Corona Or Glow Discharge Means Patents (Class 422/907)
  • Patent number: 11858810
    Abstract: A device for generating ozone from oxygen-containing gas by silent electric discharge, the device including an electrode arrangement having at least one high-voltage electrode and at least one annular ground electrode. An annular dielectric is arranged between the at least one high-voltage electrode and the at least one ground electrode. The at least one high-voltage electrode is surrounded by at least one annular heat pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Xylem Europe GmbH
    Inventors: Reiner Fietzek, Nicole Brueggemann, Ralf Fiekens, Manfred Salvermoser
  • Patent number: 11582917
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to the modulation and entrainment of a local biofield through the use of a biofield modulation device comprising a plurality of resonators and a first and second side. Each resonator of the plurality of resonators comprises a dielectric substrate, a resonant cavity, and a conductive coating. The resonant cavity collect low potential ambient radiation and amplifies it to energize the dielectric substrate. This generates a surface effect in the conductive coating that causes it to emit biofield radiation that modulates and entrains the local biofield in the direction that the conductive coating is pointing. The modulation and entrainment of a local biofield catalyzes the growth of plants when compared to average growth rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Guy McCarthy
  • Patent number: 8900520
    Abstract: An apparatus treats harmful particulate matter generated through combustion. The apparatus includes a concentrator concentrating the harmful particulate matter and a plasma generator burning the concentrated harmful particulate matter. Thereby, the harmful particulate matter can be efficiently removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials
    Inventors: Yong Jin Kim, Bang Woo Han, Soon Cheon Hwang
  • Patent number: 8795590
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for reducing the growth of microbial contamination, such as bacteria, virus, mold and biofilms, in an air-handling unit. The apparatus includes a mounting member configured to couple with a housing of an air-handling unit and a turbine coupled with the mounting member and configured to produce energy when positioned in an air flow path through the air-handling unit. The apparatus also includes an electrode assembly including an anode configured to be placed in a condensate pan and receive energy from the turbine. The anode produces agents that reduce the growth of microbial contamination when energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: RGF Environmental Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter B. Ellis
  • Patent number: 8765072
    Abstract: Superior hydroxyls are provided which have effects on organic and inorganic compounds and/or pollutants over substantial periods of time and/or at substantial distances from where the superior hydroxyls are generated. Also provided is a hydroxyl generator, in which UV-lamps are positioned such that the coronas which they produce when emitting UV-radiation fill substantially all of the interior space of the hydroxyl generator. The coronas overlap each other by a maximum amount of between 5% and 25% of the radius of each corona.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: HGI Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Guy J. E. Morneault
  • Patent number: 8663569
    Abstract: An ozone generating apparatus according to one embodiment includes a hollow cylindrical sealed container provided with an inlet for a feed gas containing oxygen gas and an outlet for an ozonized gas. A discharge tube including a dielectric tube arranged within the container and a first electrode arranged within the dielectric tube is provided in the container. A second electrode is arranged within the container and surrounds the first electrode, spaced apart from the dielectric tube to form a discharge gap between the second electrode and the dielectric tube. The apparatus further includes a discharge voltage source configured to apply a discharging voltage across the first and second electrodes, and a cooling water jacket surrounding the second electrode. The dielectric tube has an outer diameter of 12 mm or more, but 19 mm or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Takaaki Murata, Kiyoyuki Amemori, Ryutaro Makise, Kanako Nakajima, Kazuhiko Noda, Michiko Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8591822
    Abstract: An ozone generating apparatus for making a temperature distribution in a dielectric tube more uniform including a sealed vessel, two tube sheets made of a conductive metal plate having a hole formed therein which are provided at a predetermined interval to divide the inside of the sealed vessel into three spaces; a metal tube formed so as to connect holes of the tow tube sheets, a dielectric tube which is inserted into the inner part of a dielectric tube so as to have a predetermined gap between an outer wall an inner wall of a metal tube and a metal electrode formed inside the dielectric tube. An alternating current voltage is applied between the tube and electrode, a gas including oxygen flowing in a gap is discharged to generate ozone, and a discharge suppressing member is provided at a part of the gap facing a tube sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Takauchi, Yoshiaki Odai, Masayuki Endo, Hajime Nakatani
  • Patent number: 8142713
    Abstract: A germicidal system and method for deactivating pathogens on the surface of a bodily extremity protected by a prophylactic covering substantially opaque to UV-C radiation. The device includes an enclosure having one or more openings through which the extremity can be inserted. The enclosure contains a radiation source configured to produce germicidal radiation having a wavelength of about 253.7 nm. The openings are configured relative to the radiation source such that the inserted extremity is in close proximity to the radiation source. The prophylactic covered extremity is preferably a gloved hand thereby sanitizing the surface of the glove. The extremity inserted is preferably exposed for a predetermined period of time to ensure a desired level of sanitization. Optionally, the device can include an orientation detector to determine the position of the user's hand and the spread of the user's fingers, and a surface detector to determine whether the user's hand is covered by a glove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Germgard Lighting, LLC
    Inventor: Eugene I. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7794673
    Abstract: A lamp assembly comprising one or more lamp clusters. Each lamp cluster comprises one or more electrodeless UV lamps which are excited by microwaves emitted from a microwave generator. The microwave generator and power supply are enclosed within a housing that is integral with the lamp clusters. The lamp clusters are wholly surrounded by a waveguide. The waveguide, comprising a flange and a distal end cap connected by a mesh, forms an enclosure. The waveguide is essentially UV transparent to allow UV light to pass through but effectively opaque to microwaves in order to substantially contain the microwaves within the waveguide enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Severn Trent Water Purification, Inc.
    Inventors: James Lucas, James Moruzzi
  • Patent number: 7695673
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for sterilizing a contaminated object. The process comprises the insertion of the object in a sterilization chamber having at least one discharge tube in communication therewith. Then, the tube is fed with a liquid or gas stream, and the stream is subjected to an electric field so as to generate a plasma, thereby exposing the contaminated object to the action of sterilizing species that are present in a post-discharge zone or in a zone of excitation of the plasma. A device for carrying such a process is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventors: Michel Moisan, Nicolas Philip, Bachir Saoudi
  • Patent number: 7691324
    Abstract: In a reaction chamber, which constitutes a component of a process installation for obtaining foodstuffs or foodstuff components, biological products in harvested form that are whole or in pieces are subjected to pulsed electric fields as they pass through said reaction chamber, said electric fields forming pores in the cell walls so as to irreversibly open the latter, thus making the content of the cells more easily accessible. This is achieved by electrode groups, which can be energized to a high voltage and are located in the wall of a longitudinal passage of the reactor through which the process material is moved past grounded electrodes located in an opposing longitudinal wall area. Each electrode group is connected to an electric energy accumulator such as for example, a Marx generator, by means of a switch, in order to rapidly establish electric fields of multiple directions between the charged and the grounded electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignees: Südzucker AG, Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe GmbH
    Inventor: Christoph Schultheiss
  • Patent number: 7588720
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for sterilizing articles using an ozone-containing gas, where condensation of water from the sterilization atmosphere during the sterilization process is substantially prevented. The inventive sterilization method includes providing a sterilization chamber and placing an article into the sterilization chamber. The sterilization chamber is sealed prior to equalizing the temperature of the article and the atmosphere in the sterilization chamber. A vacuum is applied to achieve a preselected vacuum pressure in the sterilization chamber. Once the vacuum pressure is set, water vapour is supplied to the sterilization chamber. Ozone-containing gas is then supplied to the sterilization chamber and the sterilization chamber remains sealed for a preselected treatment period, where the sterilization chamber remains sealed throughout the whole process. Finally, vacuum in the sterilization chamber is released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: TSO3, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Turcot, Simon Robitaille, Sylvie Dufresne
  • Patent number: 7485258
    Abstract: A method and device for sterilizing containers in which a plasma treatment is executed through excitation of an electromagnetic oscillation so that the plasma is excited in a vacuum in the vicinity of the container regions to be sterilized. Between arrival and discharge, the container regions to be sterilized are moved closer to the oscillation-generating device in the chamber, with continuous movement of the container and/or of the oscillation-generating device for one or more predetermined time intervals in such a way that a plasma is excited in these regions inside and/or outside the container. The chamber is provided with a transport apparatus inside it, which produces an essentially rotating motion of the container during the transport from the arrival to the discharge in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Kurt Burger, Guenter Schneider, Thomas Beck, Wolfgang Szczerba, Bernd Wilke, Johannes Rauschnabel, Sascha Henke, Bernd Goetzelmann, Heinrich Van De Loecht, Wolfgang Schmitt
  • Patent number: 7462824
    Abstract: Combined desorption and ionization sources are provided to generate molecular ions form a sample disposed on a substrate surface. A heated gas-jet probe or heated solvent stream probe desorbs sample molecules into the gas phase. The desorbed sample molecules are ionized by reaction between the sample molecule and charged solvent droplets. The charged solvent droplets may be produced by electrospray probe or by a corona discharge. The combined desorption and ionization sources coupled by a vacuum interface to a mass spectrometer, where the sample molecule ions can be analyzed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Inventor: Yang Wang
  • Patent number: 7326926
    Abstract: A corona discharge mass spectrometer or an ion mobility spectrometer is provided with a robust corona discharge ionization source. The corona discharge ionization source, which can be operated at atmospheric pressures or at low vacuum, includes a multi-thread electrode and plane electrode. The multiple thread electrode has multiple discharge tips which provide redundancy, and improve ionization stability and the reliability and efficiency of the ionization source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Inventor: Yang Wang
  • Patent number: 7049362
    Abstract: A resin molded product is provided which exhibits a higher level of electrical conductivity and particularly a lower level of surface resistance than those generally expected from the content of an electrically conductive filler. The resin molded product comprises a matrix of a resin material and an electrically conductive filler dispersed in the matrix, wherein a content of the electrically conductive filler is lower than 20 wt %, and the resin molded product has been subjected to a voltage application process employing a voltage of not lower than 20 kV and lower than a dielectric breakdown voltage of the matrix. The electrically conductive filler is, for example, a fibrous filler such as a fibrous carbon filler or a fibrous graphite filler, and has an average fiber diameter of, for example, 0.002 to 15 ?m. The resin molded product typically contains a coloring material dispersed in the matrix together with the electrically conductive filler, and exhibits a color corresponding to the coloring material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Osaka Gas Co.,Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroya Kakegawa
  • Publication number: 20040037736
    Abstract: A method of sterilizing at least one article by means of a plasma and in the presence of humidity using a non-biocidal gas containing oxygen and nitrogen, the article being placed outside the discharge in a sealed treatment enclosure that is subjected substantially to atmospheric pressure, the method comprising the following steps: introducing the humidified non-biocidal gas into the treatment enclosure; creating a first plasma discharge A for a determined duration enabling the effectiveness of the sterilizing species created during the following stage to be guaranteed within the entire enclosure; creating a second plasma discharge B during a determined duration enabling said article to be sterilized; and rinsing the treatment enclosure during a determined duration so as to guarantee that it contains a non-polluting atmosphere when the enclosure is subsequently opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2003
    Publication date: February 26, 2004
    Inventors: Francois Perruchot, Marie-Pierre Jaffrezic, Philippe Destrez, Severine Bousquet
  • Publication number: 20040001786
    Abstract: The invention is to provide an anion-generating device, which may generate anion to the air, and which may design the air ionization device as a modular structure. Further, when there is a short circuit occurred in the interior circuit of the anion-generating device, it may automatically switch off the high-voltage power source for protecting the anion-generating device. By the arrangement of a switch device, the anion-generating device is resumed to normal operation after being automatically switched off. The invention controls and generates the necessary high-voltage power source by designing a controlling device, which includes a logic controlling circuit and a high-voltage power-source generating circuit, wherein the logic controlling circuit is then comprised of a switch and an indicating device, which may indicate the operational state, while the high-voltage power-source generating circuit may generate high-voltage power source to ionize the air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventor: Te-Chin Jan
  • Publication number: 20030198570
    Abstract: In a sterilizing apparatus, a first electrode is provided in a chamber, and a target to be sterilized is supported by the first electrode. The first AC power supply is connected to the first electrode to supply AC power to the first electrode such that a plasma is generated around the first electrode. The DC pulse power supply is connected to the first electrode to supply DC pulse power to the first electrode such that ions or electrons are accelerated toward the target.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Applicants: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD., TSURU GAKUEN Educational Institution
    Inventors: Yuji Asahara, Mitsuhiro Yoshida, Toshiaki Katsura, Ikuo Wakamoto, Toshinori Takagi, Takeshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20030049183
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and apparatus for altering a carbon-containing compound in an aqueous mixture. According to a first aspect of the present invention, it has been discovered that for an aqueous mixture having a carbon containing compound with an ozone reaction rate less than the ozone reaction rate of pentachlorophenol, use of corona discharge in a low or non-oxidizing atmosphere increases the rate of destruction of the carbon containing compound compared to corona discharge an oxidizing atmosphere. For an aqueous mixture containing pentachlorphenol, there was essentially no difference in destruction between atmospheres. According to a second aspect of the present invention, it has been further discovered that an aqueous mixture having a carbon-containing compound in the presence of a catalyst and oxygen resulted in an increased destruction rate of the carbon containing compound compared to no catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Amit K. Sharma, Donald M. Camaioni, Gary B. Josephson
  • Patent number: 6528024
    Abstract: An ozone storage/recovery method comprises a process for supplying an ozone-containing gas, generated by an ozone generator, to an ozone adsorbent tank filled with an ozone adsorbent contained at least one high-silica material selected from the group consisting of a high-silica pentasil zeolite, a dealumination faujasite and a mesoporous silicate, causing the adsorbent to adsorb ozone at a temperature of 0° C. or below, and storing the ozone, and a process for desorbing the ozone adsorbed by the adsorbent in the ozone adsorbent tank and recovering the ozone from the adsorbent tank, whereby ozone can be supplied as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Izumi, Akinori Yasutake, Nariyuki Tomonaga, Hiroyuki Tsutaya
  • Publication number: 20020122742
    Abstract: A pulsed radiation produced by an intense optical source is applied to the inner surface of a wooden container having a surface layer of organic and/or mineral deposit. Each pulse is of sufficiently short duration having sufficiently high treating energy density per unit area to bring about sublimation of the surface layer. The resulting exposed container surface is sanitized by the heat released by the radiation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Rene Wajsfelner, Jacques Depoizier, Jean-Paul Longuemard
  • Patent number: 6261518
    Abstract: A process and equipment for plasma sterilization in which articles in a sterilizing chamber are taken through at least one combination sterilizing cycle. The articles to be sterilized may include the interior of a vessel or chamber. In that case, the vessel or chamber itself may serve as a sterilizing chamber and connects to the plasma generating chamber. Each combination sterilizing cycle includes a pulsed treatment with gaseous antimicrobial agent, removal of the gaseous antimicrobial agent, and a plasma treatment. The pulsed treatment includes one or more pulse-vacuum cycles, each pulse-vacuum cycle includes the steps of evacuating the sterilizing chamber and exposing the article to the gaseous antimicrobial agent with a predetermined pressure profile during a predetermined time. The gaseous antimicrobial agent is preferably carried in a gas mixture with a nonreactive carrier gas. In one embodiment, the predetermined pressure is pulsed. In another embodiment, it is ramped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc.
    Inventors: Ross A. Caputo, Thomas J. Amsler, Kangyan Du, Jeffery Jones, Kern A. Moulton, Bryant A. Campbell
  • Patent number: 6228330
    Abstract: An atmospheric-pressure plasma decontamination/sterilization chamber is described. The apparatus is useful for decontaminating sensitive equipment and materials, such as electronics, optics and national treasures, which have been contaminated with chemical and/or biological warfare agents, such as anthrax, mustard blistering agent, VX nerve gas, and the like. There is currently no acceptable procedure for decontaminating such equipment. The apparatus may also be used for sterilization in the medical and food industries. Items to be decontaminated or sterilized are supported inside the chamber. Reactive gases containing atomic and metastable oxygen species are generated by an atmospheric-pressure plasma discharge in a He/O2 mixture and directed into the region of these items resulting in chemical reaction between the reactive species and organic substances. This reaction typically kills and/or neutralizes the contamination without damaging most equipment and materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hans W. Herrmann, Gary S. Selwyn
  • Patent number: 6221319
    Abstract: Plasma discharge reactors of various designs are disclosed; the reactors are capable of synthesizing large numbers of bioactive compounds of great chemical diversity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Bend Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce M. Johnson, Walter C. Babcock, James B. West, Dwayne T. Friesen
  • Patent number: 6162405
    Abstract: An arrangement sterilizes metal cans with a low-pressure plasma. The necessary reactor is formed by two electrodes Inserted into one another, whereby an annular gap remains for the container sleeve. The metal can is connected electroconductively with the outer electrode. The sterilizing plasma can hereby be ignited between the inner electrode and the inner surfaces of the metal can.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Ruediger Haaga GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Awakowicz, Robert Frost
  • Patent number: 6027851
    Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a method for preparing a silver complex diffusion transfer reversal material comprising a grained and anodized aluminum foil as support and a photosensitive silver halide emulsion coating, characterized in that said grained and anodized aluminum foil is corona treated in a corona station comprising a roller and at least one electrode, that has been coated with a dielectric coating before said foil is coated by a photosensitive layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2000
    Assignee: AGFA-Gevaert, N.V.
    Inventors: Paul Coppens, Marcus Jonckheere
  • Patent number: 5993749
    Abstract: A molecularly implanted stimulated emitter (MISE) device in which high levels of ultraviolet radiation are applied to contamination in a contained fluid environment. The MISE device is primarily for use in a system for reducing biological organisms, such as virions and spores, in a liquid effluent to non-viable organic molecules, but it also can be used to drive chemical reactions, especially those to reduce the toxicity of toxic materials. The MISE device includes at least one ultraviolet source, such as a mercury vapor UV lamp, and secondary ultraviolet sources that absorb the peak UV frequencies of the lamp and emitting UV at other frequencies to fill in areas of the spectrum that are only weakly produced by the lamp. In this way, ultraviolet radiation is supplied at frequencies that are readily absorbed and operate to disassociate any viable DNA and RNA strands in the fluid, to thereby cause "death".
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Amphion International, Limited
    Inventor: Billy J. Adams
  • Patent number: 5965093
    Abstract: A system for reducing biological organisms in a liquid effluent to no-viable organic molecules that includes: a stunning chamber (38) that applies a voltage potential across biological organisms to break cell membranes and disable the defense mechanisms of viral organisms to ultraviolet radiation; a cavitation chamber (86) to physically destroy any remaining membranes of biologicals in the effluent that may play host to viral organisms or allow such to hide therein, the action of the stunning and cavitation chambers releasing interferons; and a molecularly implanted stimulated emitter (MISE) chamber (108) in which high levels of ultraviolet radiation and electromagnetic energy are applied to virions and spores that remain at frequencies that are readily absorbed and operate to dissociate any viable DNA and RNA strands remaining, to thereby cause "death". The resulting effluent is pulsed through the stunning, cavitation, and MISE chambers to gain maximum effect thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Amphion International, Limited
    Inventor: Billy J. Adams
  • Patent number: 5948379
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing solid fine particulates has a substantially closed reaction vessel and a hollow gas input conduit inside the vessel formed with a multiplicity of similar outlet apertures each having a flow cross section of at most 2 mm.sup.2. The conduit has an overall cross-sectional area equal to at least 100 times the flow cross section of a one of the apertures. A foraminous structure in the vessel surrounds the conduit and an electrode is provided in the vessel outside the foraminous structure. A direct-current power supply has a negative side connected to the foraminous structure and a positive side connected to the electrode while the input conduit is at ground potential so that a glow discharge is created in the vessel between the foraminous structure and the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Inventors: Udo Konig, Ralf Tabersky
  • Patent number: 5895744
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for making thermoplastic web from polyester or polyester blends for subsequent aqueous coating without requirement of an undercoat or primer coat for adhesion of subsequent coatings. Feedstock pellets of polymer, such as polyethylene terephthalate or polyethylene naphthalate, are melted in a screw extruder. Molten polymer is extruded from an extrusion die as a thick, high-viscosity ribbon, which is tempered and stretched in both the machine direction and the transverse direction to form a web of biaxially-oriented polymer of the desired width and thickness. The web is heated to a temperature above T.sub.g to set the biaxial orientation and then is glow discharge treated by passing it through an in-line glow discharge apparatus at atmospheric pressure wherein a stable glow discharge is produced in a gas mixture containing helium between two electrodes connected by an alternating power source operating at a voltage between 0.5 kV and 20 kV at a frequency between 60 Hz and 40 MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Janglin Chen, Gerald G. Reafler, David A. Glocker, Mark M. Romach, Richard C. Soper, Evelio A. Perez-Albuerne
  • Patent number: 5888713
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of producing a photographic support. The method includes providing a photographic paper and transporting the photographic paper through an atmospheric glow discharge zone, wherein the atmospheric glow discharge zone contains a gas with a dielectric strength which is less than air. The atmospheric glow discharge zone is subjected to an electric frequency between 40 kHz and 13.56 Mhz and an electric field such that an atmospheric glow discharge is formed; and the photographic paper is coated with a polymeric coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Eric E. Arrington, David A. Glocker, Theodore J. Tatarzyn
  • Patent number: 5866081
    Abstract: In a pollutant destruction apparatus with at least one corona discharge reactor, one or more inner electrodes are deposited on the interior dielectric surface of each reactor, preferably by metal vapor deposition, to provide structural support and heat dissipation for the inner electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1999
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, Franklin A. Dolezal
  • Patent number: 5847494
    Abstract: A corona discharge reactor which has a central electrode in the form of a metal rod with radial projections and a cylindrical outer electrode surrounding the inner electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: AEA Technology plc
    Inventors: Keith Howard Bayliss, John Sydney Carlow
  • Patent number: 5845488
    Abstract: A solid-state power processor circuit and method is used to supply power to generate a discharge in a corona discharge pollutant destruction apparatus. The circuit uses field effect transistors (FETs) and integrated circuit devices based upon metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) technology to amplify low-voltage pulse signals to high voltage levels. A resonator in the power processor circuit generates sinusoidal oscillation from the high voltage pulses, and provides the high-voltage, high-frequency electrical power necessary for corona discharge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1998
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventors: Donald Hancock, Weldon S. Williamson, John H. S. Wang
  • Patent number: 5843383
    Abstract: A pollutant destruction system connects a capacitive corona discharge chamber in a self-resonant circuit with an inductive element. Intermittent energizing signals are furnished from a power supply to induce corona discharges within the chamber, with the resonant circuit responding to the energizing signals by initiating additional corona discharges between energizing signals in a highly energy efficient operation. One or more discharge chambers can be provided in the resonant circuit, with each discharge chamber comprising a dielectric enclosure with a distributed electrode outside and an elongate electrode inside the enclosure. The inner electrode can extend either along the chamber axis, or along the inner chamber wall for better support and heat dissipation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Weldon S. Williamson, Eun-Hee Cirlin, Franklin A. Dolezal, Robin J. Harvey
  • Patent number: 5804149
    Abstract: Gas-cleaning equipment is disclosed, which comprises a housing having an intake vent and an exhaust vent and having disposed between the two vents a fan having at least one rotating blade. Air pollutant-removing system using the gas-cleaning equipment is also disclosed. This gas-cleaning equipment can effectively clean a gas through the action of plasma produced by glow discharge caused by rotation of said fan. When a metal layer having a catalytic activity is fixed onto the surface of said rotating blade, this metal layer also functions to effectively clean the gas. In the case where both the plasma and the metal layer function to clean the gas, there car be obtained synergistic effects. Cleaning of the gas can be conducted with more efficiency by bringing the intake gas into contact with the fan in an oxygen-free state. A magnet provided as an outer wall of the housing serves to generate plasma with higher density, leading to more effective cleaning of the gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1998
    Assignees: Hokushin Industries, Inc., Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroaki Ota, Daihei Kobayashi, Takeshi Yanobe, Fujio Sakamoto, Yuji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 5785932
    Abstract: A catalytic reactor (10) for oxidizing elemental mercury contained in flue gas is provided. The catalyst reactor (10) comprises within a flue gas conduit a perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) having a plurality of through openings (33) and a plurality of projecting corona discharge electrodes (31); a perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) having a plurality of through openings (43) axially aligned with the through openings (33) of the perforated corona discharge plate (30a, b) displaced from and opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31); and a catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) overlaying that face of the perforated electrode plate (40a, b, c) opposing the tips of the corona discharge electrodes (31). A uniformly distributed corona discharge plasma (1000) is intermittently generated between the plurality of corona discharge electrode tips (31) and the catalyst member (60a, b, c, d) when a stream of flue gas is passed through the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Environmental Elements Corp.
    Inventor: Dennis J. Helfritch
  • Patent number: 5766560
    Abstract: An ozone generator having a first electrode, a second electrode and leads for coupling a high-tension voltage between the two electrodes, the first electrode being operable to produce a corona discharge in its vicinity when the high-tension voltage is applied across the electrodes to form ozone from oxygen when present in the vicinity of the first electrode. The first electrode can be a straight wire arranged on a tile-shaped ceramic element. The second electrode can be formed by a metallic coating on the opposite side of the ceramic element and may be coated with a resin coating such as silicone rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Ozone Industries Limited
    Inventor: William Lesley Cole
  • Patent number: 5766447
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for treating an aqueous solution, in which a pulsed electric field is generated in the aqueous solution between two electrodes. In accordance with the invention, at least one of the electrodes is covered with a layer of a dielectric material which, during operation of the device, completely separates this (these) electrode(s) from the aqueous solution. This measure in accordance with the invention enables field strengths to be used which are much higher than those permissible in the known devices. The use of an oxygen-containing gas and a bipolarly pulsed electric field leads to a further improvement of the method in accordance with the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: U.S. Philips Corporation
    Inventor: Yves L. M. Creijghton
  • Patent number: 5753193
    Abstract: A device for creating a deposit of silicon oxide on a traveling solid substrate, wherein the substrate is subjected to an electrical discharge with a dielectric barrier in the presence of a controlled atmosphere containing a silane and an oxidizing gas, the atmosphere being at a pressure higher than 10,000 Pa, and wherein the atmosphere is maintained in the immediate vicinity of an electrode in the region where the electrical discharge is produced and further wherein any entrainment of oxygen other than that forming part of the atmosphere in the region is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignees: L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude, Softal Electronic GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Slootman, Pascal Bouard, Fran.cedilla.ois Coeuret, Dominique Jouvaud, Eckhard Prinz
  • Patent number: 5733511
    Abstract: A multiple electrode plasma reactor power splitter and delivery system to provide balanced power to a plurality of powered electrodes by utilizing the properties of quarter wave length transmission lines. Each electrode is supplied power by a separate (2N+1).lambda./4 wavelength cable, where N=0,1,2 . . . , connected to a common point at a load matching network's output. The impedance transformation properties of these lines are also employed to convert the plasma load to one that is more efficiently matched into by a standard network. Also disclosed is a technique of splitting a single large active electrode into smaller active electrodes powered by the above distribution scheme in order to achieve maximum uniformity of the reactive plasma throughout the working volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Frank De Francesco
  • Patent number: 5714308
    Abstract: The present invention is a method for treating a polyester support such as polyethylene naphthalate or polyethylene terephthalate. The treatment is carried out at near atmospheric pressure in a gas of helium and optionally nitrogen and/or oxygen. The treatment uses anodized aluminum electrodes and an atmospheric glow discharge results when the electrodes are connected to an RF generator and spaced about 2 mm apart. The process and apparatus improve adhesion of subsequently coated emulsions on the polyester support at high speeds and relatively low power by selecting a frequency of 40 kHz to 500 kHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1998
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Mark M. Romach, David Appler Glocker
  • Patent number: 5686050
    Abstract: A web or film is electrostatically charged by sequentially subjecting the web or film to a series of electric fields such that adjacent electric fields have substantially opposite polarities. Both a method and apparatus are disclosed for charging the web or film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: The University of Tennessee Research Corporation
    Inventors: Larry C. Wadsworth, Peter Ping-yi Tsai
  • Patent number: 5655210
    Abstract: A corona source suitable for use in vehicle ignition systems uses a conductive coil that receives an RF input at one end and has a corona discharge site at the other end, with a reference electrode capacitively coupled to the coil. The pitch and the length of the coil are selected to produce a corona discharge in response to an RF input signal at a predetermined frequency and voltage, through quarter wavelength resonation. Either the new resonant coil or other corona discharge devices can be used to remediate fluid-borne wastes by initiating and sustaining RF corona discharges within the fluid. The pulses used to initiate the corona discharge preferably have alternating positive and negative components, with high initial voltages on the positive components to initiate the discharge, followed by lower positive voltage levels to sustain the discharge. Unipolar pulses, preferably with progressively decreasing voltage levels, can also be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1997
    Assignee: Hughes Aircraft Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. Gregoire, Robin J. Harvey, Franklin A. Dolezal, Weldon S. Williamson
  • Patent number: 5637198
    Abstract: This invention is drawn to a Volatile Organic Compound environment effective reduction apparatus comprising a reactor-efficient coronal discharge zone, and at least one pair of high-dielectric coated electrodes. In particular embodiments Halogenated volatile organic compounds are reduced and the reaction chamber is chlorine and fluorine resistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1997
    Assignee: Thermo Power Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald W. Breault
  • Patent number: 5630990
    Abstract: A generator is taught which uses alternating current or pulsating direct current to produce ozone from oxygen. The generator comprises a high voltage and ground electrode separated to form a gap for accommodating a dielectric member and gas to be reacted. The generator includes many features which may be used alone or in combination to provide an energy efficient and safe apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 20, 1997
    Assignee: T I Properties, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne E. Conrad, Richard S. Phillips, Andrew R. H. Phillips, Raymond E. Bowman, Helmut G. Conrad
  • Patent number: 5578280
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel ozone generator device for the production of high concentrations of ozone by way of a design that permits a process environment that is consonant with the optimum values of hardware and operating variables that thermodynamically favor the production of ozone. The device is characterized by a small corona chamber resulting in a low oxygen retention time, a thermally conductive ducted core permitting circulation of a coolant for cooling the feed oxygen and produced ozone, a spherical corona chamber and electrode geometry promoting a homogeneous high electric field density, operating pressures as high as 2000 psi, free expansion cooling of the oxygen at both the inlet and outlet ports of the device, and the selection of an electrode that ensures the production and maintenance of a homogeneous corona. Also disclosed is a closed-loop ozone generator system wherein unused feed oxygen is recovered and recycled for further processing by the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Americal Environmental Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdullah Kazi, Roy Hays, James Buckley
  • Patent number: 5573733
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrode for an ozone generator of the type comprising an outer electrode having an inner surface made of dielectric material and an outer surface comprising an electric conducting material; an inner electrode having an outer surface, said inner electrode being concentrically positioned inside the outer electrode; a gap positioned between said inner and outer surfaces; means for circulating an oxygen containing gas through said gap; means for applying a potential difference between said inner and outer surfaces; means for cooling the inner electrode; and means for cooling the outer electrode; wherein said inner electrode comprises: a massive member of heat and electric conducting material whose at least a portion of the outer surface is provided a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of points; at least one inner duct having opposite opened ends, provided in the massive member and defining an inner surface to said inner electrode, said inner duct being intended to allow a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Poptec Ltee
    Inventor: Amir Salama
  • Patent number: RE38130
    Abstract: A system for reducing biological organisms in a liquid effluent to non-viable organic molecules that includes: a stunning chamber that applies a voltage potential across biological organisms to break cell membranes and disable the defense mechanisms of vital organisms to ultraviolet radiation; a cavitation chamber to physically destroy any remaining membranes of biologicals in the effluent that may play host to vital organisms or allow such to hide therein, the action of the stunning and cavitation chambers releasing interferons; and a molecularly implanted stimulated emitter (MISE) chamber in which high levels of ultraviolet radiation are applied to virions and spores that remain at frequencies that are readily absorbed and operate to disassociate any viable DNA and RNA strands remaining, to thereby cause “death”. Prior to the stunning chamber, preferably the effluent has any large solids therein, settled, floated or filtered out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Amphion International Limited
    Inventor: Billy Joe Adams