Inventor: Lowell W. Newman
  • Patent number: 9212673
    Abstract: A device for maintaining a water level in a respiratory humidification system, said device comprising: at least one sensor positioned external to a humidification component, the at least one sensor configured for sensing water related information in the humidification component and providing the water related information to a water control module, the water related information comprising data configured for being used to control an operation of the water control module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: CareFusion 207, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil Korneff, Christopher M Varga
  • Patent number: 9174017
    Abstract: A humidifier heater base assembly has a heater plate with a thermally conductive portion and a perimeter portion around a perimeter of the heater plate. A resilient member has an inner part attached to the perimeter portion and an outer part adapted to provide a resilient perimeter flange around at least part and preferably the whole of the perimeter portion. The resilient member fixes the heater base to the humidifier by the resilient perimeter flange such that the heater plate and the inner part can move relative to the humidifier in a direction substantially transverse to the general plane of the heater plate. At least a portion of the resilient perimeter flange remains stationary relative to the humidifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: FISHER & PAYKEL HEALTHCARE LIMITED
    Inventors: Venkata Subbarao Potharaju, Yi-Cheng Sun, Dominique D'Andrea, Andrew Paul Maxwell Salmon
  • Patent number: 9095668
    Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus used to alter the temperature and humidity of gases. The apparatus of the present invention comprises an insufflator, humidifier and transportation means connected to delivery means to deliver humidified and heated gases to a body cavity prior to and during a medical procedure. In one form of the present invention the insufflator and humidifier are contained in the one housing, while in another form the humidifier is located proximal and external to the insufflator. The transportation means that delivers the humidified gases to the body cavity comprises a flexible tubing having located within, throughout or around it heating means. The heating means may be a heat conductive wire, a ribbon of PTC material, or a conducting wire extruded into the walls of tubing, where the tubing may be made from a PTC material or flexible plastics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Limited
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Blackhurst, Nina Caroline Batty, Daniel John Smith, Hussein Kadhum
  • Patent number: 9022365
    Abstract: A scent diffuser method and apparatus that uses a sealed dry technology scent either alone in as part of a cartridge that is inserted into a housing and wherein the sealed scent cartridge is actuated to expose it to the immediate environment thereby allowing the scent to be diffused throughout the immediate proximity. The scent is activate through the use of a fan or the application of heat through a power source. As a stand alone unit, a device using the cartridge is activatable through the depression of a knob that is powered by a spring to keep it open and closed as desired. Once open, the knob can be rotated to control the speed of scent diffusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Maesa, Inc.
    Inventor: Sean Brosmith
  • Publication number: 20150115483
    Abstract: The electrical connections of a chamber or enclosure for a water tub can be protected through the use of spill element sensors. The spill element sensors can help to disable the delivery of power to the heater of a water tub in the event that the electrical connections become wet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Jeremy Livingston Miller
  • Publication number: 20150108670
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for delivering humidified gas to a user or patient during respiratory gas ventilation support, such as, but not limited to, mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, and bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing; the method comprising the steps of heating a humidified gas from a humidified gas reservoir; transferring the heated humidified gas to a patient; receiving expired gas from a patient; heating the expired gas; and transferring the heated expired gas to a gas outlet; wherein the humidified gas and the expired gas are heated to different temperatures. Also disclosed is a humidified gas delivery system, which finds utility as a breathing circuit of a respiratory gas humidification system by delivering humidified gases to a user or patient during mechanical ventilation, continuous positive airway pressure breathing, bi-directional positive airway pressure breathing, or other mode of respiratory support provided to users or patients.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: ARMSTRONG MEDICAL LIMITED
    Inventor: Ciarán Dominic Magee
  • Patent number: 9004462
    Abstract: Vaporizable material is supported within a vessel to promote contact of an introduced gas with the vaporizable material, and produce a product gas including vaporized material. A heating element supplies heat to a wall of the vessel to heat vaporizable material disposed therein. The vessel may comprise an ampoule having a removable top. Multiple containers defining multiple material support surfaces may be stacked disposed within a vessel in thermal communication with the vessel. A tube may be disposed within the vessel and coupled to a gas inlet. Filters, flow meters, and level sensors may be further provided. Product gas resulting from contact of introduced gas with vaporized material may be delivered to atomic layer deposition (ALD) or similar process equipment. At least a portion of source material including a solid may be dissolved in a solvent, followed by removal of solvent to yield source material (e.g., a metal complex) disposed within the vaporizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Entegris, Inc.
    Inventors: John N. Gregg, Scott L. Battle, Jeffrey I. Banton, Donn K. Naito, Ravi K. Laxman
  • Patent number: 9004461
    Abstract: A humidifier having a field-replaceable water heating enclosure and a humidifier main unit configured to receive the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is provided. The field-replaceable water heating enclosure may include a water inlet, a water outlet, a water vapor outlet, and a resistive heating element. The humidifier main unit may be configured to provide water to the field-replaceable water heating enclosure via the water inlet when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit. To facilitate this, the humidifier main unit may include a manifold structured to interface with the water inlet, the water outlet, and the water vapor outlet. The humidifier main unit also may be configured to provide electrical power to the resistive heating element of the field-replaceable water heating enclosure when the field-replaceable water heating enclosure is received by the humidifier main unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Schwendinger, David J. Emmons, Andrew Morris, XinHua Cao, Eric Barton, Steven Wolff
  • Patent number: 8998178
    Abstract: An improved scent pad and mechanism for housing the same. The mechanism is preferably a part of a humidifier or similar device and positioned adjacent to a heated surface. The mechanism preferably includes a cover, a keyed portion and a rib portion which allows the scent pad to fit properly and prevents other shaped pads from being inserted into or otherwise used in the housing mechanism, insuring optimal performance. In one embodiment the scent pad includes an upper straight edge, side edges, two lower beveled edges and a lower straight edge situated between the beveled edges. The upper straight edge and lower straight edge are preferably substantially parallel to each other. The side edges are preferably substantially parallel to each other and the beveled edges are preferably arranged at an angle that intersects both the lower straight edge and a side edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Helen of Troy Limited
    Inventors: Janet Talbot, Lara Peterson
  • Patent number: 8985561
    Abstract: A beverage carbonation system, container, carbonator and method for carbonating a beverage are provided. The beverage carbonation system has a container that is removably engageable with a carbonator. The container has a container outlet valve and a container inlet valve that are fluidly engageable with a carbonator outlet port and carbonator inlet port, respectively. At least one pump transfers liquid and carbon dioxide gas between a container chamber and a carbonation chamber when the container is engaged with the carbonator, thereby carbonating the liquid. When the container is disengaged from the carbonator, the container outlet valve and the container inlet valve are closed to fluidly seal the container containing the carbonated liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bonne O Inc.
    Inventor: Darren Hatherell
  • Publication number: 20150030317
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a tub for a humidifier comprising a container made of a first material, a heating element, and a lining made of a second, preferably biocompatible, material different from the first material, wherein the container comprises a base and a side wall defining a reservoir for a supply of liquid to be evaporated, the heating element is provided on the base of the container, and the lining covers the heating element and a substantial portion of the inner surface of the side wall of the container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 29, 2015
    Inventors: Christian Bayer, Robert Eibl, Johann Sebastian Burz, Achim Biener, Bernd Christoph Lang, Jens Rothfuss, Johannes Nickol, Andreas Kirchberger
  • Publication number: 20150001745
    Abstract: The spherical desalination device includes a hollow spherical transparent shell serving as a distillation chamber or still. Water initially flows through an underground system for geothermal heating, then flows into the hollow shell. The water flows from the upper portion of the shell, filling a series of concentric circular trays arranged in a conical stack within the shell. Water cascades from the smallest diameter uppermost tray to the largest lowermost tray, in sequence. Sunlight focused on the transparent shell causes the water to evaporate, and condensation collects upon the interior surface of the shell. A resilient seal extends about the lower rim of the largest and lowest evaporator tray, and is located at the equator of the hollow shell. The shell is rotated by an external motor, thereby drawing the internal surface of the shell across the seal to remove collected condensation from the internal surface of the shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: AHMED Z. AL-GARNI, MOHAMMED AVES
  • Publication number: 20140346689
    Abstract: There is provided an aerosol generating device including a storage portion configured to store an aerosol-forming substrate. The device includes a vaporizer configured to heat the aerosol-forming substrate, a capillary material configured to convey the liquid aerosol-forming substrate from the storage portion towards the vaporizer by capillary action, and a porous material between the capillary material and the vaporizer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Applicant: Philip Morris Products S.A.
    Inventor: Flavien Dubief
  • Patent number: 8894049
    Abstract: A fan heater with a humidifier includes a housing in which both a warm air generation mechanism for generating warm air and a humidification mechanism for generating a mist are provided. The fan heater with the humidifier is characterized by its integrated structure for effectively providing warm air and appropriate moisture at the same time, so as to prevent the air around the fan heater from being too dry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Perfect Union Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan Ching
  • Publication number: 20140332990
    Abstract: A scent diffuser method and apparatus that uses a sealed dry technology scent either alone in as part of a cartridge that is inserted into a housing and wherein the sealed scent cartridge is actuated to expose it to the immediate environment thereby allowing the scent to be diffused throughout the immediate proximity. The scent is activate through the use of a fan or the application of heat through a power source. As a stand alone unit, a device using the cartridge is activatable through the depression of a knob that is powered by a spring to keep it open and closed as desired. Once open, the knob can be rotated to control the speed of scent diffusion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: Maesa, Inc.
    Inventor: Maesa, Inc.