Gas Or Vapor Pressure Is Superatmospheric Patents (Class 34/413)
  • Patent number: 8056258
    Abstract: A cord drying apparatus dries cords for forming cord-inserted bands, such as belts and components of tires, such as carcasses. A plurality of cords C unwound from a plurality of reels 1a held in a wheeled creel 1 are passed through guide holes formed in a guide plate 21 and are extended to an insulation head 6. Vertically movable rollers 4 are moved down from their home positions above the cords C to cause the cords C to extend along curved heating surfaces of heating boards 5. The cords C are moved along the heating surfaces of the heating boards 5 to dry the cords C. The cords C can be easily extended along and pressed against the heating surfaces of the heating boards 5. Thus cords C can be changed in a short time and the efficiency of operations for drying cords C by a drying process can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Suda, Kiyotaka Yoshi
  • Patent number: 8020315
    Abstract: A substrate processing method which can reduce the number of particles to be left on each substrate is provided. In the substrate processing method, substrates W to be processed are dried, by using a fluid heated by a heating apparatus having one or more heating mechanisms. The substrate processing method comprises a first step of supplying a mixed fluid containing a gas and a processing liquid and heated by the heating apparatus, into a processing chamber in which the substrates to be processed are placed, and a second step of supplying the heated gas into the processing chamber. The output of at least one of the heating mechanisms is kept at a preset constant value for a period of time during which a predetermined time passes after the start of the first step. In the second step, the output of the heating mechanism is determined under a feed back control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hideki Nishimura, Mikio Nakashima
  • Patent number: 8021445
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are apparatuses for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are systems for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are upgraded carbonaceous materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: Skye Energy Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: David B. Shaffer
  • Patent number: 8015726
    Abstract: An automatic clothes dryer comprises a cabinet defining an interior space in which is rotatably mounted a drum that defines a drying chamber, a heater assembly having a heating element for heating air, and a motor for rotating the drum. A blower is mounted within the interior space and is fluidly coupled to the drying chamber for moving heated air through the drying chamber. A first temperature sensor is mounted upstream of the heating element. A second temperature sensor is mounted downstream of the blower. Outputs from the temperature sensors are utilized with one or more methods to determine the air flow characteristics through the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: James P. Carow, Mark E. Glotzbach
  • Patent number: 8011114
    Abstract: A vehicle dryer includes an energy-conserving rotatable inlet butterfly valve to selectively admit or block air to a fan encased in a blower housing. The valve includes a plate mounted on a shaft that extends across the inlet portion of the blower housing. The plate is rotated by its shaft to either an opened position for admitting air into a blower housing, or a closed position for blocking air from entering into the blower housing. A crank arm is coupled to the valve shaft, and a pneumatic cylinder includes a piston rod for turning the crank arm through a ninety-degree angle, thereby rotating the valve plate between its opened and closed positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Superior Investments, Inc.
    Inventor: Archie L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8006407
    Abstract: A drying system (100) for use in drying out a water-damaged structure includes a blower (105) for providing outside air to the water damaged structure. An indirectly fired furnace (101) is used for heating the outside air prior to its introduction into the water-damaged structure. An exhaust blower (114) removes humid air from the water-damaged building, and one or more remote temperature and humidity sensors (117) are used for controlling the furnace air temperature and supply blower volume. An air intake filter box (111) is used for adding make-up air to recirculated building air and promoting cooling within accompanying trailer. A differential air pressure transmitter (118) controls the volume of moist air removed from the water damaged building to an optimal rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Anderson
  • Patent number: 8006406
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying and reducing the particle size of malleable material. Preferred embodiments of the invention include a drying apparatus for use with a malleable material, comprising a blower, an airlock feeder, a main line which contains an accelerator, a conditioning chamber, and a dehydration chamber, a polishing line which contains an accelerator, a conditioning chamber, and a dehydration chamber, and a squid line blower for providing pressurized heated air to the apparatus. An alternative preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a method of drying and size reducing malleable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Inventor: H. Clay Dingee, IV
  • Patent number: 7997006
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a laundry machine and a control method thereof. The control method includes supplying steam, generated by a steam generator, into a drum, and supplying hot air into the drum to dry clothes wetted by the steam. According to the present invention, it is possible to effectively removing wrinkles on clothes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Woo Son, Sang Hun Bae, Chul Jin Choi, Dong Hyun Kim, Young Bok Son, Heung Jae Kim
  • Patent number: 7997003
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for drying plate-shaped products in a multi-level throughflow dryer, moist air stagnated under the housing ceiling is sucked away and delivered into the suction area of axial blowers arranged in the lower levels, where the moist air is then differentially admixed into a quantity of re-heated drying air, and the mixture is delivered to the nozzle boxes of the dryer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Lindauer DORNIER Gesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Alfred Dotzler, Anton Hecht
  • Patent number: 7966745
    Abstract: Fluid bed granulation process comprising the step of cooling the granules in a cooling fluid bed (F2). At least part of the fluidizing air coming out from said cooling fluid bed (F2) is fed into the granulation fluid bed (F1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Urea Casale S.A.
    Inventor: Gianfranco Bedetti
  • Patent number: 7966746
    Abstract: A device and related method are provided for lyophilizing a substance within the device and storing therein the lyophilized substance. The device is penetrable by a needle for filling the device with the substance to be lyophilized, and a resulting needle hole in the device is laser resealable by transmitting thereon laser radiation from a laser source. The device defines a chamber for receiving therein the substance to be lyophilized. A needle penetrable and laser resealable portion of the device is pierceable with a needle to form a needle aperture therethrough to fill the chamber with the substance to be lyophilized through the needle, and is laser resealable to hermetically seal the needle aperture by applying laser radiation thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Medical Instill Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Py
  • Patent number: 7964105
    Abstract: A method for increasing the removal of a higher fraction of liquid from the press cake in any belt press is described. Specifically, the invention incorporates a series of rollers that create multiple pinch points to compress the solid fraction while removing liquid. After each pinch point, the solid material is allowed to separate from the belt, fall by gravity, and repack so that more liquid can be released at each successive pinch point than is possible if the material is fed to multiple rollers and pinch points in series without decompressing as is done is prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Inventor: William Harris Moss
  • Patent number: 7954254
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for drying a product using a regenerative adsorbent, more in particular to such a method which can be carried out in an energy-saving manner. According to the invention, the product is dried by bringing it into contact with an adsorbent, water being taken up form the product by the adsorbent. Subsequently, the adsorbent is regenerated with superheated steam, steam being obtained, which steam comprises at least a part of the mentioned water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie Voor Toegepast-Natuurwetenschappelijk Onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Paulus Josephus Theodorus Bussmann, Rudy Matthias Henricus Heijmans
  • Patent number: 7941937
    Abstract: A laundry drier control method reads a temperature variation rate per unit time, to enable drying according to the amount and type of an object being dried. The method includes steps of initiating a drying procedure; measuring a temperature variation rate per unit time over the drying procedure; calculating an overall drying time based on the measured temperature variation rate per unit time; and performing the drying procedure for the calculated overall drying time. The drying time determining step is repeated if a substantial increase in the temperature variation rate is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Gi Hyeong Do
  • Patent number: 7921577
    Abstract: A sprinkler system and a method for mitigating scaling, microbiological influenced corrosion and oxidative corrosion are disclosed. The system includes a piping network in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water and an air pump. The network is vented to the ambient. The air pump moves initially dry ambient air through the system, either by maintaining a negative or a positive air pressure within the network. The dry air absorbs residual water within the network and exhausts it to the ambient. Rate of air flow through the system is controlled by restrictor elements such as orifices, throttle valves or venturies within the piping network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: William J. Reilly, Kevin J. Blease
  • Patent number: 7900373
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for conditioning semiconductor wafers and/or hybrids having the steps: preparation of a space (1) which is at least partially enclosed and has a wafer/hybrid holding device (10) which is located therein and has the purpose of holding a semiconductor wafer and/or hybrid; and conduction of a dry fluid through the wafer/hybrid holding device (10) in order to heat-treat the wafer/hybrid holding device (10); wherein at least a portion of the fluid leaving the wafer/hybrid holding device (10) is used to condition the atmosphere within the space (1). The invention also provides a corresponding device for conditioning semiconductor wafers and/or hybrids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: ERS Electronic GmbH
    Inventor: Erich Reitinger
  • Publication number: 20110010960
    Abstract: A system and process is provided to deplete or remove moisture from wood coring in boats by piercing 20 a fiberglass outer skin; forming 30 bores or holes 200 in wood coring to form an exposed portion; processing ambient air 35 to create processed air; pumping or displacing 40 processed air into the bores or holes 200; penetrating 50 an exposed portion 80; with a sealant 100; and filling 60 the exposed portion 80 with a sealant 100.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventors: David Lundberg, Jon Bartnick
  • Patent number: 7694432
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a method and apparatus for dehumidifying, drying or the like of different materials. The invention is developed primarily for dehumidification of sewage sludge (7), but it may be utilized for many different materials including foodstuffs as crispbread and pasta. The sludge (7) or other material is dehumidified or dried in a chamber (1) by means of thermal radiation. The thermal radiation is given by means of one or more elements (2) for thermal radiation. The thermal radiation is concentrated to one or more distinct wavelength ranges at which water has peaks for absorption of radiation energy. Air is circulated in the chamber (1), to take up moisture evaporated from the material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventors: Niclas Eriksson, Lars Svenningsson
  • Patent number: 7669349
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods and apparatus for the separation of volatile components from a feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: TD*X Associates LP
    Inventors: Carl R. Palmer, Michael J. McElwee, Gregg S. Meyers
  • Patent number: 7644512
    Abstract: A method of drying a surface of a substrate is provided. The method includes supporting and rotating a substrate; applying a liquid to the substrate surface at or near a rotational center point via a liquid dispenser (so that a film of the liquid is formed on the surface); applying a drying fluid to the substrate surface at a predetermined distance from the rotational center point via one or more drying fluid dispensers; and manipulating the drying fluid dispenser(s) so that the location at which the drying fluid is applied to the substrate is moved in a direction toward the rotational center point, while at the same time manipulating the liquid dispenser so that the location at which the liquid is applied to the substrate is moved in a direction outward from the rotational center point. The liquid dispenser and drying fluid dispenser(s) noted above can be located on and/or within an assembly. The assembly can include a first dispenser, a second dispenser, and a third dispenser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Inventors: Zhi (Lewis) Liu, Ismail Kashkoush, Hanjoo Lee
  • Patent number: 7610692
    Abstract: This invention discloses systems, apparatuses and methods for drying or dehydrating high moisture content feedstock to dry or low moisture products. The equipment systems comprise a gas turbine generator unit (preferred heat source), a dryer vessel and a processing unit, wherein the connection between the gas turbine and the dryer vessel directs substantially all the gas turbine exhaust into the dryer vessel and substantially precludes the introduction of air into the dryer vessel and wherein the processing unit forms the dried material from the dryer vessel into granules, pellets, flakes or other desired form for the final product. The systems, apparatuses and methods of this invention also provide for prevention of release of HAP, including VOC, emissions from manufacturing facilities in conjunction with or independent of the above treatment of high water content feedstock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: EarthRenew, Inc.
    Inventors: Christianne Carin, Brian N. Gorbell, Christianne Carin, legal representative, Alvin W. Fedkenheuer, John S. Jonasson, Alexander Starosud
  • Patent number: 7607240
    Abstract: A system and method of drying wet items including roving packages, cakes and bobbins of wound wet glass fibers and/or wet glass fiber strand(s) by first preheating the wet items using waste hot gases coming from any source including a glass furnace, a dryer or a heat engine operating to generate electrical power prior to removing much, most or all of the moisture in the wet roving packages, cakes and bobbins using a dielectric or microwave oven, to save energy, reduce drying costs and to increase the capacity of dielectric or microwave dryers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Johns Manville
    Inventors: Daniel Pinkham, Jr., Gerard Joseph Demott, Gary Groner
  • Patent number: 7581335
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drying apparatus capable of satisfactorily drying a workpiece by using a dry vapor The drying apparatus has a control device for controlling a supply of a carrier gas and a supply of a dry vapor into a processing tank holding workpieces. A drying process carries out a carrier gas supply step of supplying the carrier gas and a mixed fluid supply step of supplying a mixed fluid prepared by mixing the carrier gas and the dry vapor alternately. A total mixed fluid supply time for which the mixed fluid supply step is executed is not shorter than 57% of a total processing time for which the carrier gas supply step and the mixed fluid supply step are executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Tanaka, Hidetoshi Nakao, Naoki Shindo, Atushi Yamashita, Tsukasa Hirayama, Kotaro Tsurusaki
  • Publication number: 20090178296
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for drying articles are disclosed. The apparatus includes a closed housing with at least one chamber equipped with air nozzles. The apparatus has an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the articles to be dried. An inner routing of air flow inside the housing generates a defined removal of air to the at least one air outlet opening. The inner routing of air flow is designed such that a flow of air is directed past the inlet opening and/or the outlet opening for the articles to be dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Duenzinger, Tobias Eichhammer, Rudolf Fiegler
  • Patent number: 7503127
    Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of delivering one or more volatile materials, during the operation of a drying apparatus, to a fabric article. The present invention also relates to fabric treatment compositions comprising one or more volatile materials. These compositions may be used to treat fabric articles during the fabric article drying process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Procter and Gamble Company
    Inventors: Dean Larry DuVal, Michael Joseph Orr, Rafael Trujillo, Angela Renee Troester
  • Publication number: 20080060216
    Abstract: A sprinkler system and a method for mitigating scaling, microbiological influenced corrosion and oxidative corrosion are disclosed. The system includes a piping network in fluid communication with a source of pressurized water and an air pump. The network is vented to the ambient. The air pump moves initially dry ambient air through the system, either by maintaining a negative or a positive air pressure within the network. The dry air absorbs residual water within the network and exhausts it to the ambient. Rate of air flow through the system is controlled by restrictor elements such as orifices, throttle valves or venturies within the piping network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 7, 2007
    Publication date: March 13, 2008
    Applicant: Victaulic Company
    Inventors: William J. Reilly, Kevin J. Blease
  • Publication number: 20070234589
    Abstract: A method for drying feed material includes transporting the feed material along, inside, a pressurized line, pressurizing the feed material, inputting the feed material, removing the feed material from the pressurized line. The method includes the step of varying a residence time of the feed material in the pressurized line, the step of varying a pressure within the pressurized line, the step of varying a temperature of the pressurized line, the step of varying a length of the pressurized line, and the step of varying a diameter of the pressurized line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventors: Peter Bernegger, Roland Banks
  • Patent number: 7118764
    Abstract: The subject of the present invention is a process for preparing pregelatinized high amylose starch, comprising the steps consisting of: forming a suspension comprising a high amylose starch and water; subjecting the said suspension to steam jet cooking at a temperature of between 125 and 135° C. so as to obtain a pregelatinized high amylose starch paste; cooking and drying the said pregelatinized starch paste on a drum dryer at a pressure of between 2 and 10 bar, so as to obtain a pregelatinized high amylose starch. Its subject is also a pregelatinized high amylose starch, having an apparent density of less than 0.4 g/ml for a mean particle size of 100 micrometers. Its subject is in addition the use of such a starch for the manufacture of soft gelatin capsules or of hard gelatin capsules and the film-coating of pharmaceutical, dietary or agricultural solid forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Roquette Freres
    Inventors: Domenico Carbone, Claude Quettier, Giovanni Semino, Ernesto Fossati
  • Patent number: 7098157
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally treating disk-shaped substrates, especially semiconductor wafers, in a rapid heating unit having at least one first radiation source, which is spaced from a given substrate for heating the substrate. The substrate is heated in a heating phase and is cooled in a cooling phase that follows the heating phase. During at least a portion of the cooling phase, the substrate is supported at a distance of from 50 ?m to 1 mm via ultrasonic levitation from a heating/cooling plate. For example by means of an ultrasonic electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Mattson Thermal Products GmbH
    Inventor: Klaus Funk
  • Patent number: 6912800
    Abstract: A container which is to be autoclaved has a shiftable plunger that defines a compartment filled with a fluid. The container is confined in a pressurizable chamber and heated so as to change a pressure in the compartment of the container. The pressure in the compartment of the container is monitored and an output corresponding thereto is generated. Pressure in the chamber around the container is continuously varied so as to be generally equal to the instantaneous monitored pressure in the compartment of the container. In this manner the plunger is not moved by thermal expansion or contraction of the fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Arzneimittel GmbH Apotheker Vetter & Co. Ravensburg
    Inventors: Udo J. Vetter, Friedrich Treuer, Klaus Steigenberger
  • Patent number: 6892474
    Abstract: In drying the interior of an indoor unit, room humidity (Rh) is detected by a humidity sensor, and a drying operation cycle, in which after first heating operation, which is weak heating operation in which a compressor included in a refrigerating cycle is operated at a low rotational speed, has been performed for a predetermined period of time, second heating operation, which is heating operation close to air blowing operation in which the compressor is stopped, is performed for a predetermined period of time, is repeated a predetermined number of times according to the room humidity (Rh). Thus, the indoor unit's interior can be dried properly without occurrence of dew condensation therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: Fujitsu General Limited
    Inventor: Nobutaka Nakahen
  • Publication number: 20040237334
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-heat drying method which allows a catalytic substance and the like to be deposited uniformly onto a workpiece to be dried in a dramatically short time as compared to a prior art method, and also an apparatus therefor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventor: Masaru Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6804900
    Abstract: Method for drying a microstructure member having many micro concavities in a surface, the micro concavities containing water, includes adjusting the temperature of liquid inside the micro concavities to a temperature in the range of the cloud point of a surfactant ±1° C., and supplying a mixture of the surfactant and a hydrophobic solvent adjusted to a temperature in the range of the cloud point ±1° C. into the micro concavities to remove part or all of the water; heating the liquid inside the micro concavities to a temperature exceeding the cloud point +1° C., and supplying the hydrophobic solvent controlled to a temperature exceeding the cloud point +1° C. into the micro concavities to replace the liquid in the concavities with the hydrophobic solvent; and placing the resulting microstructure member with the concavities into contact with liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide to replace the hydrophobic solvent with the liquid or supercritical carbon dioxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Kawakami, Toshiro Kugimiya
  • Patent number: 6789330
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for quickly drying solutions in one or more arrays of vessels includes a manifold that receives gas and a base plate that receives the one or more arrays of vessels. The manifold includes one or more hollow tubes that direct the gas into the vessels, where the gas evaporates the solutions. A variety of types of hollow tubes are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the gas is filtered, pressurized and/or heated. In an exemplary embodiment, the solutions are heated. The base plate is hingeably coupled to the manifold so that the base plate has an open position and a closed position. The open position permits users to place and remove the vessels that contain solutions to be dried. In the closed position, the base plate and the manifold are in sealing engagement with one another, wherein the one or more of the hollow tubes extend into the vessels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Invitrogen Corporation
    Inventors: Abdul H. Ally, Brent W. Henry, Michael W. Schuette
  • Patent number: 6790291
    Abstract: In a substrate processing apparatus for use in performing a reduced-pressure pull up drying method, a liquid drainage pipe (46) for draining a drainage liquid containing an organic solvent from a processing chamber (26) including therein a processing bath (10) for rinsing a substrate (W) with water is provided with a buffer tank (50) inserted therein for separation between the drainage liquid and an organic solvent vapor. A vapor discharge pipe (62) is connected in communication with an interior space of the buffer tank, and is provided with pressure regulating valves (64a, 64b) inserted therein for regulating pressure in the processing chamber at a fixed pressure higher than atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2004
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Kimura
  • Patent number: 6772537
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a pressure-heat drying method which allows a catalytic substance and the like to be deposited uniformly onto a workpiece to be dried in a dramatically short time as compared to a prior art method, and also an apparatus therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Koy Engineering Corporation
    Inventor: Masaru Kawahara
  • Patent number: 6670402
    Abstract: Methods of more rapidly producing aerogel products by means of a rapid solvent exchange of solvent inside wet gels with supercritical CO2 by injecting supercritical, rather than liquid, CO2 into an extractor that has been pre-heated and pre-pressurized to substantially supercritical conditions or above. Preferably, pressure waves are applied to the supercritical CO2 to enhance the solvent exchange. The rapid solvent exchange process is followed by depressurization, optionally with a gas exchange. Preferably, pressure waves are used to speed up the depressurization. The process greatly reduces the time for forming aerogel products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Aspen Aerogels, Inc.
    Inventors: Kang P. Lee, Redouane Begag, Zlatko Altiparmakov
  • Patent number: 6588229
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a heat treatment in the process of fabricating a high purity silica glass via a sol-gel process using a low temperature heater having an inhalation line and an exhaust line. Accordingly, the method includes the steps of (a) identifying whether or not the diameter of the exhaust line is varied; (b) controlling the mass flow of the process gas according to the changed diameter of the exhaust line in step (a); (c) measuring an exhaust gas velocity discharged through the exhaust line; (d) comparing the exhaust gas velocity measured in the step (c) with the exhaust gas velocity after the scale of the exhaust line is varied; and, (e) repeating steps (b)-(d) if the comparison result in step (d) is different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Won-Il Jeong, Young-Min Baik
  • Publication number: 20030088995
    Abstract: A system for high-pressure drying of semiconductor wafers includes the insertion of a wafer into an open vessel, the immersion of the wafer in a liquid, pressure-sealing of the vessel, pressurization of the vessel with an inert gas, and then the controlled draining of the liquid using a moveable drain that extracts water from a depth maintained just below the gas-liquid interface. Thereafter, the pressure may be reduced in the vessel and the dry and clean wafer may be removed. The high pressure suppresses the boiling point of liquids, thus allowing higher temperatures to be used to optimize reactivity. Megasonic waves are used with pressurized fluid to enhance cleaning performance. Supercritical substances are provided in a sealed vessel containing a wafer to promote cleaning and other treatment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Applicant: Semitool, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric J. Bergman, Ian Sharp, Craig P. Meuchel, H. Frederick Woods
  • Patent number: 6497054
    Abstract: Solid material, e.g., coal, is upgraded, e.g., the water content reduced and the BTU value increased, by a method comprising the steps of: (a) supplying the solid material to a reactor; (b) heating the solid material in the reactor under water saturation pressure conditions and removing water from the solid material; and (c) cooling the solid material by depressurising the solid material under water saturation conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2002
    Assignee: Technological Resources Pty. Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Howard Davies, Jonathan James Davis, Jared Michael Osborne
  • Patent number: 6449871
    Abstract: A process chamber 25 for processing a semiconductor substrate, comprises a support for supporting a substrate 50. A gas distributor 90 provided for introducing process gas into the chamber 25, comprises a gas nozzle for injecting process gas at an inclined angle relative to a plane of the substrate 50, into the chamber 25. Optionally, a gas flow controller 100 controls and pulses the flow of process gas through one or more gas nozzles 140. An exhaust is used to exhaust the process gas from the chamber 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Applied Materials Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold Kholodenko, Dmitry Lubomirsky, Guang-Jye Shiau, Peter K. Loewenhardt, Shamouil Shamouilian
  • Patent number: 6432267
    Abstract: A wet crepe, impingement-air dried process for producing absorbent paper sheet is disclosed. In preferred embodiments, the process utilizes recycle furnish and the web is delaminated as it is wet-creped from a Yankee dryer. Particular embodiments include high consistency (after-crepe) wet-shaping prior to impingement air drying on a drilled vacuum roll.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Georgia-Pacific Corporation
    Inventor: Gary M. Watson
  • Patent number: 6409929
    Abstract: Apparatus and a method are presented for the mechanical removal of moisture from a filter cake. Differential pressure causes the flow of a treatment fluid through the filter cake. The treatment fluid displaces liquid originally present in the filter cake to prevent cracking of the filter cake.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: BOKELA Ingenieurgesellschaft fur Mechanische Verfahrenstechnik mbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Bott, Robert Kern, Thomas Langeloh
  • Patent number: 5817184
    Abstract: A cleaning apparatus capable of supplying on a substantially continuous basis an anhydrous agent and water to an area to be cleaned. The cleaning machine includes an inner enclosure disposed in an interior chamber of an outer enclosure. The outer enclosure is designed to enclose the interior chamber. Also, provided in the cleaning apparatus is a system for purging the interior chamber with dry air. The inner enclosure contains the anhydrous agent, which is typically baking soda. The inner enclosure further includes a system for distributing the anhydrous agent to a cleaning nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1998
    Inventor: John Webb Lawrence
  • Patent number: 5761827
    Abstract: Air flow in a hollow wall, ceiling, or floor is created by forcing air into or drawing air out of the wall, ceiling, or floor through a hole around a pipe through which the pipe extends from the wall, ceiling, or floor. The apparatus of the invention includes a body that fits around the pipe to position an end against the wall, ceiling, or floor surrounding the pipe and hole and provides for the connection of an air flow hose thereto. The air flow hose provides a source of pressurized air or a source of vacuum to force air into the wall, ceiling, or floor or draw air therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 9, 1998
    Inventor: James A. Guasch
  • Patent number: 5655466
    Abstract: A method and configuration suited to feeding a water-containing fuel such as peat or brown coal into a pressurized space such as a pressurized dryer or a high-pressure gasifier. A fuel with a high moisture content requires drying in a dryer prior to gasification or combustion. In the dryer, the fuel is dewatered, whereby the separated water is discharged as steam from the dryer. The generated steam is separated from the fuel flow exiting the dryer and it can be routed as injection steam to a gas turbine. When a portion of the steam extracted from the fuel flow exiting the dryer is fed into the fuel entering the dryer or to a heat exchanger, which is employed for heating the fuel flow, a fuel of higher moisture content can be fed into the dryer, or alternatively, the moisture content of the fuel can be increased to improve the feed of the fuel. The method imparts no reduction of the economy of the energy generation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1997
    Assignee: Imatran Voima Oy
    Inventors: Seppo Hulkkonen, Martti Aijala
  • Patent number: 5361515
    Abstract: The method and apparatus operate to complete the following stages. At the first stage the coating is held at room temperature in the time interval from 20 s to 1 hour, depending on the type of polymer coating. At the second stage the coating is held at an elevated temperature under excessive pressure, sufficient for suppressing propagation of microcracks in such time interval so that at reaching the predetermined protective properties the thermodestruction of the polymer coating does not occur. At the third stage performed is the cooling of the coating to room temperature. According to the invention, the excessive pressure is built up at the first stage and maintained at the cooling stage. The invention may find application in manufacture of integrated circuits, as well as for the formation of thin polymer insulation coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Nauchno-Prorvodstvennaya Firma Aktsionernoe Obschestov Zaknytogo Tika Teknologia Obarudovanie Materialy (AO "TOM")
    Inventor: Vladimir A. Peremyschev