Including Baffle For Modifying Gas Flow (e.g., Imbedded In Solid Sorbent, Etc.) Patents (Class 96/152)
  • Patent number: 7166151
    Abstract: The present invention is a PSA system having at least one vessel that uses a multi-segmented flow distributor to provide a uniform fluid across the adsorbent bed in the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed Safdar Allie Baksh, Bernard Thomas Neu, Dariush H. Zadeh
  • Patent number: 7128775
    Abstract: The present invention is a pressure adsorber vessel that employs a radial adsorbent bed with a variable perforated flow distributor to provide an effective uniform fluid flow though the adsorbent bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Cem E. Celik, James Smolarek
  • Patent number: 7115159
    Abstract: In a hydrogen storing tank (solid filling tank) in which a hydrogen absorbing alloy (solid) is filled, a heat exchanger for executing heat exchange with the hydrogen absorbing alloy is constructed by laminating alternately first heat-transferring fins formed in corrugated plate shape and second heat-transferring fins formed in flat plate shape. Partitioned portions that are partitioned by the first heat-transferring fins and the second heat-transferring fins restrict movement of hydrogen absorbing alloy powders (MH powders) in a subsiding direction. Therefore, movement of the MH powders can surely be prevented by not using members that has no concern with the heat exchange and reduces an amount of filled MH powders and a volume in which the heat exchanger is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Jidoshokki
    Inventors: Katsuyoshi Fujita, Hidehito Kubo, Keiji Toh, Akiko Kumano, Daigoro Mori
  • Patent number: 7094268
    Abstract: Systems and methods for removing hydrocarbons and other pollutants from roadway surfaces are provided. The systems can include a pollution trap attached to a vehicle, where the pollution trap comprises an absorbent pad, filter, or membrane. The pollution trap is affixed to the vehicle, for example, in the wheel well, on a mud flap, on the underside of a vehicle or another suitable place where the pollution trap can be exposed to a roadway pollutant. The methods described herein can include liberating roadway pollutants from a roadway and using a pollution trap to collect the liberated roadway pollutants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: 3K Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Krantz
  • Patent number: 7008470
    Abstract: A canister, for inhibiting a diffusion phenomenon in an adsorbent layer as much as possible and certainly adsorbing fed evaporated fuel to inhibit blow-by of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere, is constituted by filling a first adsorbent layer of the canister with activated carbon A having a large evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power, and filling a second and a third adsorbent layers with activated carbon B having an intermediate evaporated fuel adsorption and a weak holding power and therefore having characteristics that the residual amount of the low boiling point components in the evaporated fuel after purge is small, whereby after the high temperature standing of the canister, the discharge of the evaporated fuel into the atmosphere can be inhibited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Makino, Ryuji Kosugi, Tomonari Toki
  • Patent number: 6942721
    Abstract: Disclosed is a canister for a motor vehicle. A liquid trap provided to an upper surface of a canister body is formed to have a circular configuration. A plurality of intake pipe nozzles are connected at an angle to a guide pipe which is installed through a center portion of the liquid trap, such that the intake pipe nozzles extending in a radial direction are separated one from another by a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction. A bottom wall of the liquid trap is formed such that an upper surface of the bottom wall is inclined downward from a center portion thereof toward an edge portion thereof. A diffusion device is disposed directly below the liquid trap to uniformly distribute evaporated gas to be introduced into the canister body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2005
    Assignee: Korea Fuel-Tech Corporation
    Inventors: Won-suk Oh, Ki-kyung Bea, Hyun-ki Kim
  • Patent number: 6908502
    Abstract: A deodorizer mounting for engagement into a wall-mounted electrical outlet box including an adsorber unit for removing gases and odors from the ambient atmosphere, a generally L-shaped bracket including a horizontal leg and a vertical leg, a cover plate having a front side and a rear side, at least one prong, mounted to and extending perpendicularly from the rear side of the cover plate, sized and spaced to engage the female receptacle of the electrical outlet box, and a means to affix the front side of the cover plate to the vertical leg of the L-shaped bracket. A mounting device and method of installation obviates or at least reduces the poor aesthetics of conventional wall-mounted adhesive units and the relatively high replacement costs for non-securable room deodorizers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2005
    Inventor: Wallace Wireman
  • Patent number: 6874483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a canister (1) of an evaporated fuel processing system comprising a housing (2) enclosing adsorbing chambers (4, 5) connected in series, where the first adsorbing chamber is connected to a fuel tank (19) and to an intake pipe (20) of an internal combustion engine and the last or outlet adsorbing chamber (5) comprises an atmospheric port. A perforated plate (21) is positioned inside the outlet adsorbing chamber (5) across a vapors flow path. To meet the emission standards and to ensure the proper canister behavior during tank (19) refueling, the perforated plate (21) comprises at least one vapor channel (26) with a valve (27a), extending inside the outlet adsorbing chamber for a distance (h) less than or equal to the thickness (H) of adsorbent layer behind the perforated plate. During use, the valve opens in response to increased pressure to reduce flow resistance through the outlet absorbing chamber, but otherwise remains closed to maximize vapor flow through the absorbent layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Pawel Zuchara
  • Publication number: 20040206240
    Abstract: Disclosed is a canister for a motor vehicle. A liquid trap provided to an upper surface of a canister body is formed to have a circular configuration. A plurality of intake pipe nozzles are connected at an angle to a guide pipe which is installed through a center portion of the liquid trap, such that the intake pipe nozzles extending in a radial direction are separated one from another by a predetermined angle along a circumferential direction. A bottom wall of the liquid trap is formed such that an upper surface of the bottom wall is inclined downward from a center portion thereof toward an edge portion thereof. A diffusion device is disposed directly below the liquid trap to uniformly distribute evaporated gas to be introduced into the canister body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Inventors: Won-Suk Oh, Ki-Kyung Bea, Hyun-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 6726020
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided, which separate out at least a portion of fine dust, including fluoride, from recycled alumina. The difference in natural drop velocity and flow properties of fine and coarse particles is used to effect the separation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Fläkt AB
    Inventors: Odd E. Bjarnø, Ole K. Bøckman
  • Patent number: 6638348
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a high performance metal hydride tank apparatus, which is capable of discharging the hydrogen gas stored in the metal hydride in the tank from throughout the metal hydride efficiently and rapidly. In the process of the hydrogen gas discharge, the metal hydride contained near the inner circumferential surface of the tank absorbs the heats by the temperature raised tank and starts discharging the hydrogen gas. The discharged hydrogen gas absorbs the heat from the inner circumferential wall efficiently, flowing along the inner circumferential wall rapidly guided by the cylinder-like baffle. Further, the discharged hydrogen gas flows through the hydrogen gas flow channel, which is formed into sections by the cylinder-like baffle in the tank, and travels throughout the metal hydride, thus heating up the metal hydride rapidly and discharging the hydrogen gas efficiently from throughout the alloy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kuriiwa, Toshiaki Shimada, Yoshio Nuiya
  • Patent number: 6623549
    Abstract: A desiccant containing cartridge (10) has a cap (12) and a generally cylindrically cross-sectioned cup (14) for holding desiccant particles (16) and a dye wafer (18). The cup (14) includes spaced inner and outer wall portions (20, 24) connected by a transverse portion (28) to define a chamber (30) having an opening (32) for the placement of a dye wafer (18) and desiccant particles (16). The cap (12) has a planar portion (52) having outer circumference (53) and inner circumference (54) defining aperture (55) for receiving inner wall portion (20) of the cup (14) and being designed for receipt in chamber (30) to cover opening (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Stanhope Products Company
    Inventors: John M. Evans, Glenn D. Perrine
  • Patent number: 6599350
    Abstract: A filtration device for use in filtering air used to purge a vapor storage canister used in connection with a fuel vapor recovery system of an automobile. The device includes a housing. In some instances, the housing may be integral to another component. The housing has a chamber having an arcuate inner surface. Air flowing into the chamber through an inlet port strikes the arcuate interior surface and is redirected such that the air rotates in said chamber. The centrifugal force of the rotating air filters out any contaminants of sufficient mass contained therein. The filtered air is removed via an outlet port positioned near the longitudinal-axis of the chamber. Contaminants removed from the air fall due to gravity or a secondary air flow pattern into a collection portion of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2003
    Assignee: Hi-Stat Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: James Rockwell, Mason B. Mount
  • Publication number: 20030061935
    Abstract: A separator that uses both centrifugal force and gravity can effect the near-complete separation of liquid particles entrained in a gaseous stream having a high flow rate and velocity. The separator includes a conduit disposed in a vertical orientation, a baffle axially disposed in the conduit, a wire mesh disposed circumferentially around the baffle, and an absorbant filter disposed circumferentially around the wire mesh. The entrained liquid-containing gaseous stream enters the separator through a separator first end, and exits the separator from a separator second end as an essentially liquid-free gaseous stream. By virtue of using the baffle, mesh, and filter to effect the separation of the entrained liquid particles, the separator can effect near-complete liquid removal, yet without imposing any significant back pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Daniel C. D'Eletto
  • Patent number: 6536230
    Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator assembly for use in an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a compressor. The accumulator-dehydrator assembly also includes a canister with an upper portion, an inlet, an outlet and a delivery tube with a first tube end positioned in the upper portion of the canister and a second tube end connected to the outlet. A baffle is disposed within the canister that includes a first end connected to the canister and a second end positioned to define a partition between the first tube end of the delivery tube and the inlet. The purpose of the baffle is to reduce pulsations that result from pressure fluctuations in the air-conditioning system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Coyle, Prasad Shripad Kadle, John Barrett, John Paul Telesz
  • Patent number: 6537354
    Abstract: A valve assembly for a vapor canister includes a partition adapted to be disposed in an interior chamber of the vapor canister and having at least one opening extending therethrough. The valve assembly also includes a valve connected to the partition and covering the at least one opening and being movable to provide variable flow of fluid therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2003
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Meiller, Gregory P. Weilnau, Charles H. Covert
  • Patent number: 6524374
    Abstract: In order to aim at shortening the time of refueling by maintaining the function of prevention of discharge of vapor, similar to that of a conventional canister in the case of other than refueling during resting of an engine while the flow resistance in the canister becomes smaller during refueling, there is provided a canister in which a plate is vertically arranged in a chamber charged therein with absorbent in the canister, and filter support pins are projected from opposite surfaces of the plate while filters are arranged at the tip end faces of the filter support pins, and in which a plurality of constriction passages are formed being arranged in a horizontal direction only in the upper part of the plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2003
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masatoshi Moriyama, Toshio Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20020124732
    Abstract: An evaporated fuel treatment apparatus is provided for reducing a refilling time, ensuring satisfactory adsorption/desorption performance for an evaporated fuel, and reducing the manufacturing cost through a simplified structure. The evaporated fuel treatment apparatus comprises a casing having formed therein a first chamber in communication with the fuel tank, a second chamber in communication with the first chamber, and a third chamber in communication with the second chamber and the atmosphere. Active carbons are contained in the first chamber and second chamber for adsorbing fuel components in an evaporated fuel introduced from the fuel tank. An adsorbent is contained in the third sub-chamber for adsorbing fuel components in the evaporated fuel introduced from the second chamber. The adsorbent has an air-flow resistance which is set smaller than that of the active carbons.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Applicant: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Takeshi Hara, Hiroaki Mihara
  • Patent number: 6440198
    Abstract: A moving granular bed filter for removing contaminants from a gas or vapor stream employs a quantity of granular media that is passed through a vessel while the contaminant-laden gas stream is passed through the granular media to remove at least a portion of the contaminants from the gas stream and into the granular media. The vessel includes a media inlet that extends between a pair of opposite regions of the vessel and delivers the granular media into the interior of the vessel such that the granular media forms a freely-formed filtration pile within the interior of the vessel to define first and second chambers above the upper surface of the pile and on opposite sides of the media inlet. In one embodiment, the media inlet is disposed at the lower end of a media delivery channel that extends downwardly into the interior of the vessel and which supplies the granular media to the media inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation
    Inventors: Wen-Ching Yang, Richard A. Newby
  • Patent number: 6436175
    Abstract: A modular adsorption plant comprises one or more transportable cargo containers which hold the various adsorbent beds, pumping apparatus and so on which comprise the plant. The containers are easily transportable, and may be rapidly assembled in modular fashion to produce a large capacity plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: The BOC Group plc
    Inventors: John Robert Coates, John Alan Schefele, Paul William Kingston
  • Patent number: 6428612
    Abstract: A hydrogen getter device includes a package made from a material that is hydrogen permeable and moisture impermeable. A preferred hydrogen getter is a particulate zeolite having a portion of its sodium ions exchanged by an activated metal, such as silver. The package can be a flexible enclosure made from the hydrogen permeable moisture impermeable sheet material and surrounded by a porous protecting material. In one embodiment, the package includes an internal wall to define a first enclosure containing the hydrogen getter and a second enclosure containing a moisture absorbing agent or desiccant, such as a zeolite. The package is suitable for use in electrical enclosures having an internal volume of about 5 liters to about 100 liters or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Steven McPhilmy, Harry Johnson, Ghassan Zamat
  • Publication number: 20020100369
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a high performance metal hydride tank apparatus, which is capable of discharging the hydrogen gas stored in the metal hydride in the tank from throughout the metal hydride efficiently and rapidly. In the process of the hydrogen gas discharge, the metal hydride contained near the inner circumferential surface of the tank absorbs the heats by the temperature raised tank and starts discharging the hydrogen gas. The discharged hydrogen gas absorbs the heat from the inner circumferential wall efficiently, flowing along the inner circumferential wall rapidly guided by the cylinder-like baffle. Further, the discharged hydrogen gas flows through the hydrogen gas flow channel, which is formed into sections by the cylinder-like baffle in the tank, and travels throughout the metal hydride, thus heating up the metal hydride rapidly and discharging the hydrogen gas efficiently from throughout the alloy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takahiro Kuriiwa, Toshiaki Shimada, Yoshio Nuiya
  • Publication number: 20020095949
    Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator assembly for use in an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a compressor. The accumulator-dehydrator assembly also includes a canister with an upper portion, an inlet, an outlet and a delivery tube with a first tube end positioned in the upper portion of the canister and a second tube end connected to the outlet. A baffle is disposed within the canister that includes a first end connected to the canister and a second end positioned to define a partition between the first tube end of the delivery tube and the inlet. The purpose of the baffle is to reduce pulsations that result from pressure fluctuations in the air-conditioning system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Applicant: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Coyle, Prasad S. Kadle, John A. Barrett
  • Patent number: 6375723
    Abstract: A distributor apparatus arrangement distributes a gas within a vessel that includes an adsorbent bed, the gas distribution occurring with a minimum of gas mal-distribution. The distributor apparatus includes an inlet gas coupler that feeds gas to a conduit oriented adjacent a surface of the bed. A slit opening is positioned in a wall of the conduit and extends along a length of the conduit. The slit has an opening extent near the inlet fluid coupler that is larger than an opening extent of the slit near the distal end of the conduit. The slit opening is oriented towards a wall of the vessel and away from the bed so as to enable gas flow that exits therefrom to impact upon the wall and be deflected thereby to the bed. In a preferred arrangement, the slit is defined by perforations that exhibit a 50% aperture ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Dariush Habibollah Zadeh, Jeffert John Nowobilski
  • Publication number: 20020014160
    Abstract: A chemical filter includes a unit body and an adsorbent housed in the unit body. The adsorbent is for adsorbing a gas. The chemical filter provides a purified gas in which the concentration of ammonia and the concentration of organic gases having a boiling point of about 150° C. or higher, respectively are about 1 ppb(v) or less. This purified gas is applicable for a semiconductor manufacturing system without causing troubles of tarnish and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 7, 2002
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Higashino, Munehiro Yamamoto, Masayuki Sumioka, Dai Aramaki
  • Patent number: 6334889
    Abstract: An axial flow adsorber apparatus includes a bed of adsorbent material, a barrier in the form of an open-cell material combined with a distribution screen or baffle, graded balls, and an inflatable bladder. The adsorbent bed is the active adsorbent required for a separation process. The barrier combines the open-cell material, which provides uniform retention of all adsorbent material, with the distribution screen, which provides uniform flow and pressure distribution across the bed. The barrier substantially covers a top surface of the adsorbent bed to prevent fluidization of the bed. Graded balls on the barrier uniformly distribute a downward pressure supplied by the inflatable bladder above the balls. The uniform pressure is transmitted through the balls to the barrier to further suppress fluidization. The balls also serve to direct gas flow in the upper end of the vessel and reduce void volume in the apparatus that would trap product gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: Praxair Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: James Smolarek, Jeffert John Nowobilski, Mark William Ackley
  • Publication number: 20010039881
    Abstract: In order to aim at shortening the time of refueling by maintaining the function of prevention of discharge of vapor, similar to that of a conventional canister in the case of other than refueling during resting of an engine while the flow resistance in the canister becomes smaller during refueling, there is provided a canister in which a plate is vertically arranged in a chamber charged therein with absorbent in the canister, and filter support pins are projected from opposite surfaces of the plate while filters are arranged at the tip end faces of the filter support pins, and in which a plurality of constriction passages are formed being arranged in a horizontal direction only in the upper part of the plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventors: Masatoshi Moriyama, Toshio Yoshida
  • Patent number: 6299670
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus to purify various gases utilizing the superior performance a heated getter process in a smaller package than previous multiple stage, heated getter processes. The smaller package includes inner and outer enclosures, and an integral, regenerative heat exchanger to simultaneously increase heater efficiency and cool the purified gas. The invention also includes a particle filter to remove particles from the gas flow. The invention further provides an interface to various modular gas stick substrate designs with an inlet and an outlet in one end of the integrated heated getter purifier system. The inlet gas is preheated by the integral heat exchanger and then heated to operating temperature of 200-400° C. The heated getter removes various impurities from the gas. The heated gas is then cooled in the integral heat exchanger. The cooled gas is exposed to a second quantity of cooler getter to remove residual impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: SAES Pure Gas, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles H. Applegarth
  • Patent number: 6238467
    Abstract: A unitary rigid filter that performs multiple contamination control functions within an enclosure for sensitive equipment (e.g., disk drives). The filter incorporates recirculation and adsorbent filtration, along with optional inlet and diffusion functions in a unique rigid filter construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Gore Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael H. Azarian, Jacob Maniyatte
  • Patent number: 6113674
    Abstract: An adsorption bed arrangement includes a plurality of adsorption elements, a housing, and a gasket member. Each of the adsorption elements has adsorption media contained within a respective element. Each of the adsorption elements are selectively openable to provide access to the adsorption media. The housing defines an interior, a plurality of inlet openings, and a plurality of outlet openings. The plurality of adsorption elements are positioned within the housing interior. The housing is selectively openable to provide access to the plurality of adsorption elements. The gasket member is between the housing and the adsorption elements. A method for changing filtering media in an adsorption apparatus includes steps of removing an access panel from an adsorption bed housing to expose a cover member covering an end of an adsorption element; removing the cover member from the end of the adsorption element to expose filtering media within the element; and pouring the filtering media from the element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristine M. Graham, Paul Peterson, Donald R. Monson, Jarren B. Mills, Timothy H. Grafe
  • Patent number: 6110261
    Abstract: A chamber with drier comprises a clean chamber communicating with the outside environment through an orifice equipped with a detachable antechamber filled with desiccant granulates. The chamber comprises, between the orifice of the clean chamber and the detachable antechamber filled with desiccant granulates, a valve that is closed at rest and opened by the positioning, on the orifice of the clean chamber, of the antechamber filled with desiccant granulates and the antechamber filled with desiccant granulates contains a baffle that prevents the air from following a direct route and forces it to encounter the majority of the desiccant granulates. Advantageously, the baffle is convergent and there electronic monitoring of the moisture saturation of the desiccant granulates. Furthermore, there may be a single-effect back flow valve bypassing the baffle for a fast decompression of the clean chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Sextant Avionique
    Inventor: Nicolas Guiragossian
  • Patent number: 6106596
    Abstract: A receiver/dryer includes a canister with a cylindrical sidewall, an integral lower end, and an open upper end. A pick-up tube is disposed centrally within the canister. The lower end of the pick-up tube has a wedged-shape and is supported by the lower end of the canister. The upper end of the pick-up tube has an annular groove that carries an O-ring seal. A lower baffle and lower filter pad are received over the pick-up tube with the lower baffle having a tight slip-fit therewith. Loose desiccant is supported by the lower baffle and filter pad. An upper filter pad and upper baffle are received over the pick-up tube, with the upper baffle having a slip-fit therewith. An upper end cap is secured to the open end of the canister, with the pick-up tube being received within an outlet passage in the upper end cap, and the O-ring seal providing a fluid-tight seal between the pick-up tube and the end cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Cary Haramoto, Michael L. Ford, Tom C. Wilson
  • Patent number: 6074177
    Abstract: The present invention provides an air compressor which includes an air drier filled with a drying agent and having a first passage for supplying compressed air to one air supplied part while absorbing moisture from the compressed air by passing the compressed air through the drying agent (27) and a second passage (28a) for supplying the compressed air to another air supplied part without passing the compressed air through the drying agent. The air supplied through the first passage returns through the same passage to dry the drying agent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Tokico Ltd.
    Inventors: Kan Kobayashi, Takashi Onuma
  • Patent number: 6059863
    Abstract: A plant for the separation of gases by adsorption, which is of the PSA type, includes, in a container (1) of vertical axis, at least one annular bed of particulate material (5, 6) supported on a lower wall (9) which is itself supported by a perforated prismatic wall (11) bearing on a domed end (2) of the container. A lower wall (9), advantageously in the form of a very wide inverted V (9A, 9B), has no part forming an angle (.alpha., .beta.) in excess of 15.degree. with the horizontal. The plant is useful in the separation of gases from air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Christian Monereau, Philippe Andreani, Jean-Marc Belot, Jean-Baptiste Dellon
  • Patent number: 5966810
    Abstract: A pressure vessel housing that can be brazed and leak tested before adding desiccant material, eliminating the risk of damaging desiccant bags during assembly. The desiccant is added to the housing of the pressure vessel through an existing inlet opening in the top of the accumulator housing, thereby eliminating the potential for damage to the desiccant and the desiccant container while maintaining the integrity of the housing because no additional openings in the housing are required to access the desiccant material. A screen permanently mounted inside the pressure vessel supports the loose desiccant material and another screen removably attached to the inlet opening provides access to the loose desiccant material housed within the pressure vessel. A method of making the pressure vessel allows the accumulator assembly to be leak tested before the desiccant is added, reducing scrap and allowing repair of accumulator assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Automotive Fluid Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry H. Chisnell, John D. Fisk
  • Patent number: 5964927
    Abstract: An adsorption apparatus has a housing including an inlet and an outlet, and defining an inlet plenum extending vertically below the inlet and an outlet plenum extending vertically below the outlet. A plurality of adsorption bed assemblies in a vertically stacked configuration are retained in the housing in fluid communication with the inlet plenum. Each of the adsorption bed assemblies has a bottom opening and a top opening and layers of adsorption material with the assembly oriented in a V-type configuration. A plurality of baffles angle upward from the inlet plenum to the outlet plenum, including a baffle disposed between each pair of adjacent stacked adsorption bed assemblies, to direct flow up toward the bottom opening of the adsorption bed assembly immediately above the baffle and to direct flow passing from the top opening of the adsorption bed assembly immediately below the baffle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Donaldson Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Kristine M. Graham, Paul Peterson, Donald R. Monson, Jarren B. Mills, Timothy H. Grafe
  • Patent number: 5961697
    Abstract: A fluid storage and dispensing system includes a storage and dispensing vessel containing a solid-phase physical sorbent material for holding a sorbable fluid, and a motive transport assembly associated with the storage and dispensing vessel. The storage and dispensing vessel is arranged for selectively flowing fluid into the vessel for storage, and out of the vessel for dispensing. The sorbable fluid physically adsorbed on the solid-phase physical sorbent medium may be selectively desorbed by pressure differential desorption and/or thermal desorption, to dispense gas when the vessel is in motive transport and/or when the vessel is at rest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: James V. McManus, Dennis F. Brestovansky, Peter S. Kirlin
  • Patent number: 5932179
    Abstract: There is disclosed a waste gas treatment apparatus in which dust concentration at a treated gas outlet is sufficiently reduced and the desulfurizing efficiency and denitrating efficiency of grains are increased. The waste gas treatment apparatus includes an inlet member, an outlet member, a moving layer of the grains therebetween, a first perforated plate disposed between the inlet member and the outlet member for defining a front chamber in combination with the inlet member, a second perforated plate disposed between the inlet member and the outlet member for defining an intermediate chamber in combination with the first perforated plate and for defining a rear chamber in combination with the outlet member, and flow controllers for setting the moving speed of grain in the front, intermediate and rear chambers. The moving speed of grains in the front chamber is higher than that in the intermediate chamber and the moving speed of grains in the intermediate chamber is higher than that in the rear chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Teruo Watanabe, Hiromi Tanaka
  • Patent number: 5917140
    Abstract: An apparatus, for storage and dispensing of a sorbable fluid, including a storage and dispensing vessel containing a solid-phase physical sorbent medium for holding a sorbable fluid, with heat transfer means being associated with the vessel for thermally managing heat effects due to adsorption and desorption of the sorbable fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: Glenn M. Tom
  • Patent number: 5910637
    Abstract: A fuel vapor storage canister including a mass of carbon granules in a carbon bed chamber of the canister, a liquid trap having a polygonal internal chamber between a vapor inlet port and the carbon bed chamber, and a purge duct traversing the polygonal chamber. The polygonal chamber includes a plurality of three sides which define the gravitational bottom of the chamber in respective ones of a plurality of three orientations of the vapor storage canister. A pick-up tube in the polygonal internal chamber has an outboard end at the convergence of the aforesaid plurality of three sides and an inboard end surrounding an orifice in the vapor purge duct. The inboard end of the pick-up tube is vertically above the maximum level of liquid fuel in the polygonal internal chamber in each of the aforesaid plurality of three orientations of the vapor storage canister.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Charles Meiller, Timothy Michael Beadnell, Charles Henry Covert
  • Patent number: 5908492
    Abstract: A thermally insulated adsorber (1) intended for treating a gas by passing the gas through a bed (15) of an active material, of the type including a cylindrical shell (5) provided with thermal insulation (21) including a wall (25), which is, in particular, parallel to the shell (5) and which, together with the shell, defines a gas-filled cavity (27), the wall (25) and consequently the gas-filled cavity (27) being placed inside the shell (5), between the latter and a bed (15) of an active material arranged inside the shell (5). The gas-filled cavity (27) communicates with a part of the adsorber (1) which includes the gas that is to be treated and/or with a part of the adsorber which includes the gas that has been treated. The adsorber furthermore includes elements (43) for blocking any gas flow through the gas-filled cavity in order to separate the gas that is to be treated from the gas that has been treated. The adsorber may be used to purify the air sent to air distillation plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Jean-Yves Lehman, Jean-Pierre Gourbier
  • Patent number: 5893945
    Abstract: An end cap assembly for a filter canister includes outer and inner metal caps each having an opening therein for general axial alignment with each other when secured to the ends of the canister. An inner metal plate or layer made of a wire mesh material and a second inner plate or layer of an air permeable cloth material is provided such that the inner plates or layers are disposed between the outer and inner metal caps and secured together to form a unitary end cap assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Shawndra Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Hunsinger, Michael Leggett
  • Patent number: 5882385
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving the flow of fluid to be treated in boundary regions of a mass (2) of particulate material. The apparatus has at least one deflecting surface (4), making an angle with the main direction of the flow of fluid passing through the mass, in the boundary region in order to divert the flow of the fluid locally. The apparatus may be used in plants for purifying or separating gas mixtures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Maurice Bosquain, Jean-Yves Lehman
  • Patent number: 5873929
    Abstract: A gas treatment bottle comprises at least one gas dispenser (24;50) and has a distributor (25;51) intended to be fixed in a gas treatment bottle (10) in front of an inlet or outlet orifice (18;56). The distributor (25;51) has a head (26) which covers the orifice and has an openworked end wall (28) and an openworked side wall (30), typically inclined in the direction of the end wall (28) and surrounding it. The degree of openworking in the side wall (30) is greater than the degree of openworking in the end wall (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1999
    Assignee: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme Pour L'Etude et L'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude
    Inventors: Philippe Andreani, Christian Monereau, Michel Poteau
  • Patent number: 5861050
    Abstract: Described are preferred vapor recovery canisters which are useful in on-board vehicle fuel vapor recovery systems. The preferred canisters incorporate thermal management of solid adsorbent with phase change materials to improve both adsorptive and desorptive capacity of the canisters. Also described are preferred encapsulation members for use in the vapor recovery canisters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Store Heat and Produce Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Pittel, Alexander P. Rafalovich, John D. Cathcart
  • Patent number: 5851269
    Abstract: A desiccant canister for an air braking system having dual internal air flow paths and means for avoiding localized compression of the molecular desiccant sieve. The present invention provides a spin-on canister having an inner shell spring-loaded into an outer shell. The inner shell contains the molecular desiccant sieve. To increase the internal flowpath without increasing the outer size of the canister, a baffle plate is provided within the inner shell to divide the molecular sieve into an outer annular chamber and inner core of roughly equivalent flow dimension. The air to be dried therefore is able to make one pass through one flow path and then another pass through another flow path. To avoid localized compression of the molecular sieve, the inner shell is spring loaded into the outer shell and cooperates with a sliding baffle plate to effect equilibrium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Baldwin Filters, Inc.
    Inventor: Claude Strope
  • Patent number: 5851270
    Abstract: A gas storage and dispensing system in which a gas is sorptively retained on a bed of physical adsorbent material in a containment vessel, and gas is desorbed for selective dispensing thereof from the vessel. The vessel is equipped for gas discharge, with a valve head, mass flow controller, regulator assembly, or the like. A gas-flow resistance-reducing structure such as a gas-permeable porous tube, inert packing, or dispersed inert material, is provided within the vessel, to reduce the resistance to flow of desorbed gas from the bed of adsorbent material during the dispensing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.
    Inventor: W. Karl Olander
  • Patent number: 5851268
    Abstract: According to the present invention, there is provided a canister comprising: a casing having an interior therein and a separator for separating the interior into first and second interior sections, the first interior section containing an absorbent and having a fuel vapor inlet and a fuel vapor outlet, the second interior section containing an absorbent and having an opening which is open to the outside air, the separator having fuel vapor channels therein and being formed by compressing a flexible filtering material to elongate the channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1998
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Hyodo, Takaaki Itoh
  • Patent number: 5824139
    Abstract: An adsorber for purifying flue gases of a furnace includes a housing having a flue gas inlet and a flue gas outlet. The housing has an adsorption medium chamber. A fill socket extends from the top of the housing. A removal device extends from the bottom of the housing. The chamber includes substantially vertical, gas-permeable walls for delimiting the chamber at the inlet side and at the outlet side. The chamber also includes a vertical gas-permeable partition and a slanted non-gas-permeable wall. The wall at the inlet side is a louver wall extending upwardly to the level of the fill socket. The wall at the outlet side is a slotted screen connected with the slanted, non-gas-permeable wall to the fill socket. The flue gas outlet is located opposite the non-gas-permeable wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: STEAG Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Hermann Bruggendick
  • Patent number: 5814129
    Abstract: Apparatus and method to improve flow of fluid through an annular bed in a radial flow treatment vessel. An elongated annular baffle is disposed in the reactor adjacent the bed to impart generally U-shaped flow to the fluid either prior to entering or after it exits the bed thus achieving an overall serpentine or reverse U-shaped flow pattern as the fluid proceeds from an entry port to an exit port in the reactor. Means are provided in the baffle to permit minor amounts of fluid to bypass the generally U-shaped flow path in order to correct fluid flow maldistribution through the bed that is attributed to frictional pressure drop in the flow channels adjacent to the bed. A vessel according to the invention can be operated with fluid flow through the vessel in either direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Air Products and Chemical, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Clyde Tentarelli