And Separation Means Patents (Class 451/88)
  • Patent number: 7249994
    Abstract: An abrasive cleaning apparatus comprising a single-block plastic blasting booth having a front wall, a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and side walls, wherein at least a portion of one of the side walls defines an opening closeable by a door, thereby providing access inside the single-block blasting booth, and wherein one or more gaskets create a hermetic seal between the single-block blasting booth and the openable side wall portion, the one or more gaskets being provided on one or more of the opening and the door. The abrasive cleaning material may comprise sodium bicarbonate or a granular mixture containing sodium bicarbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Solvay Chimica Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Alessandro Sommacal
  • Patent number: 7147545
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of handling abrasive solids materials used in an abrasive cutting procedure which jets a high-pressure abrasive slurry through a nozzle (7) onto a work piece over and/or in a catcher tank (8). This handling method includes catching the used abrasive slurry together with work piece kerf material in the catcher tank, and passing at least some abrasive solids collected in the catcher tank as a slurry to a partitioning apparatus which includes a vibratory sieve (27). The handling method also includes partitioning the slurry with the partitioning apparatus in order to provide at least two solids streams. One of the solid streams passes through the sieve and the other passes across the sieve whilst entrained as a slurry. The handling method further includes passing as a slurry to the nozzle (7) for jetting a pressurised or pressurisable slurry that has partitioned solids stream which has passed through the sieve (27).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Jetsis International PTE Ltd
    Inventor: Michael William Gadd
  • Patent number: 7118609
    Abstract: The present invention refers to a motorized tool with suction and dust collection capacity. The tool comprises: means for extracting dust suitable for producing a flow of air; means for collecting dust having a first duct for the entrance of the air, that can be connected separately to said tool, and at least one second duct for the air, connected to the outside environment; said means for collecting dust include a filtering element positioned between said first duct and said second duct. Said filtering element defines an internal space and an external space surrounding said internal space, one of which is in communication with said first duct and the other is in communication with said second duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Inventor: Guido Valentini
  • Patent number: 7070489
    Abstract: A granule dishwashing apparatus with at least one removable granule collector and method of use. The dishwashing apparatus may include a treatment chamber, a tank, one or more granule collectors and one or more pumping devices. Soiled articles are placed in the treatment chamber to be washed with a mixture of liquid and granules that is sprayed at the articles under high pressure. The mixture falls toward the tank after impacting the articles, passing through the granule collector(s). A liquid only portion is separated from the mixture using the granule collector(s) so that the articles can be rinsed. At any point following a cleaning cycle, the granule collector(s) can be removed to add more granules and to simplify the cleaning of the apparatus. The granule collectors may be connected to actuators so that they can be placed in a release mode or a collect mode depending on the function desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Inventor: Bertil Rogmark
  • Patent number: 7070487
    Abstract: A washing device includes a case body; a table installed into the case body for supporting a workpiece which is to be cleaned; an solid cleaning substance feeding device having an impeller, capable of projecting an solid cleaning substance and a cleaning liquid to the work; an solid cleaning substance supply which supplies the solid cleaning substance to the solid cleaning substance feeding device by driving the impeller; and a cleaning liquid supply which supplies the cleaning liquid to the impeller when the solid cleaning substance feeding device drives so that it can remove paint, a mold release agent, dirt, oil dirt, etc. in a short time and can be used again and again. The device can use a cleaning agent, such as a surface-active agent, an antirust agent, a degreasing agent, warm water, water, and prevents pollution of the environment, the human body, and the subsoil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nissanki Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akinori Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7008304
    Abstract: Provided is a centrifuge media separator for separating blast particulate from fine particulate carried by air flowing from a blast cabinet and through the media separator. The centrifuge media separator comprises an upper panel, a lower panel, and an outer wall. The upper panel has a central opening formed therein. The outer wall is configured in a generally curvilinear shape and which extends between the upper and lower panels. The outer wall has at least one particulate escape aperture formed therein. The upper panel, lower panel and outer wall collectively define a curvilinear air passageway having an inlet and an outlet. The inlet is configured to allow a flow of air to enter the air passageway and circulate therethrough toward the outlet. The escape aperture is configured to exhaust the blast particulate out of the passageway. The central opening is configured to exhaust the fine particulate out of the passageway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Media Blast & Abrasives, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert A. Robinson
  • Patent number: 7004824
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of in situ monitoring and dispersing unwanted particles in slurry used during CMP polishing. The method includes providing a slurry path, applying to the slurry path a microcavitation field of a first level to detect particles of a predetermined size, applying to the slurry path a microcavitation field of a second level that is capable of dispersing said particles, and after the second applying step, feeding the slurry to a CMP polishing unit. Particle size may be detected and/or the microcavitation field strength may be set according to particle size. In addition, field strength may be calibrated according to levels determined by polystyrene control particles of a known size and/or concentration. A single or dual transducer may apply the microcavitation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Inventor: Sameer I. Madanshetty
  • Patent number: 6969303
    Abstract: A method for removing a coating on a surface by applying a treatment composition layer to the coating to be removed. The treatment composition layer is made up of (Is) a first material selected from the compounds of sodium and potassium silicates, sodium and potassium phosphate, calcium silicate, iron and aluminum sulfates. An abrasive is injected against the coating to be removed so that the treatment composition layer and coat to be removed are removed and any hazardous material in the layer to be removed is contained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Nextec, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Rolle, James C. Wachtel, Gary L. Tinklenberg
  • Patent number: 6929537
    Abstract: A slurry recycling method comprising the steps of: separating a spent slurry containing silicon dust resulting from slicing of a silicon ingot in the presence of a slurry composed of abrasive grains and a dispersion medium in which the abrasive grains are dispersed, into a dispersion mainly containing the abrasive grains and a dispersion mainly containing the silicon dust; recovering the dispersion medium by centrifuging and/or distilling the dispersion mainly containing the silicon dust; and reproducing a slurry using abrasive grains or the dispersion mainly containing abrasive grains, and the recovered dispersion medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kimihiko Kajimoto
  • Patent number: 6913524
    Abstract: The invention comprises a suction housing connected to a negative pressure forming means to suck in fluids, a suction opening member mounted on the suction housing, a part of which is caused to contact the surface of an object, and which defines a pressure-reduced area together with the suction housing and the surface of an object, and a means for maintaining the distance between the suction housing and the surface of an object at a predetermined distance, wherein the suction opening member and the surface of an object where in contact with each other are caused to be detached from each other partially or entirely due to the increase in the fluid pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the pressure-reduced area, resulting in the communication between the inside and the outside of the pressure-reduced area, allowing the outside fluid to flow into the pressure-reduced area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Fukashi Urakami
  • Patent number: 6913689
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for removing sediment from a liquid are provided. Pulses of pressurized air are directed into a conduit having an inlet disposed within a first liquid-containing vessel adjacent to (or within) the sediment to cause a slurry of liquid and sediment to flow through the conduit into a second vessel elevated above the first vessel. The slurry of liquid and sediment is allowed to drain from the second vessel into a third vessel that is positioned at an elevation lower than the second vessel. Liquid is drained from the third vessel (to another vessel or elsewhere) as sediment accumulates within the third vessel. The third vessel may be removed when accumulation of sediment therewithin reaches a predetermined amount. The accumulated sediment within the third vessel is removed and the third vessel is returned to service, or another empty vessel may be substituted therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Inventor: Ervin F. Portman
  • Patent number: 6908372
    Abstract: A tool and a method for cutting holes in a container wall such as in a tank, a cistern, a pipeline, a vehicle, a ship, a production like or the like that contains inflammable, explosive, or other hazardous gasses, and liquids. The tool includes means for pressurising a cutting medium and discharging said medium via a nozzle. The nozzle is arranged in an enclosing cover including a scalable safety outlet for evacuation of the container contents. The cover has means of sealed-off abutment against the container wall concerned in the area in which hole cutting is to be performed. The nozzle is arranged to be directed towards the container wall in such a way that in use the cutting medium is discharged in the form of a jet impinging against the container wall with sufficient force to cut through said wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Assignee: Cold Cut Systems Svenska AB
    Inventor: Lars G. Larsson
  • Patent number: 6878046
    Abstract: An apparatus for cleaning using blast cleaning media including a cabinet, an evacuation device in communication with the cabinet, and a delivery unit containing cleaning media in communication with the cabinet. The delivery unit includes a safety device for relieving pressure within the delivery unit prior to refilling. The cabinet includes ports in communication with a diverter channel for increasing visibility along a line of sight upon activation of the evacuation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Rudy Publ, Brian Gutkowski
  • Patent number: 6875083
    Abstract: An abrasive media containment bag (11) having a bag portion (13), a nozzle fitting (15), a blast fitting (17), and a filter member (19) is disclosed. The abrasive media containment bag (11) allows the surface of an aircraft or aircraft component to be prepared for bonding by using abrasive blasting, without fear of contaminating other aircraft components with the abrasive media. The abrasive media containment bag (11) isolates the area to be treated ande recovers and contains the abrasive media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
    Inventor: John W. Gunnell
  • Patent number: 6848979
    Abstract: Blasting device includes a blasting medium supply unit and a blasting gun. An extension is provided on the blasting gun, which extension may include a sufficiently clear portion so that the user of the blasting gun may view the surface which is being blasted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Inventor: Paul Michael Fennessy
  • Patent number: 6833016
    Abstract: A dust collection system for portable sanding or grinding equipment employs a cyclone separator mounted directly on the tool or machine, with a dust outlet duct at the narrow lower end of the cyclone, and a cartridge air filter mounted on the top of the cyclone. The filter returns the air flow from the machine to the ambient air in the vicinity of the tool. The dust is concentrated in the cyclone, and a small volume air flow then moves the dust through an elongated flexible hose or duct to a remote dust collection station. An air pump at the remote dust collection station provides sufficient air flow to draw the small volume of air plus entrained dust from the tool-mounted cyclonic separator. A cyclonic separator at the remote station separates this dust from the air flow and deposits it in a collection tank or drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Oneida Air Systems, Inc
    Inventor: Robert M. Witter
  • Patent number: 6817930
    Abstract: A sand-filtering device for filtering sands produced by a sandblast machine that includes a housing, a supporting plate, at least one filtering sleeve, a division module and an air pump. The housing is connected to the sandblast machine to receive the sands. The supporting plate is detachably mounted in the housing. The filtering sleeve is hung on the supporting plate. The division module is detachably mounted in the housing. The division module has at least one passage connected to the filtering sleeve. The air pump pumps the sands through the passage into the filtering sleeve so that the sands are filtered by the filtering sleeve. To replace the filtering sleeve, the supporting plate and the division module are detached from the housing and directly thrown away together with the filtering sleeve. That is fast, efficient and safe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Au Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Min Lin, Tien-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 6805618
    Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the present invention relates to an abrasive recovery apparatus for use in conjunction with the slurry generated by water jet cutting or conditioning operations. The generated slurry is comprised of both non-recyclable fines and recyclable particles. The abrasive recovery apparatus comprises a slurry intake system having one or more pumps which collect and distribute slurry. The abrasive recovery apparatus further comprises a vibrating separator having a filter sized and shaped such that the non-recyclable fines in the slurry are separated from the recyclable particles in the slurry. The abrasive recovery apparatus still further comprises a fluidized bed dryer having heating elements to dry the recyclable particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Zuluboy, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent C. Ward, Mark V. Ward, Bryce D. Ward
  • Patent number: 6802983
    Abstract: A method and system for separating impurities, such as large abrasive particles and foreign matter from an abrasive polishing slurry prior to a Chemical Mechanical Polishing (CMP) procedure performed on a surface of a semiconductor wafer. Impurities greater than about 25 microns are removed by an initial filtration process. The filtrate is then introduced to a solid bowl, sedimentation-type centrifuge to remove particles greater than 0.5 microns thereby providing a polishing slurry for final utilization in a CMP procedure that reduces damage to the surface of the polished semiconductor wafer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: William Mullee, Glen Jenkins, Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 6800017
    Abstract: A lens-holding shaft 41 displaces a lens 1 towards a main rotating tool 50 for processing the peripheral portion of the lens 1. A long hole 115 penetrating a waterproof case 101 is formed in the waterproof case 101 along the locus of displacement of the lens-holding shaft 41 and the lens-holding shaft is inserted through the long hole 115. At the outside of the waterproof case 101 along the long hole 115, a flexible water-resistant sliding shutter 130 is disposed in a manner such that the sliding shutter 130 can be freely displaced. The sliding shutter 130 is connected with the lens-holding shaft 41. A guide member 150 containing the sliding shutter 130 is bent at a position before the main shaft 51.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiko Samukawa
  • Patent number: 6783433
    Abstract: A polishing-washing method includes the steps of providing a polishing media containing a fine powder of an RB ceramic and/or CRB ceramic and bringing a medium stream containing the polishing media into contact with the surfaces of a body to be worked. In this method, the polishing media solution obtained after the polishing-washing can be re-used by recycling after simply separating the particles of metal oxides and the particles of removed burrs and cutting metal chips from the solution composition by utilizing a difference in specific gravity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Minebea Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuo Hokkirigawa, Motoharu Akiyama, Noriyuki Yoshimura
  • Patent number: 6688946
    Abstract: An efficient method of cleaning various workpieces is the so-called wet blasting, by which the workpieces are exposed to a spraying of water with a content of hard macro particles. Optimally, this blasting medium should be recirculated, but this implies noticeable problems with respect to separation of cleaned-off dirt and worn-down blasting particles. The invention provides for a system for processing units enabling these problems to be overcome in a relatively simple manner for achieving a high efficiency and low costs of the combined system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Inventor: Thomas Tygesen Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6672948
    Abstract: A grinding water tank apparatus includes a tank for storing grinding water to be used for machining a peripheral edge of an eyeglass lens and recycles the grinding water stored in the tank by circulation. The apparatus further includes an air filter provided at a position in a space higher than the water surface of the grinding water in the tank, and a suction unit for drawing bubbles developing in the tank by way of the air filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: Nidek Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Mizuno
  • Patent number: 6615817
    Abstract: A constitution comprises separated processing of an abrasive grain waste liquid into recycled abrasive grain and a fine abrasive grain mixed liquid in a first centrifugal separator, adding a fresh cutting liquid to the fine abrasive grain mixed liquid to direct the resulting liquid to a second centrifugal separator to subject the same to separated processing in the second centrifugal separator, into waste abrasive grain and a recovered cutting liquid directing the recovered cutting liquid through a recovered cutting liquid tank to a recovered abrasive grain tank, adding fresh abrasive grain and a cutting liquid for dilution to the recovered cutting liquid in the recovered cutting liquid tank and to the recycled abrasive grain to create a recycled abrasive grain mixed cutting liquid, and feeding the recycled abrasive grain mixed cutting liquid to an abrasive grain supply tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2003
    Inventor: Motoichi Horio
  • Patent number: 6609960
    Abstract: A granule dishwashing apparatus with easily removable granule collectors and method of use. The dishwashing apparatus consists primarily of a treatment chamber, a tank, one or more granule collectors and one or more pumping devices. Soiled articles are placed in the treatment chamber to be washed with a mixture consisting of liquid and granules that is sprayed at the articles under high pressure. The mixture falls toward the tank after impacting the articles, passing through the granule collector(s). A liquid only portion is separated from the mixture at some point using the granule collector(s) so that the articles can be rinsed. At any point following a cleaning cycle, the granule collector(s) can be removed to add more granules and to simplify the cleaning of the apparatus. In a multiple collector system, the granule collectors are connected to actuators so that the collectors can be placed in a release mode or a collect mode depending on the function desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2003
    Assignee: National Conveyor Corporation
    Inventor: Bertil Rogmark
  • Patent number: 6607670
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for very rapidly cleaning very small, colloidal particles from nuclear reactor water subjected to a high-energy waterjet cutting of metal using metal shot particles for cuffing such as garnet particles with the cutting causing fracturing of the metal shot as well as the cut metal fines into a negatively charged colloidal suspension having a large area. This colloidal suspension causes water turbidity and makes known filtration techniques impractical for rapid removal of such suspensions for recycling to the reactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: Framatome Anp. Inc.
    Inventors: Philip N. Baldwin, Raymond E. Beatty, James E. Day, Gary J. Guy
  • Patent number: 6554467
    Abstract: On-site blending and distribution of oxide abrasives with other constituents as used in semiconductor applications. Constituent blending is accomplished through weighing components individually into a blending tank. Some components may be added by injection or weight. Alternatively blends can be made to varying concentrations by passing the blended oxide solution in a closed circulation loop through a calibrated encapsulated torroid coil to measure electrical conductivity. The resulting conductivity output may be used to add one or more component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2003
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide - Societe' Anonyme a'Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Air Liquide America, L.P.
    Inventors: David L. Snyder, Karl J. Urquhart, Richard Swindell
  • Patent number: 6547649
    Abstract: A method for recovering noble metal from scrap generated during the manufacture of noble metal units. The method includes providing a cast metal unit such as a dental crown or a jewelry item. The unit is made of some noble metal. The surface of the unit is prepared with an abrading element. A magnetically attractive particulate contaminated scrap is generated. The scrap includes some noble metal and particulate contaminate. The noble metal is magnetically separated from the contaminate. The system includes an abrading element and a rotary tool for operating the element at a speed sufficient to prepare the surface of the units. A collection unit is provided for operation of the element therein. The scrap generated includes a percentage of magnetically attractive contaminate. A refining unit is provided including a magnet positioned therein for magnetically removing the contaminate from the scrap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: David J. Andrus
  • Publication number: 20030064668
    Abstract: An abrasive cleaning apparatus comprising a housing defining a substantially closed operating chamber with a pair of rotating impellers therein. The abrasive cleaning material is directed into the chamber where the blades of the impellers contact the particulate cleaning material and throw the material through an open front area of the chamber against the surface to be cleaned. At the front of the housing is a yielding perimeter portion which provides a seal against the surface which is being cleaned. The waste material removed from the surface being cleaned is drawn through an outlet port to a cyclone type separating chamber where the abrasive particulate material is separated and directed back to the operating chamber, and the waste material is delivered to a waste location. The abrasive material in the housing remains in the housing and is directed repeatedly against the surface to be cleaned.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2002
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Dusan Mrak
  • Patent number: 6527783
    Abstract: Microdermabrasion and suction massage apparatus are included in a single unit and alternatively connectable through a mode switch to a source of vacuum. The microdermabrasion section of the unit includes a crystal pick up station operating with a venturi effect to draw crystals through a hole into an air stream. The size of the hole is variable to control crystal density. A bleed valve is provided to control crystal velocity without controlling crystal density, while a bypass valve is provided to control crystal density without controlling crystal velocity. In an associated method, a microdermabrasion procedure is performed on the skin of a patient at an operative site. The mode switch is operated to activate the suction massage apparatus within the unit. This step is followed by performing a suction massage procedure at the operative site in order to promote healing of the abraded skin. The unit can be back-flushed by connecting various portions of the unit to a pressurized output of the source of vacuum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Edge Systems Corporation
    Inventor: Roger G. Ignon
  • Patent number: 6524171
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improved recovery system for blasting works, comprising a space below a perforated floor of the blasting works for receiving the blast material, and suction channels (21) for leading the blast material from the space below the floor to a classifier by using a blower; the recovery system comprises at least one elongated, substantially horizontal chute (17) opening upwards and arranged into the said space, the chute comprising two side walls (18, 19), and an elongated cover element (20) with two elongated free side edges (22, 23) arranged over the chute; the chute (17) and cover element (20) form between them a discharge channel (21) for the blast material; in addition, the system comprises pneumatic cylinders (26) for moving the cover element (20) in vertical direction between a lower and a raised position so that in the lower position, the side edges (22, 23) of the cover element engage the side walls (18, 19) of the chute and, in the raised position, the side edges (22, 23) of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Pekotek Oy
    Inventor: Tenho Voutilainen
  • Publication number: 20030027508
    Abstract: The objective of this invention is to provide a device adhering or attempting to adhere to the surface of an object when negative pressure is formed internally, and having a mechanism which adjusts such negative pressure by taking in an ambient fluid such as air or water. Also provided is a device sucking in materials which exist on the surface of an object when negative pressure is formed internally, and having a mechanism which adjusts such negative pressure by taking in an ambient fluid such as air or water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventor: Fukashi Urakami
  • Patent number: 6514128
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering and cleaning contaminated abrasive blast media. A transportation assembly supplies contaminated blast media to an in feed cylinder within a rotating drum separator. The drum separator is formed from a plurality of elongated spaced parallel-aligned elements that define gradation openings between adjacent elements. The blast media is transported within the drum along the gradation interior surface. An internal spiral vein on the inside of the drum surface moves the media progressively through the drums exposing it to different areas of the drum surface having different gradation configurations. An air wash separator receives filtered blast media from the drum for final separation processing and reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Inventor: Gus Lyras
  • Publication number: 20030003851
    Abstract: A slurry recycling apparatus having a first filter, a dirty side storage tank, slurry pump, second filter, clean side storage tank and slurry outlet, in which used slurry from an edge notch polishing apparatus is delivered to the first screen filter, transported to the dirty side slurry storage tank, pumped from the dirty side slurry storage tank through a second filter that filters out small particulate matter from the slurry and allows the slurry to pass to the clean side slurry storage tank, and finally to the edge notch polishing apparatus as needed. Slurry which is not immediately taken from the clean side slurry storage tank is continuously recycled through the second filter by overflowing from the clean side to the dirty side slurry storage tank where it is there pumped through the second filter back into the clean side slurry storage tank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2001
    Publication date: January 2, 2003
    Applicant: SEH America, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott Cann, Michael Huston, Sergey N. Altukhov
  • Patent number: 6500058
    Abstract: Disclosed is a clog-free drain system installed in a cutting apparatus. The system includes an expandable cover for covering a path which a chuck table follows, a water case for receiving used machining water guided by the expandable cover, and a drain pool for tentatively storing the used machining water from the water case before allowing it to drain off. The drain pool has its bottom positioned at a level lower than the bottom of the water case, and the drain pool has its drain outlet formed at a level higher than the bottom of the drain pool. The water case has water flow creating apparatus for driving the used machining water to the water pool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2002
    Assignee: Disco Corporation
    Inventors: Sojiro Bajo, Okiharu Tamura
  • Patent number: 6482078
    Abstract: A system (1), for shot blasting of a surface, collecting used shot blast media and debris, and separating the debris from the shot blast, has at least one shot blast nozzle (105) with a hood (100) connected to a vacuum hose (110). The system further has a displacement chamber (200) with an inlet connected to the hood by the vacuum hose, an inlet baffle (220), a solid matter collecting and discharging area (205) for receiving solid matter which falls from the gas stream in the displacement chamber, an outlet baffle (225), an outlet (226) for the outgoing gas stream, and a rotary valve (510) for allowing discharge of the solid matter. A first filter unit (300) and a second filter unit (310) are connected to the displacement chamber via a first duct (230). A shot blast media container (600) is connected to a shot blast media feeding hose (120), which is connected to the shot blast nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Inventor: James Pittman
  • Patent number: 6482325
    Abstract: Abrasive components and clear fluids are separated from an aqueous chemical mechanical slurry used for planarization of semiconductor materials, to permit the reuse of the clear liquid effluent in non-process applications as well as for gray water for irrigation, process cooling water, or as make-up water for a reverse osmosis system, or safe disposal in the industrial waste stream, as desired. A solids detection device determines the concentration of abrasive solids in the aqueous waste effluent stream, and a diverter valve receives and diverts the entire aqueous waste effluent stream to at least one reuse water collection tank when the abrasive solids concentration is below a desired threshold, and diverts the entire aqueous waste effluent stream to at least one concentrate water collection tank when the abrasive solids concentration is greater than or equal to the threshold. With the additional use of ion exchange, the resulting water stream can be reused in high purity water applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: Linica Group, Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary L. Corlett, Edward T. Ferri, Jr., J. Tobin Geatz
  • Patent number: 6461231
    Abstract: A pipeline treating apparatus (10) is disclosed which is used to clean the exterior of a pipeline (12) with high pressure air with entrained abrasive. The apparatus has an improved classifier and separator to separate the abrasive grit from lighter debris which includes a classifier and separator within a manifold duct (56) which returns the grit to a collection pan (40) for recovery and causes the lighter airborne dust to be removed through a return duct (58). A series of pressure relief filters (82) reduce the air pressure within a blast chamber (28) and resist debris escaping from the blast chamber past the triple seals (76, 78, 80). The blast nozzle assemblies (834) are attached to the nozzle oscillating frames by snap fittings (74) which avoids threaded connections which may become contaminated by the debris.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: CRC-Evans Rehabilitation Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Sidney A. Taylor, Stanley J. Rogala, Andrzej Stenzel
  • Patent number: 6436281
    Abstract: Wastewater from a chemical-mechanical polishing process (CMP) used in semiconductor chip fabrication has hitherto been, and is still being, discharged into the public sewage system after chemical neutralization and sedimentation. This has the drawback that water consumption is considerable. It is therefore an object of the invention to reduce the total amount of wastewater produced that has to be discharged. This is achieved by the wastewater to be treated being subjected to an ultra-filtration. This allows the treated CMP wastewater to be reused within the plant. In particular, it can be recycled in order again to recover therefrom deionized water of a very high purity for operational purposes, e.g. for CMP.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Jürgen Hammer, Andre Richter, Werner Kraus, Heinz-Dieter Petermann
  • Patent number: 6402599
    Abstract: The present invention provides a slurry delivery system comprising a slurry conduit couplable to a wall of the slurry tank, and configured to receive a slurry therein and deliver a stream of the slurry against an inner wall of the slurry tank. Thus, the system inhibits drying of a slurry within the slurry tank and minimizes agglomeration on the sides of the slurry tank that results from slurry drying on the sides of the slurry tank's wall when the slurry level within the tank rises and falls. This minimization of agglomeration reduces the agglomerates within the slurry supply, which in turn, reduces the number of contaminants and scratches affecting the overall quality of the semiconductor wafer substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Agere Systems Guardian Corp.
    Inventors: Annette M. Crevasse, William G. Easter, John A. Maze, Frank Miceli, Craig R. Zavilla
  • Patent number: 6371839
    Abstract: An constant abrasive feeder of abrasive grains M is formed of a reservoir supply section 20 having a reservoir tank 21 and a buffer tank 31, a stirring hopper 40 for stirring abrasive grains S, and a vibration feeder 60 for supplying the abrasive grains S to an abrasive jet nozzle 5. The abrasive grains S recovered in a cyclone 1 is reserved in the reservoir tank 21 and the buffer tank 31 by a constant quantity, the abrasive grains S is sent from the buffer tank 31 and reserved in a reservoir 43, which is stirred by stirring bars 50, 51 and sent to a supply guide 45. Then, the abrasive grains S is sequentially supplied to a feeder body 61 of the vibration feeder 60 from an opening formed in the supply guide 45.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Sintobrator, LTD
    Inventors: Moriyasu Izawa, Hiromichi Horikawa, Hiroyasu Yashiro, Mikitoshi Hiraga, Yasuhiro Nagae
  • Publication number: 20020042245
    Abstract: A sand-filtering device for filtering sands produced by a sandblast machine that includes a housing, a supporting plate, at least one filtering sleeve, a division module and an air pump. The housing is connected to the sandblast machine to receive the sands. The supporting plate is detachably mounted in the housing. The filtering sleeve is hung on the supporting plate. The division module is detachably mounted in the housing. The division module has at least one passage connected to the filtering sleeve. The air pump pumps the sands through the passage into the filtering sleeve so that the sands are filtered by the filtering sleeve. To replace the filtering sleeve, the supporting plate and the division module are detached from the housing and directly thrown away together with the filtering sleeve. That is fast, efficient and safe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2001
    Publication date: April 11, 2002
    Applicant: AU Optronics Corp.
    Inventors: Yu-Min Lin, Tien-Chi Wang
  • Patent number: 6368195
    Abstract: Plastic abrasives for sandblasting, in particular, those to be used in sandblast processing for forming barrier ribs and priming ribs; a sandblast processing method with the use of the same; and a method for treating sandblasting waste matters. A plastic abrasive for sandblasting characterized by being soluble in organic solvents or water/organic solvent mixtures and comprising plastic particles having an average particle size of 5 to 100 &mgr;m; a method for sandblast processing a plasma display panel substrate by using the plastic abrasive; and a method for treating sandblasting waste matters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiminori Oshio, Hiroyuki Obiya
  • Patent number: 6368417
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning a tire mold with frozen CO2 cleaning material wherein a portable frame is positioned on a bottom mold of a tire press and has a rotatable frame on which a nozzle support is mounted for swivel action to clean the upper mold half and the lower mold half as the nozzle support is moved radially and circumferentially of the tire mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
    Inventor: David Joseph Weber
  • Patent number: 6361416
    Abstract: This invention relates to methods and apparatus for recovering abrasive for use with abrasive jet cutting systems. In one embodiment, an apparatus in accordance with the invention includes an abrasive-laden fluid handling device coupled to a catcher tank of an abrasive jet cutting system, a pre-classifier fluidly coupled to the abrasive-laden fluid handling device, a hydro-classifier fluidly coupled to the pre-classifier, a fine-particle separation tank fluidly coupled to a clarified-fluid flow outlet of the hydro-classifier, a wet abrasive receptacle positioned to receive a wet recovered abrasive discharged from the hydro-classifier, a de-watering device engageable with the wet recovered abrasive in wet abrasive receptacle, and a dryer unit. The abrasive-laden fluid handling device may include an abrasive-laden fluid conduit having a first end in fluid communication with the catcher tank and an abrasive-laden fluid outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Flow International Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan J. Hopkins, Jonathan M. Stewart, Felice M. Sciulli, Katherine Zaring, Daniel Chin, John Massenburg, Daniel Devine
  • Publication number: 20020031989
    Abstract: A granule dishwashing apparatus with easily removable granule collectors and method of use. The dishwashing apparatus consists primarily of a treatment chamber, a tank, one or more granule collectors and one or more pumping devices. Soiled articles are placed in the treatment chamber to be washed with a mixture consisting of liquid and granules that is sprayed at the articles under high pressure. The mixture falls toward the tank after impacting the articles, passing through the granule collector(s). A liquid only portion is separated from the mixture at some point using the granule collector(s) so that the articles can be rinsed. At any point following a cleaning cycle, the granule collector(s) can be removed to add more granules and to simplify the cleaning of the apparatus. In a multiple collector system, the granule collectors are connected to actuators so that the collectors can be placed in a release mode or a collect mode depending on the function desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Bertil Rogmark
  • Patent number: 6328638
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and methods for recovering abrasive from an abrasive-laden fluid are shown and described. An abrasive-laden fluid handling device is coupled to a catcher tank to collect abrasive-laden fluid and transport it to a hydro-classifier. Wet recovered abrasive is discharged from the hydro-classifier and transferred to a de-watering device. The de-watering device removes water from the abrasive by decanting fluid and via use of an air eduction system. De-watered abrasive is then ejected from the de-watering device to a dryer unit, to be further dried and processed for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2001
    Assignee: Flow International Corporation
    Inventors: Jordan J. Hopkins, Jonathan M. Stewart, Felice M. Sciulli, Katherine Zaring, Daniel Chin, John Massenburg, Daniel Devine
  • Patent number: 6299513
    Abstract: This method provide a method for fabricating a semiconductor device in which waste water generated by a step of processing a semiconductor is filtered to be clean. In the method, removables 12 trapped by a first filter film 10 are used as a second filter film 13, and clogging of the first filter film 10 is prevented, and an external force such as bubbles is applied to the second filter film 13 to maintain filtering capacity. And when removables are mixed with the filtered water, the filtered water is recirculated again to the tank in which the waste water is stored, and after it is checked that a desired inclusion rate has been reached filtration is started again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Motoyuki Tsuihiji, Hirofumi Iinuma
  • Patent number: 6299667
    Abstract: A method and device for removing dust from spaces having a high dust loading utilizing a blast jet chamber having a cartridge filter (2) for the exhaust volume flow and a cyclone dust separator (4) as well and an associated exhaust stack (3) for the recirculating volume flow, wherein the blast jet chamber (1) further includes intake labyrinths (6), fresh air shutters (5), recirculating air channels for the recirculating volume flow, and blowers (9, 10) with a control device (8) for producing the volume flows.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: KF Strahltechnik Dresden
    Inventor: Klaus Frohne
  • Publication number: 20010021630
    Abstract: An constant abrasive feeder of abrasive grains M is formed of a reservoir supply section 20 having a reservoir tank 21 and a buffer tank 31, a stirring hopper 40 for stirring abrasive grains S, and a vibration feeder 60 for supplying the abrasive grains S to an abrasive jet nozzle 5. The abrasive grains S recovered in a cyclone 1 is reserved in the reservoir tank 21 and the buffer tank 31 by a constant quantity, the abrasive grains S is sent from the buffer tank 31 and reserved in a reservoir 43, which is stirred by stirring bars 50, 51 and sent to a supply guide 45. Then, the abrasive grains S is sequentially supplied to a feeder body 61 of the vibration feeder 60 from an opening formed in the supply guide 45.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2001
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: SINTOBRATOR, LTD.
    Inventors: Moriyasu Izawa, Hiromichi Horikawa, Hiroyasu Yashiro, Mikitoshi Hiraga, Yasuhiro Nagae