Steam Patents (Class 261/DIG76)
  • Patent number: 4880447
    Abstract: The present disclosure sets forth a method and apparatus for adjusting the rate at which water is introduced as a cooling and decelerating fluid in mist form into a discharge vent for high velocity superheated steam. An optimum measure of water is determined so that the steam is decelerated to a velocity not lower than about 35% of sonic velocity. Moreover, air is educted into the steam flow to further enhance the cooling and deceleration of the steam which is then vented. By the introduction of air and water mist, the steam is cooled and decelerated, thereby avoiding formation of a sonic wave creating unwanted backpressure and avoiding creation of noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Naylor Industrial Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Bloch
  • Patent number: 4863677
    Abstract: A nuclear power plant includes a containment for containing activity carriers. An outlet in the form of an excess pressure safety device leads out of the containment. A filter connects the outlet to the atmosphere. The filter includes a container, a washing fluid disposed in the container, a Venturi scrubber being integrated in the container and connected to the outlet, the container having an upper region with a gas outlet, and a stack connected to the gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Bernd Eckardt
  • Patent number: 4853014
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for steam cleaning of conduit or exhausting of high velocity steam with minimum noise levels in which high velocity steam is expanded with the simultaneous introduction of a decelerating fluid such as water in the form of a fine dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Naylor Industrial Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher J. Bloch
  • Patent number: 4852474
    Abstract: An espresso machine wherein a steam supplying first conduit is separably coupled to a second conduit having an air admitting inlet and an air discharging outlet. When the first conduit admits steam into the second conduit between the inlet and the outlet, such steam draws atmospheric air by way of the inlet and the resulting steam-air mixture is discharged by way of the outlet to frothe milk in a vessel into which the outlet of the second conduit extends. The rate of admission of air into the inlet of the second conduit is regulated by a valving element which is mounted on the second conduit and can be rotated by a handle so as to move a hole of the valving element relative to the inlet and to thus alter the cross-sectional area of the path for the flow of air into the second conduit. If the inlet of the second conduit is completely sealed from the atmosphere, the outlet discharges only steam which can be used to heat cups prior to pouring of espresso coffee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 1, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gotthard C. Mahlich, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4834130
    Abstract: A steam and water mixing valve having a permanently open fluid connection between a water inlet chamber and a mixing chamber and valve means for controlling the flow of steam from a steam inlet chamber to the mixing chamber wherein the valve means is responsive to pressure differentials between the water inlet chamber and a control chamber each connected to a water inlet whereby the valve means is closed in the absence of water flow or at low pressure differentials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Caradon Mira Limited
    Inventor: Royston J. North
  • Patent number: 4811786
    Abstract: An apparatus and process of mixing a gaseous phase and a liquid phase within a tubing string in a well bore is described. The apparatus and process form a homogeneous gaseous phase liquid phase mixture without requiring a blocking restriction within the tubing string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Chevron Research Company
    Inventors: G. N. Kamilos, D. D. Kennedy, L. J. Lederhos, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4807701
    Abstract: A system and the equipment for economically enhancing recovery of hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean reservoir in which a plurality of production and injection wells are formed. High grade steam from a common source is mixed with relatively cold water at each injection well to be treated. To avoid, or substantially reduce condensation shock in the water/steam mixer, the high velocity cold water is initially heated in a steam compartment with minimal contact between the two fluids. Thereafter, the steam and the water are introduced to a heat exchange chamber in which the temperature of the water is raised prior to the two streams being merged for injection into a well as either heated water or as low quality steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1989
    Assignee: Texaco Inc.
    Inventors: Dornese Hall, Hung Q. Bui
  • Patent number: 4800805
    Abstract: An espresso machine with an attachment for the making of cappuccino wherein the attachment has a pipe with an open air admitting inlet at its upper end and an open air discharging outlet at its lower end. The steam conduit of the espresso machine has an orifice for steam at its lower end, and the outlet of the pipe is positioned in such a way that steam issuing from the orifice draws air into the pipe and out by way of the outlet to mix with steam and to froth a quantity of milk when the resulting mixture is admitted into a body of milk in a cup or another vessel. The pipe can be a separately produced part which is separably and adjustably or integrally connected to the conduit. It is also possible to provide the conduit with an integral portion which serves as an air supplying pipe and to provide a coupling to separably connect the upper end of the conduit to the source of steam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG.
    Inventors: Gotthard C. Mahlich, Michael Borgmann
  • Patent number: 4743430
    Abstract: A portable foam generator is provided for admixing air under pressure with a foamable liquid under pressure in order to foam the liquid and the foamed liquid is supplied to a spray nozzle for spray applying the foamed liquid to differently oriented surfaces which are to be cleaned and/or disinfected. The foam generator incorporates a feature which enables the "wetness" of the foam discharged from the nozzle to be varied and to thereby enable the foamed liquid applied to downwardly facing surfaces, inclined surfaces and vertical surfaces to experience extended liquid to surface to contact time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Bio-Tek Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruce A. Spielholz
  • Patent number: 4732712
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the temperature of a supply of water by selective injection of steam is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a water supply conduit which includes a water inlet end and a water outlet end. Steam is supplied to the apparatus by a steam supply conduit which supplies steam to the water supply conduit at a predetermined location between the water inlet end and the water outlet end of the water supply conduit. The steam entering the water supply conduit is controlled by a steam supply control valve located on the steam supply conduit. A pressure differential sensing means senses the difference in pressure along the water supply conduit between a first point in said water supply conduit, upstream of said predetermined location and a second point in the water supply conduit downstream of the predetermined location. A means for controlling the control valve means in response to this sensed pressure differential is also required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1988
    Assignee: Leslie Controls, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory Burnham, Jack Kahrs, Anthony T. Posluszny
  • Patent number: 4717532
    Abstract: An improved pressure control system for a pressurized water nuclear reactor plant contains a novel, two stage sparger in the pressurizer relief tank. The two stage sparger has a primary conduit and secondary conduit, both of which have orifices through the walls thereof, and an interconnecting valve that is responsive to a pressure differential between the two conduits. The secondary conduit is preferably of a diameter less, but with a larger area of flow therefrom, than the primary conduit and is bifurcated, with two leg sections extending back towards the primary conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 5, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: John A. Schwab
  • Patent number: 4662993
    Abstract: A bleach system for blending gaseous chlorine with a paper pulp slurry flow stream by mixing the chlorine with a larger quantity of steam prior to blending the chlorine/steam gas mixture with bleach washer filtrate which serves as carrier water for a multiplied number of gas bubbles entrained in the filtrate. As the cooler filtrate water extracts heat from the mixed gas bubble, the steam constituent condenses to collapse each bubble to a fraction of the original volume thereby providing a larger number of smaller chlorine bubbles than otherwise available from conventional phase mixing injectors.The mixed phase flow stream of chlorine and filtrate is thereafter blended with the pulp slurry flow stream by shear induced turbulence resulting from a greater injection velocity of the mixed phase stream into the center of the slower moving slurry stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 5, 1987
    Assignee: Westvaco Corporation
    Inventor: Ernst H. Schaefer
  • Patent number: 4659521
    Abstract: A method for condensing a gas in a liquid medium to prevent the formation of gas hammer, comprising impinging a gas against a plate at such a velocity so as to cause the gas to fan out in a thin sheet before condensing in the liquid medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1987
    Assignee: Phillips Petroleum Company
    Inventor: Carl E. Alleman
  • Patent number: 4565353
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for the suppression of fume from a body of molten metal is described. The method involves the blanketing of the molten metal bath with a mixture of pressurized inert gas and finely divided or atomized particles of water. The inert gas may be argon, nitrogen or steam. Apparatus particularly adapted for performing the disclosed method is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1984
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1986
    Assignee: United States Steel Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Ball, Alton E. Sumsion, Zane S. Taylor
  • Patent number: 4533507
    Abstract: Apparatus for forming an air laid, e.g., dry laid, fibrous web comprising apparatus for an defiberizing wood pulp laps, rolls or bales, preferably in a hammermill; transporting the fibers pneumatically to a forming head, and dispensing said fibers onto a foraminous support means, the aforesaid operations being carried out at conditions of high humidity such that the average fiber moisture content is at least above 2.5% by weight just prior to reaching a forming header. In the preferred embodiment air at between about 150 to about 200 F. and having a relative humidity of between about 75 to 95% is introduced to the defiberizer to provide the requisite air moisture content. If desired overly large fibers from the forming head may be recycled to the defiberizer. By practicing the invention, electrostatic charges on the fibers are reduced thereby minimizing clumping and ensuring better formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1985
    Assignee: James River-Dixie/Northern, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Tao
  • Patent number: 4508551
    Abstract: Located at the bottom edge of the outflow orifice (6) of a steam distributor is a nozzle (10) which extends in the manner of a slit over practically the entire length of the outflow orifice (6). The edges (14, 15) limiting the nozzle orifice (13) laterally are acute-angled and sharp; the inner walls (18, 19) adjoining these edges are designed so that water droplets which possibly form are conveyed away downwards.Because of the sharp edge design, water droplets cannot form in the outflow region (13) of the nozzle. The outflowing steam which subsequently mixes with an air stream (5) is therefore free of water drops. The formation of water droplets on the inner walls (18, 19) adjoining the said edges is harmless, since these droplets are conveyed away downwards as a result of the inclination of the said walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1985
    Assignee: Condair AG
    Inventors: Erwin Ruoss, Kurt Sieber
  • Patent number: 4384873
    Abstract: To reduce substantially the amount of tubing for condensate being returned from the steam distribution manifold and to enable such condensate to revaporize as steam, thereby increasing the thermal efficiency of the humidifier, a condensate baffle in the bottom of the steam distribution manifold projects with the manifold into the steam separator through a common coupling between the separator and manifold and downstream from the steam admission needle valve of the separator. Structural compactness with economy is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1982
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1983
    Assignee: Herrmidifier Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Dean S. Herr
  • Patent number: 4345916
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for removing airborne particulates from an aerosol stream by first humidifying said aerosol with steam, and then cooling said aerosol with water to saturation temperature. Thereafter, the saturated aerosol is adiabatically cooled to a supersaturated state and maintained at supersaturation for a time sufficient to permit the growth and removal thereof of said particulates. Further disclosed is an apparatus adapted for practicing the method of the present invention and employing charged droplet scrubbing techniques to remove said particulates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1980
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Inventors: Clyde N. Richards, Marx Brook
  • Patent number: 4321219
    Abstract: Steam cleaning equipment comprising a water reservoir incorporating steam and water inlet ports and steam and water outlet ports arranged to supply steam at a controlled pressure and water in predetermined quantities to a hand piece where they are mixed in a venturi nozzle.A steam pressure reducing valve in the reservoir is immersed in the water and operated by steam pressure on a piston which has no sealing rings but which condenses steam leaking past the piston and passes the condensate into the reservoir.Detergent metering means and anti-siphon provisions are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1982
    Inventor: Richard M. Barker
  • Patent number: 4193776
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a method for the purification of the process condensate from synthesis gases or hydrogen plant.The process condensate is purified from contaminations dissolved in it by stripping it with process steam before it is used in the chemical process of the raw material conversion into hydrogen or synthesis gas at the pressure that is equal or higher than the pressure of this conversion process. The total steam containing volatile products of the process condensate degassing is recycled to the gas generation process and the process condensate is eventual transported to the water treatment station before using it as boiler feed water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: Instytut Nawozow Sztucznych
    Inventors: Tadeusz Wasala, Marek Dmoch, Henryk Jozwiak
  • Patent number: 4160002
    Abstract: A steam injector, more particularly for use in the food and chemical industries for heating flowable product such as milk, comprises a stack of discs in an injection chamber. Central holes in the discs together define a central passage for the flowable product, and parallel chordal channels in each disc permit steam injection into the central passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 3, 1979
    Inventor: Viacheslav J. Janovtchik
  • Patent number: 4141701
    Abstract: A process and apparatus is disclosed for the removal of pollutant material including solid or liquid particulate matter and gaseous pollutants from gas streams in which the gas is driven through a mixing tube by forming a jet of a compressible fluid such as steam or air or the whole or a part of the polluted gas itself. In some instances the jet acts as an ejector to induce flow of the polluted gas into the mixing tube but when all of the polluted gas is formed into a jet it is directed into the mixing tube without any ejector action. A mechanically atomized liquid is introduced into the outer region of the jet of compressible fluid emerging from the nozzle in which the jet is formed. The mechanically atomized liquid is further atomized by the shearing action of the jet to form high velocity droplets which are intimately and turbulently mixed with the pollutant-containing gas and retained in the mixing tube for a sufficient time so that the pollutants become entrained with the water droplets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1979
    Assignee: Lone Star Steel Company
    Inventors: Thomas K. Ewan, Malley R. Bass, Jennings D. Means, James L. Frier, Orvis L. Holland
  • Patent number: 4130456
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for the continuous or semi-continuous removal of unreacted monomers from polymer suspension slurrys or latices to produce polymers with the least possible distribution of heat history.A polymer suspension liquor or latex is supplied to a vessel having open topped compartments positioned on a vertical shaft for rotation. A feed inlet for the polymer suspension liquor is mounted on the shaft to permit introduction of the polymer into each of the open topped compartments. A steam and/or inert gas is introduced at the bottom portion of each compartment to strip a monomer from the polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1977
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: Sumitomo Chemical Company, Limited
    Inventors: Iko Itoh, Tsukasa Takahashi, Shinkichi Takamuku, Azuma Aramaki, Manabu Serada
  • Patent number: 4054424
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for quenching of the partial combustion product gas of a slagging coal gasifier containing suspended molten slag particles wherein the hot product gas of the gasifier is passed through a tubular quench zone into which a shielding gas is introduced circumferentially to form an annular layer or protective gas shield between the product gas and the walls of the quench zone and a cooling gas is injected radially to effect direct cooling of the product gas to a temperature at which the molten slag particles solidify and lose their stickiness, said protective gas shield being maintained for a sufficient distance along the axis of the quench zone to prevent contact between the quench zone walls and the hot product gas during said cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1975
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1977
    Assignee: Shell Internationale Research Maatschappij B.V.
    Inventors: Gernot Staudinger, Maarten J. VAN DER Burgt
  • Patent number: 3986832
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a continuous process apparatus in which commodities packed in containers receive thermal sterilizing treatment, wherein the containers are introduced by means of an endless conveyor and through a pressure resistant opening, into a treatment space and are traversed through a loop-shaped path in this space and thereupon are discharged therefrom through a pressure resistant outlet, including injecting saturated steam at the desired treatment temperature through a number of nozzles into the treatment space directed towards the passing containers for the transfer of heat, concurrently introducing air for maintaining the level of the desired overpressure in order to avoid a deformation of the containers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1976
    Assignee: Stork Amsterdam B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Jacobus Smorenburg