Electrical Type Patents (Class 422/199)
  • Patent number: 5750077
    Abstract: A man-portable light weight emergency oxygen supply system device for providing breathable oxygen for periods exceeding ten minutes. The device can be easily affixed to personnel for mobile use or mounted for stationary applications. A typical on-person system, weighing over three pounds, can supply pure oxygen for short periods of time, extending to the order of an hour for mixtures with ambient air to provide nominal sea-level oxygen concentrations. A catalyzed endothermic reaction is utilized to produce oxygen with no potential for harmful contaminants or danger of accidental initiation or fire/explosion hazard. Potential applications include use for emergency evacuations, such as hotel fires, aviation emergencies including de-pressurization and fires, and medical emergencies requiring oxygen administration prior to arrival of emergency medical equipment or ambulances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Inventor: Neil C. Schoen
  • Patent number: 5744104
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a substrate for a catalyst, a rod-like metal electrode connected to the substrate, and a casing accommodating the substrate. The substrate for the catalyst is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly of thin metal sheets wound around the electrode. The electrode extends from the laminated assembly along the central axis, bends towards the wall of the casing and penetrates the casing. The electrode is fixed to the casing via an insulating material at the point where it penetrates the casing. When the electricity is fed to the electrode, electric current flows through the electrode to the laminated assembly, and to the casing, and heat is generated in the substrate by the electric current and the temperature of the catalyst carried by the substrate quickly reaches the activating temperature. The rod-like electrode of the present invention is formed as a hollow pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Sakurai, Koji Shimoji, Tohru Yoshinaga, Kiyohiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5739038
    Abstract: A gas analyzer system for providing a spectroscopic analysis of the sample gas. This analysis is accomplished by first introducing the sample gas into the inlet of the system and transporting it to a spectral analyzer. The sample gas is then spectrally analyzed and the analyzer outputs a signal indicative of a radiation intensity spectrum associated with the analyzed sample gas. A processing unit uses the analyzer signal to detect the presence of one or more prescribed gases and to determine the concentration of each of the prescribed gases in the sample gas. Next, the reacting agent is supplied to the sample gas to convert one or more gases whose presence in the sample gas cannot be detected via spectral analysis due to the masking effects other gases present in the sample gas. The masked gases are converted to secondary gases at least one of which is readily detectable via spectral analysis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Anarad, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Edward Burrows
  • Patent number: 5710360
    Abstract: A thermal desorption system for treating and/or removing contaminants from various types of materials employs an induction tube furnace to heat the material to a high enough temperature to completely desorb it. The induction tube furnace includes a metal or metal alloy susceptor tube for containing the material to be treated and at least one induction coil surrounding the tube for heating the same. The susceptor tube is formed from a metal or metal alloy, such as a nickel based alloy, having a very high melting temperature which will allow it to be heated by the induction coil to temperatures as high as 1800.degree. F. The metal or metal alloy also has a relatively high electrical resistance to permit efficient magnetic coupling of energy from the induction coil to the tube, as well as a relatively high thermal conductivity to provide efficient heat transfer from the tube to the material to be treated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Vanish, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Self, Robert A. Olexy
  • Patent number: 5707593
    Abstract: A reactor that can be attached to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine to oxidize and burn carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons, and to dissociate nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The reactor has a reaction zone that contains porous heat-retaining foam cells and that is bounded by a porous heat-retaining zone, which in turn is surrounded by ceramic insulation materials to minimize energy losses. Engine exhaust at elevated temperatures and containing some oxygen (air) enters the reaction chamber. By means of impinging heat transfer, thermal radiation enhancement, energy trapping and combustion of engine emissions, temperatures sufficient to oxidize carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons are attained. Steam or atomized water droplets are introduced to improve the efficiency of the reactor through gasification, regasification, water shift reactions, methanation, and hydrocracking reactions. Harmless product of the oxidation reactions, H.sub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1998
    Inventor: Chi S. Wang
  • Patent number: 5695722
    Abstract: A catalyst heater assembly for use in a catalytic converter comprising: an electric heater through which a flow of gas passes, wherein the electric heater heats the gas; a plurality of legs around an exterior of the heater, each leg extending in an axial direction toward a flow inlet of the catalytic converter; a flow tube having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein each of the legs is attached to an exterior peripheral surface of the outlet end and wherein the inlet end is mounted at the flow inlet of the catalytic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1997
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Joe Myers, Theodore Rogers Turner, Jr., Barry Odell Christenson, Albert Hunter Mayfield, John Eric Kreucher, Charles Scott Nelson
  • Patent number: 5672324
    Abstract: An electric heater comprises a central electrode and a ring electrode with a honeycomb heat generator disposed therebetween. The honeycomb heat generator is formed by winding a conductive foil strip around the central electrode until the size of the rolled honeycomb body just fits to the ring electrode. The surface of the conductive foil strip is coated by an insulating material, thereby preventing a short circuit between two layers of the conductive foil strip wound around the central electrode. A plurality of bonding parts are provided to electrically connect adjacent layers of the conductive foil strip wound around the central electrode. The bonding parts are disposed along a plurality of bonding lines extending across the layers of the conductive foil strip. The bonding parts are disposed on every other bonding line along each layer of the conductive foil strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Assignee: Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Atsuya Okamoto, Akikazu Kojima, Niro Takaki, Kiyohiko Watanabe
  • Patent number: 5670040
    Abstract: A process and apparatus for the supercritical water oxidation of organic waste materials which avoids or at least substantially reduces the corrosion and solids deposition problems associated with prior art techniques and which provides for efficient heating of the waste material to reaction conditions. Externally heated supercritical water is fed to a compound platelet tube reactor. The compound reactor includes a reaction zone and inner (smaller) and outer (larger) concentric platelet tubes supported concentrically within a shell. The water fed to the reactor both protectively coats surfaces of the inner and outer platelet tubes facing the reaction zone and heats the waste stream to oxidation reaction conditions. Higher reaction temperatures can be used as compared to prior art processes, which significantly improves the reaction rate and permits smaller reactors to be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Development Corporation
    Inventor: Kawaljit Singh Ahluwalia
  • Patent number: 5618500
    Abstract: A reactor that can be attached to the exhaust manifold of a diesel or gasoline engine, or other internal combustion engines such as a jet engine or a gas turbine to oxidize and burn carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons, and to dissociate nitrogen and sulfur oxides. The reactor has a reaction zone that contains porous heat-retaining foam cells and that is bounded by a porous heat-retaining zone, which in turn is surrounded by ceramic insulation materials to minimize energy losses. Engine exhaust at elevated temperatures and containing some oxygen (air) enters the reaction chamber. By means of impinging heat transfer, thermal radiation enhancement, energy trapping and combustion of engine emissions, temperatures sufficient to oxidize carbon soot particles, carbon monoxide, and unburned hydrocarbons are attained. Harmless product of the oxidation reactions, H.sub.2 O and CO.sub.2 are released from the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Inventor: Chi-Shang Wang
  • Patent number: 5618498
    Abstract: The present invention aims to produce a metallic carrier which enables a catalyst to be activated in a short time. In mutually joining an insulated heat resisting alloy and a heat resisting alloy having an insulating film, particularly composed mainly of alumina, a joining material of a laminate, formed by laminating a strongly reducing metal, which can thermodynamically reduce alumina, and a brazing material to each other, is disposed so that the strongly reducing metal comes into contact with the insulated heat resisting alloy, and the resultant laminate is heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere to carry out a brazing treatment. This enables only portions in the honeycomb structure, where electrically conductive paths are to be formed, can be joined, and, at the same time, heat resisting alloys having a surface covered with an insulating oxide film can be firmly joined with the resultant joint having an electrical conductivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shogo Konya, Akira Okamoto, Kouji Yoshizaki
  • Patent number: 5614156
    Abstract: A thermoelectric reactor for the chemical destruction of heavy-molecule volatile organic compounds (VOCs), semi-volatile organic compounds, or hydrogen sulfide contained in a gaseous feed. The reactor contains a hollow core containing energy sources. This reactor core surrounded by several ceramic walls and insulating zones. Uniform, high temperatures, up to at least 1900.degree. C., are obtained in the reactor core not only from direct radiant heat from the energy sources, but also from energy reflected and emitted from the surrounding zones. Reaction rates are enhanced by non-equilibrium conditions caused by electromagnetic threes derived from the energy sources. Further chemical destruction is accomplished in a porous energy retaining zone after passage through the reactor core. Ionizing gases and ionization seed material may be added to the gaseous feed material to increase electric conductivity and promote dissociation and ionization in the reactor core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Inventor: Chi S. Wang
  • Patent number: 5614155
    Abstract: A heater unit including a honeycomb heater, a metallic casing for holding the honeycomb heater, and a gas flow-controlling means for controlling flow of exhaust gas through the heater unit, such that about 2 to 20% of the total amount of exhaust gas flows outside the honeycomb heater, between the honeycomb heater and the metallic casing. The honeycomb heater may be attached inside the metallic casing via several appropriate devices including supporting, buffer and connecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Shigeharu Hashimoto, Tomoharu Kondo
  • Patent number: 5585073
    Abstract: A catalytic converter with electric heating includes a housing and at least one honeycomb body being disposed in the housing for conducting a flow of exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine through the honeycomb body in a given flow direction. The honeycomb body is electrically conductive at least in partial regions upon being heated by an electric current and it has a catalytically active coating at least in partial regions. The honeycomb body has at least two electrically heatable partial regions being disposed in succession as seen in the given flow direction. The electrically heatable partial regions have a different axial length and/or a different electrical resistance. The honeycomb body also has at least one other partial region being at least substantially blocked to the electric current and separating the electrically heatable partial regions from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1996
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissions-technologie
    Inventors: Helmut Swars, Rolf Bruck
  • Patent number: 5582802
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for the selective control of the sulfur trioxide concentration in flue gases, to enhance the ash removal efficiency of electrostatic precipitators, which includes supporting a catalyst in the path of the flue gas, positioning temperature modifying means in communication with the catalyst, passing the flue gas by the catalyst and selectively varying the temperature of the catalyst, with the temperature modifying means, to vary the amount of catalytic conversion of SO.sub.2 in the flue gas to SO.sub.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Inventors: Felix E. Spokoyny, Henry V. Krigmont
  • Patent number: 5573731
    Abstract: The electrically heated catalytic converter of the present invention includes a catalyst substrate, which is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly. The assembly is formed by laminating a thin corrugated and plain metal sheets and winding the metal sheets together around a center electrode. The outermost layer of the laminated assembly is connected to an outer electrode. The corrugated metal sheet has an insulating coating made of an alumina, and the plain metal sheet is uninsulated. Local conductive connections form between the thin metal sheets by soldering strips of zirconium solder foils between the layers of the thin metal sheets. Since zirconium has a larger reducing capability than aluminum, the alumina in the insulating coating is reduced by zirconium and precipitates at the local conductive connections. Therefore, the plain and corrugated metal sheet are electrically connected to each other at the local conductive connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Nippon Steel Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Yoshizaki, Masahiko Ogai, Takuzou Kako, Yuuji Nakajima, Kenji Fujino, Kazunori Itoh, Shohgo Konya, Keiji Sato
  • Patent number: 5571485
    Abstract: There is provided a novel terminal bus and retainer for a multicellular converter, particularly a catalytic converter, which converter is characterized by an electrically heatable portion and a light-off portion. The electrically heatable portion includes flat thin metal strips as heater bands and flat thin metal bands not electrically heatable. A terminal bus and retainer is adapted to be connected to a voltage source and to the ends of the heater bands. A portion of the terminal bus and retainer may be used as a connector bus. The terminal bus and retainer also retains the thin metal foil elements in tightly spirally wound condition. These devices are especially useful in catalytic converters for automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: Gordon W. Brunson
  • Patent number: 5569455
    Abstract: Method of forming a catalytic bonding layer by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) onto carrier structures including internal combustion engine exhaust system and catalytic converter components, in order to bond a catalyst layer thereto, thereby providing a structure wherein additionally the bonding layer can be energized to promote catalytic conversion-activating preheating of the catalyst. In an electromagnetic induction catalytic preheating system, a ceramic lattice or a metallic network can form the base structure of the catalytic converter, wherein at least the latter is encompassed by an electrical/thermal insulating layer; around either induction coiling is wrapped and secured by a thermally insulating material. Upon engine start, current is electromagnetically induced in the catalytic bonding layer or the metallic network through the induction coiling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignees: Shimadzu Corporation, Mazda Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Isao Fukui, Masamitsu Takahashi, Kazunori Ihara, deceased, Hiroshi Murakami, Tetsuhiro Tanaka, Shinobu Miyaura, Shinichi Kuroda, Masahiro Hiraishi, Koji Inoue
  • Patent number: 5562885
    Abstract: An exhaust gas catalytic converter, particularly for an internal combustion engine, includes a flow channel for carrying exhaust gas. A carrier body is disposed in the flow channel and has a structure through which exhaust gas can flow. The carrier body is formed of sheet-metal layers. At least some of the sheet-metal layers are at least partially structured. A catalytic coating is disposed in the carrier body. At least one separate heating element in addition to the structure, is adapted to the shape of one of the at least partially structured sheet-metal layers, is electrically insulated from the structure and is in close thermal contact with at least one of the coating and the sheet-metal layers, for electrically heating the carrier body externally. A method for producing an exhaust gas catalytic converter includes placing spaced-apart heating elements adapted to a shape of a corrosion-proof structured sheet-metal layer into the structured sheet-metal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: J urgen Bayer, Andreas Gr uner, Bohumil Humpolik, Karl Lochmahr, Thomas Reimet
  • Patent number: 5538698
    Abstract: A heater is composed of (a) a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages, (b) an adsorbent composed mainly of zeolite or an adsorbent-catalyst composition comprising adsorbent and a catalyst component supported on the adsorbent, the adsorbent or adsorbent-catalyst composition being coated on the honeycomb structure, and (c) at least two electrodes fixed to the honeycomb structure for electrification of the honeycomb structure, wherein a gas is flowed through the passages in the honeycomb structure and is heated. A catalytic converter has at least one main monolith catalyst and the above heater provided upstream or downstream of the main monolith catalyst or between two main monolith catalysts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Keiji Noda
  • Patent number: 5538697
    Abstract: An adsorbent-catalyst for exhaust gas purification, has a honeycomb structure having a large number of passages divided by partition walls, substantially parallel to the flow direction of an exhaust gas to be purified, an adsorbent layer having a hydrocarbon adsorbability, supported on the honeycomb structure, and a catalyst layer having a three-way catalytic activity or an oxidizing ability, supported on the honeycomb structure, in which adsorbent-catalyst the adsorbent layer and the catalyst layer are separately supported on the honeycomb structure in all or part of the cross sections of the adsorbent-catalyst perpendicular to the flow direction of the exhaust gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumio Abe, Takashi Harada, Masato Ogawa
  • Patent number: 5536478
    Abstract: A lead construction for a fluid heater such as an electrically heated catalytic converter, is set forth including a mineral insulated cable having a central core connected to the heater element of the fluid heater, an outer metal sheath connected to an enclosing housing for the fluid heater, and electrical insulation between the central core and the outer sheath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: G. Daniel Lipp, Alfred N. Mack, Paul S. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 5529759
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly in which belts of thin corrugated metal sheet and a thin plain metal sheet are laminated and wound around a center electrode, and the outermost layers are connected to an outer electrode. The corrugated metal sheet has an insulating coating made of a metal oxide, and the plain metal sheet has no insulating coatings. Conductive connections in which the corrugated metal sheet and the plain metal sheet are electrically connected to each other through the insulating coating of the corrugated metal sheet are made at predetermined positions in the layers of the laminated assembly and electric paths of desired shapes are formed by these conductive connections. The corrugated metal sheet and the plain metal sheet are connected in the areas around the respective conductive connections in such a manner that the metal sheets are isolated from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masakatsu Sanada, Tetsuo Nagami
  • Patent number: 5525309
    Abstract: A metal honeycomb body includes at least two disks being mutually spaced apart and disposed one after the other relative to an axis. Each of the disks has a multiplicity of channels formed therein through which a fluid can flow along the axis. At least one support connects the disks to one another in the vicinity of the axis. The at least one support is tubular, bar-shaped or rod shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 11, 1996
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Breuer, Rolf Bruck, Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5517001
    Abstract: Performance of a high temperature diffusion furnace is enhanced by an improved multi-furnace module design. The furnace is constructed of materials suitable for clean room environments with an adjustable leveling frame assembly. A slide out assembly and heating element alignment mechanism of individual furnace tube modules with a heating element hoist mechanism allows for enhanced maintainability. Heat treatment performance is improved by a sealed heating element with individual furnace module cooling system. Improved thermocouple positioning and composition has also enhanced heat treatment process control and heating element maintainability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1996
    Assignee: Thermtec, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin B. Peck, Ronald E. Erickson, Stephen H. Matthews
  • Patent number: 5512251
    Abstract: There is provided an improved converter body core element having a corrugated thin metal strip having, parallel to and close to a longitudinal marginal edge thereof, a recess dimensioned and configured to receive a heater band. In specific embodiments, the heater band is desirably lightly corrugated, i.e., having an amplitude of the corrugations which is from one tenth to one third the amplitude of the corrugations in the strip containing the recess, and the heater band is dimensioned and configured to fit into the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Gordon W. Brunson, William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5505911
    Abstract: There is provided a start-up catalyzer for catalyzing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine in which flat and corrugated sheets are disposed in alternating relation. Some of the flat sheets have an electrically conductive resistance-heating layer which may be catalytically active and in form of a plurality of rosette-shaped conductive loops connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: Roth-Technik GmbH & Co. Forschung Fur
    Inventor: Edelbert Hafele
  • Patent number: 5496524
    Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal conversion of methane into hydrocarbons of higher molecular weight, comprising a reactor (1) of elongate form, connected on the one hand, at a first end, to an inlet for supplying gaseous mixture containing methane (process gas) and on the other, at the opposite end, to an outlet (10), the reactor comprising on the first end side a plurality of elements disposed in at least two layers disposed between two refractory walls, at least one refractory wall being disposed between the outside walls of the reactor, the layers being substantially parallel to the axis of the reactor, at least one of these layers comprising a series of sheaths (4) inside which there are electric heaters (3) which thus form a layer of heating elements, the elements being disposed in such a way as to define spaces or passages for the circulation of gaseous mixtures and/or effluents, the heaters and the sheaths being adapted to heat the said passages by successive independent cross-sections substantially at rig
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 5, 1996
    Assignees: Institut Francais du Petrole, Electricite de France, Gaz de France
    Inventors: Je/ rome Weill, Laure Capogna, Ve/ ronique Arrondel, Jean-Jack Boumendil
  • Patent number: 5494642
    Abstract: An electrically heated catalytic converter having a substrate for a catalyst which is formed as a scroll-like cylindrical laminated assembly, a rod like metal center electrode connected to the laminated assembly, and a casing accommodating the laminated assembly which also acts as an outer electrode. The center electrode extends from the laminated assembly along the central axis, bends towards the wall of the casing and penetrates the casing. The center electrode is fixed to the casing via an insulating material at the point where it penetrates the casing. Four buffer members are interposed between the laminated assembly and the casing, each of buffer members being made of a metal plate, one end of the respective buffer members being fixed to the casing at the portion near the penetration point of the center electrode, the other end of the respective buffer members being fixed to the outside of the laminated assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 27, 1996
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masakatsu Sanada
  • Patent number: 5487876
    Abstract: In a method for the continuous synthesis of vanadium oxide from ammonium metavanadate, ammonium metavanadate is fed to the interior of a dryer apparatus through an inlet opening. The interior of the apparatus is maintained at a temperature of approximately 440.degree. C. and an inert carrier gas flows through the interior of the apparatus. The ammonium metavanadate is conveyed through the interior of the dryer apparatus on a conveyer to an outlet opening over a period of approximately two hours, during which period the ammonium metavanadate is continuously agitated so that it is uniformly exposed to heat and to the carrier gas, thereby synthesizing homogeneous vanadium oxide. The vanadium oxide is continuously removed from the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 30, 1996
    Inventors: Steven M. Mallinson, Michael E. McAleavey
  • Patent number: 5486338
    Abstract: A metal catalyst carrier for exhaust gas purification, comprising: a columnar metal honeycomb composed by spirally winding a laminate of a flat metal foil and a corrugated metal foil; a columnar metal case enclosing the metal honeycomb with a space remaining therebetween; and a cushion member disposed in the space and joined to the metal honeycomb and to the metal case alternately with respect to the column circumferential direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 23, 1996
    Assignees: Nippon Steel Corporation, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Ota, Masao Yashiro, Koki Yotsuya, Takuzo Kako, Yuzi Nakashima
  • Patent number: 5482685
    Abstract: A catalyst 1 is provided in a gas passage 4 for communicating between a gas flow-in unit 12 and a gas flow-out unit 13, and the catalyst 1 is heated by a heater 2, and a temperature sensor 3 for detecting the temperature of the heater 2 is provided inside the heater 2. By feeding power to the heater 2, the wall temperature of the heater 2 is raised to heat the catalyst 1, and then malodorous gas containing odor substances is passed in from the gas flow-in unit 12. The malodorous gas passes through the catalyst 1 in the gas passage 4 to be oxidized to be harmless and odorless, and is discharged from the gas flow-out unit 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuo Fujita, Syuzo Tokumitsu, Hirofumi Nishida, Tadashi Suzuki, Yukiyoshi Ono, Tetsuo Terashima, Takeshi Tomizawa, Jiro Suzuki, Syuji Asada, Yukiyoshi Nishikori
  • Patent number: 5480622
    Abstract: This invention is directed to an electrically heatable catalyst device comprising an electrically insulating substrate carrying an electrically conductive material selected from metal oxides, carbides, nitrides and silicides, and applied thereon a washcoat carrying a catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Chaitanya K. Narula, Jacobus H. Visser, Andrew A. Adamczyk, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5478531
    Abstract: A muffling and denitrating apparatus capable of lowering a level of noise generated by a combustion engine and reducing a concentration of NOx in exhaust gas of the engine. Sound-damping and denitration are accomplished by a carbon fiber or particle layer arranged in the apparatus. Exhaust sound is adsorbed by carbon fibers or carbon particles, resulting in a sound pressure thereof being reduced. NOx is converted into N.sub.2 and CO.sub.2, to thereby be decreased in concentration. Carbon fibers and/or carbon particles for the carbon fiber or particle layer are preferably treated or modified with nitrogen monoxide gas or a nitric acid solution, resulting in having an increased surface area as large as 80 to 2000 m.sup.2 /g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Ajiawasu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 5468455
    Abstract: A honeycomb body includes an axis along which a flow of fluid is to be conducted through the honeycomb body. At least two oppositely disposed end surfaces define the honeycomb body along the axis. An internal structure for conducting an electric current for heating is formed of at least one sheet-metal layer. Metal support configurations each support the internal structure at a respective one of the end surfaces. An electric insulation is disposed between the internal structure and the support configuration. A method for producing an electrically heatable honeycomb body includes producing at least one approximately rectangular sheet-metal layer having two opposed end edges being aligned approximately perpendicularly to an axis. Each end edge is encompassed with a folded joint having a ceramic layer resting on the at least one sheet-metal layer, to form support configurations. The sheet-metal layer and the folded joints are corrugated at obtuse angles preferably being approximately perpendicularly to the axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Rolf Bruck
  • Patent number: 5458862
    Abstract: A process for purifying exhaust gases, especially from vacuum pyrolysis installations by means of the extraction of the exhaust gases and their combustion with a supply of air. Immediately after their formation, the exhaust gases are subjected to complete combustion with a controlled air supply and an under pressure of 0.5 to 0.95 bar (500 to 50 mbar absolute) generated by a vacuum pump, whereupon the gaseous reaction products are cooled to 10.degree. to 25.degree. C. to prevent damage to the vacuum pump and then the cooled gaseous reaction products are extracted by the vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1995
    Assignee: Rieter Automatik GmbH
    Inventor: Erwin Glawion
  • Patent number: 5456890
    Abstract: There is provided an electrically heatable converter body including a multicellular metallic honeycomb characterized by a plurality of first thin metal strips and a plurality of second thin metal strips in layered alternating relation, and wherein the first thin metal strips have a leading edge portion and a trailing edge portion, the leading edge portion of the first thin metal strips being longer than the trailing edge of said first thin metal strips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventors: Peter R. F. Tsai, William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5455014
    Abstract: A liquid deposition source delivery system (22) includes a reactant source (50) of a liquid chemical reactant, a first heater (54) positioned adjacent to the reactant source (50) , and a vapor collection system (56) in communication with the reactant source (50) to collect vapor evolved from the reactant source (50). A flow controller (64) has an upstream side (66) in communication with the vapor collection system (56). A line (70) of a vapor distribution system is in communication with the downstream side (68) of the flow controller (64). A second heater (76) is positioned adjacent to the flow controller (64), at least a portion of the vapor collection system (56), and at least a portion of the vapor distribution system, to prevent the vapor from condensing in the lines (70) of the delivery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1995
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Costantino, William C. Yorke
  • Patent number: 5441710
    Abstract: An air flow containing microorganisms including fungal spores is sterilized by heating the air flow to a sufficient temperature to weaken cellular walls of the microorganisms, inducing turbulence in the air flow; and providing in the air flow sufficient contact surface against which the microorganisms may hit and be destroyed at a flow rate and turbulence level of the air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Marois
  • Patent number: 5441706
    Abstract: There is provided an improved combined electrically heatable and light-off converter which is characterized by an integral intertwining structure wherein thin metal strips form a multicellular converter body. A first plurality of the thin metal strips extend the entire axial length of the converter body and are usually corrugated, and a second plurality of thin metal strips usually flat, alternating with the first plurality, extend less than the full axial length of the converter body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1995
    Assignee: W. R. Grace & Co.-Conn.
    Inventor: William A. Whittenberger
  • Patent number: 5433926
    Abstract: An electrically heatable honeycomb body through which a fluid can flow, in particular a carrier body for a catalytic converter, includes a plurality of subregions through which a current can flow over a winding path. The subregions have a first specific electrical conductivity per unit of cross-sectional area. Electrical insulation at least partially separates the subregions from one another. Additional electric conductor elements are disposed in regions in which the electric current is turned around. The additional electric conductor elements are formed of a material having a greater mechanical strength than that of the subregions and have a second specific electrical conductivity per unit of cross-sectional area being higher than the first specific electrical conductivity per unit of cross-sectional area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventor: Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5417937
    Abstract: The apparatus (1) for wet oxidation is pre-assembled with its individual units, namely a high-pressure pump (2), a heat exchanger (3), a reactor (4) for the actual wet oxidation and a compressor (5) for feeding an oxygen/gas mixture, in one or two supporting flames and is accommodated in such a manner that its dimensions and its overall weight allow it to be transported on a road and/or rail vehicle, there advantageously being provided two such supporting flames in the form of standard containers (8 and 9), of which one may contain the reactor (4), divided into individual tube sections (6), and the heat exchanger (3), and the other may contain the remaining units, so that the entire apparatus can be pre-assembled into virtually operational condition and the two containers simply have to be set up, joined together and connected on site. Wet oxidation can thus be carried out even where relatively small quantities of medium are to be purified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Assignee: Ciba-Geigy Corporation
    Inventors: Joachim Voigt, Rudolf Buttiker, Rolf Strub
  • Patent number: 5413767
    Abstract: An apparatus for the catalytic combustion of exhaust gases in an exhaust system, in particular for an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, and preferably for Otto engines, includes first and second honeycomb bodies through which a fluid can flow in succession. At least one of the honeycomb bodies is heatable, and the honeycomb bodies each have a multiplicity of channels formed therein defining-channel walls. A plurality of support elements each have at least one end, they extending between the first honeycomb body and the second honeycomb body, they join the first and second honeycomb bodies mechanically, they protrude at least partially into the honeycomb bodies in the vicinity of the at least one end, and they are in mechanical contact with the channel walls in the vicinity of the at least one end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 9, 1995
    Assignee: Emitec Gesellschaft fuer Emissionstechnologie mbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Breuer, Rolf Bruck, Helmut Swars
  • Patent number: 5409669
    Abstract: An electrically regenerable diesel particulate filter cartridge and filter comprising a slotted electrically resistive tube which, when energized, heats the filter media to a temperature sufficient to allow the trapped soot particulates to burn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Mark P. Smith, Richard L. Bloom, Thomas J. Conway
  • Patent number: 5409668
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method for controlling the conductance of heated structures used to initiate faster light-off in emission control systems such as used for automotive catalytic converters, diesel particulate filters and industrial stacks and other applications in which the exhaust gas stream temperature is too low to initiate fast light-off. The invention also relates to a method for minimizing the amount of conductive material used for making such structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 25, 1995
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Rodney D. Bagley, Jacqueline L. Brown
  • Patent number: 5407647
    Abstract: A gas-scrubber apparatus, including a chamber having an inlet means for receiving polluted gases to be scrubbed and having outlet means through which scrubbed gases are discharged, and heating elements for heating the chamber to maintain the polluted gases at predetermined temperature levels between the inlet means and the outlet means. The chamber includes a reaction zone for receiving a mixture of solid scrubbant materials for reacting with the polluted gases and a gas blower for directing the polluted gases to travel through the chamber to react with the scrubbant materials. At least one scrubber assembly is mounted in the reaction zone of the chamber having a baffle for collecting the polluted gases in the area adjacent the wall of the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1995
    Assignee: Florida Scientific Laboratories Inc.
    Inventor: Gregorio Tarancon
  • Patent number: 5397548
    Abstract: An apparatus for catalytic reduction of a nitrogen oxide in a waste gas includes a regenerative heat exchanger containing a heat-storage material consisting at least partially of a catalytic material, inlet and outlet conduits for supplying the waste gases to the heat exchanger and for delivering purified waste gases from the apparatus, respectively, first and second hoods arranged in inlet and outlet conduits respectively, on opposite sides of the heat storage material, a conduit for conducting a gaseous medium through heat exchanger, the gaseous medium flowing, in heat exchanger, through first and second hoods, and a conduit for supplying a reducing agent into the heat exchange for assisting in the catalytic reduction of the nitrogen oxide in the waste gases by the heat-storage material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1995
    Assignee: Apparatebau Rothemuhle Brandt & Kritzler Gesellschaft mit besehrankter Haftung
    Inventors: Gerhard Kritzler, Siegfried Schluter
  • Patent number: 5382412
    Abstract: An improved reactor for a high-temperature deposition reaction on seed particles is constructed with a fluidized bed which is divided into a heating zone and a reaction zone by a partition. Seed particles in the heating zone are fluidized by a carrier gas and are heated by microwaves. On the other hand, the reaction zone for the deposition reaction, through which reaction gases pass, is heated by particle mixing between the reaction zone and the upper section of the heating zone. Subsequently, a desired reaction temperature at the reaction zone is maintained stable without deteriorating the microwave heating of the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 17, 1995
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
    Inventors: Hee Y. Kim, Yong M. Song, Jong Y. Jeon, Dae H. Kwon, Kang M. Lee, Jae S. Lee, Dong S. Park
  • Patent number: 5374413
    Abstract: An improved method is provided for the deposition of high-purity silicon on silicon particles from silicon source gases in a fluidized bed reactor which is divided into a heating zone and a reaction zone by a partition. Silicon particles in the heating zone are fluidized by a carrier gas such as hydrogen and are heated by microwaves. On the other hand, the reaction zone for the deposition of silicon, through which reaction gases including the silicon source pass, is heated by particle mixing between the reaction zone and the upper section of the heating zone. Subsequently, a desired reaction temperature at the reaction zone is maintained stable without deteriorating the microwave heating of the heating zone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1994
    Assignee: Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology
    Inventors: Hee Y. Kim, Yong M. Song, Jong Y. Jeon, Dae H. Kwon, Kang M. Lee, Jae S. Lee, Dong S. Park
  • Patent number: 5360461
    Abstract: A hydrogen storage device (2) includes a vessel (4) and a hydrogen storage bed (6) disposed in the vessel (4). The hydrogen storage bed (6) includes a polymeric material (8) having a plurality of micropores less than about 1 nm in diameter and at least one hydride forming metal (10) imbedded within the polymeric material (8). The device also includes means for optically and thermally decomposing the metal hydride to release hydrogen and means for conveying hydrogen into and out of the storage device (2). The hydrogen storage bed (6) may be made by distributing a hydride forming metal (10) within the polymeric material (8) while the polymeric material (8) is in an uncured state. A metal hydride may be formed in the presence of hydrogen at a pressure such that the hydrogen bonds to the hydride forming metal (10) to form a metal hydride within the polymeric material (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 1, 1994
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Meinzer
  • Patent number: 5332557
    Abstract: A plurality of workpieces are supported on a workpiece holder disposed over an opening defined in a horizontal base plate and connected to an evacuating device. A reaction chamber, which is supported on an arm of a lifting and lowering device, is vertically movable with respect to the base plate between a lowered position in which the reaction chamber defines a closed space which accommodates the workpieces therein and a lifted position in which the workpieces are exposed out of the reaction chamber. A heating device, which is supported on an arm of another lifting and lowering device, is vertically movable with respect to the base plate between a lowered position in which the heating device surrounds the reaction chamber and a lifted position in which the reaction chamber is exposed out of the heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1994
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsutomu Sahoda, Hideyuki Mizuki, Hidenori Miyamoto, Hisashi Hori, Hiroyoshi Sago