Plural Stages In Unitary Casing Patents (Class 55/318)
  • Patent number: 6551474
    Abstract: The present invention provides an ozone generation and delivery system that lends itself to small scale applications and requires very low maintenance. The system includes an anode reservoir and a cathode phase separator each having a hydrophobic membrane to allow phase separation of produced gases from water. The system may be configured to operate passively with no moving parts or in a self-pressurizing manner with the inclusion of a pressure controlling device or valve in the gas outlet of the anode reservoir. The hydrogen gas, ozone gas and water containing ozone may be delivered under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Lynntech International Ltd.
    Inventors: Craig C. Andrews, Thomas D. Rogers, Oliver J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 6517615
    Abstract: A filter arrangement for use with a vessel containing pressurized fluid includes a body engageable with the vessel. The arrangement further includes a coalescing filter assembly supported by the body such that the filter assembly is disposable inside the vessel when the body is engaged with the vessel. In one embodiment of the filter arrangement, the coalescing filter assembly includes a housing having a cavity, a coalescing filter disposed in the cavity for removing entrained liquid from the fluid, and a drain device in fluid communication with the cavity for draining the liquid removed by the coalescing filter from the cavity into the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Dynetek Industries Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Wayne Miller, Thomas Dean Barker, Garth James Schultz, Stephen Alan Carter
  • Patent number: 6485534
    Abstract: An evacuation system for a chamber (14) is provided, including a pump (12) for removing gases and contaminants from the chamber. The pump has an outlet (32) connected to an exhaust duct (34). A collector trap (42) for use in collecting contaminants evacuated from the chamber is positioned between the pump outlet (32) and the exhaust duct (34). The collector trap (42) comprises: (i) a gas/contaminant separator (46) having an inlet (56) for introducing gases and contaminants therein, the separator (46) functioning to physically separate the gases and contaminants; (ii) a contaminant collector (48) for collecting the separated contaminants, the collector (48) including an extractor coupling (70) for allowing extraction of the contaminants from the collector; and (iii) an outlet (72) for allowing the separated gases to exit the gas/contaminant separator (46) and into the exhaust duct (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Axcellis Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Quill
  • Patent number: 6475269
    Abstract: A filter assembly for a disk drive includes an outer shell through which gases flow in and out of the disk drive. The shell includes a tubular housing that extends into the disk drive. A first filter lies secured to an end portion of the housing and filters gases circulating within the disk drive and entering into the disk drive. The housing contains a second filter that includes an adsorbent body and a third filter that extends across an opening in the housing and helps contain the second filter within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Maxtor Corporation
    Inventor: Robert D. Turner
  • Patent number: 6464760
    Abstract: The invention relates to a portable air sterilization and filtration apparatus for removing contaminants from the ambient atmosphere, having a housing with an inlet opening and an outlet opening, filter media and ultraviolet light source, and a motorized fan for maintaining a flow of air through the housing from the inlet opening to the outlet opening. The invention also includes easy access to the filter medium and to the ultraviolet light sources for periodic replacement or cleaning, and integrates a safety lock feature whereby the removal of the filter or the removal of an ultraviolet light source would open the power circuit to the ultraviolet light source, preventing accidental irradiation of the user. The ultraviolet light sources also activate an indicator light viewable by the user when the ultraviolet light sources are energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Inventors: John C. K. Sham, Kumkit Kunavongvorakul
  • Patent number: 6453758
    Abstract: A compact cascade impactor is formed to classify particles carried in a flow through the impactor. The impactor has collection chambers that are arranged to conserve space and yet provide a large flow passageway. The collection chamber may be tear drop shaped and being nested together. The impactor includes nozzles that are used across a desired flow range without changing the nozzles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: MSP Corporation
    Inventors: Virgil A. Marple, Daryl L. Roberts, Benjamin Y. H. Liu
  • Patent number: 6451078
    Abstract: A fitting for a vacuum cleaner is disclosed. The fitting includes a retainer having first and second grooves within which a fitting is adapted to slide. The fitting includes a plate from which a cylinder extends and terminates in a radially inwardly directed deflector. Depending upon the orientation of the fitting within the retainer, the incoming fluid stream is directed in an upward or downward direction to thereby facilitate usage of the fitting with or without a vacuum bag, while at the same time minimizing the potential for splashing and expulsion of liquid drawn into the vacuum cleaner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Shop-Vac Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Berfield, Robert Lent Crevling
  • Patent number: 6440200
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel discharge preventing apparatus, in order to sufficiently adsorb and collect an evaporated fuel generated in an intake air passage at a time when an engine stops, and to prevent an engine performance from being reduced by reducing an intake air resistance in an evaporated fuel adsorbing portion at a time when the engine is driven, has an adsorbing device arranged in a passage between an evaporated fuel generating portion and an air cleaner element, and, the adsorbing device is formed by an intake air passage portion laterally arranged within the device penetratingly and communicated with the passage at both ends, an adsorbent layer arranged on an outer periphery of the intake air passage portion, and a member covering an outer surface in a non-ventilating state except a side of the intake air passage portion in the adsorbent layer, and an inner diameter of the intake air passage portion of the adsorbing device is set to be substantially equal to or more than an inner diameter of the intake a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hitoshi Sakakibara, Tomonari Toki, Hideo Yamada
  • Patent number: 6432177
    Abstract: An air filter assembly for removing particulate contaminants, chemical contaminants, or both, from an incoming dirty air stream. The resulting filtered or clean air is supplied to catalytic equipment, such as a fuel cell. The filter assembly can include a physical filter portion for removing physical or particulate contaminants, a chemical filter portion for removing chemical contaminants, or can have both portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew James Dallas, Mark Alan Gogins, Kristine Marie Graham, Daniel Adamek, Robert Skuster
  • Patent number: 6428589
    Abstract: A vacuum cleaner includes a housing and a nozzle in fluid communication with the housing. A suction source is held by the housing. The nozzle is in fluid communication with the suction source. A dust cup is selectively secured to the housing. The dust cup includes an inlet in fluid communication with the nozzle and a first inertial dust separation stage positioned downstream from the inlet. A first dust containing chamber is located adjacent the first inertial dust separation stage for holding the dust separated by the first inertial dust separation stage. A second inertial dust separation stage is located downstream from the first inertial dust separation stage. A second dust containing chamber is located adjacent the second inertial dust separation stage for holding dust separated by the second inertial dust separation stage. An outlet is located downstream from the second inertial dust separation stage. The dust cup can be selectively removed from the housing for emptying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Royal Appliance Mfg. Co.
    Inventors: Kenneth W. Bair, Victor R. Younger
  • Patent number: 6413300
    Abstract: A roof bolt machine comprising a quartz trapping device adapted to connect with an exhaust stream of a dust system circuit of a roof bolt machine for reducing the amount of respirable dust and respirable quartz that is released into the environment from the exhaust stream. The quartz trapping device comprises, a container partially filled with a liquid, at least one inlet mounted on said container and adapted to connect the container with the dust system circuit of the roof bolt machine for directing the dust exhaust stream inside the container and a plurality of downward extending and upward extending baffles arranged in an alternating configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2002
    Inventors: Charles Larry Bane, James Dewayne Kinder
  • Patent number: 6395049
    Abstract: The invention relates to the combination of an air filter and a membrane carburetor (1). The membrane carburetor (1) has an intake channel section (3) configured in the carburetor housing (2) into which the fuel-conducting channels (4, 4′) open which are fed from a control chamber (5) of the carburetor housing (2). The control chamber (5) is separated by a control membrane (6) from the compensation chamber (7). A compensation channel (11) leads from the compensation chamber (7) into a flow space (9). A connecting piece (8) is led into the flow space (9) as a connection of the intake channel section (3) of the membrane carburetor (1) with the flow space (9). The compensation channel (11) and the connecting piece (8) open into the housing (21) on the clean air side (23). The housing (21) forms the flow space (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Bernd Knödler, Andreas Bähner
  • Patent number: 6368393
    Abstract: A fan filter unit for use in cleanrooms is provided, which decreases efficiently the concentration of chemical substance existing in the atmosphere while the expansion of the air circulating space and the electric power consumption increase of the fan-driving motor are suppressed. The unit comprises an enclosure having an air inlet through which an outside air is introduced into the enclosure and an air outlet through which a cleaned air is emitted or discharged from the enclosure; a chemical filter mounted in the enclosure to remove chemical substance existing in the outside air; a dust filter mounted in the enclosure to remove dust existing in the outside air; a fan mounted in the enclosure to introduce the outside air into the enclosure through the air inlet and to emit the cleaned air to outside of the enclosure; and a bypassing path for returning part of the outside air that has penetrated the chemical filter to an upstream side of the fan without penetrating the dust filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Takanori Hironaka
  • Patent number: 6350301
    Abstract: The invention concerns a maintenance unit for compressed air with at least two connecting pieces, wherein the maintenance unit is formed without a housing, in that the connecting pieces can be inserted into or disposed onto the free pipe ends transporting the compressed air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2002
    Assignee: J. Lorch Gesellschaft & Co. GmbH
    Inventor: Horst Schöllkopf
  • Patent number: 6322601
    Abstract: Smoke inlet trunking for a cyclone separator has two lateral faces referred to as an extrados face and an intrados face, the latter terminating at a nose of the cyclone, a ceiling face and a floor face. The intrados face, which connects a point at the start of the trunking to a point at the nose of the cyclone, has a profile such that it includes at least two separate tangents such that one tangent intersects the extrados face at a point upstream of the foot of a perpendicular to the extrados face dropped from the nose of the cyclone. The intrados face begins at the point at the start of the trunking with a first part having a rectilinear profile followed by a second part having a curvilinear profile with a point of inflexion or a second rectilinear part connected to the nose of the cyclone and the point at the start of the trunking is located at an outlet from the furnace.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: ABB Alstom Power Combustion
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Semedard, Eugène Guilleux
  • Patent number: 6319297
    Abstract: Modular cartridges which may be inserted into and removed from a well or receptacle on the bottom of a pod. The cartridges may be configured to include various types and combinations of valves, filters, and/or conditioning agents. A standalone cartridge replacement station may be provided for inserting and removing various cartridges from one or more of the receptacles on the bottom of a pod while wafers are seated within the pod. The standalone replacement unit may decouple an existing cartridge from the pod by rotating the cartridge from a locked to an unlocked position and then lowering the cartridge out of the pod. Thereafter, the replacement station may insert a new cartridge up into the appropriate receptacle and rotate the cartridge into a locked position in the pod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Asyst Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Fosnight
  • Patent number: 6293981
    Abstract: The invention is directed to an arrangement of an air filter (1) and a membrane carburetor (2). The membrane carburetor (2) has an intake channel section (3) configured in the carburetor housing (4) and fuel-conducting channels (6) open into the intake channel section (3). The channels (6) are supplied from a fuel-filled control chamber (7) which is configured in the carburetor housing (4). The control chamber (7) is partitioned from a compensation chamber (11) via a control membrane (10). The compensation chamber (11) communicates with the housing (14, 16) of the air filter (1) via a compensation channel (13) downstream of an air filter element (39). The air filter housing (14) engages over the membrane carburetor (2) essentially on the side of the compensation chamber (11) and the clean chamber (24) of the air filter housing (14) communicates with the intake channel section via a connecting stub (37) which lies approximately at right angles to the intake channel section (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Andreas Shihl AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans Holderle, Stefan Kummermehr, Johannes Menzel, Helmut Zimmermann, Bernd Knödler, Horst Denner
  • Patent number: 6277162
    Abstract: An apparatus for depositing solids from a current of air includes a bucket wheel lock, taking up this air current over a connecting opening. This apparatus has a built-in drum with a rotatably supported bucket wheel. On the one hand, a screen is provided in the drum, on which coarse solid particles are deposited from the air current and, on the other, a discharge opening for the separated coarse solids is provided. An air current, still containing fine dust particles, is supplied to a dust filter which, in the direction of flow, is behind the screen. In the direction of flow of the dust-containing air current, behind an essentially horizontal upper region of the screen, facing the dust filter, the bucket wheel lock is provided with an air current deflection, which brings about a surface removal of dust at the back side of the screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Hoecker Polytechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Hoecker
  • Patent number: 6273095
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a filter for use with tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars and pipes, which selectively absorbs toxic compounds and carcinogenic polynuclear aromatic compounds passing through it, but which permits most low molecular weight species, and in particular nicotine, to pass through. The filter is made from a middle-density polyurethane foam which is pre-treated to increase the number of binding sites for polynuclear aromatic compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Inventor: Jong-Pyng Hsu
  • Patent number: 6270544
    Abstract: A cyclone separator for separating a solid particulate from the gas or liquid medium is described. The separator is provided with a housing (H), an outlet (4) for discharging the solid particulate separated from the medium, a pipe (13) for evacuating the clean fluid from the housing (H) and a swirling means capable of imparting vortical motion to the medium. The swirling means is formed with a plurality of slit-like openings (16) arranged on the periphery thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Vortex Ecological Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Yury Mencher, Matitiahu Fichman
  • Patent number: 6251291
    Abstract: A reservoir-and filter system for receiving fluid and for removing impurities from fluid is provided in an embodiment of the invention. The system includes a housing with at least two cavities; a first cavity with at least one unfiltered-fluid inlet and a second cavity with at least one filtrate outlet. In this embodiment, a filter member is disposed so as to separate the cavities. In addition, a filtering trap is disposed so as to directly accept fluid as it enters the first cavity, filter it, and minimize clogging of the filter member. A coarse filter shroud providing a funnel shape at the opening of a cup-shaped trap is included in a preferred embodiment. In an embodiment, at least one gas outlet adaptable for connection to a vacuum source is associated with the second cavity. A method for removing impurities from blood within an extracorporeal circuit is also provided in a further embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Tranfusion Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: David G. Lamphere, Thomas D. Headley, Clair L. Strohl, Clifford Martin
  • Patent number: 6251152
    Abstract: A vacuum receiver for separating particles entrained in a gas-particle stream and for allowing a gas stream to exit from the vacuum receiver to an exhaust blower while simultaneously allowing the particles to remain in a particle receiving vessel having an open top. A cover is provided which has a top wall with a perimeter thereof resting on a surface of the receiving vessel encircling the open top. The cover has two openings therethrough, the first opening being oriented directly above the particle receiving vessel and a second opening being oriented on an axis that is wholly outside a peripheral boundary of the particle receiving vessel. The cover further includes a structure defining a passageway extending from the particle receiving vessel to the aforesaid second opening. A reciprocal valve member is mounted in the passageway and a drive motor is provided therefor which is mounted on an exterior part of the passageway to facilitate easy access thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: C.W. Thiele Company
    Inventor: Charles W. Thiele
  • Patent number: 6246739
    Abstract: Passive aerosol retention apparatus positioned in the connecting vents of a nuclear reactor containment are described. The aerosol retention apparatus minimizes aerosol transport from the lower drywell to the upper drywell of the reactor containment. The retention apparatus includes a substantially cylindrical housing and a flow modulator positioned inside the housing and extending at least partially from a first end to a second end of the housing. The flow modulator includes a helically shaped baffle positioned in the housing so as to be coaxial with the housing. The baffle is coupled at each end to the housing by attachment bars.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Shyam Satinder Khorana, Jimmy Frank Galtman
  • Patent number: 6210455
    Abstract: An evaporation apparatus for evaporation of, for example, spent liquor from pulp cooking. The apparatus has a vertical cylinder that has evaporation surfaces disposed therein. An outlet opening is defined in a widened part of the cylinder to receive driven-off steam. A skirt is disposed in the cylinder and surrounds the evaporated liquid and driven-off steam and has a diameter that is smaller than a diameter of the widened part. The skirt has an open bottom and a skirt opening is defined in a portion of the skirt that is facing away from the outlet opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Kvaerner Pulping AB
    Inventors: Lars Olausson, Michael Thiede, Olle Wennberg, Anders Wernqvist, Martin Collander
  • Patent number: 6200465
    Abstract: In order to facilitate removal of an air filter from a housing, the air filter has a flexible tab which provides a finger grip. In a preferred embodiment, the flexible tab is disposed between a molded gasket and an expanded metal screen which covers the downstream area or dirty side of a pleated filter media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Jennings Carawan, Bruce Edward Coffey
  • Patent number: 6187073
    Abstract: A filter arrangement includes a tubular first filter element having a first media pack defining a first open filter interior and an air flow outlet. The air flow outlet is in gas flow communication with the first open filter interior. A housing construction has a gas flow inlet and a gas flow outlet. The air flow outlet of the first filter element is in gas flow communication with the gas flow outlet. A coalescer filter element is oriented in the housing construction in fluid communication with the gas flow inlet. A tubular second filter element is oriented in the housing construction and has a second media pack defining a second open filter interior. The second open filter interior is in gas flow communication with the gas flow outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2001
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Scott Gieseke, Robert Allen Dushek
  • Patent number: 6159258
    Abstract: Air filter elements with primary filter medias have foam pre-cleaners with an increased surface area provided by an upstream face which has peaks and valleys. In one embodiment, the peaks and valleys are defined by parallel ribs. If the filter element is a panel-type filter element having a pleated primary filter media, then, in accordance with one embodiment, the pre-cleaner is secured to the primary filter media by adhesive deposits on the peaks of the primary filter media. If the filter element is annular, the pre-cleaner is also annular and is slid axially over a perforated sleeve or screen on the primary filter media and held thereon by friction. By having the upstream surface of the foam pre-cleaner configured in peaks and valleys, the surface area of the upstream surface is increased substantially, which improves the capacity, efficiency and life of the filter element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2000
    Assignee: Dana Corporation
    Inventors: David William Ager, James Michael Glazewski, Roland V. Lanier
  • Patent number: 6146448
    Abstract: A flux vapor management system for a reflow oven includes temperature control units disposed in heating and cooling regions of the oven. A fan within each of the temperature control units provides suction to an intake port. Intake ports of selected temperature control units in the heating region of the oven are connected with a barrier vent disposed between the heating and cooling regions of the oven. Gas drawn into the barrier vent by the suction from the intake ports prevents flux laden gas from migrating into the cooling region. The flux vapor management system also includes a filter for removing flux vapors from a reflow oven. The filter condenses flux vapors by converging a jet of hot gas from the oven with a cooled gas jet causing the flux vapors to condense while suspended in the gas stream. The flux laden gas does not contact any solid surface below the flux condensation temperature so there is no build-up of flux within the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2000
    Assignee: Soltec B.V.
    Inventors: Russell G. Shaw, Walter James Hall, Roy J. Palhof, Phillip D. Bourgelais
  • Patent number: 6132693
    Abstract: A process for reducing pollutants, particularly nitrogen oxides from combustion gases during a combustion process that takes place while oxygen is supplied, includes providing oxygen needed for the combustion process by separating oxygen from a gas mixture containing oxygen and nitrogen in a two-step process including (a) enriching the gas mixture with oxygen in a first step to provide an enriched gas mixture; and (b) separating oxygen out of the enriched gas mixture in a second step, wherein, during at least one step oxygen depleted gas mixture is removed via an outlet provided with permeability means that cause the outlet to have a higher permeability for nitrogen than oxygen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Gruenwald, Klaus Dieterich, Steffen Franke
  • Patent number: 6083292
    Abstract: Domestic vacuum cleaner with multiple cyclones arranged in cascade, in which a first tangential cyclone supplied with a flow of dust-laden air captures the coarser particles in a first container arranged below said first cyclone and discharges the air flow, partially purified, into a first internal duct coaxial with the first cyclone and housing an axial swirling device which concentrates the residual particles in a peripheral fraction of the flow, which is conveyed by a capturing ring into a second tangential cyclone, while the residual fraction of flow passes through the ring and is conveyed by a second duct, axially aligned with the first duct, to a suction unit.The captured fraction of flow conveyed into the second cyclone deposits the residual particles in a second container arranged below the second cyclone and thus purified is sucked into the second duct by the fraction of flow passing through the ring, which acts as an extractor nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Canoy S.p.A.
    Inventor: Silvano Fumagalli
  • Patent number: 6071321
    Abstract: In a centrifugal separator for separating a liquid from a compressed gas, a baffle is provided to separate the centrifugal chamber into an upper sub-chamber and a lower sub-chamber but does not contact the walls of the chamber thereby being insufficient to prevent downward flow of separated liquid along the interior wall of the two sub-chambers, and insufficient to prevent flow of compressed gas from one sub-chamber to the other sub-chamber, the baffle nevertheless being sufficient to prevent turbulent gas flow in the lower sub-chamber when collected liquid is drained therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Westinghouse Air Brake Company
    Inventors: Scott M. Trapp, Michael V. Kazakis, T. Kevin Castle
  • Patent number: 6071479
    Abstract: An air filtration device (1) comprising:a housing (3) having an air inlet (5) and an air outlet (7);air displacement means (9) for displacing air from the inlet (5) to the outlet (7) in a direction D through a filter element (11),the filter element (11) comprising at least one filter unit (13) comprising an absorbent, fibrous material which is impregnated with an aqueous solution of an acid or a base. In a particular embodiment, the filter element comprises two filter units (13,15) in series arrangement, one (15) of which is impregnated with an aqueous solution of an acid and the other (13) of which is impregnated with an aqueous solution of a base. If so desired, at least one filter unit (13,15) may be additionally impregnated with an alkali-metal humectant (such as potassium formate) and/or an organic amine compound selected from the group formed by urea and the alkanol amines (such as tris-hydroxymethylaminomethane). At least one filter unit may also be impregnated with a pH indicator substance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventors: Johannes Marra, Theodorus L. G. M. Thijssen, Wilhelmus H. M. Bruggink
  • Patent number: 6019819
    Abstract: Disclosed is a contaminated waste steam heat recovery apparatus 10 and method therefore which includes a primary condensing unit 38, a low pressure water washing unit 26, a liquid to liquid heat exchanger 36 and a vent fan 31. Waste gas is ducted from fryer 11 to a de-super-heating chamber 14 wherein superheated steam is converted to saturated steam by spraying water into the steam using spray nozzles 15. The gas is then introduced into a vertically disposed air to liquid heat exchanger 16 and is drafted downward therethrough. As heat is removed from the waste gas, water vapor in the steam condenses and in the process, collects some of the oil and hydrocarbons present. A plurality of condensate trays 19 are disposed below the bottom end of heat exchanger 16 in a cascading fashion to collect hold the condensate in the airflow path such that it will absorb some of the heat still present in the remaining waste gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2000
    Assignee: Alpha Engineers, Inc.
    Inventor: Eddy A. Williams
  • Patent number: 5925322
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a combined cycle system of enhanced efficiency. The system comprises a top stage, such as a fuel cell, a partial oxidation reactor or a heat engine, and an oxygen-enriching device, such as a temperature swing adsorption device or a chemical reactor bed device, as its bottom stage. The bottom stage uses waste heat produced by the top stage to enrich the oxygen content of air that is inputted to the bottom stage, thereby producing an oxygen-enriched gas mixture as the bottom stage output. This output mixture constitutes a superior oxidant which is fed back as an input for the top stage, thus enhancing the energy conversion efficiency, cheapness, and compactness of the combined cycle system as compared to that of ordinary fuel cells, partial oxidation reactors and heat engines that use unenriched air as their oxidant input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: H Power Corporation
    Inventor: John Werth
  • Patent number: 5908494
    Abstract: A liquid spray air purification apparatus utilizing at least two liquid migration eliminator members for providing effective containment of substantially all of the spray liquid employed in the system to within a segregated spray liquid loop so as to prevent spray liquid from interfering with the operation of electrical and other auxiliary components within the apparatus and to minimize spray liquid loss from the recirculation cycle. The segregated spray liquid loop is formed by a liquid spray chamber, a spray liquid sump and recirculation means interconnecting the sump and the liquid spray chamber. Auxiliary components include a particulate filter, fan means, germicidal ultraviolet light means, dehumidification means, heating means and a compressor. The apparatus is designed for use in efficiently improving interior environmental air quality within homes, offices, hospitals and the like, and is adaptable for use in motorized vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: Earth First Air Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Bradley J. Ross, Carl J. Ross, Timothy Wandell, Jeffrey S. Ross
  • Patent number: 5902182
    Abstract: An air exchange and cleaning system for building enclosures, particularly indoor firing ranges, which removes particulate matter, such as lead and other heavy metals, and gun powder residues and gases from the enclosure atmosphere. An air handler unit includes a particulate matter separator and five stages of filtration which filter both powder and gases from the air. Ducts connect the air handler unit to the enclosed area of the building. The system includes a control system which starts the air handler unit, checks the status of the filters and other operating systems of the air handler unit and ensures that a required minimum negative pressure within the enclosure is achieved before signals are sent to permit operations within the enclosure. In the example of an indoor firing range, the air handler unit and duct system purges the range of possibly contaminated air, checks for satisfactory system operation and ensures a predetermined negative pressure is reached before turning on lighting to the range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: WMA Ranger, Inc.
    Inventor: Karl E. Kramer
  • Patent number: 5846272
    Abstract: A system for precipitation of pollutants from an off-gas, wherein the off-gas is cooled in a smooth-tube heat exchanger (13). The off-gas flows through a bundle of tubes (19) which extend vertically or tilted inside the heat exchanger. Cold water is introduced at a secondary side connection (43) of the heat exchanger (13). An air stripper (36) and a mist eliminator (26), and an optional electrostatic filter (27), are installed downstream of the heat exchanger (13). In the heat exchanger (13) and the air stripper (36), a portion of the condensable pollutants condenses out and a portion of the water-solubles and solids are precipitated. The system can be cleaned automatically and requires only a small placement area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Koenig AG
    Inventor: Arthur Natter
  • Patent number: 5846271
    Abstract: A filter for removing contaminants from compressed gas is disclosed. The filter features an inverse flow regime wherein gas entering the filter first flows downwardly and then reverses direction before encountering any filter media. The filter has a connection head with a gas inlet, a gas outlet and oppositely disposed openings separated by a central partition. The openings are sealingly enclosed by elongated tubular housings which releasably attach to the head. The gas inlet communicates with one side of the partition and the outlet communicates with the opposite side. A plurality of individual filter elements are arranged on either side of the partition and filter out aerosol, vapor and particulate contaminants from the compressed gas. The filter elements are releasably mounted to the central partition and can be removed and replaced independently of one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Reading Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul E. Flynn, Peter D. Wersant, Howard M. Sherer
  • Patent number: 5824136
    Abstract: Gas which is contaminated with liquid and/or solid is purified using a vertically oriented Venturi column in conjunction with a sound field. At the throat of the Venturi column, a scrubbing liquid is atomized and injected in a direction substantially perpendicular to the flow of the contaminated gas. A sound field is generated at the throat in order to cause the contaminate to shift relative to the vesicles of the scrubbing liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Societe Generale Pour les Techniques Nouvelles SGN
    Inventor: Fran.cedilla.ois Meline
  • Patent number: 5800597
    Abstract: An integral coalescer filter-membrane device to provide clean sample gas to gas analyzers. The device includes a housing, an inlet port for feed gas, an outlet port to withdraw clean sample gas essentially free of entrained liquids, such as water, and particulate material which might contaminate or interfere with the gas analyzer, a bypass port and a drain port to remove by gravity coalesced liquid. The device includes a filter tube to coalesce and filter the feed gas stream and a chamber having a supported hydrophobic selected porosity membrane. The outlet port receives clean sample gas from the upper portions of the chamber, while the bypass port removes coalesced filtered gas from a lower chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Whatman Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Perrotta, Dean Hoyt
  • Patent number: 5800598
    Abstract: According to a generator for producing a narrowly size-distributed aerosol, the solution is atomized into the first droplets including a predetermined small-sized range of droplets by the atomizer, and then using the droplet depositor, the larger droplets from the predetermined small-sized range of droplets are deposited in the first droplets, and wherein the second droplets are formed from the first droplets, and then a particulate screening and separating device is used to extract the third droplets smaller than the predetermined small-sized range of droplets within the second droplets, and the predetermined small-sized range of droplets can be obtained thereof. Therefore, a aerosol generator can function as a device characterized with the alternative distributions of a narrowly size-distributed aerosol with high concentration in mass, and the liquid or solid aerosol can be generated thereof. The Geometric Standard Deviation (GSD) of the droplet size distribution can be kept under 1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 1, 1998
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Hung-Min Chein, Charles C. K. Chou
  • Patent number: 5693125
    Abstract: An improved liquid/gas separator is disclosed for separating liquid and gas from a mixture that is mostly gas, within a zero gravity or variable gravity working environment. The separator includes a main housing that defines a pre-swirl chamber for receiving a liquid/gas mixture and an adjacent cylindrical separator chamber for containing liquid and gas separated from the mixture. A main shaft is rotationally secured along an interior longitudinal axis of the main housing and includes a hub portion defining exhaust slots in fluid communication with an exhaust duct within the hub for passing gas out of the separator chamber. A plurality of apertured coalescing disks are secured to the hub portion of the main shaft within the separator chamber for rotationally impacting liquid droplets and directing any droplets, bubbles or sheets of liquid formed on the disks away from the shaft toward and into a rotating liquid ring formed adjacent an interior circumference of the separator chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1997
    Assignee: United Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • Patent number: 5690709
    Abstract: A separator (13) to remove particles from a gas stream, the separator (13) includes a casing (11) divided into three zones (A,B,C) by two divider plates (9,10). A plurality of uniflow cyclone separators (12) are supported by the divider plates (9,10) and provide communication between the first zone (A) and the other two zones (B,C). Particle carrying gas enters the first zone (A) through an inlet (18) and as major cleaned streams discharge from the cyclone separators (12) into the third zone (C) and as minor particle carrying streams discharge into the second zone (B) to be discharged from the casing 11.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1997
    Inventor: Peter Haddon Barnes
  • Patent number: 5651810
    Abstract: A combination respiratory filter and sampling device has been developed which collects airborne contaminants for respiratory exposure measurements. The devices, which fit existing commercial half-mask respirators, are generally smaller and lighter in weight than existing filters, and have low resistance to airflow, so they can be comfortably worn by people performing their normal work duties. Each device consists of at least a front, a middle and a back section which can be independently separated and analyzed by traditional laboratory techniques. The filtering and sampling media thicknesses and types can be adapted to target specific compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 29, 1997
    Assignee: Monsanto Company
    Inventors: Dennis K. Flaherty, Russel P. Gordon, Paul M. Taylor, Frank D. Zielinski
  • Patent number: 5626820
    Abstract: The invention features a clean room and a chemical air filter suitable for use in the air handling system of the clean room directly upstream of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. The chemical filter is of the pleated filter type comprising an air permeable, relatively thick web of non-woven fibrous carrier material of pleated form. The web includes a matrix formed of a large multiplicity of synthetic fibers and is characterized in that activated carbon particles are distributed throughout the web, bound in the interstices of the matrix in a manner preventing loss to the air of particles in quantity substantially detrimental to the performance of the HEPA filter. The activated carbon particles are of the type selected to remove the predetermined gas-phase contaminant from the air from the source. The invention also features a non-off gassing filter casing that may easily be installed into existing clean room air handling systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventors: Devon A. Kinkead, Robert W. Rezuke, John K. Higley
  • Patent number: 5622544
    Abstract: A desiccant cartridge for an air dryer of the type used for compressed air supply systems. The desiccant cartridge incorporates an internally disposed particulate filter element which functions to provide particulate filtration for air coming into the desiccant cartridge. The filter element further acts to apply a compressive loading against internal components within the desiccant cartridge insuring that these parts are firmly coupled and providing sealing engagement between components despite manufacturing tolerance variations in the component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: AlliedSignal Truck Brake Systems Company
    Inventors: Dennis R. Shamine, Larry E. Dienes
  • Patent number: 5607649
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing a particulate material containing an inflammable component, such as ethanol or another solvent, comprises a fluidized bed chamber with a perforated bed plate arranged therein. The particulate material may be fluidized on the bed plate by supplying fluidizing air upwardly through perforations in the bed plate. In order to reduce the risk of explosion in the fluidizing air after its passage through the fluidized bed formed on the bed plate, dilution gas is fed into the fluidized bed chamber. The dilution gas is introduced into the fluidized bed chamber at least at one position spaced from the side walls of the chamber and preferably located centrally within the fluidized bed chamber in order to obtain a substantially uniform mixing of the dilution gas with the fluidizing air including the inflammable component immediately above the fluidized bed. The explosion safe gas mixture may be discharged from the upper part of the processing chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Niro Holding A/S
    Inventor: Ove Hansen
  • Patent number: 5591242
    Abstract: A smoke processor including a housing having a recess, an exhaust fan arranged with the housing, a filter mounted within the housing and located above the exhaust fan, a smoke processing container fitted in the recess of the housing, a flexible pipe connecting the smoke processing container with the filter, a cigarette lighter mounted in the smoke processing container, a linking rod having an upper end pivotally connected with the smoke processing container, a rotating disc rotatably connected with a lower end of the linking rod, and a fixed disc engaged with the rotating disc and mounted within the housing, whereby the smoke exhaled by the smoker can be effectively purified thus preventing air pollution,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Inventor: Chi L. Kuo
  • Patent number: 5567228
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for treating synthesized gas ("syngas") comprises introducing the syngas into a lower portion of a vessel. The syngas flows in the lower portion through a static regenerative hot gravel bed and into an upper portion of the vessel containing particulate material at a temperature less than that of the syngas in a manner so that the material reduces the temperature of the syngas and reacts with the syngas to abate pollutants therein, and the syngas entrains at least a portion of the material. The entrained material is then separated from the gas, cooled in a heat exchanger, and returned to the vessel, while the separated syngas is passed to downstream facilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation
    Inventor: Iqbal F. Abdulally
  • Patent number: 5529591
    Abstract: Catalyst and hydrocarbon vapors are separated in separator-stripper vessel by a reverse flow separator assembly in a top portion of the separator vessel. The separator assembly contains a shrouded eductor where the particles and gas enter the eductor, and upon exit the gas reverses direction to travel through the passage between the eductor and the shroud, thus causing disengagement of the particles. The gas free of particles then passes out the vessel exit and the particles return to the particle bed in the lower portion of the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 25, 1996
    Assignee: Shell Oil Company
    Inventor: Thomas S. Dewitz